Alcatel-Lucent has signed a two-year contract with France-based SHD, a corporate joint venture between SFR and Neuf Cegetel, for the supply and installation of the first next-generation Wi-Max network in France.

Alcatel-Lucent has signed a two-year contract with France-based SHD, a corporate joint venture between SFR and Neuf Cegetel, for the supply and installation of the first next-generation Wi-Max network in France. The new Wi-Max network, which will use the 3.4 GHz to 3.6 GHz frequency bands, will enable professional and residential subscribers to connect to broadband internet in areas with little or no DSL coverage. Reportedly, the contract follows on from the success of the first pilot Wi-Max network deployed by AlcatelLucent for SHD in December 2006 at 10 sites in the Paris region.