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.

Sales veteran to lead operations in India and Nepal

Starting September 1, Nokia Siemens Networks will be led by Urs Pennanen in India. Currently Urs is the Head of Sales for the company’s Operations and Business Software business unit in Finland. He takes over as Sub Region Head of Nokia Siemens Networks for India and Nepal from Michael Kuehner.

Commenting on the appointment, Christian Fredrikson, Head of APAC Region, Nokia Siemens Networks said, “Urs brings with him close to 20 years of marketing, sales and general management experience, 16 of which were within this company. He’s a sales veteran, and currently leads sales for two business areas that are key to our future growth. This combination is perfect to steer our future growth in a dynamic market like India.”

Over the next few years, Nokia Siemens Networks’ focus in India will be to grow its market share in the country, with a specific focus on 3G. The company also seeks to consolidate its existing footprint among local communication service providers and build strategic partnerships with new entrants.

In his new role as Head of Sub-region India, Urs will drive this strategy, ensuring that Nokia Siemens Networks continues to enable the adoption of leading edge communication technologies in the country.

Singapore operator StarHub can now offer an improved mobile broadband experience to its subscribers. The operator has expanded its 3G core network to increase data speeds and provide a smooth mobile surfing experience to its customers, efficiently and cost effectively.

“Data traffic has increased exponentially over the last two years, and StarHub is now geared to handle the current and future traffic needs of its subscribers. What’s more, there is no need to invest substantial amounts of money to build capacity to handle the increased data throughput. It’s really thanks to this innovative software offering from Nokia Siemens Networks that routes 3G data traffic effectively, improving the user experience while reducing capital and operating expenses,” said Peter Cook, Vice-President of Integrated Network Engineering, StarHub.

Nokia Siemens Networks has expanded the network capacity by implementing a flat network architecture, using its Direct Tunnel solution. This expansion will strengthen StarHub’s HSPA+ (High Speed Packet Access)-based wireless broadband service, which offers speeds of 21 Mbps and beyond.

Added Lars Biese, Head of Asia South, Nokia Siemens Networks, “We are continually looking for ways to help our customer improve the end-user experience, while they improve their own efficiency. Our packet core solutions have helped StarHub achieve its capacity expansion goal and enhance the end user experience. In addition, the implementation of flat network architecture allows StarHub to make the most of this investment, by also preparing its network for the future.”

Antenna technology with potential to further reduce carbon emissions pioneered through NICE partnership

Nokia Siemens Networks, a leading global enabler of communications network solutions and services, and Vodafone, the world’s leading international mobile telecommunications company, have successfully tested a new antenna technology designed to reduce carbon emissions and improve the cost efficiency of mobile phone networks for operators.

The tests, carried out through the recently announced Nokia Siemens Networks Innovation Centre (NICE) initiative between the two companies, mark the first time that an integrated Active Antenna solution has been used on a commercial mobile WCDMA telecommunications network.

Nokia Siemens Networks Active Antenna incorporates elements of the base station within the antenna, reducing the footprint of base stations and lowering power consumption.

The solution is capable of supporting multiple standards, such as GSM, WCDMA and LTE, and has been developed in accordance with the industry’s Single RAN specification, which Vodafone has also played a key role in developing.

“We see Active Antennas as the next logical step in base station site evolution, where the trend is to move RF parts closer to the antenna. Nokia Siemens Networks is a leader in Active Antenna technology, helping operators reduce CAPEX and OPEX with its innovative solutions” said Tommi Uitto, head of Wireless Access Product Management at Nokia Siemens Networks.

Active Antenna technology has the potential to support operators by enhancing network performance and increasing the flexibility of deployment while creating opportunities to lower OPEX through reducing site rental, maintenance and energy costs.

“Vodafone is committed to driving innovation throughout its operations and working closely with its vendor community to enhance the quality of our customers’ experience, while identifying opportunities for greater cost efficiencies” said Fergal Kelly, Director of Access Networks, Vodafone Group.

The Active Antenna solution is targeted at operators rolling out new 3G or LTE (Long Term Evolution) networks or enhancing their existing 3G networks, as well as for those markets planning to re-farm current GSM band to make space for WCDMA/LTE.

For the demonstration of voice and data calls over the Active Antenna system, Nokia Siemens Networks provided the uB900 Antenna Embedded Radio from its partner Ubidyne integrated to be part of a Flexi Base Station system. Vodafone provided access to its commercial network in Italy where the engineering team successfully performed the joint technology assessment.

