Paris, August 4, 2003 – Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA), the world's fastest growing GSM/GPRS solutions provider, announced it has signed a contract for the supply of a complete solution for GSM infrastructure and services to TDCA. The system is already operational in Kabul under the commercial name of Roshan and will cover the five main cities of Herat, Kandahar, Mazar-i-Sharif, Jalalabad and Kunduz by the end of 2003. This contract follows the January 2003 acquisition of the new Afghani GSM license by the international consortium TDCA (Telecom Development Company Afghanistan LTD) led by the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) and Monaco Telecom International.
Under the terms of this multi-million Euro contract, Alcatel is supplying TDCA with its industry leading Evolium™ solution. The contract encompasses a radio Base Station Subsystem (BSS) and a core Network Sub System (NSS), including a Mobile Switching Center (MSC). When completed the network will include an Intelligent Network platform for value-added services such as Voice Mail Service (VMS) and a Short Message Service Center (SMS-C) supplied by Alcatel. To carry high-capacity traffic, the network is also deploying Alcatel microwave radio and carrier-class transmission solutions, both managed by Alcatel’s integrated transport network management platform.
The network will also encompass Alcatel VSAT connections for both domestic and international communications giving Roshan the possibility to take advantage of the end-to-end capability of Alcatel.
Karim Khoja, Chief Executive Officer of Roshan, said: "In the next 12 months with the support of Alcatel’s engineers, Alcatel will roll out the network to cover five of Afghanistan major cities. This is a very ambitious plan. The challenge of rolling out the network confirms Alcatel's strengths in the fast delivery of mobile networks tying in with Roshan’s plans for supplying a reliable mobile network to the new Afghanistan.”
"Taking this step in Afghanistan is a major achievement for Alcatel since we will be able to play a role in the rebuilding of the country’s telecommunication infrastructure. Through this co-operation with AKFED, Alcatel is also proud to contribute to the country’s development by building the first major quality GSM network ", added Marc Rouanne, Chief Operating Officer of Alcatel's Mobile Communications Group.
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About Alcatel
Alcatel provides end-to-end communications solutions, enabling carriers, service providers and enterprises to deliver content to any type of user, anywhere in the world. Leveraging its long-term leadership in telecommunications networks equipment as well as its expertise in applications and network services, Alcatel enables its customers to focus on optimizing their service offerings and revenue streams. With sales of EURO 16.5 billion in 2002, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit Alcatel on the Internet: http://www.alcatel.com
About TDCA - Roshan
TDCA Ltd trading as Roshan is a consortium led by AKFED partnering with Monaco Telecom International and MCT Corp. The investment made by TDCA represents one of the largest private investment performed in the country since the fall of the Taliban in late 2001. For more information, visit Roshan on the internet : http://www.roshan.af
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