Deployment has already begun with an expected commercial launch in Q4 of this year.

The contract for Ericsson's total CDMA2000 network solution comprises equipment for core and radio network; key applications such as location-based services, Multi-media Message Service, Short Message Service and Voice Mail Service; as well as a full portfolio of services including training and network rollout.

"We are honored to be selected by Altel to assist them in rolling out their nationwide CDMA2000 1X network," said Åke Persson, president of Ericsson Mobile CDMA Systems. "We look forward to working with Altel to bring advanced wireless services to their customers throughout Kazakhstan."

Ericsson's total CDMA2000 1X portfolio is built upon Ericsson's global 3G platform for switching, radio access, IP, services and applications. Focused on providing sustainable value into the future, Ericsson's CDMA2000 1X total solution has been designed to provide operators like AlTel with an easy, cost-effective migration path to future evolutions of CDMA2000.

The first stage of the CDMA deployment in Kazakhstan includes the simultaneous launch of Altel's new network in the following 14 cities covered by Altel's network: Almaty, Astana, Karaganda, Temirtau, Ust-Kamenogorsk, Pavlodar, Kostanay, Aktobe, Atyrtau, Petropavlovsk, Shymkent, Kyzylorda, Taraz and Kapchay. Altel eventually plans to extend coverage of their CDMA2000 network in Kazakhstan to cover 30 cities.

"As we bring advanced voice and data services to our customers, it is important for us to partner with leading vendors like Ericsson. We believe that their CDMA2000 solution will provide us with state-of-the-art technology and expertise that will allow us to quickly and cost-effectively deploy 3G services and meet on-demand capacity growth," said Kayrat Orazbekov, President of Altel.