Brasil Telecom picks Alca-Lu for BRL2bn network maintenance deal

Brazil’s third largest telecoms company by subscribers Brasil Telecom Participacoes (Brasil Telecom) has awarded Alcatel-Lucent a nearly BRL2 billion (USD1.1 billion) deal to maintain its networks, local business daily Valor Economico reported Wednesday. Alca-Lu beat off rival bids from Ericsson and Nokia Siemens Networks to secure the two-year deal. Maintenance of the network is one of Brasil Telecom's single largest outlays, accounting for nearly 10% of all expenses in the first nine months of 2007, the paper said.