FINLAND, July 05, 2000 (PRIMEZONE) -- Nokia is to supply two of Europe's leading operators, E-Plus in Germany and KPN in the Netherlands with GPRS core network infrastructure. With GPRS, high speed packet data can be introduced into mobile networks, ideally positioning mobile operators for the introduction of new, exciting applications and services.
The agreement will enable both E-Plus and KPN to offer their subscribers access to cross-border GPRS services, in support of the emerging mobile Internet market in Germany and The Netherlands. They will also work together in the development and creation of GPRS specific applications and services, in making current WAP services available over the GPRS network.
Nokia is a significant supplier of mobile network infrastructure to both E-Plus and KPN. This agreement is a continuation of the current relationship, and deliveries of GPRS equipment began during June.
"This European agreement is significant for Nokia and underlines our proven volume delivery capability for GPRS equipment and software. We are pleased to be working with E-Plus and KPN in preparing their networks for the exciting era of the mobile Internet," says Peter Kuhne, Senior Vice President, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Nokia Networks.
Nokia is at the forefront of development and implementation of GPRS infrastructure for mobile operators, as existing second Generation networks evolve to 3G. In 10 months, Nokia has delivered almost 40 GPRS Core to leading operators in Europe, USA, Asia and China, more than any other supplier.
The Nokia GPRS solution includes the Internet Protocol (IP) core network infrastructure, the Serving GPRS Support Node, the Gateway GPRS Support Node, the Domain Name Server, the Charging Gateway, Router/Firewall and Ethernet switches, service charging and provisioning solution and applications.
The Eplus High Quality Net provides best speech quality and an optimum coverage by offering attrative prices at the same time. Eplus already has 5 million customers today. Besides voice telephony, consumers and business clients use the huge number of data communications offers supplied by Eplus. Eplus Online is the first integrated Internet Service Provider offering Internet access via fixed lines, mobile WAP phones or Laptops with High Speed Mobile Data. Eplus cuurently employs 3,500 people and achieved a turnover of DM 3 billion in 1999.
KPN Mobile is a leading European mobile telecommunications network operator and provider of mobile voice and data services. KPN Mobile is currently a 100% - owned subsidiary of KPN, the leading telecommunications company in the Netherlands, and was established as a separate legal entity in November 1999. KPN supplies the whole range of telecommunications and information and communications technology services to its customers in the Netherlands, Europe and other parts of the world. KPN Mobile has its main operations in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium but also has stakes in mobile operators in Hungary, the Ukraine and Indonesia.
Nokia is paving the way to the mobile information society with its innovative products and solutions. The company is the leading mobile phone supplier and a leading supplier of mobile, fixed and IP networks and related services, as well as multimedia terminals. In 1999, Nokia's net sales totalled EUR 19.8 billion (USD 19.9 billion). Headquartered in Finland, Nokia is listed on the New York (NOK), Helsinki, Stockholm, London, Frankfurt and Paris stock exchanges and employs more than 56,000 people.