PARIS and LAGOS, Nigeria -- Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) today announced a contract with Globacom, Nigeria’s second national operator, to supply and install a wireless network based on UMTS/HSPA (Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service/High Speed Packet Access) technology in selected Nigerian cities, including Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Benin and Ibadan. This UMTS/HSPA network, the first one in West Africa, follows last summer's successful field trial of the 3G platform on the Globacom network and will be built to provide one million more subscribers with state-of-the-art mobile broadband services. It reinforces Alcatel-Lucent’s worldwide leadership in mobile broadband and its leading position on the African market.
This project will enable Globacom, Africa’s fastest-growing operator, to expand the capacity of its network so it can accommodate an additional million subscribers while offering the next generation of sophisticated new services, including advanced multimedia, mobile broadband and converged services such as video call, video streaming and high-speed mobile Internet access on 3G mobile handsets, phone-to-phone and fixed-to-mobile video telephony, video greeting kiosk and video mail box. Globacom also will introduce high-speed Internet and mobile data services to business and residential subscribers through USB modems and data cards.
"We are very proud to be the first to deploy a UMTS/HSPA network in West Africa that will enable us to bring compelling new user-centric broadband services to Nigeria for the first time, thanks to Alcatel-Lucent’s unmatched product portfolio" said Dr. Adenuga, Globacom’s Chairman. "Through our strategic cooperation with this trusted partner, we are constantly working to introduce innovative services and build the largest and best telecommunications network in the continent."
"This agreement further proves Globacom’s confidence in our leading edge technology and our teams. Our long-standing collaboration in mobile networks is now extended to mobile broadband. This project is strategic for both companies because Africa is one of the fastest growing mobile market in the world and has huge potential," said Etienne Fouques, President of Alcatel-Lucent’s carrier activities.
Globacom Ltd.