9 - 11 November 2000

Nortel to use Malta as testing base for UMTS

by Franco Aloisio

American telecommunications giant Nortel Networks is planning to use Malta as a testing ground for the UMTS mobile service, the managing director of International Trading Company Ltd, Mario Camilleri told The Malta Business Weekly.
ITC, through its subsidiary Project Management Group, are the local partners of Nortel Networks. Earlier this year, Nortel signed a $24m contract with Go Mobile for the provision of the Maltese company’s new mobile network equipment.
Mr Camilleri said the initial contract covered a number of phases until Go Mobile’s network is set in place. Around 70 per cent of the network is already up, and Go Mobile’s service is expected to be operating within the coming weeks.
“Other phases of the contract are stipulated to take place, namely the testing of UMTS, which allows for fast internet access and video over mobile telephony,” Mr Camilleri said.
UMTS is expected to be launched in several countries around the world in the beginning of 2002. The system has been tested primarily in US and Japan, and Malta is earmarked to be the country in Europe in which Nortel Networks will be testing UMTS.
With regards to the partnership with Nortel, Mr Camilleri said Nortel wants to use Malta as a showcase for the implementation of its networks and applications. He said Nortel wants to penetrate the markets around the Mediterranean rim, namely north Africa and the Middle East.
“ITC has gained a lot of experience, exposure and technical expertise since teaming up with Nortel Networks. We have set up a telecommunications services department within the company, and we make sure that Nortel’s systems are implemented properly in Malta. We make sure that Nortel’s products and services are dealt with in the best possible way,” Mr Camilleri said.
Asked how the contact with Noretl started, Mr Camilleri said he met Nortel around three years ago when he was doing business in France. Mr Camilleri was invited to take up the operations, which Nortel was planning to do in got in Malta as a showcase for its products and services.
“Nortel can offer other services in Malta, apart from the network to be used for mobile telephony,” Mr Camilleri said.
Mr Camilleri has been a very keen businessman over the last years. Apart from being managing director of ITC – a company which has grown into a leading provider of services and products – Mr Camilleri has developed several contacts abroad and was the initiator of several businesses in Malta. He was involved in the development of businesses including the exportation of fishfarming products, manufacturing, and the organisation of events.
Recently Mr Camilleri was involved in the organisation of the lighting and sound technology used in the Jubilee of the Youth activity held in summer in St Peter’s Square in Vatican City. ITC is well known for the professional service it provides in the consultancy, design and installation of lighting and audio visual systems. The company had an active role in the lighting technology used in several five-star hotels in Malta, and other projects such as the supply of lighting technology for the upcoming Bay Street complex, and the Valletta Art Centre.
ITC was set up 50 years ago, in 1951. The company has expanded into other areas such as telecommunications, importation of home appliances, and building services and products.