The project will cost US$400 million and also enlists the help of Huawei, the information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider.
Steven Evans, Etisalat Nigeria’s Chief Executive, said: "This is a significant milestone as we move into the next phase of our network roll-out. We plan to increase our cell sites by an additional 1,000 in 2013, and this agreement is towards achieving that target.
“We are happy to be partnering with Alcatel-Lucent, in fulfillment of our promise to continuously deliver quality and innovative services to our customers every step of the way."
Etisalat also expressed its commitment to the desire of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for Nigerian telecoms companies to improve their quality of service.
The latest agreement is the sixth that Etisalat will have signed with Alcatel-Lucent and Huawei
since 2008.
On the specifics of the contract, Evans said Alcatel-Lucent will provide equipment and services for the Etisalat’s network expansion.
"This agreement being executed is for phase six of the project and it is for the further expansion and strengthening of the network in the region. Under this phase 6, Alcatel is to build additional sites and provide the necessary equipment and services for the integration of the sites into the Etisalat Nigeria network.”
