This Weeks 3G News By Photos

Europe France : Alcatel announced that is has been awarded a contract to provide a 3G/UMTS mobile network to CamGSM (Mobitel), a telecommunications service provider in Cambodia.

The 3G/UMTS network is planned for delivery in First Half 2006. It will enable CamGSM to offer its customers high-bandwidth wireless services such as live streaming of mobile TV channels. It also establishes the operator as a regional leader in providing advanced wireless solutions.

Under the terms of the contract, Alcatel will provide CamGSM with radio access and core network equipment, as well as video telephony and streaming applications. It will smoothly integrate these elements into CamGSM's existing GSM/EDGE network, also provided by Alcatel.

Leveraging its natively multi-standard design, the Alcatel Evolium multi-standard radio access solution enables seamless coexistence of GSM/EDGE and 3G capabilities in the same radio equipment. Furthermore, thanks to its built-in software modularity, the solution will subsequently allow a smooth software-based introduction of HSDPA and HSUPA when the local market requires these functionalities, thus enabling a future-safe and cost-effective path for the operator.

"We selected Alcatel after a thorough evaluation of various vendors. Alcatel's evolutionary multi-standard solution will enable us to cost-effectively introduce the innovative and revenue-generating 3G services that will sustain our business in the long term," said Neak Okhna Kith Meng , Chairman of CamGSM. "Concurrently, we believe that by upgrading our 2G/2.5G network to 3G, we are anticipating our customers needs and contributing to the development of Cambodia," he added.

"This 3G win perfectly illustrates the value of Alcatel's multi-standard Evolium concept and software-centric approach when it comes to bridging the digital divide in fast-growing markets such as Cambodia," said Marc Rouanne, Chief operating officer of Alcatel's mobile communications activities.

Alcatel has been a long-standing provider of telecommunications services to CamGSM. In 2005, Alcatel provided CamGSM with a complete solution that allowed the operator to significantly expand and upgrade its GSM/EDGE network.