Callino selects Alcatel to supply broadband wireless access network
Callino, a wholly owned subsidiary of Formus, purchased a national wireless local loop licence in the auctions that took place in Switzerland in March 2000. In an order worth up to Euro 65 million, Alcatel LMDS equipment will enable Callino to offer advanced broadband wireless services, which it will primarily target at small and medium enterprise (SME) customers.
This win follows other recent major Alcatel LMDS contracts including Cable and Wireless Optus in Australia, Sky Point and Retevision in Spain, Bell South in Uruguay and Farmer's Telephone in the United States and further network extensions with Hanaro Telecom in Korea. The win also follows Alcatel's selection by Callino sister companies, including announced contracts in Poland and Germany, and reinforces Formus' confidence in Alcatel as a reliable and future-proof partner in LMDS deployment.
The Alcatel LMDS solution, comprising both products and supporting services, is a high frequency broadband wireless system that enables Callino to cost-effectively deliver high-speed Internet, data and voice services to its SME customers.
Peter Waser, CEO of Callino (Switzerland) said: "As well as standard telephony services, we can offer our customers high speed, always-on Internet access and value added data services. We are principally targeting the SME marketplace. "For these customers, the advantage of wireless technology is not only the fast transmission of data, but also the fast deployment of the necessary infrastructure which avoids the difficult and time-consuming task of laying cables."
Jean-David Calvet, Executive Vice President, fixed wireless at Alcatel said: "Competitive service providers - such as Callino - clearly recognise the value in deploying an Alcatel broadband wireless access network. It enables them to quickly and cost-effectively support the rapidly growing demand for broadband services."
Source: Alcatel