WALL, N.J.-Nortel Networks Ltd. said it will replace Centennial Communications Corp.’s Dominican subsidiary’s existing CDMA third-generation network with its CDMA2000 1x access and core networking equipment. The network is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2003 and will increase capacity and improve coverage and delivery of wireless data services, the Canadian supplier said.
Lucent Technologies Inc. supplied the original next-generation equipment, and Centennial Dominicana launched 1x service in April. Nortel declined to provide the value of the contract, but Centennial Dominicana’s contract with Lucent was valued at $16 million.
“The network that was in place was future limited,” said Bruce Gustafson, Nortel’s director of market relations for wireless, noting that part of the Nortel contract win was based on its capabilities to offer EV-DO in the future.
The Nortel agreement also includes wireline switching solutions, Nortel said.
“This is a commercial decision, and we do not know anything else,” said Marco Malfavon, Lucent’s regional director for corporate communications for the Latin American region. “Centennial is a valued customer, and we continue to do business with them in other parts of the region.”
