Huawei Wins Nigeria Deal

BEIJING -- Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., one of the world's leading networking and communications equipment company and Nigeria's Ministry of Communications today signed a US$200 million partnership agreement that furthers their cooperation in telecommunications. The signing ceremony took place in the Great Hall of People, in Beijing, China and was witnessed by Chinese President Mr. Hu Jintao and visiting Nigeria President Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo.

As part of the agreement, Huawei Technologies will deploy a nation-wide CDMA450 wireless access technology across Nigeria that will cost US$200 million. China Development Bank will provide Nigeria with a loan of US$200 million for this project. Huawei Technologies has also committed to an additional US$20 million manufacturing investment in Nigeria.

The CDMA450 wireless access technology is the most appropriate and cost-effective solution to address the telecommunications challenges faced by Nigeria. Similar to China, Nigeria has remote rural areas and vast but sparsely populated regions. CDMA450 provides wireless coverage of up to 60km in radius and one base station covers an area of 7,000 to 10,000 km 2 area. The CDMA450 wireless access technology will provide the necessary coverage and address the current telecommunications digital divide between the rural areas and cities in Nigeria.

Nigeria recognizes Huawei Technologies' capabilities to improve the communications capability in Nigeria's rural areas. Huawei's CDMA450 wireless solution will help address the wireless communications needs of Nigeria's 220 local governments and increase the telecommunications coverage of the country. The new technology solutions will also be conducive to our efforts in developing Nigeria's online capabilities in education and healthcare.

Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.