Bolivia Telecom Project with Huawei Technologies

Photo of technicans erecting telecommunicatons tower, a part of national telecom network in Bolivia Click to view Photo Gallery

Since June 2010, The Louis Berger Group, in affiliation with the Berger/Cummins Joint Venture Power has been providing support under contract with the Chinese telecom equipment manufacturer, Huawei Technologies, for remote cellular tower sites as part of the construction of a national telecom network in Bolivia. Huawei is responsible for the overall design, equipment provision, construction, and startup operations of the network for the national telecom provider, Entel. This program expands and enhances the existing telecom network in the country.

The national telecom network will consist of nearly 500 sites distributed across Bolivia, from the Andes to the jungles of the headwaters of the Amazon to the desert of Potosi to the lowlands of Santa Cruz. Berger's current scope on approximately 40 sites includes clearing and leveling; the construction of access roads, fencing and foundations; tower erection; installation of Cummins generators (either for prime or back-up power); and, when available, extension of commercial power to the sites. The Huawei team is installing the proprietary communications equipment and is responsible for the site commissioning.

Berger/Cummins is utilizing the resources of The Louis Berger Group's existing Bolivia country team, based in La Paz, to manage and plan the work and to vet and select local subcontractors. In addition to full scope site construction activities, recent additional site assignments include specialty access road construction and commercial power line extension services.