Alcatel-Lucent has been selected by Vodafone’s Project Spring investment programme to provide small cell transmitters and Wi-Fi equipment to the mobile operator.
As a "supplier of reference", Alcatel-Lucent, which has more than 115 small cell contracts in more than 45 countries, can now bid on business in Vodafone countries.
Small cells – mini base stations used to improve coverage and capacity at reduced costs – are becoming an important part of Vodafone’s network, with the company planning to build 70,000 small cell and Wi-Fi sites by March 2016.
"Vodafone Group is taking a leadership role with the deployment of small cells throughout their global properties and by serving as an industry reference with the deployment of a multi-vendor heterogeneous architecture," said Alcatel-Lucent’s
Luis Martinez Amago in a statement.
"Vodafone has given Alcatel-Lucent a strong endorsement that our small cells will help them to deliver high quality service to their customers."
Financial details were not disclosed.
