Alcatel nabs $109-million network expansion contract
Alcatel has signed a major contract with ICE Telecom, the incumbent telecommunications operator in Costa Rica, to expand and modernize ICE's national fixed communications network. 

Per the contract, valued at approximately $109 million, Alcatel will provide its Alcatel 1000 MM switching systems, enabling ICE to offer advanced voice and data services. The network will be fully operational by December 2003. 

This expansion enables ICE to address the growing demand for new telephone lines and Internet services in the country, as well as manage the fast-growing volume of mobile communications traffic. 

According to company representatives, the ICE contract represents the largest single telecommunications switching contract ever signed in Costa Rica. Alcatel has emerged as the country's primary switching supplier, holding a 70% market share. 

"This contract demonstrates ICE's confidence in Alcatel as a strategic partner in the network migration process," contends Michel Rahier, president of Alcatel's fixed network activities. "The Alcatel 1000 MM next-generation switch provides our customers with the most cost-effective, future-safe and reliable platform available on the market." 

With its multiservice access, high capacity and fully redundant ATM-based matrix, SDH interfaces, and integrated voice over packet capability, the Alcatel 1000 MM realizes the convergence of voice and data networks, say company representatives. The Alcatel 1000 MM features processing capability of 8 million busy hour call attempts and allows operators to build exchanges of up to 16,000 PCMs or 400,000 subscribers.