BTC selects Lucent to deploy 3G network

November 16, 2005

The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC), the wireless telecommunications operator on the island chain, announced it has selected Lucent Technologies to deploy a 3G mobile network based on CDMA2000 1X and 1xEV-DO technology. The network will be used to provide roaming voice and mobile high-speed data services such as high-quality video-on-demand (VoD), downloading of large files, and Internet and intranet access at speeds of up to 2.4 Megabits per second to the growing number of tourists and business people that visit the Bahamas each year.

The Lucent-supplied CDMA2000 1X and 1xEV-DO network will be deployed on the islands of New Providence, Grand Bahamas, Bimini, Eleuthera and Exuma covering the main towns, hotels, resorts and airports with voice and mobile high-speed data services.

"We are very excited by the opportunity to offer advanced, high-quality mobile voice and high-speed data services to visitors coming to our beautiful islands carrying their CDMA phones, PDAs and laptop PC cards," said Antonio Stubbs, vice president of planning and engineering for BTC.

Tourism is the Bahamas' most important industry. According to the Bahamas Tourism Board, over four million tourists visit the Bahamas each year, with over 80 percent of them originating from the United States and Canada. The CDMA2000 1X and 1xEV-DO network will provide these tourists with the ability to utilize the same services available in their own country.

In addition to Lucent's CDMA2000 1X and 1xEV-DO solution, Lucent also will supply Juniper Networks' M-series Multiservice Edge routing platforms and Riverstone Networks' MPLS-based carrier Ethernet routers. Lucent Worldwide Services will provide network integration, deployment and management services.

"BTC's selection of Lucent's solution to deploy the first 3G network in the Bahamas is quite an honor," said Javier Falcon, vice president, Lucent Technologies for the Caribbean, Southern Cone and Central America. "Our state-of-the-art solution will allow BTC to expand their services offerings and deliver on their commitment to offer the highest quality services to their subscribers and visitors to the Bahamas."

"We are very proud to have won this project based on strong customer relationships, product quality, dedicated support and perseverance," said Heidy Frank, Lucent's regional sales director for the Caribbean. "We feel that this is the beginning of a long and very fruitful business relationship with BTC. We'll continue to work closely with BTC to ensure the successful completion of the network and provide them the required support as they roll out new 3G services. Lucent's solution provides BTC with a cost-effective and easy way to manage the network and introduce new capabilities and services."