Ericsson has been chosen as preferred supplier by leading Mozambican operator, mcel, to upgrade and expand its existing 3G radio network in Maputo, Mozambiques capital city, using the latest Ericsson technology.This includes the RBS 6000, which earlier this year was used in setting the record for the fastest Internet in the world.A statement by Mcel on Thursday said the contract was built on Ericssons longstanding relationship with mcel and came on the heels of a recently completed upgrade of mcels 3G core network by Ericsson.It stated, The network upgrade will enable mcel to provide high-speed mobile broadband which can deliver video and web application services, thereby offering its subscribers a superior user experience. Under the agreement, Ericsson will deploy its industry leading core network solutions as well as its multi-standard base station RBS 6000, supporting GSM/EDGE, 3G (WCDMA/HSPA) and 4G (LTE). The core network solutions include Ericssons Mobile Softswitch Solution and Ericsson SmartEdge-based Mobile Packet Backbone Network solution, which efficiently handle the take off of voice and data.mcel, the premier operator in Mozambique, started operations in 1997 and now has more than 4.3 million customers and the most extensive network in the country - covering 65 per cent of the geographical area, and 75 per cent of the population. Published reports show that mobile penetration in Mozambique is mostly in cities, and currently stands at around 35 per cent, while Internet penetration is less than five per cent with 0.1 per cent having access to broadband. However there is a growing demand for high-speed broadband beyond urban areas.mcel recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Mozambiques Science and Technology Ministry, to roll out community multimedia centres in rural areas. Based on this understanding, mcel would provide internet access to six Mozambican districts.mcel Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Mamudo Ibraimo, said, As Mozambiques premier operator, we view our services as an enabler of socio-economic development and long-term prosperity. We continue to drive the growth and evolution of mobile telephony here through continued expansion, value-oriented innovation and a focus on the delivery of an excellent customer experience.Our partnership with Ericsson positions us well to secure our premier position and continued growth in this market.The Head of Ericsson Sub-Saharan Africa, Lars Lindn, said, mcels new network will cater to the exceptional traffic growth they expect in the near future. With improved network signalling and transmission capacity from Ericsson, we are committed to ensuring the quality of service mcel delivers to its subscribers.
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