Nokia Siemens Networks selected to build advanced 3G mobile network

Subscribers of T-Mobile in the Czech Republic can expect to enjoy advanced 3G data and multimedia services thanks to a faster mobile broadband network.

The upgraded 3G network is based on the energy-efficient Nokia Siemens Networks Flexi Multiradio Base Stations and HSPA (High Speed Packet Access) technology. It is expected to be launched in Prague by the end of the year.

The agreement between T-Mobile and Nokia Siemens Networks signed this month will offer a number of benefits to customers, but in particular the availability of high-speed mobile data services. HSPA technology is one of the latest developments in 3G mobile networks. The main advantage it provides to customers is high-speed data transfers with download and upload peak rates of up to 14.4 Mbps and 5.7 Mbps respectively. Such performance will create a DSL-like user experience. Moreover, the technology to be installed, will prepare the ground for the roll-out of the next generation of mobile networks.

“The demand for data services in the Czech Republic has been growing continually. Therefore building a 3G network is one of our priorities even in these economically more challenging times,” says Roland Mahler, Managing Director of T-Mobile Czech Republic. “Nokia Siemens Networks is one of the companies that supplies technology for the entire mobile division of the Deutsche Telekom Group, which is a guarantee that we will be able to offer the top quality services to our customers.”

“We are very pleased to extend our partnership with this important agreement,” said Ralph Griewing of Nokia Siemens Networks, in charge of business relations with Deutsche Telekom. “We are also glad that our innovative solutions, like the Flexi Base Station and HSPA, will provide the Czech consumers with a fast, reliable broadband experience, offering at the same time an energy-efficient platform to T-Mobile.”

Nokia Siemens Networks is also providing T-Mobile with network integration services, the NetAct network management system to monitor, manage and optimize the network and an upgrade of the core network to support advanced 3G services.

The pilot operation of T-Mobile’s 3G network will start in the autumn in Prague.

Viettel selects Nokia Siemens Networks to set up country’s first 3G network

By early next year, subscribers in Vietnam will be able to access rich multimedia applications and data intensive services through their mobile phones. Viettel, the country’s leading telecommunications provider is deploying Vietnam’s first 3G network, and has appointed Nokia Siemens Networks as its radio network infrastructure supplier. Product deliveries begin this month.

“As the market leader, we are committed to ensuring our customers experience the best in class and most advanced services available in the market. Nokia Siemens Networks’ with its superior solutions, strong local support and global experience in 3G deployments was our partner of choice to ensure the successful roll out of our planned services”, said Nguyen Manh Hung, Deputy General Director, Viettel.
 
Under the contract, Nokia Siemens Networks will provide the hardware, software and services required to build and manage the network, including skills training for Viettel’s team. The network rollout will happen without interruption in any existing services.
 
“Viettel was recently awarded a 3G license by the government of Vietnam. As a market leader, it aims to be the first to bring pioneering services to its customers, and as a longstanding partner, we are committed to helping the company realize this goal. We will implement a solution which allows Viettel to provide high quality mobile broadband services, and also generate new revenue streams,” said Krittika Mahattanakul, Head of Asia North, Nokia Siemens Networks.

Canadian subscribers to benefit from high speed telecom services at lower costs

Globalive Wireless Management Corp., Canada’s newest wireless network, is building a Greenfield 3G network to address the growing demand for next generation telecom services in Canada.
 
“Globalive Wireless will offer consumers a wireless customer experience and value proposition not previously available in Canada,” said Ken Campbell, Chief Executive Officer, Globalive Wireless. “For this, we need the robust and future-ready technology infrastructure offered by Nokia Siemens Networks. Their leading network technology solutions will provide for a lean operational model, a key benefit of building a new Canadian telecommunications company from the ground up rather than having to work through legacy platforms. We will be able to direct these cost savings to Canadians as one part of our overall value offering.”
 
Under the turnkey contract, the network rollout will be based on an advanced and cost-effective Build-Operate-Transfer solution (BOT) which will enable Globalive to offer new, high-quality consumer services quickly. Nokia Siemens Networks will provide Globalive with hardware and software such as the future proof, LTE-compliant Flexi Multimode Base Station, Radio Network Controller, and Network Management and Service Assurance Operating Support Systems, along with a range of services including turnkey site acquisition and construction, network integration and implementation, optimization and managed services.
 
Commenting on the win, Sue Spradley, head of North America, Nokia Siemens Networks, said, “Expanding Nokia Siemens Networks’ footprint in North America is a clear goal for our company, which has been evident in our recent bid for certain wireless assets at Nortel. We recognize the importance of adding jobs in Canada, contributing to the country’s leadership in wireless innovation and creating an opportunity for economic stimulus by building new communications networks. Given Globalive’s position as a new operator in Canada, this deal enables both our companies to accomplish all of these goals as we enhance the country’s communications service capabilities.”
 
