Huawei builds Leap’s Chicago network

Cricket Communications Inc. has deployed its 3G network in Chicago by partnering with wireless infrastructure vendor Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., the companies announced today.
The launch in Chicago follows a successful deployment in nearby Milwaukee last fall. The Huawei network includes the Chinese company’s Dual Homing Softswitch Media Gateway and 3900 Series Base Station subsystems, which has been widely deployed since the end of 2007.
Last month Cricket, a subsidiary of Leap Wireless International Inc., announced its unlimited service is available in Chicago and portions of Wisconsin and Indiana.
“Huawei has an impressive track record and has already demonstrated it by having successfully deployed solutions for our Northwest markets in 2007,” Glenn Umetsu, Leap EVP and CTO, said in a statement.
Huawei officials have said they are increasing their concentration on the North American market and now have penetrated the third largest city in the U.S.
“We value highly the long-term relationship we have with Cricket,” Ken Hu, Huawei chief sales and service officer, said in a statement. “We have achieved an important milestone with our commitment and ability to support our customers in North American markets.”
In 2007, Leap selected three vendors, Huawei, Alcatel-Lucent and Nortel Network Corp., to build its 3G networks in certain markets across the U.S.
In its latest earnings report, Leap continues to add customers, but the buildout is reflected in its bottom line.