Alcatel-Lucent and Globacom successfully launch Nigeria’s first commercial 3G UMTS/HSPA mobile broadband network

Alcatel-Lucent and Globacom successfully launch Nigeria’s first commercial 3G UMTS/HSPA mobile broadband network

Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) and Globacom (Glo), Nigeria’s second largest national operator, today announced that theyhave successfully launched commercial service on Nigeria’s first third-generation UMTS/HSPA network, offering advanced mobile data services to customers in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt.

This wireless network expansion has enabled Globacom to increase capacity and introduce state-of-the-art mobile broadband services. The successful launch of Glo’s “3G Plus” network reinforces Alcatel-Lucent’s worldwide leadership in mobile broadband and its leading position in the African market.

The first service offerings now available on the Glo 3G Plus network include video calling, high-speed internet access – using 3G phones or laptop computers equipped with wireless modems – video and audio streaming and mobile TV featuring channels such as CNN, Fashion TV and Silverbird TV.

“Our 3G Plus network will revolutionise the way Nigerians access the internet, as it enables a much faster transmission of data, broadband internet and multimedia services,” said Mohamed Jameel, Chief Operating Officer of Globacom. “By providing Nigerians with high-speed Internet access, video calling and mobile TV, amongst other services, we are offering our subscribers a world-class mobile data experience, comparable to the most innovative services in the most advanced countries. This advanced network will inevitably benefit the lives and businesses of the subscribers that utilize these services.”

Under the agreement Alcatel-Lucent has provided a turnkey solution including UMTS/HSPA radio access and core networking equipment, including its IMS-ready Next Generation Network (NGN) solution and Multimedia Services Platform along with a variety of services including network deployment and network and applications integration. This agreement expands on an earlier agreement under which Alcatel-Lucent is supporting the expansion of Globacom’s GSM/EDGE network.

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