BellSouth
Ecuador has selected Nortel Networks to upgrade its national wireless
network in Ecuador with the deployment of a third generation infrastructure
using CDMA2000 1X technology.
Under
an agreement estimated at approximately US$17 million, Nortel Networks
will overlay BellSouth's existing TDMA network with a complete CDMA2000
1X solution, including radio access and switching equipment. The new,
3G-enabled network, expected to be the first of its kind in Ecuador,
will position BellSouth to take advantage of higher voice capacity and
to drive down its cost per subscriber, while offering new 'always on'
high-speed data services.
"Our
commitment with BellSouth's customers in Ecuador to provide higher quality
wireless services is driving our decision to deploy a third generation
infrastructure," said Carlos Banco, chief executive officer, BellSouth
Ecuador.
"This
contract further reinforces our long-standing relationship with BellSouth,
and continues our momentum in deploying CDMA2000 1X networks around
the world," said Kevin Taylor, director, Wireless Networks, Nortel
Networks CALA (Caribbean and Latin America). "We will work closely
with BellSouth to evolve its network, to help reduce its cost of delivering
voice services, and to provide new, revenue-generating 3G data services."
Nortel Networks has worked with BellSouth International for almost 10
years, deploying wireless networking equipment throughout Latin America
- including Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala and Nicaragua.
Nortel
Networks is implementing CDMA2000 around the world, and has deployed
more than 30,000 CDMA base stations for customers in 14 countries on
five continents.
BellSouth Corporation is a Fortune 100 communications services company
headquartered in Atlanta, serving more than 45 million customers in
the United States and 14 other countries. Consistently recognized for
customer satisfaction, BellSouth provides a full array of broadband
data and e-commerce solutions to business customers, including Web hosting
and other Internet services. In the residential market, BellSouth offers
DSL high-speed Internet access, advanced voice features and other services.
