InterWAVE Communications International [IWAV] has received a $1.6 million order from Vodacom Congo for a GSM network with an advanced satellite compression capabilities. InterWAVE said the network expects to provide a 50 percent satellite bandwidth savings compared to other GSM systems.

Vodacom Congo reached the 200,000 subscriber milestone within nine months of operation. The total population of Congo is approximately 60 million, while only 20,000 landline telephones are in use. Significant opportunity appears to exist for interWAVE, particularly in remote and difficult-to-reach areas, as the telecommunications infrastructure within the African country continues to be developed.