The Emirates Telecommunications Corp. (Etisalat) and France's Alcatel will experiment with Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) systems accessible via an Alcatel general packet radio service (GPRS) This move signifies a major step forward in the companies' mobile Internet telephone service in the UAE. According to Gulf Times, Alcatel will install a full-scale GPRS trial network in which an assortment of high-speed data applications will be tested on selected sites later this year. Alcatel is also providing its open, standards-based Nextenson Internet portal software for the trial. Gulf News reports that the objective of this live network trial is to enable comprehensive experiments with GPRS, data and IP services in real-network conditions, including testing customer acceptance and a new variety of revenue-generating Internet services and applications such as mobile office, Internet access and e-commerce. Industry sources indicate that Wireless Application Protocol will penetrate 60 percent of mobile telephone users in the Middle East in the next three years. Alcatel has been actively involved in the UAE since 1995. In 1998, it was awarded a $26-million contract with Etisalat for the expansion of its GSM network in the Abu Dhabi area. As part of the expansion, Alcatel deployed the full range of its radio solutions, including base station controllers for improved coverage and capacity. Back in 1995, Alcatel won a contract for the delivery of GSM cellular equipment for Abu Dhabi.
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