PHILADELPHIA-Grupo Iusacell, Bell Atlantic Corp.’s communications venture in Mexico, plans to launch Mexico’s first Code Division Multiple Access network as part of a $200 million upgrade beginning in Mexico City early next year, said the company.
Lucent Technologies Inc. will provide the CDMA infrastructure equipment to replace Iusacell’s existing analog Advanced Mobile Phone Service system. Iusacell, whose operating regions contain 70 percent of Mexico’s population, will offer caller ID, advanced voice mail, short message service, paging service and enhanced call security and privacy.
Bell Atlantic took management control of Iusacell in February, consolidating six lines of business, and focused on a new single brand name and a common set of products and services. Iusacell says the introduction of CDMA means it will surpass its Latin American counterparts by bringing advanced technology for voice, data, and messaging to business and residential consumers.
“The introduction of digital service to Mexico is another clear sign that Iusacell is the wireless leader in bringing innovative products and services to market,” said Tom Bartlett, chief executive officer of Bell Atlantic International Wireless and Grupo Iusacell. “Together with Bell Atlantic’s CDMA coverage in the United States, Iusacell can help lay the groundwork for a tremendous footprint of common technologies and services in the fast-developing trade lane between the U.S. and Mexico.”
