Alcatel wins GSM contract

Alcatel wins GSM contract

JAKARTA (JP): Alcatel of France has received confirmation from
the state-owned PT Satelit Palapa Indonesia (Satelindo) to
proceed with the implementation of phase two of its GSM (Global
System for Mobile Communications) digital cellular infrastructure
deployment plan.

The French company announced yesterday that the project will
cover 18 major cities and offer a capacity of 130,000 mobile
telephone lines.

The project, worth around US$130 million, will encompass all
GSM network elements such as a network subsystem, radio
subsystem, billing and subscriber administration platforms,
microwave transmission equipment and associated turnkey service,
the company said in a statement.

The first phase of Satelindo's GSM facilities, also
constructed in cooperation with Alcatel, is scheduled for
commercial operation later this year.

Satelindo, 40 percent owned by state companies and 60 percent
by private firms, provides telecommunication services including
GSM, satellite broadcasting and international gateways.(hen)