Nokia to expand Digicel's GSM 900 network in Venezuela

Nokia will deliver a GSM 900 network expansion to Digicel in Venezuela in a deal worth approximately USD50 million. Digicel, which operates in the south and east of the country, will now increase its coverage to 75 per cent in the region.

Under this expansion, Nokia will supply its high capacity mobile switching equipment, and unique high capacity base station controllers to Digicel bringing enhanced coverage and quality of services.

Nokia will also deliver its UltraSite base station solution, which answers the increasing demand for higher voice and data traffic in today's mobile networks to move toward the Mobile Internet era. An industry-leading product, Nokia UltraSite can support GSM, High Speed Data, GPRS, EDGE and WCDMA for 3G technologies.

In addition, Nokia will provide a range of Professional Services to implement a full turn key project.

"With Nokia's leading GSM solution, Digicel is able to expand its coverage to 75 per cent of the region and offer subscribers the most advanced services," said Victor Gill, President of Digicel," "We are now achieving an important expansion of GSM coverage in Venezuela, bringing mobile telecommunications as the exclusive GSM operator in the south and eastern region of Venezuela - one of the most important regions for tourism and industry, being visited by nearly 65% of the total international tourists who come primarily from Europe and North America.

"Digicel is acquiring the state of the art technology from Nokia that will help it in positioning itself as a wireless leader in eastern and south Venezuela," said Michael Keltai, Country General Manager Nokia Venezuela, "Nokia's high capacity network infrastructure is designed to meet the requirements of expanding networks, giving operators a highly competitive edge. With this deal Nokia reinforces the position as the preferred partner for GSM operators in Venezuela."

Digicel and Nokia have been working together since 1999 when Digicel launched its services in rural areas and Nokia began to implement a complete GSM system in the following year to compliment these services. The operator had been awarded the GSM license to expand its network across the south and east of the country in early 1998.

Digicel is the new telecommunications company in eastern and south of Venezuela. They are putting their efforts in developing the best wireless services in the region. Digicel has multiple licenses in the south and eastern region that allow them to provide mobile services, public and rural telephony using GSM technology. Recently they were granted with a license for basic urban telephony and WLL (Wireless Local Loop) that will allow them to provide wireless basic telephony

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 a broadly held company with listings on six major exchanges.

Further information:
Communications Department, Nokia Networks
Tel. + 358 (0) 7180 38193
Email nokia.networks@nokia.com
www.nokia.com