BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

07.01.2005, 11:16 AM

Alcatel wins GSM supply contract with Belarus

MINSK, Belarus (AFX) - A China-based Alcatel unit has been awarded a contract to supply network equipment and software to the Belarusian Telecommunications Network (BeST), the country's newly established GSM operator, the BelaPAN news service reported.

Terms were not disclosed.

Alcatel Shanghai Bell Co outbid companies such as Siemens AG and LM Ericsson, BeST said in a statement.

State-owned BeST said it pledged to spend 200 mln usd within three years building a network covering an area in which 90 pct of the country's population is concentrated.

Belarus' first GSM provider, Velcom, has been buying all network equipment from Siemens and Ericsson, while the second operator, MTS, from Siemens, BelaPan added.

Source:

http://www.forbes.com/business/feeds/afx/2005/07/01/afx2120757.html


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