Alcatel Wins Multimillion Euro Contract

[gamavor]

Alcatel wins multimillion Euro contract to develop a new mobile network in Armenia

 

Paris, August 3, 2005 - Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA)

today announced the signing of a multimillion contract to deploy

a GSM/GPRS mobile network for VivaCell, the second mobile operator

in Armenia. Alcatel partnered in this project with Intracom company,

a Greek telecommunications integrator. Implementation of this project

will enable VivaCell to anticipate the growing demand for a reliable

mobile communication network in the country and to provide advanced

high-quality services to the Armenian end-users.

 

Under the terms of this contract, Alcatel will deploy a complete

GSM network based on its industry-proven multi-standard EvoliumT

solution. Alcatel's solution will cover the whole territory of

Armenia and will include Mobile Switching Centers (NSS) for 400

000 subscribers, more than 200 Base Stations Sub-Systems (BSS) with

natively embedded GPRS capabilities, as well as a backbone solution

based on Alcatel's next-generation SDH Optical Multi-Service Node

(OMSN) systems and access network.

 

Alcatel will also deliver its Open Services Platform (OSP) solutions,

an IT-based system which will enable VivaCell to rapidly develop

and deploy new high-value mobile services such as mobile VPN and

convergent payment. These new services are expected to help building

customer loyalty and support the operator's efforts to increase its

market share in the country.

 

Commercial launch of the network was announced on July 1st, 2005.

 

Mr. Ralph Yirikian, General Manager of VivaCell said: "VivaCell's

vision is to be the Leading Provider of Mobile Communications in

Armenia and to achieve this vision we have partnered with leading

worldwide suppliers to provide brand new state of the art technology,

partners like Intracom - for the network system integration, Alcatel -

for the radio, transmission, switching and IN (Intelligent Network)

platform and some others".

 

Johan Vanderplaetse, vice-president of Alcatel in the Commonwealth of

Independent States (CIS) added: "This contract not only gives Alcatel a

good footprint in the mobile market in Armenia but it also reinforces

our presence in the overall CIS market. We are committed to enable

VivaCell to become a stronger competitive operator in Armenia and

to help them provide the Armenian end-users with the most advanced

mobile services".

 

Alcatel is one of the leading suppliers in providing advanced mobile

communication solutions in Russia and in the CIS, a position the

company established as early as 1994 when it introduced the first

Russian GSM network in the city of Nizhniy Novgorod. To date Alcatel

EvoliumT solutions have already been installed in several markets of

the CIS and in more than 35 cities in Russia.

 

Alcatel's EvoliumT multi-standard platform natively integrates all

GSM-based mobile technologies, from GSM/GPRS to EDGE and UMTS, and

allows all solutions in one, for a smooth upgrade of existing networks.

 

About K Telecom (VivaCell) K Telecom CJSC was granted a license to

operate the second mobile communication network in the Republic of

Armenia in November 2004 and in seven months K Telecom announced

the commercial launch of its network as of July 1st, 2005 under the

VivaCell brand name.

 

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 employees. Alcatel brings its leading position in fixed and mobile

broadband networks; applications and services, to help its partners

and customers build a user-centric broadband world. With sales of

EURO 12.3 billion and 56,000 employees in 2004, Alcatel operates in

more than 130 countries

 

http://groong.usc.edu/news/msg119824.html

 

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PS: My soul is singing when I hear such news. However one thing I cannot fully understand. The Greek owned Intracom, that became infamous for their monopoly in the mobile communications in Armenia (thanks to the 'wisdom' of the Armenian government), is going to be a sub-contractor for VivaCell, that are suppose to be their competitors????

[Sasun]

However one thing I cannot fully understand. The Greek owned Intracom, that became infamous for their monopoly in the mobile communications in Armenia (thanks to the 'wisdom' of the Armenian government), is going to be a sub-contractor for VivaCell, that are suppose to be their competitors????

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I was under the impression that Intracom is a different Greek company, the monopoly is Hellenic Communications. Unless they are the same thing under different names, in which case we are stuck with a form of monoploy-duopoly, not much better than a monopoly. But certainly there is a positive trend going on which has already benefitted the consumers (one thing I know the refillable cards are selling much cheaper now).