Lagos July 22, 2011: In line with its commitment to providing the best communication experience to its customers, Etisalat Nigeria, on Thursday July 22, 2011 signed a multimillion dollar contract with Huawei Technologies Company Nigeria Limited and Huawei International Pte Limited for the 5th Phase of Etisalat Nigeria's roll out of it nationwide network. The project for the expansion of Etisalat Nigeria’s 2G network and the provision of its 3G network is valued at approximately 118 million USD and will enable Etisalat’s esteemed subscribers enjoy wider coverage and enhanced data services.

Speaking about the rationale behind its contract with Huawei, Mr Steven Evans, CEO of Etisalat Nigeria, said that the contract signed would ultimately benefit customers by ensuring access to quality services. ”This contract is for the complete Implementation of our Public Mobile Cellular Services which will drive the expansion of services as well roll-out our 3G network and also strengthen our network capability,” he said. “We choose to partner with Huawei because of their comprehensive experience in wireless and IP technologies and their expertise in telecom network infrastructure.”

The Managing Director of Huawei Technologies Nigeria, Mr Hover Gao, also said that Huawei was very happy to partner with a top brand like Etisalat and is poised to ensure proper implementation of the agreement. “This partnership is part of our strategy to increase our growth and create a sustainable relationship in Nigeria,” he said.

Huawei is a leading telecom solutions provider, with comprehensive strengths in telecom network infrastructure, application, software, devices and professional services. Its products and solutions have been deployed in over 100 countries and have served 45 of the world's top 50 telecom operators, as well as one third of the world's population.