Africa : Laos is to become the latest country to get 3G technology, following a contract placed with ZTE Corporation – China’s largest telecommunications equipment provider.

Above shows the ZTE cdma2000 1x EV/DO (HDR) system networking diagram.

Local operator Sky Telecom Co Ltd is to deploy a national CDMA 2000 1X EV-DO network from ZTE covering Vientiane (the capital city), Savannakhet, Thakhek, Pakse, Luangprabang and other areas connecting to Thailand. The network will provide services such as IP-Phone, EV-DO high data rate, voice, wireless local loop (WLL), G3 fax, packed data and other value-added services. This EV-DO network will operate at 800MHz, taking Laos into the 3G era.

“The network is the first CDMA 800MHz network commercially applied in Laos and will enable Laotian people to enjoy the most advanced communication services,” said Mr. Nares Homsirikamol, CEO of Sky Telecom Company Ltd.

“We also expect it to set a world class example of a CDMA network operating at 800MHz for the interest of possible future involvement with neighboring countries like Kampuchea, Myanmar and others.”

ZTE has already deployed its 20 million lines of CDMA equipment for more than 50 operators in more than 40 countries including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, Kenya, India, Indonesia and Vietnam.

“We are one of the few suppliers that can provide a total solution across all the wireless technologies and so network operators like Sky can develop their systems with us knowing that we are totally committed long term,” said Mr. Qian Qiang, President of AP Region, at ZTE.

“We are also extremely proud of the quality of our staff – more than 80% of our personnel worldwide have a degree – and our back-up service, which means we are always there when our customers need us.”

This new contract in Laos comes only a week after ZTE announced it was to supply a key Intelligent Network (IN) system to support the IDD Prepaid customers of MobileOne Limited – the innovative and fast-growing Singapore mobile network operator. ZTE and its local partner, ADDvantage Consulting Private Limited, are to supply a feature-rich IN System for M1 on a turnkey basis. The system includes ZTE’s SCP, SMP and the SSP based on the award wining ZTE ZXJ10 digital switch. Together, the two organisations will provide system implementation, integration, maintenance and consultative services to M1.