Alcatel has recently announced that it had signed a major contract with General Post and Telecommunication Company (GPTC) for the supply of a complete solution including GSM/EDGE and 3G/UMTS infrastructure and services in Libya. This contract is worth within the scale of US$ 100 million.
Under the terms of this contract, Alcatel will supply GPTC with its industry-leading EvoliumTM mobile radio access and core network solution to service 2.5 million GSM/EDGE and 3G/UMTS users throughout 75% of the Libyan territory.
This network deployment, which is due to be completed by the end of 2005, builds upon the existing GSM/EDGE infrastructure already deployed by Alcatel for GPTC in 1996. With this new contract, Alcatel will enable the operator to extend its current GSM/EDGE footprint while deploying a brand new UMTS network in a single stage.
The services package developed and integrated by Alcatel for GPTC will enable the operator to provide Libyans with new mobile services, including mobile video telephony and conferencing, online games, live TV over mobile, a 3G video portal, video messaging, webcam access, live sporting events and instant messaging services.
This network will also extend access to telephony in the country, covering areas which were so far underserved, with an additional number of over one million mobile users covered by the network. Other products in the scope of this contract feature Alcatel's PDH microwave, optical ADM and VSAT satellite transmission solutions.
"We are very pleased to conclude this contract with Alcatel who has been our long-standing partner in Libya", declared Eng. Mohamed Moammar Al Gathafi, Chairman of GPTC. "Thanks to Alcatel's world-wide expertise in mobile infrastructure and services, GPTC- will pioneer the UMTS technology in Africa and position Libya as the frontrunner in the development of Africa's telecommunication landscape."
"This is a major UMTS deployment contract for Alcatel in Africa", said Etienne Fouques, President of Alcatel's mobile communications activities. "This contract reinforces Alcatel's presence in Libya as well as the company's overall commitment to the development of the region. It also shows that Alcatel's Evolium™ multi-standard solutions are bound to success on the African continent, as they offer a seamless and natural evolution from 2.5G towards 3G/UMTS and even beyond." (menareport.com)