Globe Telecom, Inc. Philippines and Nera Telecommunications Ltd, Singapore, associated company of Nera ASA (Nasdaq: NERAY), have signed a $21.68 million contract in Manila, Philippines. The contract includes delivery and installation of high capacity (SDH) microwave equipment for Globe Telecom's cellular phone network.
The contract involves the installation of high capacity Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) microwave radios for its Luzon and Visayas BSS Access Network to complement its existing fiber optic Core Transmission Network. It is designed to further strengthen the latency and flexibility of Globe's network and rapidly meet the increasing demand for capacity brought about by various applications and services now available in wireless systems.
Nera's transmission network serves as a pipeline that allows calls to be transported from the various Globe cell sites to its Base Station Controllers and network of mobile switches across the country.
Without having to dig up roads and physically lay cables, microwave radio relay is the fastest way to establish transmission networks at a very competitive cost.
The project is part of Globe's $330 million Phase 8A expansion program for the year 2001. It involves the putting up of additional Mobile Switching Centres, dual band cell sites, transmission facilities and Intelligent Network (IN) capacity.
Globe Telecom, Inc. is a full service telecommunications company at the Philippines and a mobile operator. The project brings Globe's total investment in Nera equipment to approximately $27 million. Globe had entered into two contracts with Nera last year; a $2.9 million deal for its North Luzon Expansion Project, followed by another $3.2 million contract for Base Station Control Protection in Northern Metro Manila and South Luzon.
Nera ASA received the first purchase orders connected to this contract in the first quarter, and accordingly approximately half of the contract is included in the order book from the first quarter. The rest will be part of the order intake in the second quarter. The delivery of the contract has already started, and final implementation is scheduled for November.
About Nera:
Nera is a global supplier, developing, manufacturing and selling wireless and satellite communication equipment and systems. For more information, visit www.nera.no.