Libya Telecom and Technology, the nation’s main internet service provider and Alcatel-Lucent, a French manufacturing company, Wednesday signed an agreement to provide for the implementation of an installation project of the “WiMAX Mobile” technology, at a total cost of 70 million Libyan Dinars (US$ 56 million).
The agreement was signed in the presence of the secretary of the general people’s committee of the Libyan general corporation of Posts and Telecommunication, Dr Mohamed Mouammar Kadhafi.
It was signed by Ahmed Al-Khitouni, general manager of Libya Telecom and Technology and Philippe Chomel De Jarniev, vice-president of Alcatel for North Africa and the Near East; Dr Mohamed Rached, secretary to the Libyan general committee for Health and Environment, Eng. Said Rached, secretary to the steering committee of the executing agency in charge of railway projects in Libya, as well as France’s Ambassador in Tripoli, François Gouyette, witnessed the signing.
The agreement aims at the implementation of the “Libya WiMAX Mobile” project, which consists in a large-scale marketing exercise of “WiMAX Mobile” services, targeting 300,000 potential subscribers.
With the “WiMAX Mobile” technology, which allows for the transportation of vario us sorts of audio and visual information through the wireless web, coupled with high quality and very high resolution, Libya is planning to join the ranks of cou n tries providing ultra-modern telecommunication services.
The “Libya WiMAX Mobile” project is expected to initially cover an approximate area of 18 million square kilometers, including Tripoli, Benghazi, Sebha, Syrte, M useratha, Khoms, Jdabia, Beidha, Garyane, Beni Welid, Zouara, Tarhouna, Briga, Houn, Zlitin, Zaouia, Gadhames and Ras Lanouf (in various regions of the country).
Speaking at the occasion, Adessalama Mabrouk, chief financial officer of Libya Telecom and Technology, said the implementation of the “WiMAX Mobile” technology, was a dream come true for his country, while it remained a faint hope for several other countries in the world.
Mabrouk noted that the technology, “which is not profit oriented,” will allow Libyan citizens to use an advanced technology and facilitate their access to various areas for computer-aided management in relation to various services.
On his part, De Jarniev, vice president of Alcatel for North Africa and the Near East, recalled that his company has been in Libya since 1969, with the materialisation of sever al major projects in the communication sector.
He said the implementation of “WiMAX Mobile” stands as a testimony of “Libya’s permanent will to ensure the population’s access to the best technologies available in the field of communication.”
In a media statement issued after the ceremony Dr. Kadhafi indicated the project will facilitate access to the internet wireless services, while stressing that it was initiated in line with other projects for basic infrastructure development, especially in the fields of water, electricity, gas and sanitation.
Kadhafi added that the best solution to save time and provide adequate services had been the selection of the “WiMAX” ultra-modern technology, only used in few countries and allowing to take up the challenge represented by the need to develop basic infrastructure for the inner city networks.
He said “although the 9,000 km fiber-optic cable basic infrastructure project is currently being implemented in Libya, it will be operational early in 2009.”
