Entel Boliva selects Alcatel-Lucent for mobile WiMAX

Alcatel-Lucent announced that it has been awarded a contract by Entel S.A., the leading telecommunications operator in Bolivia, to deploy the first commercial WiMAX Rev-e (802.16e-2005 standard) network in Bolivia. This new network will support voice over IP (VoIP), high-speed Internet access, video and other data services for Entel customers.

The new network will accommodate stationary and nomadic applications, and will complement the carrier’s existing fixed-based broadband services. Entel plans to launch commercial service of the network by the end of this quarter.

Alcatel-Lucent will provide its end-to-end WiMAX solution, including base stations, wireless access controllers, software and application platforms. It also will provide design and planning for end-to-end network integration services, including radio network planning, installation and commissioning, project management and support services for Entel’s network.

To ensure Entel’s customers will benefit from early, state-of-the-art WiMAX devices that comply with the IEEE 802.16e-2005 standard, Alcatel-Lucent has teamed up with ZyXEL, a pioneer in this domain, to provide customer-premises equipment.

In addition to being able to offer new revenue-generating services, Entel will benefit from additional operational efficiencies because this solution offers one of the most advanced technologies in terms of radio frequency management.

“In fast-growing economies such as Bolivia, our universal WiMAX solution is the ideal means of rapidly and cost-effectively increasing penetration of high-speed Internet access and basic telephony services via VoIP, because the carrier can avoid the costly and disruptive civil engineering work involved in deploying copper or optical fiber cable,” said Victor Agnellini President of Alcatel-Lucent’s Caribbean & Latin America activities. “This project underscores Alcatel-Lucent’s commitment to WiMAX as a key element of its universal broadband access strategy, and expands the company’s footprint in the region.”

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