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Huawei Wins Cricket Contract Too
By Mark Evans | July 10, 2007
Now this is curious: A day after Nortel announced it had won a three-year, $135-million contract with Cricket Communications, Huawei said it has reached a deal with sell CDMA2000 1X, EV-DO Rev A equipment to Cricket as well.
It looks like Nortel and Huawei are selling the same kind equipment to Cricket, which appeared to start buying Huawei equipment earlier this year. This relationship started with Cricket using Huawei equipment in three markets - Spokane, Boise and Reno - and it will now be expanded.
Both Nortel and Huawei will provide equipment that Cricket will use within its recently-acquired advanced wireless services spectrum.
Maybe Nortel and Huawei will have their equipment used in different markets, or maybe they’re complementary, or maybe Cricket figures using two suppliers gives it the ability to compare and contrast - as well as negotiate better deals. For example, Nortel’s announcement includes the fact Cricket will earn credits that can be applied to “future products and services”.
Another potential clue about what could be happening - and I’m just speculating - is this paragraph from yesterday’s press release:
“Since choosing Nortel as a wireless infrastructure supplier in 2000, Cricket has deployed Nortel infrastructure in markets covering more than 26 million potential subscribers. This includes recent market expansions in Burlington and Raleigh-Durham, NC; Charleston, SC; and Rochester, NY. The two companies expect to continue their strong relationship for many years to come.”
Read into that what you will.
Topics: Contract Wins, Wireless |