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Paris, October 14, 2008 — Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE:
ALU) today announced that it has reached agreement on a Euro 22 million deal
with Vodacom SA, the South African mobile operator equally owned by Telkom SA
and Vodafone Group, to design, build and deploy an upgrade of its existing 3G
network, building on a relationship of more than 15-years, between the two
companies.
Upon commercial launch, this network upgrade and modernization project will
boost the capacity and coverage of Vodacom’s network and will enable the
growing wireless carrier to offer its customers a wide range of advanced
next-generation mobile broadband services in future.
The enhanced 3G wireless network, based on Alcatel-Lucent UMTS (Universal
Mobile Telecommunications System) and HSDPA/HSUPA (High Speed Downlink Packet
Access/High Speed Uplink Packet Access) technologies, will improve Vodacom’s
network voice-quality and data-transmission speeds, while further strengthening
indoor coverage in urban areas.
Under the terms of the contract, Alcatel-Lucent will supply Vodacom with its
industry-leading UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN), based on an
evolving multi-standard radio access solution, including radio network
controllers, node B base stations and a flexible wireless network management
system.
Alcatel-Lucent’s cost-efficient radio access solution enables mobile
operators such as Vodacom to support several standards, including GSM, EDGE and
EDGE+ and to introduce new technologies in future, including W-CDMA, HSPA,
HSPA+ and LTE with a smooth evolution path to meet their market needs.
Alcatel-Lucent will also provide a comprehensive suite of professional
services in conjunction with this expansion contract, including installation,
commissioning, program management, on-site training, network rollout and
integration.
“Achieving an improved end-user experience with superior mobile voice and
high-speed mobile broadband data services is our key objective in expanding our
3G network,” said Andries Delport, Executive Director – Engineering and
Technology, Vodacom South Africa. “Continuing to provide our customers with the
highest quality of innovative mobile services requires us to partner with a
reliable partner such as Alcatel-Lucent, which has a proven track-record in
technology innovation. This project will also provide us with the ability to
leverage the investment we have in our existing network to meet the growing
demand of our customers for advanced services.”
Alcatel-Lucent’s W-CDMA/HSPA advanced wireless solutions will further
support Vodacom’s efforts to simplify network operations, reduce operating
expenses while enabling the operator to deliver advanced, next-generation
mobile services to its customers.
“With our strong local presence, project management skills and our
state-of-the-art wireless technology, we are confident that we will be able to
ensure that Vodacom will be able to reach its goal of providing its customers
some of the most advanced mobile services available on the African continent,
through the upgrade and modernization of their 3G network said Vincenzo Nesci,
President of Alcatel‑Lucent’s activities in the Middle East and Africa.”
As a global leader in the development and deployment of third-generation
(3G) networks, Alcatel-Lucent has deployed commercial 3G (UMTS/HSPA and
CDMA2000) systems for more than 70 operators worldwide. Alcatel-Lucent is also
a world leader in the design, deployment, management and integration of
networks.
About Vodacom
Vodacom is a Pan-African cellular communications company providing a world
class GSM service to more than 34 million customers in South Africa, Tanzania,
the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho and Mozambique. Vodacom South
Africa launched its 3G network in December 2004 and its 3G HSDPA network in
March 2006, and its 3G HSDPA 3.6 with HSUPA network in February 2008. Vodacom's
South African GSM and 3G networks cover more than 98% of the population.
Shareholding: Telkom SA - 50%, Vodafone Group - 50%. For more information,
visit  http://www.vodacom.com
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