MTN CHOOSES WEBB TECHNOLOGY

Webb Industries, local agent for Dekolink Wireless Ltd., a leading manufacturer of high-quality RF coverage solutions for GSM and wireless networks, has won a contract to supply UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) repeaters to MTN South Africa.



2006-11-06

The contract involves the supply and installation of Dekolink UMTS repeaters for in-building solutions and represents a significant step towards further entrenchment of this exceptional technology in the local market. “This is an important contract with respect to UMTS’s growing popularity here and paves the way for accelerated growth of the product in this region,” says Webb’s Alan Chater. Chater says that UMTS is an evolution in terms of services and data speeds from second generation mobile networks. “As a key member of the global family of third generation (3G) mobile technologies identified by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), UMTS is the natural evolutionary choice for operators of GSM networks, which currently represent a customer base of more than 850 million end users in 195 countries and over 70% of today's digital wireless market,” he says.

Chater explains that when using UMTS networks, high quality coverage is a prerequisite as they operate in a relatively high frequency range where there is higher attenuation than in regular GSM. “Basically this means there is a need for significantly better penetration in buildings and other shielded areas, which is exactly what we achieve with the Dekolink product,” says Chater. He adds that the greater capacity offered by the UMTS technology demands superior coverage to enable the most efficient use of all its applications. “The solutions we can offer with the Dekolink products have become essential in these circumstances.”

Rami Hasarchi, Dekolink's CEO, says the successful testing of the Deko2121U repeater is highly significant for mobile technologies as the world becomes ‘unwired’. “These units will help to maximize existing infrastructures while offering service providers, and their customers, cost-effective access to the advanced services of the 3G mobile technologies”, he says. Webb MD, Paul Richards, emphasizes that Webb is a serious player in the provision of ‘in-building’ coverage and cell enhancer solutions. “Dekolink products, which are built to the highest international standards, will play an important role in Webb’s overall offering to the telecommunications industry.”

“Securing the Dekolink Wireless agency gives us access to unique products and solutions for Africa’s GSM network operators,” he concluded.