Chinese arithmetic: addition of 2nd vendor multiplies prospects for Mobitel’s ‘lucky 7’ 4G rollout

Huawei Technologies of China has signed a contract with Mobitel, the cellular division of Sri Lanka Telecom, to expand its mobile network capacity in major cities as part of Mobitel’s ‘phase seven’ development project. Having also selected another Chinese vendor, ZTE, as a main provider of 2G/3G/4G radio technology for its nationwide upgrade/expansion, Mobitel will adopt Huawei core network solutions for the project, and Huawei will renovate and expand capacity at sites in the capital Colombo and other main cities including Galle and Matara to support the introduction of 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) mobile broadband. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2014, when commercial 4G applications will be available across the island.