Nortel to build out some Cricket markets

Nortel Networks Ltd. has secured a three-year contract with Cricket Communications Inc. valued at $135 million, to supply the carrier with CDMA equipment as it expands its network coverage with CDMA2000 1x and EV-DO Rev. A equipment, the Toronto-based company announced.
The flat-rate carrier is building gout its recently acquired advanced wireless services spectrum.
Just a couple weeks ago, the Leap Wireless International Inc. subsidiary agreed to purchase up to $126 million in equipment, services and software for its network from Alcatel-Lucent.
“Cricket is steadily expanding into new markets extending our unlimited services with no long-term commitment wireless plans to more and more subscribers,” said Glenn Umetsu, executive VP of engineering and technical operations for Leap Wireless. “With Nortel’s support, we’ve recently launched markets in New York and North Carolina. We are pleased to expand our commitment with Nortel to bring their advanced CDMA products to our new AWS markets and continue offering our customers advanced voice and data services while maintaining our leadership position on cost.”
Richard Lowe, president of carrier networks at Nortel said, “Cricket’s creative approach to the wireless market meets consumer demand for economical services head-on.”
According to Nortel, its Rev. A technology allows user to receive data at speeds up to 3.1 megabits per second and send data at up to 1.8 megabits per second. Cricket has deployed Nortel infrastructure in markets covering more than 26 million potential subscribers since 2000, according to the wireless infrastructure provider.