Algerie Telecom (AT) has selected Sweden’s Ericsson to install its second GSM network. The $162.3 million contract will establish 700,000 lines, providing services to 12 of Algeria’s 48 provinces. The deal has a target date of completion set for August 2003.
Ericsson beat competition from Siemens, Huawei Technologies, Zhongxing Technologies, Alcatel and the Motorola in the GSM tender launched in September 2002.
Egyptian Orascom Telecom (OT) owns Algeria's second mobile phone network after winning a license last year at the cost of $737 million. The state-owned Post and Telecommunications monopoly currently runs the country's first GSM network. OT said it would invest $200 million in its Algerian operations by 2003 and expected the North African country's mobile phone market to grow to eight million users within the next five years. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
