Welcome to a new weekly feature at RCR Wireless News! Every week we will collect all the important equipment agreements across the cellular, Wi-Fi and WiMAX industries, plus any others that catch our fancy. We hope you enjoy it!
The following list details infrastructure awards for the cellular, Wi-Fi, and WiMAX industries. The contracts are broken down by transmission technology, country and vendor. The value of the contract is included when available.
- Cellular
Congo: Alcatel said it has been chosen by Vodacom Congo to deploy a complete EDGE-ready GPRS mobile data solution in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The carrier plans to launch its always-on data service during the first quarter in Kinshasa, Goma, Lubumbashi, Mbuyi Mayi and Matadi.
Ecuador: Nokia is providing MSC Server System equipment to Telefonica Moviles Ecuador. The contract includes Nokia’s mobile softswitch solution, the MSC server system, and Nokia’s NetAct network and service management system.
Greece: Nokia was selected by Greek mobile operator Cosmote to provide a W-CDMA 3G radio network, including equipment and services.
Italy: Nokia and Telecom Italia signed a memorandum of understanding calling for wider cooperation between the two companies in W-CDMA. Separate but related agreements call for end-to-end performance optimization, W-CDMA 3G terminals cooperation and supply of W-CDMA radio access networks in the country.
Kuwait: Wataniya Telecom launched its HSDPA network in Kuwait using technology and equipment supplied by Nokia. A supply agreement between the two companies was signed in May 2005.
United Kingdom: U.K. mobile operator 3 expanded its contract with Nokia to include Nokia’s MSC servers, media gateways and Flexi ISN. The updated contract also extends Nokia’s exclusive supply of core network equipment.
Poland: Huawei Technologies won a contract from Polish mobile operator P4 to be the main supplier for the carrier’s third-generation UMTS network in Poland, including a backbone network and base and mobile stations. The contract is valued at about $180 million.
- Wi-Fi
The Bahamas: Meru Networks and Sawtel signed an agreement calling for Sawtel to implement Meru’s WLAN indoor and outdoor systems solution as part of its Wi-Fi deployment in the Bahamas.
- WiMAX
Russia: Alcatel signed an agreement to supply its WiMAX end-to-end solution, including base station equipment and indoor customer premises equipment, for a WiMAX field trial with Start Telecom.
Singapore: Navini Networks supplied pre-mobile WiMAX equipment to QMax Communications Pte Ltd. for the company’s network in the Bukit Timah area.
United States: Navini Networks provided equipment for the launch of Xanadoo’s pre-mobile WiMAX deployment in Lubbock, Texas. Plans call for the company to expand its network into Wichita Falls and Abilene, Texas, soon.
- Other
Brazil: UTStarcom and Brasil Telecom announced plans to trial UTStarcom’s Continuity fixed-mobile convergence solution in Brazil. The solution is designed to provide fully integrated roaming between fixed-line Voice over Internet Protocol networks and mobile networks.
Hong Kong: Ericsson signed a managed-services agreement with Hutchison Telecommunications (Hong Kong) Ltd. that calls for Ericsson to manage telecom applications development and back-end business support systems for the carrier. Ericsson said it is the first managed-services agreement it has forged in greater China.
