In a contract valued at $1.9 M, Africell Holding, a subsidiary of Lintel Holding, has selected Harris Stratex Networks to expand its GSM networks in Africa. Via the contract Harris Stratex Eclipse™ radios will provide backhaul for next-generation, IP-enabled mobile base stations to support increased reach and capacity for Africell networks in Gambia and Sierra Leone.

Lintel deployments include 90 links of Eclipse high-capacity radios, which are optimized for networks with flexible, high-bandwidth capabilities and native gigabit Ethernet interfaces. The links will extend network reach into remote areas across the two countries, as well as increase network reliability. The Eclipse platform will enable Africell to achieve a stable, nationwide, independent backbone in both countries.

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Harris Stratex also will supply its advanced ProVision® Element Management System. The system was developed specifically for managing microwave radio networks, and delivers advanced features for monitoring and controlling TDM and Ethernet traffic. It also provides a number of advanced features for monitoring and controlling TDM and Ethernet transport, such as end-to-end circuit provisioning, Ethernet utilization reporting and RMON performance monitoring.

Elias Arwadi, chief operations officer, Africell Holding, commented, “As the dominant market leader in Gambia and Sierra Leone, Africell is committed to expand into all rural areas and provide the same quality of service through a state-of-the-art national backbone. This investment, especially in the current economic climate, as part of a bigger ongoing expansion, is again a vote of confidence in the market potential of both Sierra Leone and Gambia.”

Harald Braun, Harris Stratex president and CEO, added, “We look forward to expanding our relationship with Lintel. Harris Stratex is fully committed to the African market with our local presence for both technical and post-sales support. Further, our Eclipse technology provides the ideal platform to support Africell as it rolls out new services to these two key markets.”