Kampala — Uganda telecom (utl) and Huawei Technologies have signed a $10m (about sh18.8b) deal to improve Next Generation Network (NGN) facility.

Huawei will replace the network's 33 Remote Line Units (RLUs) across the country with modern soft switches.

"utl is the only telecom company with an NGN network. "This gives us a competitive advantage and enables us to offer cutting-edge products and services at flexible and cost-effective rates," Eng. Abdulbaset Elazzabi, the managing director, said.

He said the project would increase the firm's network capacity and improve reliability of fixed lines. utl uses RLU analog switching units to connect telephone calls.

The new digital system powered by NGN is faster and has unlimited line capacity.

"Huawei will install an integrated system that will converge both voice and data solutions over one network and will be more data oriented."

Solutions over ADSL through one network," he said.