Uganda Telecom and Alcatel-Lucent have signed a contract to extend Uganda Telecom’s GSM/EDGE mobile network and deploy the first 3G UMTS/HSPA network in Uganda, one of the first such deployments in the East Africa region.
Uganda Telecom Ltd and Alcatel-Lucent have signed a contract to extend Uganda Telecom’s GSM/EDGE mobile network and deploy the first 3G UMTS/HSPA network in Uganda, one of the first such deployments in the East Africa region.
The enhanced network will enable Uganda Telecom to expand its service offerings with high-quality, mobile voice and high-speed broadband data services such as video streaming, access to corporate e-mail and intranets and many other new applications that can help generate additional revenue. These new services will enable Uganda Telecom to better meet the needs of both existing customers and visitors to the country, and will be deployed in time for the Summit of Head of States of the Commonwealth to be held in Uganda in November this year. Under the agreement Alcatel-Lucent also will increase network coverage and improve overall service quality for Uganda Telecom.
“The deployment of the first 3G/UMTS network in Uganda will enable us to enhance our network coverage in terms of capacity and quality of service because of the useful new services we will be able to offer people throughout the country,” said Abdulbaset Elazzabi, Managing Director of Uganda Telecom. “Uganda Telecom is dedicated to providing access to Ugandans and, with 3G, we will be able to provide high-speed connections to our customers and visitors on the go and therefore contribute to increasing broadband access in Africa.”
Under the agreement, Alcatel-Lucent will supply its comprehensive radio networking solution including base stations, radio network and base station controllers (RNC/BSC), wireless network management system solutions and engineering tools. Alcatel-Lucent also will be responsible for network design and complete network deployment, including network integration and maintenance services. Additionally Alcatel-Lucent will provide a new generation of microwave systems to optimise the transmission of voice and data traffic from the base stations to the core network, with the capability to adapt quickly and efficiently to the growth in traffic and services.
"We are delighted to see Uganda added to the list of forward-looking countries in Africa investing in new solutions to enhance the communications infrastructure serving people in the country and in particular in the rural areas, where there is a critical need for mobile connectivity,” said Olivier Picard, President for Alcatel-Lucent’s activities in Europe and South. “These new investments will enable Uganda Telecom to offer world-class services to their customers and to the leaders attending the Commonwealth Summit in November.”
Alcatel-Lucent is a player in the GSM/EDGE market with more than 170 customers in more than 90 countries as well helping to develop and deploy 3G networks, having deployed commercial 3G (UMTS/HSPA and CDMA/EV-DO) systems for more than 70 operators worldwide.
* Uganda Telecom provides voice and data communication solutions that include fixed telephony, mobile telephony, ISP and data communications. Uganda Telecom recently launched the Next Generation Network that delivers all voice, data and even video services over one network over IP. It has the largest fixed-line network and is also the largest ISP in the country.
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