BUCHAREST, Romania-Northern Telecom Ltd. signed a three-year supply agreement with MobilFon S.A. to expand the carrier’s nationwide Global System for Mobile communications network in Romania, called Connex GSM.
The agreement with MobilFon includes radio equipment, maintenance and operations systems as well as installation and support services in expanding the network to the country’s highways and major cities, said Nortel.
“We are working day and night to roll out Connex GSM’s radio network and to meet our aggressive deadlines,” said Doug Pratt, vice president of network for Connex GSM. “By the end of 1998, the majority of the population of Romania will have access to our services.”
MobilFon is a Romanian company 60-percent owned by Canadian operator Telesystem International Wireless and 10-percent owned by U.S.-based operator AirTouch International. Romanian Post and Logic Telecom also have ownership interests.
“Nortel is fully committed to supporting Connex GSM’s aggressive expansion plans,” said Pascal Debon, group vice president and general manager of GSM Wireless Networks for Nortel. “We are constantly focusing on proposing the right solution to our customers and adapting them to their needs in the shortest timeframe possible.”
Following a fast launch-135 days-Connex GSM now covers more than 120 areas of Romania and over 60 percent of the population, said Nortel. Initially expected to have 25,000 users by the end of 1997, Connex GSM added its 100,000th customer in December and serves more than 160,000 subscribers.
