Nokia today announced a partnership with M1 in Singapore for the construction of a state-of-the-art GSM1800 network to replace the current CDMA system and for the deployment of a full 3G system. Nokia will be the sole supplier for 3G technology.
Subject to its successful bid for a 3G license next year, the investment in network capacity will enable M1 to satisfy growing demand for non-voice mobile services such as messaging, mobile commerce, mobile Internet access and imaging.
The new GSM1800 network, to be ready before the end of next year, will have all the features that subscribers can expect from Nokia's leading digital cellular technology. It will be 3G ready as the base stations for the network can be adapted to support WCDMA (Wideband Code Divisional Multiple Access), M1's choice of next generation technology. With an initial high density deployment of base stations throughout Singapore, it will be designed to provide world-class quality, value and coverage, which have now become hallmarks of M1's service standards.
"M1 is expected to invest over USD290 (SGD500) million over the next five years, covering equipment and services," said Neil Montefiore, Chief Executive Officer of M1,
"This is an investment for the future which, I hope, will make an important contribution to Singapore’s ambition to be a world-class telecommunications center. We have an excellent, long-standing business relationship with Nokia that has helped us transform the mobile communication landscape in Singapore. We are confident that Nokia will be able to deliver its usual high service levels for the new investments.”
" We are delighted to continue with our partnership with M1. At Nokia, we strongly believe in developing long-term partnerships with our customers and being ever responsive to their needs, " said Mikko Heikkonen, Executive Vice President, Customer Operations.
Nokia's 3G infrastructure is based on open standards, platforms and interfaces, critical for a smooth evolution from 2G to commercial 3G services. It includes integrated end-to-end solutions covering charging, security, network management & service control applications.
Nokia has been working with M1 since 1997 in the supply of a GSM dual band network. M1 has also taken delivery of the Nokia GPRS system.
Nokia is the world leader in mobile communications. Backed by its experience, innovation, user-friendliness and secure solutions, the company has become the leading supplier of mobile phones and a leading supplier of mobile, fixed and IP networks. By adding mobility to the Internet Nokia creates new opportunities for companies and further enriches the daily lives of people. Nokia is one of the most broadly held companies in the world with listings on six major exchanges.
Further information:
Nokia Networks
Communications Department
Tel. + 358 9 5113 8193
Fax + 358 9 5112 8199
Email nokia.networks@nokia.com
www.nokia.com
Notes to Editors:
3G is also known within Europe as UMTS: Universal Mobile Telecommunications System. 3G is the future of mobile communications and in Nokia's vision, IP-based technologies will eventually form the core of the future mobile network. Nokia's GSM/UMTS system will gradually evolve to an all-IP system, having 3G GPRS network elements as its base. The 3G system will complement the existing GSM system, not replace it. It will be the vehicle that provides wireless access to multimedia services, and a way to provide more voice capacity, or a mixture of voice and multimedia services.