Tatung InfoComm to purchase WiMAX base stations from Alcatel-Lucent

Tatung InfoComm, a WiMAX licensee for the southern region of Taiwan, plans to purchase about 200 WiMAX base stations and related network equipment from Alcatel-Lucent, according to the company.

The purchase of 200 WiMAX base stations is part of a new NT$500 million (US$15.4 million) procurement plan to purchase equipment needed for Tatung's WiMAX networks in Kaohsiung city and Penghu island, the company noted.

The WiMAX network in Penghu is expected to kick off commercial operations in the first quarter of 2009, whereas the Kaohsiung network is likely to enter trial operations in the second quarter before the launch of commercial services slated in the third quarter, according to estimates by market sources.