The demonstration is the first project to be generated through the NICE initiative between Vodafone and Nokia Siemens Networks, based in Madrid, Spain and created for the purpose of joint innovation around new concepts, products and architectures.

Keeping pace with increasing mobile data traffic, Nokia Siemens Networks has just notched up its 500 millionth mobile data user

With an increasing number of subscribers logging on to the Internet to access and download data on mobile devices, mobile data traffic growth is doubling every year. In fact, Nokia Siemens Networks expects that at current rates, by 2011, mobile data will overtake voice traffic*, growing exponentially until 2013. Keeping pace with this rapid growth is Nokia Siemens Networks- the company has reached the 500 million mobile data user milestone, accounting for roughly 40% of global mobile data traffic today.
 
Driving Nokia Siemens Networks’ leading position in data is the company’s range of packet core solutions that allows operators to handle a huge number of mobile consumers, even if they are using data services heavily, with a very small amount of network equipment. This combined with technical innovation, such as Direct Tunnel, which provides operators with a simpler “flat” connectivity architecture, makes scaling with growing traffic much easier and more importantly, commercially viable.
 
“We realized early on that to help operators prosper, we would have to be innovative,” said Jürgen Walter, head of Converged Core, Nokia Siemens Networks. “While we can see that data traffic is rocketing, operator revenues are not. This means focusing on lowering the cost of data delivery. We have pioneered Direct Tunnel technology to provide an intelligent connectivity short cut for massive volumes of data that will deliver significant value to our customers.”
 
Direct Tunnel leads the way to a fully “flat” architecture, which is the target architecture for Evolved Packet Core and Long Term Evolution as well. 
 
Close to 300 customers use Nokia Siemens Networks’ packet core solutions including operators such as America Movil, AT&T, NTT DoCoMo, Oi, Telecom Italia, Telefonica, and Vodafone.

Extends contract with Nokia Siemens Networks to expand the 4000 km nation wide fiber backbone network

Zain Nigeria, one of the biggest operations of the group in the Middle East & Africa region is set to grow its market share further. The operator will expand its existing fiber network to ensure superior quality and secure services to a growing subscriber base. On the heels of an immensely successful project to build a 4000 km nationwide fiber backbone network, Zain has extended its contract with Nokia Siemens Networks to handle implementation of the additional 600 km. 
 
“Our aim is to create wide capacity for Nigeria’s growing number of customers demanding high quality broadband services by deploying self owned fiber,” said Zain Nigeria’s Chief Operating Officer, Khaled Khorshid. “Following the initial project with Nokia Siemens Networks that was completed four months ahead of schedule, we knew they had the high standards and commitment to meet our delivery expectations. The benefit of a quick deployment is the significant revenue stream the new capacity generates for us, in addition to high savings as a result of reduced fiber leasing costs.” Khorshid said. 
 
The Nokia Siemens Networks’ Outside Plant Turnkey Solution for fixed networks offers a fast, cost-effective and efficient way to build a fiber optic network. It helps operators launch their network on time and on budget. With predictability as one of the key elements of a network roll-out, Nokia Siemens Networks ensures that all elements including project management, logistics and installation services are designed to optimize CAPEX and lower OPEX. In fact Zain has already profited from the efficient roll-out of Phase 1 resulting in savings of close to US $ 7 million.
 
“Our in-house expertise helped us accelerate the initial project resulting in significant commercial benefit to Zain Nigeria,” added Ahmed Othman, Head of Customer Business Team at Nokia Siemens Networks. “The additional fiber will allow Zain to maximize the quality and security of their network, putting them in a powerful position to emerge into Nigeria’s leading telecommunications service provider. Building upon an association that spans a decade, we are looking forward to propelling them to further new heights.”
 
Awarded the initial project in November 2007, at Zain’s request, Nokia Siemens Networks successfully sped up the project’s preliminary deadline of June 2009. Meeting all benchmarks on execution and quality, Nokia Siemens Networks completed Phase 1 of the project by end February. Post an internal audit that showed excellent feedback on the competence and delivery of the initial project, Zain chose to extend its contract with Nokia Siemens Networks for Phase 2.
 
Phase 2 will extend the fiber optic backbone by another 600 km and will be delivered completely within a timeframe of six months.

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.