Through a major deployment of its Marconi Advanced CDMA Radio Access System (MAARS), Marconi is helping to boost the rollout of telephony and data connections in Nigeria.
Koos Vorster, chief executive of Marconi Communications South Africa (MCSA), says MAARS replaces the traditional copper link between the local exchange and the subscriber with a radio-based system, allowing telecoms operators to rapidly deliver connections to customers without having to physically wire entire areas.
"MAARS`s flexibility and adaptability make it equally suitable for rural, suburban and high-density urban deployments," Vorster says. "As a result, it is ideal for many African countries, especially as it is not necessary to lay cables over vast distances."
The MAARS 200 systems are being installed for Magenta, a subsidiary of General Telecom plc, in Port Harcourt on the Niger Delta, a major centre for Nigeria`s oil industry. The turnkey contract, which also includes a dedicated MAARS digital exchange and a billing system, is worth more than $3.2 million (about R24.6 million).
The new system will deliver 56Kbit/s modem and voice connectivity to an initial 6,000 customers with further growth expected in the future. Nigeria, which has a population of 100 million, aims to push telecoms penetration far beyond the current level of one per cent over the next few years. With its key advantages of economy and rapid roll-out, Marconi anticipates a potential medium-term market for MAARS of over 500,000 subscribers.
Marconi Communications South Africa (MCSA) has around 850 employees with its head office and network division in Midrand and a production plant in Springs.
Marconi plc is a global communications and IT company with around 49,000 employees worldwide and sales in more than 100 countries. It supplies advanced communications solutions and the key technologies and services for the Internet. Marconi plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol MNI and NASDAQ under the symbol MONI.
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