Pair selected for Omantel TD-LTE rollout

Telecoms equipment suppliers Ericsson and Huawei have been selected for the rollout of a 4G Time Division Long Term Evolution (TD-LTE) network for Oman Telecommunications Company (Omantel), writes the Oman Daily Observer. According to the report, the Tender Board last month approved Ericsson Oman and Huawei Tech Investment (Oman)’s respective bids of OMR13.937 million (USD36.1 million) and OMR11.357 million for the design, supply, installation, integration, testing and commission of all hardware and software linked to the rollout of high speed wireless broadband services based on TD-LTE technology. The pair fended off competition from the likes of Nokia Siemens Networks, ZTE Corporation and Alcatel-Lucent. Omantel, which is 70% state-owned, is the Sultanate’s largest mobile network operator by subscribers, according to TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database. At the end of March 2012 the company had a total of 2.365 million cellular customers – just ahead of sole rival Nawras’ 1.955 million – giving it a market share of 54.7%. Omantel first carried out a demonstration of LTE technology in July 2012.