WASHINGTON-Cable & Wireless Jamaica Ltd. has purchased cellular communications equipment from Nortel Networks Inc. and eight other U.S. exporters as part of a $173 million project. Export-Import Bank of the United States is guaranteeing a $72.3 million seven-year loan to the U.K.-based telecommunications provider.
Cable & Wireless is in the process of overlaying its TDMA networks in all its Caribbean mobile markets with GSM/GPRS technology. Nortel will supply the GSM network with islandwide coverage and upgrade the carrier’s existing data transmission landline network.
In addition to Nortel’s U.S. subsidiary, Hewlett-Packard Co., PowerTech Services, Digital Island, Glenayre Electronics, Tallard Technologies, Global Communications Consulting and Rohn Industries will provide equipment, software and services for the new network. Ex-Im Bank said it is guaranteeing a loan by Citibank N.A. to Cable & Wireless Jamaica.
