Alcatel-Lucent (Alca-Lu) has announced that it has been selected by China Unicom to deploy W-CDMA network equipment in 14 provinces. Secured through Alcatel-Lucent Shanghai Bell (ASB), the contract will enable Unicom to provide its end users with advanced 3G mobile services including media streaming, ring back tones, video sharing and high speed internet access. Initial network deployments in the cities of Tianjin, Baoding, Wenzhou, Taizhou, Guiyang and Guilin are expected to be completed in May 2009.
Under the terms of the contract, Alca-Lu will provide its 11000 Node B (base stations), home location Register (HLR) database system as well network maintenance and optimisation in 14 provinces – Hebei, Fujian Guangxi, Tianjin, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Inner Mongolia, Jiangxi, Guizhou, Heilongjiang, Guangdong, Hunan, Shandong and Xinjiang.