19 May 2003
Motorola Inc. (NYSE: MOT) today announced it has won an extension contract for GSM and GPRS networks with Fastlink, Jordan's most popular mobile network. Through the network expansion, Fastlink, which is owned by Mobile Telecommunications Company (MTC), will accommodate a subscriber increase of over 20 percent. Fastlink is the largest of all telecommunications networks in Jordan with a customer base of 900,000 subscribers. The total value of the GPRS/ GSM network expansion contract is approximately $19 million.
In 2002, Fastlink launched the Kingdom's first nationwide commercial General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network mobile service on a Motorola network. Building on this regional milestone, the company went on to launch the first MMS services, and successfully tested the first GPRS and MMS roaming in the Middle East. Fastlink also contracted with Motorola's Global Telecom Solutions Sector (GTSS) to install an overlay Global System for Mobile (GSM) communications system on it's 900 MHZ network. Motorola deployed it's Horizon GSM infrastructure solutions to support the systems and expand Fastlink's nationwide network.
With this latest contract, Fastlink is now gearing up for second wave of Jordanian mobile boom which observers predict will more than double mobile penetration over the next three years. With it's solid track record in technology innovation and customer service, Fastlink is poised to be the prime beneficiary of this rapid growth in mobile phone subscriptions.
"Fastlink remains the market leader in Jordan, offering not only the best service for consumers but also the latest cutting edge cellular technology," said Zaid Shatara, Chief Technical Officer and IT Director for Fastlink. "Based on the successes of our GSM and (GPRS) deployments last year on Motorola networks, we are expanding our networks to provide the same reliable service to more consumers throughout the Kingdom."
The contract expansion further strengthens Motorola's position as a leading supplier of cellular infrastructure equipment to the still fast growing Middle East and Africa regions. Motorola supplies complete network solutions for GSM, GPRS, Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) networks.
"As Fastlink's subscribers have discovered, the Motorola GPRS end-to-end solution offers a number of benefits, including access to e-mail, messaging, digital music distribution, games and entertainment, banking functionality and always on Internet access," said Jeff Cherif, general manager for the Middle East and Africa region for Motorola's GTSS. Through the GSM and GPRS network expansions, Fastlink will continue to create market differentiation, reach a higher volume of users and realize increased revenues.
Motorola's GPRS radio network solution includes the Serving GPRS Support Node (SSGN), supplied by Motorola Computer Group, and the Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) from Cisco Systems. Motorola's GPRS radio network can be implemented over an existing GSM network with a software load and a packet control unit (PCU) addition, which can help protect an operator's investment.
Motorola is a leader in GPRS, delivering a range of technologies including handsets and the underlying handset technology, network infrastructure and application. Motorola also leads the industry with it's portfolio of GPRS handsets, offering always on high-speed GPRS transmission speeds of 27-56 Kb/s. Consumers in Jordan with Fastlink service can currently choose from a range of Motorola's handsets with Fastlink service can currently choose from a range of Motorola's handsets with GPRS technology including the V.60, V.66, V.70 and T280.
Motorola Inc. (NYSE: MOT) today announced it has won an extension contract for GSM and GPRS networks with Fastlink, Jordan's most popular mobile network. Through the network expansion, Fastlink, which is owned by Mobile Telecommunications Company (MTC), will accommodate a subscriber increase of over 20 percent. Fastlink is the largest of all telecommunications networks in Jordan with a customer base of 900,000 subscribers. The total value of the GPRS/ GSM network expansion contract is approximately $19 million.
In 2002, Fastlink launched the Kingdom's first nationwide commercial General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network mobile service on a Motorola network. Building on this regional milestone, the company went on to launch the first MMS services, and successfully tested the first GPRS and MMS roaming in the Middle East. Fastlink also contracted with Motorola's Global Telecom Solutions Sector (GTSS) to install an overlay Global System for Mobile (GSM) communications system on it's 900 MHZ network. Motorola deployed it's Horizon GSM infrastructure solutions to support the systems and expand Fastlink's nationwide network.
With this latest contract, Fastlink is now gearing up for second wave of Jordanian mobile boom which observers predict will more than double mobile penetration over the next three years. With it's solid track record in technology innovation and customer service, Fastlink is poised to be the prime beneficiary of this rapid growth in mobile phone subscriptions.
"Fastlink remains the market leader in Jordan, offering not only the best service for consumers but also the latest cutting edge cellular technology," said Zaid Shatara, Chief Technical Officer and IT Director for Fastlink. "Based on the successes of our GSM and (GPRS) deployments last year on Motorola networks, we are expanding our networks to provide the same reliable service to more consumers throughout the Kingdom."
The contract expansion further strengthens Motorola's position as a leading supplier of cellular infrastructure equipment to the still fast growing Middle East and Africa regions. Motorola supplies complete network solutions for GSM, GPRS, Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) networks.
"As Fastlink's subscribers have discovered, the Motorola GPRS end-to-end solution offers a number of benefits, including access to e-mail, messaging, digital music distribution, games and entertainment, banking functionality and always on Internet access," said Jeff Cherif, general manager for the Middle East and Africa region for Motorola's GTSS. Through the GSM and GPRS network expansions, Fastlink will continue to create market differentiation, reach a higher volume of users and realize increased revenues.
Motorola's GPRS radio network solution includes the Serving GPRS Support Node (SSGN), supplied by Motorola Computer Group, and the Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) from Cisco Systems. Motorola's GPRS radio network can be implemented over an existing GSM network with a software load and a packet control unit (PCU) addition, which can help protect an operator's investment.
Motorola is a leader in GPRS, delivering a range of technologies including handsets and the underlying handset technology, network infrastructure and application. Motorola also leads the industry with it's portfolio of GPRS handsets, offering always on high-speed GPRS transmission speeds of 27-56 Kb/s. Consumers in Jordan with Fastlink service can currently choose from a range of Motorola's handsets with Fastlink service can currently choose from a range of Motorola's handsets with GPRS technology including the V.60, V.66, V.70 and T280.
-Ends-
For information contact:
Suha Halaseh
Sr. Press Officer
Tel.: +962 6 5828100 Ext. 2016
Email: suhah@fastlink.com.jo
© Press Release 2005
