Alcatel to deploys 3G/UMTS pilot network in Tunisia

June 30, 2004

Alcatel today announced that it has been chosen by Tunisia to set up a 3G/UMTS pilot project. This step consolidates the partnership between Alcatel and the Tunisian ministry of communication technologies.

The 3G/UMTS pilot project is part of the preparation for the World Summit on the Information Society to be held in Tunis in November 2005.

From the first step of this agreement, Alcatel Evolium 3G/UMTS solutions will enable the CERT (Tunisian telecommunications study and research center) to offer new, innovative and powerful high speed UMTS services, such as video telephony between multimedia terminals (voice, pictures and video), videoconferencing, web browsing, music or picture downloading, video streaming and chat.

Alcatel will supply and deploy the UMTS Radio Access Network (UTRAN) of the UMTS pilot network, including UMTS Multi-Standard Evolium Base Stations (Node Bs), the Evolium Radio Network Controller (RNC) and the UMTS Operation and Maintenance Center (UMTS OMC-R). It will also comprise core network systems (packet and circuit) and associated multimedia equipment. Alcatel will also provide full technical support throughout the duration of the tests.

"Tunisia aims to bring itself into line with the most sophisticated services through technological developments, rationalization of investments and operating costs," stated Mr Ali Ghodhbani, chief executive officer of the CERT.

"This is Africa's first 3G pilot network" declared Olivier Picard, Alcatel chief operating officer for Africa, France, the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent. "We are extremely pleased to have been chosen and contribute in this way to bridging the digital divide."