The agreement covers the first deployment phase of Radiolinja's GPRS core network for commercial services. The key elements of Nokia's GPRS core network solution include the Nokia Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN), Nokia Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) and the Nokia Charging Gateway (CG). The Nokia GPRS solution has full support for all ETSI specified interfaces to the GSM system, resulting in a competitive functionality from the outset, including support for Short Message Services (SMS) over GPRS and support for all classes of GPRS-enabled mobile terminals.
The deliveries will take place during the spring 2000. Nokia supplied Radiolinja with a GPRS core network solution in September 1999, with pre-commercial functionality.
GPRS enables always-on Internet and e-mail services to be delivered to a mobile phone. The packet switched GPRS enables charging based on the amount of transferred data in addition to current charging systems based on time. At the same time, packet switched GPRS makes more efficient use of radio network capacity.
"We are happy to provide Radiolinja with their first phase commercial GPRS solution. This agreement further reinforces Nokia's position as a leading GPRS supplier in the world", says Mr. Juhani Koivula, Area General Manager, Nokia Networks.
"GPRS is an essential stepping stone towards next generation mobile networks", says Ms. Elina Pitkänen, GPRS Project Manager, Radiolinja. "We wish to develop our GPRS based data services, as at the same time this brings preparation for the next generation mobile services," she continues.
Founded in 1988, Oy Radiolinja Ab was the first company in the world to open a GSM network, in 1991. The Radiolinja Group comprises Oy Radiolinja Ab, the subsidiaries Radiolinja Eesti AS, SIA Radiolinja Latvija, Globalstar Northern Europe and Tresmec Puhelimet. The Group´s net sales in the period 1st January - 30th September 1999 came to FIM 2.197 billion and it had a personnel of over 900.
Nokia is paving the way to the mobile information society with its innovative products and solutions. Nokia is the leading mobile phone supplier and a leading supplier of mobile, fixed and IP networks including related services. It also supplies multimedia terminals and computer displays. In 1998, net sales totaled EUR 13.3 billion (USD 15.7 billion). Headquartered in Finland, Nokia is listed on the New York (NOK), Helsinki, Stockholm, London, Frankfurt and Paris stock exchanges and employs more than 53,000 people.