GTI launches Africa's largest commercial WiMAX network in Algeria

Details: Category: Wireless Networks; 15 February 2008; 11393 views

Galaxia Telecom International PLC, the telecom integrator and operator specializing in the innovation and deployment of wireless broadband technologies, has announced the listing of the company's shares on the Open Market of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and the launch of its first mass market WiMAX network in Algeria. Today's listing of the company's shares on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange offers investors the opportunity to invest both in wireless broadband technology and in emerging markets.

Galaxia Telecom is one of the few listed companies in the wireless WiMAX area with exposure to the potentially high growth rates for WiMAX services in emerging markets. The European listing for Galaxia Telecom International PLC comes at a turning point in demand for WiMAX services and provides investors with a route to access the growth of broadband wireless telecommunications solutions internationally, said Dr. Abdellah Hoummady, CEO of Galaxia Telecom International PLC.

WiMAX technology is the greatest hope in terms of bridging the digital divide in emerging markets at reasonable costs, while at the same time leapfrogging the traditionally slower development stages of the telecommunication infrastructure in developed markets.

By embracing WiMAX technology on such a large scale, Algeria has decided to make a big push to reduce the digital divide both within Algeria and with the rest of the world. "In our view, it is the optimal technology, reliable and cost effective for a large country such as Algeria, which needs to cover the needs of a sizeable but dispersed population of 33m people across a vast territory over 5 times the size of Germany", explains Dr. Hoummady. GTI is currently engaged in discussions with a number of other national operators and WiMAX related providers worldwide.

The deployment of WiMAX in Algeria, called Athir, is the first commercial application of WiMAX technology on a nationwide scale, and is the result of a groundbreaking agreement between Galaxia Telecom International (GTI) and Algerie Telecom (AT), the largest telecommunications service provider in Algeria. At a time when technological innovations are evolving at a fast pace and new technologies quickly become outdated, the launch of the WiMAX network is a concrete response to real concerns in addressing the need for widely available, fast and cheaper communication services in Algeria, thus bridging the digital divide, says His Excellency Dr. Boudjemaa Haichour, the Algerian Minister for Post, Information Technology and Communication. According to the contract, Algerie Telecom will provide existing infrastructure, access network, marketing and distribution, with Galaxia Telecom providing broadband equipment (base stations, CPEs), installation, BWA network backbone, platforms and training.

The Algerian WiMAX network has been undergoing testing in the last six months in all weather conditions. In the first phase of deployment, targeted customers will be businesses, government and organizations (B2B). The second phase, starting in September 2008, will be focused on consumers.

About Galaxia Telecom International PLC

Galaxia Telecom International PLC is a Canadian company with an international footprint specializing in the innovation and deployment of wireless broadband technologies, most specifically in WiMAX. Galaxia Telecom designs and integrates Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) end-to-end solutions and products and has extensive experience in modular solution design and manufacturing, rapid time-to-market and cost effective solutions, employing state-of-the-art and industry standard access technologies.

About Algeria's telecom market

Algeria has 33m inhabitants and has one of the largest young populations in the Middle East, with a median age of 25.2 years. The number of internet users in Algeria is estimated at 2.46 million. High speed internet access is very scarce at approximately only 200,000 users in the whole country (0.6% of the population) and is considered a luxury reserved for larger corporations and organisations. Access to the internet at present in Algeria is via DSL or Satellite High speed. Fixed-line penetration rate is still very low in the country, with approximately 7 per 100 persons having a main-line connection in 2004.

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