TeleCard - a wireless local loop (WLL) company - has appointed Lucent Technologies, the US-based company, to expand and upgrade the operator's existing Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) wireless network.
Under an agreement with TeleCard, Lucent will supply third-generation (3G) equipment and services for up to a million lines to increase the coverage and capacity of the operator's existing network, and enable the introduction of next-generation mobile services such as high-speed Internet access.
"We selected Lucent because we were impressed by the quality of its solutions, and its wealth of experience deploying CDMA networks," said Sultan Ul Arfeen, chairman of TeleCard and the Arfeen Group, which is extensively involved in Pakistan's telecom sector with operations such as TeleCard and Instaphone (a nation-wide cellular operator).
"This expansion will enable us to offer our wireless services, including high-quality voice calls, as well as email and high-speed Internet access, to a greater number of customers.
"We are excited to be working with TeleCard, and look forward to the opportunity to help them in expanding their service offerings," Lucent Technologies Developing Markets President Jim Brewington said.
"Lucent is pleased to be able to play such a significant role in bringing exciting next-generation services to the people of Pakistan."
CDMA2000 is an advanced and efficient wireless technology being introduced world-wide and an internationally recognised 3G standard, established by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
It allows providers of wireless voice and data services to significantly increase network capacity and to deploy new services.
A global leader in the development of commercial third-generation (3G) spread-spectrum solutions, Lucent's Mobility Solutions Group has deployed CDMA2000, CDMA450, and W-CDMA/UMTS networks with more than 25 customers on the continents of North and South America, Asia, Europe and in Australia/New Zealand region.
Lucent has deployed more than 90,000 spread-spectrum base stations for mobile operators world-wide, of which 50,000 were already supporting 3G services.