Alcatel-Lucent Wins $400M Reliance Deal
12.07.2007 08:16
Computers
- Source: Forbes
Telecommunications equipment maker Alcatel-Lucent has won a contract valued more than $400 million from Reliance Communications Ltd., the Indian phone company said. The agreement will help Reliance, the country's second largest mobile phone company in terms of subscribers, expand its network to more than 20,000 towns and 600,000 villages, it said in a statement Wednesday. "The expansion of our wireless CDMA and GSM network would further enhance our competitive edge," Anil Ambani, chairman of Reliance Communications, said in the statement. Currently, Reliance's communication networks covers over 8,000 towns and 300,000 villages. Under the contract, Paris-based Alcatel-Lucent (nyse: ALU - news - people ) will upgrade Reliance's network with additional mobile switching centers and base stations, the statement said. "The expansion of the Reliance network, particularly in rural areas, will help improve the lives of millions in India, and is further evidence of our commitment to meeting the communications needs of high-growth economies," the statement quoted Alcatel-Lucent's Chief Executive Patricia Russo as saying. Over the past year, India has emerged as the world's fastest growing mobile phone market, adding nearly 6 million new connections every month. The rapid expansion of the country's telecom sector has created new opportunities for companies with expertise in building communication equipment and infrastructure. Earlier this month, Finland-based Nokia (nyse: NOK - news - people )Siemens (nyse: SI - news - people ) Networks won a $900 million contract from Reliance Communications' bigger rival, Bharti Airtel Ltd., to help expand its communications network. _____ On the net: Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed
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