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Euro 675 million contract Major confirms and extends Alcatel's number one position in Africa
February 17, 2003
PARIS -- Globacom, the second national carrier of Nigeria, has awarded Alcatel (Paris : CGEP.PA and NYSE : ALA) with a major global frame contract, with an initial order of 675 million euros, for the supply of a nation-wide turnkey mobile and fixed telecommunications network in Nigeria. When completed, the network will enable Globacom to offer the best combination of advanced fixed and mobile voice and data services to over 2 million subscribers for domestic and international services. Globacom will thus be one of the most advanced networks on the African continent. The first step of the global agreement will provide Globacom with an enhanced mobile and fixed infrastructure with a capacity of 2 million users in 75 cities. Alcatel is conducting the global project management including implementation, installation, integration, as well as network testing and commissioning. High-speed broadband services, including Internet access, will be offered through a full ATM/IP data network together with an IP service platform. Globacom will be able to offer its customers enhanced mobile voice and data services based on Alcatel's Intelligent Network (IN) solution and its Messaging Suite. It will also offer sophisticated prepaid services, a Virtual Private Network, SMS and unified messaging services. Globacom shall moreover, offer for the first time in Africa, Alcatel's Multimedia Services (MMS) solution. Other noteworthy items include a suite of billing software coupled with a file collector and charging gateway as well as fraud and problem management solutions. Alcatel supplies Globacom with its industry leading Evolium? solution, including the radio access network (Base Stations and Base Station Controllers) as well as a circuit and packet core network, while integrating the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) technology. Alcatel's GPRS network and services are a natural part of the migration path to 3G/UMTS technology. To carry the traffic, the network will also utilize Alcatel's Local Multipoint Distribution Services (LMDS), as well as low-medium and high-capacity microwave radio systems, thus totaling to 3,000 kilometers of microwave routes. Their deployment will provide a mobile backhaul solution to transport growing amounts of mobile voice and data traffic on top of the traditional fixed-broadband enterprise access services. A fixed wireline network for an initial capacity of 500,000 subscribers will also be implemented in the 15 largest cities of the country, to offer the most advanced voice, data and video services. A Genesys call center of 600 operators will contribute to a most efficient subscriber service . For long-distance services, Globacom shall also deploy a 2,300-kilometers long fiber optic backbone based on Alcatel's SDH Optical Multi-Service Nodes (OMSN) systems, to interconnect major cities in the country. The OMSN systems will enable operators and service providers to support the delivery of traditional and emerging data services. Furthermore, Globacom shall implement a satellite backbone network as the most suitable and reliable way to interconnect the mobile switching centers. A connection to SAT3, the optical submarine network, will also be installed in order to carry international and regional traffic. This deal has been concluded thanks to Alcatel mastering a full portfolio of solutions as well as added value services, and after months of fierce competition with other major equipment vendors. The network is currently being rolled out. Alcatel SA
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