Alfa launches BlackBerry, continues strengthening network

Lebanese state-owned mobile operator Alfa, which has been managed by Egypt’s Orascom Telecom since February 2009, is continuing a programme to expand and strengthen its network across the country. It reported that since 12 November it has installed 16 new base stations to enhance the quality of transmission, improve network coverage, and increase capacity. Since the start of Orascom’s tenure, 180 base stations have been installed alongside the upgrade of 380 existing cell sites. In another announcement by Alfa yesterday, the cellco has teamed up with Alcatel-Lucent and Research In Motion (RIM) to introduce the latter’s BlackBerry devices and applications for its network users.