First phase of Mobitel network complete

French-US vendor Alcatel-Lucent has announced that it has completed the first phase of deployment of an GSM/GPRS/EDGE network for Russian-owned Georgian operator Mobitel. The completed part of the contract includes coverage of the capital Tblisi and nearby Rustavi, and prepares the cellco for the introduction of 3G and/or WiMAX services. Completion of the entire contract is slated for the end of 2008, when the infrastructure will cover the whole of Georgia. Mobitel, a subsidiary of Russian cellco Vimpelcom, signed a contract with Alcatel-Lucent last September and earlier this month launched services over the new network under the Beeline brand. Mobitel have said they plan to capture 35% of the Georgian cellular market by the end of 2007.