Siemens Telecommunications announced today that it will be hosting a NetOne Siemens technology seminar at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, showcasing future trends and technology for cellular network operators.
From 6-8 July, Siemens will present the most up-to-date mobile technology to leading GSM operator in Zimbabwe, NetOne. Other guests include a number of Zimbabwean Internet service providers and cellular service providers.
The largest supplier of cellular infrastructure in Africa and enabling mobile communications in at least 18 countries, Siemens Telecommunications will put mobile players on the "road to the future" with presentations on WAP, GPRS, UMTS, mobile solutions and Intelligent Networks (IN).
Furthering their involvement in Zimbabwe, Siemens Telecommunications is to sign a turnkey contract, to the value of US$ 45 million, with GSM operator, NetOne, during the course of the seminar. In terms of the contract, Siemens will provide full support - cellular equipment, installation, infrastructure, subcontractors and the like - for the expansion of NetOne's cellular mobile network (phase four). The contract also makes provision for Intelligent Network prepaid cellular services and future technologies such as WAP and GPRS (General Packet Radio Services).
"Just as pre-paid cellular services revolutionised telecommunications in Africa, future technologies such as WAP and GPRS, which provides for high-speed Internet capabilities, will be the key revenue earner for the international business market segment," says Fernando Goncalves, Siemens Telecommunications Key Account Manager for Africa.
PTC-owned NetOne is one of three GSM network operators in Zimbabwe, reputedly with the widest coverage in the country. NetOne currently has a subscriber base of 80 000, which is expected to grow to 200 000 as phase four of the mobile network is rolled out. In terms of the Siemens NetOne contract, 80 new base stations will be installed and NetOne will focus increasingly on new services such as WAP, Intelligent Network prepaid cellular and GPRS.
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