Nokia has won its first network deal with Bulgarian operator Vivatel. Nokia will improve GSM coverage in the Vivatel network and prepare it for 3G launch by supplying GSM/EDGE/WCDMA 3G/HSDPA radio network and 3G core network, and related services.

Nokia will supply Vivatel radio network including GSM and Nokia Flexi WCDMA base stations, and cellular transmission. Nokia will also become Vivatel’s sole 3G core network supplier and deliver Nokia IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), Nokia Flexi Intelligent Service Node (ISN) and Nokia MSC Server mobile softswitch. The network will be supported by the multivendor Nokia NetAct(TM) network and service management system. Deliveries started in August 2006.

Nokia’s services team will ensure efficient and timely completion of the network project. Nokia will provide project management, network planning, consulting and integration, and maintenance services, and will operate the network during the initial phase of the project.

“Nokia’s high-quality, reliable products and their end-to-end capability sealed our decision to select Nokia,” says Richard Shearer, CEO of Vivatel. “This benefits our customers, as initially they will be able to enjoy improved GSM coverage, and later we will launch 3G services.”

“This is an important deal to Nokia and we are pleased to be bringing 3G to Bulgaria together with Vivatel,” says Filip Rommelaere, General Manager, Networks, Nokia. “With Nokia solutions, operators can easily evolve their networks to the advanced technologies now being developed, protecting investments.”

In WCDMA 3G, Nokia has 62 customers to date. Nokia’s high-performing HSDPA is a simple software upgrade to Nokia WCDMA networks, thus enabling a fast, cost-effective rollout. Nokia HSDPA offers almost 10-times faster data services than current 3G networks, meaning an enhanced service experience. Nokia is a leader in the HSDPA market, with a large number of HSDPA contracts. Many network operators have already opened their HSDPA networks with the Nokia solution.

Nokia is creating seamless user experiences in converging networks thanks to mobile softswitching and IMS for fixed and mobile. With close to 100 customers for its mobile softswitching, Nokia has delivered the majority of the world’s commercial 3GPP-compliant mobile softswitching. Nokia is also the front-runner in IMS for fixed and mobile networks, with over 90 references for IMS solutions, such as Push to talk over Cellular, while paving the way for network renewal with IMS-based voice and applications in fixed networks.

As of July 1, 2006 the clients of Mobiltel will be given the opportunity to use 3G services at the Southern Black Sea. A week later – as of July 8, the UMTS/HSDPA network of the operator will have coverage in Varna and the resorts along the Northern Black Sea. For a month already the customers of the company have been benefiting from the 3G services in Burgas and Albena resort.

M-Tel offers its clients not only UMTS services, but also provides high-speed data transfer via HSDPA. Mobiltel is the fifth operator in the world to launch such network. The limitation of the speed through HSDPA depends only on the capabilities of the used device. At present the data transfer speed reaches up to 1.8 Mbit/s.

More than 25 000 3G handsets are working in the M-Tel network. Data transfer amounting to about 20 GB is being carried out only through the HSDPA network of the operator per day.