Altech and Samsung sign WiMAX deal

February 24, 2007

Altech and Samsung Electronics have agreed to co-operate for trial service of Mobile WiMAX broadband network in South Africa.

Following the successful test license application to ICASA, Altech and Samsung will install the Mobile WiMAX network in Gauteng, South Africa.

Altech is a leading South African multi-billion rand high-technology group involved in the design, development, convergence, manufacture, installation and distribution of telecommunications equipment, multimedia systems, IT solutions, electronic components, cellular telephony and industrial electronic products while Samsung is a leader and innovator of mobile technology.

According to the contract, Samsung will provide Altech with Mobile WiMAX infrastructure equipment along with various types of devices in the second half of this year. After the success of initial trial service, Altech will decide the mass deployment of Mobile WiMAX service in South Africa, said an official spokesman.

"Korea is one of the world's most advanced countries in developing and deploying wireless broadband networks. Samsung in particular has experience without peer in the deployment of these leading edge wireless technologies," said CEO of Altech Craig Venter.

"We chose them as our partner not only for their expertise, but because we believe that there is no other global technology player who can point to the depth of experience in the delivery of consumer IP services over wireless infrastructure."

The network service will be focused on the wireless delivery of triple play services, including video streaming, Internet access and Voice over IP. In addition, these services will be delivered to both next generation handsets as well as other devices such as laptop computers.

"As a frontier of Mobile WiMAX technology, we are very thrilled to work with Altech for deployment of Mobile WiMAX service in South Africa. I am pretty confident that Mobile WiMAX will bring the real benefit of the advanced telecommunication technology to South African people," said vice-president of Samsung Electronics Hyojong Lee.