Alcatel announced today it has been awarded a contract by KenCell, a joint-venture of Vivendi Telecom International and of Sameer Investment Ltd (the most important private investment group in Kenya) to deliver its high-performance LMDS (Local Multipoint Distribution Service) solution for high-speed data access and advanced broadband applications.
Under the terms of this contract Alcatel will provide mobile backhaul for KenCell`s GSM 900 MHz mobile network. The first phase of this deployment for the Kenyan operator includes the provision and deployment of several LMDS base stations and the associated equipment. This first phase is up and running in Nairobi since April, and will be followed by a second stage that is scheduled for completion next June in Mombasa.
By maximizing spectrum efficiency, Alcatel`s LMDS offers operators a future-proof mobile backhaul solution that connects the base station controller (BSC) and the mobile base stations, significantly reducing transmission costs in urban networks. With quicker and easier mobile base stations deployment, operators using Alcatel`s LMDS can deploy a flexible, scalable solution incrementally, allowing them to reap revenue generating benefits while minimizing up-front investment. Alcatel`s broadband wireless access system also provides ideal support both for the higher data rates expected to accompany the rollout of new services and the high base-station density in metropolitan areas. The Alcatel LMDS solution is compatible with other new mobile communications standards including GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), EDGE (Enhanced Data rate for GSM Evolution) and UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System).
"Thanks to its LMDS solution, Alcatel offers operators a flexible, bandwidth-efficient solution ideally suited to accommodate increasing traffic demands. Featuring fast and easy deployment, Alcatel is happy to be associated with KenCell providing reliability for advanced voice and data services", declared Marc Rouanne, president of Alcatel`s Mobile Networks activities.
"Our decision to select Alcatel was led by both technology and local presence in Kenya, its LMDS technology will enable KenCell to absorb the increasing traffic demand of our GSM subscriber base " added, Philippe Vandebrouck, MD and CEO of KenCell. "Alcatel`s LMDS technology will allow us to quickly, confidently and cost effectively turn on full production, featuring a rich broadband wireless network to capitalize on flourishing market opportunities."
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Licensed in January 2000 and with start of operations in August of the same year, KenCell Communications Ltd is the fastest growing mobile phone operator in Kenya. The Company offers a wide range of services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making communication easier and more affordable to all Kenyans.
Alcatel
Alcatel designs, develops and builds innovative and competitive communications networks, enabling carriers, service providers and enterprises to deliver any type of content, such as voice, data and multimedia, to any type of consumer, anywhere in the world. Relying on its leading and comprehensive products and solutions portfolio, stretching from end-to-end optical infrastructures, fixed and mobile networks to broadband access, Alcatel`s customers can focus on optimizing their service offerings and revenue streams. With sales of EURO 25 billion in 2001 and 99,000 employees, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit Alcatel on the Internet: http://www.alcatel.com.
Alcatel`s LMDS Solution
Deployed by more than 100 customers worldwide, the comprehensive Alcatel LMDS solution is a multiservice broadband wireless network comprised of base station and customer premises equipment, as well as network and service management. A base station, consisting of digital modulation equipment with optional switching capabilities and point-to-multipoint transmitters and receivers, is the central location that collects all traffic to and from customers within a given wireless coverage area. The base station is also the linking point between the customer and the network backbone. Customer premises equipment includes radio termination (RT) transceivers and network termination (NT) units, which support a full range of services.
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