Telecommunications operator Viettel Cameroon S.A.R.L. plans to use IBM Smarter Computing solution to enable Cameroon's 3G infrastructure and provide high-speed mobile data and voice services.

The new IT platform based on IBM System x servers, IBM Smarter Storage systems and IBM DB2 software will help provide advanced integrated mobile services to millions of new Cameroonian subscribers. Viettel Cameroon S.A.R.L is a joint venture between telecommunications companies Vietnam's Viettel Global and Bestinver Cameroon S.A.R.L. and this project will make it the largest telecommunications company in the country, with 6,000 employees and a network covering 81 percent of Cameroon.

According to Pyramid Research, in Cameroon mobile phones currently are used mostly for voice calls and less for advanced data applications, due largely to infrastructure limitations. However, the introduction of integrated 3G data services has the potential to attract up to six million new subscribers by 2017.

Mobile penetration in Cameroon currently stands at 49 percent.

The solution consists of IBM System x3850, x3650 and BladeCenter HS23 servers, IBM Storwize V7000 storage systems, operating with Linux OS and using IBM DB2 software. Viettel Cameroon is working with local business partner SVTech to install the system.