With this contract, Nokia Siemens Networks now offers its products and services to four wireless service providers in Canada.

Global Supply Agreement signed for high-capacity Ethernet microwave systems

Ceragon Networks Ltd. (NASDAQ and TASE: CRNT), a leading provider of high-capacity wireless backhaul solutions, today announced that it has signed a multi-year global supply agreement with the Hutchison 3 Group, a leading global player in the 3G telecommunications arena.

Under the Global Supply Agreement, Ceragon will provide Hutchison with its Next Generation high capacity Ethernet solutions including the leading edge FibeAir IP-10 platform, in support of the Hutchison’s network migration plans from TDM to IP. The move will enable Hutchison to enhance network capacity quickly and cost effectively, allowing it to successfully meet the growing demand for data and multimedia services across its multi-national mobile networks.

“We are extremely proud to be selected as global microwave solutions provider to one of the world’s leading operators,” said Ira Palti, President and CEO of Ceragon. “Our advanced solutions are specifically designed to support and simplify the migration from TDM to IP while reducing the network’s overall costs. This agreement reaffirms Ceragon’s position as a leading Ethernet and LTE-ready wireless backhaul solutions provider.”

Ceragon’s FibeAir IP-10 offers a first-of-its-kind combination of advanced native TDM and native Ethernet networking in a single, highly integrated mobile backhaul platform. Supporting a wide capacity range of 10Mbps to 500Mbps over a single radio carrier, FibeAir IP-10 utilizes a single RF unit across the entire licensed frequency spectrum – from 6GHz to 38GHz. Advanced Adaptive Coding & Modulation (ACM) helps to maximize spectrum utilization and ensures the industry’s highest capacities over any given bandwidth – and under changing environmental conditions.

The Hutchison 3 Group is a division of Hutchison Whampoa, a leading international corporation committed to innovation and technology. Hutchison 3 Group, together with Hutchison Telecommunications International Limited and Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings, is the leading global player in the 3G arena, holding licences in 12 markets with total population coverage of approximately 481 million.

To date, commercial 3G services have been launched in Australia, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Sweden and the UK.  Hutchison announced more than 20 million 3G customers in March 2009.

Under the framework agreement signed between Ericsson and China Mobile, Ericsson continues to deliver green solutions to support China Mobile’s network energy optimization and CO2 emission reduction target. Ericsson will also expand GSM/GPRS network coverage and capacity in 18 provinces in China with related services. In addition, Ericsson also supports China Mobile’s 3G network build-out by providing a wide range of innovative TD-SCDMA products and solutions. 
 
Under the framework agreement signed between Ericsson and China Unicom, Ericsson will not only become the main supplier to upgrade China Unicom’s GSM networks in 10 provinces, but also provide the operator with GSM/WCDMA core network and/or wireless access system in 15 provinces, including transmission, IP and value-added service platform. Ericsson’s strong local support team with global experience plays a key role in supporting China Unicom in launching the world’s largest WCDMA commercial networks.
 
Mats H Olsson, President of Ericsson Greater China, says, “China’s 3G market is growing rapidly and the world is watching closely. As the world’s undisputed leader of mobile communications technology, Ericsson will spare no efforts in supporting the development of China’s telecom industry with our global expertise and technology leadership.”
 
“Ericsson has been devoted to supporting the development of China’s telecom industry. The signing of the 2009 framework agreements today further enhances the position of Ericsson as the leading mobile communications supplier in China market. Ericsson will work together with China’s operators to ensure rewarding new user experience for Chinese consumers in the 3G era and we are fully confident that we can achieve this objective,” says Olsson.

SFR and Nokia Siemens Networks pioneer all-IP backhaul technology for next-generation mobile network experience

Subscribers of SFR, France’s leading communications service provider, will soon enjoy real time multimedia applications, such as virtual office. Earlier this month SFR in collaboration with Nokia Siemens Networks became the first to showcase such applications in France on a live 3G network with a 14 Mbps mobile broadband connection.

SFR has selected a radio solution from Nokia Siemens Networks which will enable the migration of SFR’s mobile backhaul network to all IP (Internet Protocol), enabling the operator to increase capacity while keeping costs under control.

“SFR strives to bring leading edge innovation and most attractive services to its broadband customers. This demonstration with Nokia-Siemens Networks confirms that our mobile network is ready to offer a new suite of advanced services thanks to an all IP mobile access network which combines high performance and high quality, thus transforming the customer experience”, said Pierre-Alain Allemand, General Manager Networks of SFR. “Nokia Siemens Networks IP mobile access solutions allow us to bring more value to our customers while optimizing our operation costs.”

