~ Le Viêt Nam, aujourd'hui. ~
The Vietnam News

Year :      [2003]      [2002]      [2001]      [2000]      [1999]      [1998]      [1997]

French return to Vietnam

PARIS & HANOI -- Alcatel , the world's fastest-growing GSM/GPRS supplier, announced today that it has signed a multi-million US dollar contract with VinaPhone, the fastest-growing mobile service provider in Vietnam, to expand the operator's GSM network in the country.

Under the terms of this contract, Alcatel will supply and install its Evolium? GSM 900MHz solution to optimize VinaPhone's existing network infrastructures and upgrade its coverage over 18 northern provinces, including Hanoi. When the installation is completed by May 2003, the expanded network will be able to support 1.3 million subscribers.

"We are happy to have chosen Alcatel to expand our GSM network and further improve the quality of coverage. The Evolium? industry leading solutions that are GPRS ready will enable VinaPhone to accelerate the deployment of new generation products and services. We look forward to a continued collaboration with Alcatel's teams in order to offer advanced mobile applications providing high quality state-of-the-art voice and data services," declared Trinh Quy Mui, Director of VinaPhone.

"Alcatel is very proud to help VinaPhone introduce the benefits of the latest mobile communications to the Vietnamese people," added Marc Rouanne, Chief Operating Officer of Alcatel's Mobile Communications Group. "We are pleased to enable VinaPhone increase its subscriber base and we look forward to our continued partnership to introduce a solid set of fast, revenue-generating services, while extending network coverage."

Acaltel SA - March 27, 2003.