ZTE USA, Inc., a leading global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions, today announced that it has clinched an exclusive bid from Columbia’s leading operator Emcali to build the country’s first WiMAX 16e network. For the 3.5G WiMAX 16e project, ZTE will provide Emcali with core network equipment, wireless access equipment and various outdoor/indoor terminals. Emcali, which was awarded by the Columbian government WiMAX licenses two years ago, has been required to make the network commercially available by end of this year.

After a thorough bidding process, Emcali chose ZTE to exclusively provide them the network equipment in developing comprehensive commercial network services and advanced WiMAX technologies in Columbia. Under the project, ZTE will also provide WiMAX base stations to help Emcali offer extensive mobile wireless coverage in the Columbian regions of Cali and Popayan.

Upon completion of the project, Emcali will be able to offer WiMAX mobile services besides providing fixed line phone services, network transmission and IPTV businesses. The company is among the growing number of telecom operators worldwide putting extra efforts in developing advanced WiMAX technology to address users’ needs for highly advanced mobile wireless communication services. International research firm Pyramid Research predicts the global WiMAX subscribers to grow from over 2.1 million in 2007 to 41 million in 2012, with emerging markets accounting for 57 percent of all customers by 2012.

“ZTE is committed to providing our customers with the highest quality of customized solutions to meet their specific business requirements. Emcali is not only a well-known fixed telecom operator in Columbia, but also one of our best long-term partners. Through the partnership with Emcali, we can leverage our pioneering visions and state-of-the-art technologies to achieve win-win relations, contributing our technology strengths in driving WiMAX’s growth and development in Columbia and Latin America markets,” said Mr. Su Jian, Chief Representative of ZTE Columbia.

Source:unstrung