Nokia Siemens Networks’ integrated IP radio access solution is a part of the Flexi Base Station platform, which supports High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) and can help operators easily migrate their mobile backhaul to IP using software. This solution is also compatible with SFR’s fixed broadband access technologies. Since it supports high bandwidth and low latency, it enables operators to offer a real-time multimedia experience at reduced costs.

“As mobile operators prepare their networks for a wave of new innovative broadband data services, they realize that the efficient integration of the mobile network with the internet protocol is essential for success,” said Hervé Suquet, Head of Customer Team SFR, Nokia Siemens Networks. “Native IP support across the mobile network is the ideal way of guaranteeing this integration with extreme network efficiency and superior customer experience. By offering IP capabilities integrated into our Flexi Base Stations we offer SFR an extremely straight forward and cost effective way to allow this IP migration”

Nokia Siemens Networks is the global leader in the deployment of high-speed mobile broadband networks supplying WCDMA/HSPA networks to more than 150 customers worldwide. Over half of the world’s 300 million WCDMA/HSPA subscribers are connected by Nokia Siemens Networks.

Dubbed “Femtocell 2.0″, the portable wireless access device allows users to connect directly to a standard broadband DSL or cable service and delivers in-door 3G network coverage for handsets. It enhances delivery of mobile voice and data services in both enterprise and home environments, and sets new benchmarks in terms of quality, reliability, intuitive use, and appealing design.

“Having a robust yet versatile Femtocell device that is able to gain wide market acceptance is a key challenge faced by all operators. Huawei’ s Femtocell solution and devices are now ready to support mass market adoption,” said Mr. Jiang Wangcheng, President of UMTS, Huawei Wireless. “We are committed to working with operators worldwide to further drive the uptake of mobile broadband by offering a compelling value proposition to end users.”

The innovative Femtocell 2.0, which received Germany’ s prestigious iF Design Award and the Red Dot Design Award in 2009, is engineered to allow operators to address both household and enterprise markets simultaneously. The device supports applications for streaming video, IPTV, video conferencing and mobile broadband and it is a critical component for operators to implement a full-service operation.

Huawei has established more than 20 pre-commercial and trial femtocell networks with global top-tier telecom operators. In December 2008, Huawei developed the world’s first commercial 3G femtocell network for StarHub in Singapore.

Huawei & ZTE enjoy major market share

In a recently published report by Dell’Oro Group, a trusted source for market information about the networking and telecommunications industries, the worldwide mobile infrastructure market revenue contracted 9 percent year-over-year in the first quarter of 2009 despite a record number of 3G base station shipments. The GSM market experienced its largest year-over-year decline as Chinese mobile operators focused on 3G network deployments.

“The three Chinese mobile operators plan to spend over $20 billion this year on rolling out the initial phases of their 3G deployments,” stated Scott Siegler, Senior Analyst at Dell’Oro Group. “China Unicom’s WCDMA deployment is shaping up to be the single largest 3G deployment in history and was the primary contributor to the most ever – 100 thousand – Node B shipments in the quarter. With the CDMA market declining elsewhere around the world, China Telecom’s spending resulted in the most CDMA base station shipments in over four years. As the two GSM operators, China Mobile and China Telecom focused their spending on the rapid deployment of their 3G networks, spending on their GSM networks significantly declined. We expect this spending to accelerate in the second half of the year,” finished Siegler.

During the quarter, Huawei and ZTE experienced the greatest rate of growth, almost doubling their combined share of the total infrastructure market to over 20 percent compared to the same quarter last year.

GSMA briefs:

China’s Huawei and ZTE experienced the greatest rate of vendor growth in the mobile network equipment market during the first quarter of 2009 according to research firm Dell’Oro Group, almost doubling their combined share of the total infrastructure market to over 20 percent compared to the same quarter last year. Huawei in particular had an extremely strong quarter, roughly doubling its market share to 15 percent, making it the third-largest mobile network vendor in the quarter. Market-leader Ericsson continued its dominance, expanding its share slightly to 33 percent of the market in January-March, while closest rival Nokia Siemens Networks saw its share drop to 21 percent from 24 percent a year ago. Alcatel-Lucent lost third place to Huawei, with a 2 percent fall in market share, to 14 percent. Beleaguered vendor Nortel Networks saw its market share halve, to 4 percent. Dell’Oro noted that total worldwide mobile infrastructure market revenue contracted 9 percent year-over-year in the quarter despite a record number of 3G base station shipments.

About the Report

The Dell’Oro Group Mobility Infrastructure Quarterly Report offers complete, in-depth coverage of the market with tables covering manufacturers’ revenue, average selling prices, transceiver or RF carrier shipments, and unit shipments for base station controllers, base transceiver stations, and mobile switching centers for GSM/GPRS/EDGE, CDMA, WCDMA and WiMAX.