Alcatel-Lucent deploys LTE and VoLTE for Cambodia’s Chuan Wei’s nationwide ultra-broadband network expansion

Phnom Penh, Cambodia, September 28, 2015

Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) and Cambodia’s Chuan Wei Ltd., have signed a frame agreement to expand mobile ultra-broadband connectivity across the country. The deployment of Alcatel-Lucent’s LTE and VoLTE technologies will allow the Internet Service Provider to meet growing data demands of more enterprise customers while launching new consumer services.

Approximately one-third of Cambodians are connected to the Internet, with the majority accessing data on their mobile devices. Mobile subscription is increasing in the country - currently at 24.20 million, representing mobile saturation at 157 percent of the population with multiple subscriptions per user. Last year the number of active users accessing social media via their mobile devices increased by 108 percent, with approximately 80 percent of Internet traffic being driven by Facebook and YouTube applications.

Chuan Wei wants to offer nationwide high-quality, affordable connectivity to meet these growing demands and employed Alcatel-Lucent’s Bell Labs Consulting to provide a vendor agnostic review of the market potential for their planned services. Using Alcatel-Lucent’s VoLTE technology, Chuan Wei will be able to deliver high-definition voice services to existing enterprise customers, dramatically enhancing the user experience and paving the way for the delivery of new, differentiated consumer services.

The nationwide ultra-broadband network will connect into the Alcatel-Lucent deployed 100G agile optical transport network and a submarine cable system, allowing Chuan Wei to offer affordable high-speed high-quality Internet and voice services where users most need them.

Key Facts :

• Alcatel-Lucent will deploy key LTE and VoLTE technologies to support high-speed data and high-definition voice on a single platform. Under the frame agreement, Alcatel-Lucent will deliver its LTE-FDD radio access network (RAN), IP Mobile Core, Rapport™ communications software, backhaul connectivity using the 7705 Service Aggregation Router and 9500 Microwave Packet Radio, online charging system components of Surepay®, the Subscriber Data Manager, 5780 Dynamic Services Controller and Professional Services expertise.
• Network deployment will begin in some of the most densely populated cities - including Phnom Penh and the tourist destinations of Siem Reap region, home to the temple of Angkor Wat and the coastal resort of Sihanoukville. It will continue in the cities of Poipet and Bavet, on the borders with Thailand and Vietnam respectively as well as other major cities across the country, before completion during mid-2016.
• Bell Labs Consulting provided Chuan Wei analysis on their Business Plan from both a technology and a go-to-market perspective examining their Internet Service Provider, Data Center and Mobile Broadband service offerings.

Quotes :

Eric Lee, Chief Executive Officer of Chuan Wei, said : “We have a strong vision to leapfrog directly to the world’s most efficient communications technology to make universal access to affordable broadband and voice services in Cambodia become true. With the complete LTE and VoLTE solutions from Alcatel-Lucent, we believe that the customer experience will be improved and new business opportunities will open.”

Sebastien Laurent, President of Southeast Asia (West) region for Alcatel-Lucent and Managing Director at Alcatel-Lucent (Thailand) Co., Ltd., said : “Ultra-broadband network transformation continues apace in the Southeast Asia (West) region. As economies grow, intra-country high speed infrastructure connections become vital to promote information exchange and digital life style improvements. We are pleased to work with Chuan Wei, supporting a strong infrastructure development in Cambodia with our expertise, technologies and services.”