Paris, April 29 2004 - Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA) announced today that it has been selected by ETISALAT, the United Arab Emirates fixed and mobile operator, to carry out part of its 3G/UMTS deployments in the UAE.
Alcatel has already supplied ETISALAT with its Evolium™ mobile infrastructure solution for the radio portion of its GSM and GPRS commercial service. Introducing the UMTS capability in ETISALAT network will be carried out as an extension of selected coverage areas of the operator's existing GSM/GPRS network. Thanks to Alcatel's user-centric solution, ETISALAT coverage will allow for smooth interworking between GSM/GPRS cells and UMTS cells.
In the frame of this award, Alcatel will provide ETISALAT with 3G solutions including radio systems, circuit switched core network systems as well as associated application platforms. The Evolium™ UMTS radio equipment is designed and developed by Evolium SAS, the joint venture between Alcatel and Fujitsu.
Alcatel's Evolium™UMTS applications and infrastructure solutions will enable ETISALAT to offer its subscribers high-speed/high-quality mobile multimedia services such as high speed data, video streaming, music downloading, web browsing, chat, on-line gaming and video telephony calls between multimedia terminals (voice, images and video).
"This is Alcatel's first 3G/UMTS contract in the Middle East region", stated Marc Rouanne chief operating officer of Alcatel's mobile activities, "ETISALAT is a highly innovative operator, a real pioneer for multimedia services in the region, and we are therefore very proud to be chosen as one of ETISALAT suppliers for this unique technology".
Alcatel has a unique commitment to network evolution, through its Evolium SAS joint venture with Fujitsu, which supplies industry leader NTT DoCoMo. This world-class multi-standard platform designed for GSM/GPRS/EDGE and 3G/UMTS is supported by dedicated development and enhancement for continuous cost reduction and technology evolution.
About Alcatel
Alcatel provides communications solutions to telecommunication carriers, Internet service providers and enterprises for delivery of voice, data and video applications to their customers or to their employees. Alcatel leverages its leading position in fixed and mobile broadband networks, applications and services to bring value to its customers in the framework of a broadband world. With sales of EURO 12.5 billion in 2003, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. | |
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