New customer can offer advanced mobile services thanks to Nokia’s Unified Core Network solution

Nokia has won a managed services and 3G/HSPA network deal with Mobily, a brand of Etihad Etisalat Company (EEC), in Saudi Arabia. The contract marks a new customer for Nokia in an important growth market, and highlights Nokia’s leadership in supplying and managing superior networks infrastructure.

Under the agreement, Nokia will provide as a managed service (build-operate-transfer) network optimization, operation and maintenance, care and hardware services and training. In addition, Nokia will provide installation, commissioning, integration, project management, network planning. The network will be supported by the multi-vendor proven Nokia NetAct(TM) network and service management system.

Nokia will supply its 3G radio and core network technology, including the Nokia High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) solution, and Nokia UltraSite base station subsystem to help keep the cost of ownership and operation of the network to a minimum, allowing services to be priced competitively. Nokia will also deliver its MSC Server mobile softswitch and IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) for fixed and mobile solution from its Unified Core Networks portfolio to provide mobily with a high capacity and cost-effective means to provide voice and IP-based services. The deliveries have already started and the network should be operational in July.

“We are excited to extend our mobile service offering to fast and high-quality 3G and HSDPA services. Our customers will be able to enjoy fast music downloads and mobile Internet access,” says Eng. Abdul aziz Al-Tamami, Chief Operating Officer, mobily. “We chose Nokia – among other vendors – to supply and manage their cutting edge 3G/HSDPA network because we are confident that Nokia’s solutions will help us to respond to customer requirements in the increasingly competitive Saudi market. We are extremely pleased with Nokia’s fast network roll-out and comprehensive services support.”

“Nokia is strongly committed to the Middle East and Africa markets and it is our pleasure to extend that commitment to our cooperation with mobily in Saudi Arabia,” said Walid Moneimne, Senior Vice President, Central Europe, Middle East and Africa region, Networks, Nokia. “Nokia’s solutions and services will let mobily develop its service offering to meet the growing demand for access to information, services and entertainment easier and faster than before, on the go.”

Nokia is a leader in bringing mobility to New Growth Markets. Nokia estimates the number of mobile subscribers to grow to three billion in 2008, and around 80 percent of this growth will come from fast-growing markets such as Saudi Arabia. Nokia expects that Middle-East and Africa will account for 20 percent of the next billion subscribers.

Nokia’s Managed Services business is a key part of its Services business unit, and a core part of the company’s drive to help operators enhance their service offerings and reduce costs. To date Nokia has 40 managed services contracts in 31 countries, and it expects this figure to grow in the coming years.

In WCDMA 3G, Nokia has 59 customers to date. Nokia’s high-performing HSDPA is a simple software upgrade to Nokia WCDMA networks, thus enabling cost-effective and fast rollout. In the first phase, Nokia HSDPA offers up to four times faster data services than current 3G, and consequently enhanced quality of service experience. Nokia is a leader in the HSDPA market, with over 20 contracts globally, many of which are in commercial use. Several network operators have already opened their HSDPA networks with the Nokia HSDPA.

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 85 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.

Telenor Mobile Sweden has selected the Nokia MSC Server System (MSS) to optimize its 2G and 3G network. The MSS solution will help Telenor Mobile Sweden significantly reduce costs related to network operations, while providing a solid technology base for future fixed-mobile convergence. The Nokia MSS, a 3GPP standardized mobile softswitch solution, plays a key role in the Nokia Unified Core Network for converged networks.

Nokia is also providing implementation and basic integration services. Deliveries will begin immediately, and the system will be operational during the fourth quarter 2006.

“The Nokia MSS solution brings important benefits to our network, especially as it evolves toward converged services,” said Johan Lindgren, CEO at Telenor Mobile Sweden. “We expect considerable cost savings in our network operations, as well as a streamlined path forward toward offering services that are independent of access.”

“We are very pleased to be supplying our mobile softswitch to Telenor Mobile Sweden,” said Martin RГ¶nnlund, Senior Account Manager, Networks, Nokia. “This deal is a further endorsement of our MSC Server System’s capabilities for optimizing operators’ networks as they move into fixed-mobile convergence. It shows again that we have an excellent solution that has helped us gain a leadership position in this market.”

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 85 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.

Motorola secures nationwide managed services contract

Motorola, Inc. (NYSE:MOT) today announced that it has signed a nationwide managed services contract with Wateen Telecom-Pakistan, part of Warid Telecom International, to drive the design and implementation of a MOTOwi4в„ў nationwide wireless broadband voice and data network in Pakistan, with initial network deployment expected to be completed during the second half of 2006. Enabling Wateen to focus critical resources, the Motorola managed services contract will also empower the service provider to increase efficiencies and keep up with rapidly advancing technologies.

Wateen Telecom-Pakistan is part of Warid Telecom International LLC, an Abu Dhabi Group company led by His Highness Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan. HH Sheikh Nahayan formally signed the new contract with senior Motorola executives, including Eric Pradier, Vice President Network Services, Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA) and Latin America Caribbean, (LAC), Motorola Networks & Enterprise.

Under the managed services contract, Motorola will take responsibility for the operations and maintenance of the wi4WiMAX/IMS network according to an established set of key performance indicators. The services included in the contract will ensure that Wateen’s evolving WiMAX infrastructure stays current and responsive to business demand.

“The Wateen network is a multi-faceted project that combines a number of new technologies. This managed services agreement with Motorola will enable the combined team to realize Wateen’s vision of �Broadband Pakistan’ quickly and efficiently,” said HH Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan.

“This managed services agreement allows Wateen to leverage Motorola’s standards-compliant infrastructure, skilled staff, clear operational processes and demonstrated ability to manage a network of this complexity and diverse emerging technologies,” said HH Sheikh Nahayan.

One of the key elements in Wateen Telecom-Pakistan’s decision to opt for a managed services agreement was time to market. “Often in these wide-ranging nationwide infrastructure roll-outs, the operator has to devote large portions of their internal team to managing the day-to-day operational requirements of the network,” said Eric Pradier.

“Wateen’s management had the vision and clarity to opt for a single point of contact that integrates the response to all service requirements, freeing the operator to focus on running its business and serving customers across the country,” continued Pradier.

The announcement of the managed services agreement between Wateen and Motorola comes just weeks after the two companies signed an agreement for the planning, design and deployment of a nationwide wireless broadband voice and data network in Pakistan. From a technology perspective, the announcement heralded the world’s largest nationwide commercial WiMAX 802.16e contract and leveraged Motorola’s IMS solution.

The 802.16e-based wi4в„ў WiMAX access network and subscriber units will enable Wateen Telecom-Pakistan to offer broadband data services covering residential Internet access and voice services, corporate hosted VoiP and virtual private networks (VPN) and public hotspots. The solution will provide the access network, subscriber units, IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) core and services to quickly and cost-effectively connect the unconnected.

A portion of purchase price will be financed by Motorola.