MTS Ukraine launches wireless broadband network using Alcatel-Lucent’s CDMA/EV-DO Revision A solution

Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) today announced that MTS Ukraine has launched its commercial wireless broadband network using third-generation (3G) CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Revision A (Rev. A) equipment supplied by Alcatel-Lucent. The new network, deployed in the 450 MHz spectrum band, is providing MTS Ukraine’s subscribers in major Ukrainian cities with a wide variety of 3G mobile data services such as enhanced multimedia messaging, and audio and video streaming.

“We launched our high-speed wireless Internet service offerings using 3G technology because it is convenient, easy-to-use and offers an exceptionally high-quality experience for the end user,” said Pavel Pavlovsky, general director of MTS Ukraine. “Project management support provided by Alcatel-Lucent has enabled us to launch our network to satisfy growing demand for data services in the Ukrainian market. We plan to expand our network coverage and will soon be providing wireless Internet access in all of the largest Ukrainian cities.”

As part of this project, Alcatel-Lucent supplied its CDMA Modular Cell 4.0 Compact base stations for the 450 MHz spectrum band, CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Radio Network Controllers (RNC), a base station operation controller and a network element management system as well as packet core network equipment.

Alcatel-Lucent also provided network design, planning, deployment, operation, personnel training, and maintenance services, including remote technical support, repair, and local spares provisioning.Its partner in the project Kvazar-Micro -- an international IT company that provides products, solutions and services in Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) — managed the overall network integration. Together the two companies ensured the seamless integration of the solution with MTS Ukraine’s existing infrastructure and operations support systems.

“With this deployment MTS Ukraine is now able to introduce very high-speed 3G mobile data services to complement the 2G services offered by its existing GSM/GPRS network, enabling the operator to deliver a wide range of mobile data capabilities to address a variety of customer expectations,” said Johan Vanderplaetse, vice president of Alcatel-Lucent for the CIS. “Our Rev. A solution provides a flexible and reliable platform that MTS Ukraine can use to quickly introduce new services and expand its business.”

EV-DO Rev. A is an enhanced version of CDMA2000 1xEV-DO that increases the efficiency, data speeds and capacity of existing CDMA2000 1X and 1xEV-DO networks. EV-DO Rev. A enables users to receive data (forward link) at speeds up to 3.1 Megabits per second (Mbps) and send data (reverse link) at speeds of up to 1.8 Mbps. These increased forward and reverse link data speeds reduce data latency and enable operators to deliver Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and other multimedia services.

A global leader in the development and deployment of third-generation (3G) networks, Alcatel-Lucent has deployed commercial 3G (W-CDMA/HSPA and CDMA/EVDO) systems for more than 70 operators worldwide.