Press Releases

Alcatel has been selected by TELECEL for the development of a Broadband Wireless Access network in Portugal. On the basis of the frame contract, Alcatel will provide its EVOLIUM™ LMDS technology to enable TELECEL to offer Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) last mile radio broadband access, voice and Internet services including LAN interconnections, PBX applications, video conferencing as well as virtual leased-line services. The wireless solution will be implemented on a TELECEL core network for which Alcatel is also tendering for supplying ATM switch and SDH equipment.

The 2 year frame contract signed with TELECEL states that, initially, the broadband radio access network, operating in the 26 Ghz frequency band, will be implemented in Lisbon and its surrounding suburbs. TELECEL is currently testing a first trial network including the central Digital Base Station and several Radio Base Stations. This trial will initiate the installation of a number of Radio Base Stations, Customers Premises Equipment (CPE) radio and Network Termination in the coming weeks. Subsequent to the trial there will be an assessment of the proposed roll out of the network over the main Portuguese cities.

“TELECEL will offer to its business Customers radio access to voice and high speed data and Internet services” said António Coimbra, TELECEL’s COO. “Alcatel’s turnkey solution allows TELECEL to focus on providing services to its Customers while Alcatel is focused on implementing the network”.

“This award marks a new and significant step for Alcatel in the new development of the high-speed wireless local loop market,” says Jean-David Calvet, Vice-President Marketing, Product Management & Support of Alcatel’s Radio Communications activities. “It shows that Alcatel’s LMDS solution is ideal for a cellular telecom operator in an urban area wanting to expand its business by launching fixed telecommunications services while at the same time optimising its cellular network.”

Today, more than 40 extensive field trials and commercial deployments networks using EVOLIUM™ LMDS solutions are operational throughout the world, particularly in Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, Greece, Poland, Japan and the United States.

About LMDS
Local multipoint Distribution Services (LMDS) seek to compete with optical fibre in the framework of the high-speed access to the local loop, by providing comparable capacity, quality and reliability with fewer easement, right-of-way or construction constraints than wired systems. With Alcatel’s broadband wireless access which includes a 3.5 GHz frequency band system designed to cover the needs of very small enterprises of the “SoHo” type (Small officeHome office) the objective is for the operator to have low start-up costs but fast deployment of the service.

About TELECEL
TELECEL is the leading private provider of telecommunications services in Portugal. The company operates a nation-wide cellular network based on the GSM900 and GSM1800 digital standards and was one of the first operators in the world to offer GSM services.
In June 1999, TELECEL launched its Internet business, both as a service and a content provider and in November 1999 was awarded a fixed broadband radio license by the ICP. In early 2000, TELECEL also launched its fixed indirect telecommunications service. Vodafone AirTouch Plc, the world’s largest mobile telecommunications operator, holds 50.9% of TELECEL’s share capital, the remaining 49.1% being freely floated on the Lisbon Stock Exchange.

About Alcatel:
Alcatel builds next generation networks, delivering integrated end-to-end voice and data solutions to established and new carriers, as well as enterprises and consumers world-wide. With 120,000 employees and sales of EURO 21.3 billion ($25.0 billion), Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit Alcatel on www.alcatel.com