Reliance Communications gives Alcatel-Lucent a major contract

Telecommunications equipment maker Alcatel-Lucent has announced that they have won a major contract from the Indian telecom company Reliance Communications.

The contract is worth around US$400 million and is going to help Reliance expand its network to more than 20,000 towns and 600,000 villages in India.

Anil Ambani, chairman of Reliance Communications said in a statement on this new development: “The expansion of our wireless CDMA and GSM network would further enhance our competitive edge.”

The company is currently serving around 8,000 towns and 300,000 villages.

The two companies said in a statement that Alcatel-Lucent would upgrade Reliance’s network with additional mobile switching centers and base stations.

Alcatel-Lucent’s Chief Executive Patricia Russo added: “The expansion of the Reliance network, particularly in rural areas, will help improve the lives of millions in India, and is further evidence of our commitment to meeting the communications needs of high-growth economies.”