Nokia supplies HSDPA as part of extended radio network contract

French operator SFR has launched its High Speed Data Packet Access (HSDPA) network in Paris and Southern France. Nokia’s HSDPA solution allows SFR to operate its network more cost-efficiently and offer its customers data services at speeds of up to four times faster than current 3G speeds.

“We are committed to introducing broadband mobile data services to our customers. They will benefit from download data speeds up to 4 times faster than current speeds available, offering for the first time a mobile experience similar to current standard DSL rates. Streaming video is a superb example of the benefits that HSDPA will bring to consumers. Already last year we demonstrated HSDPA services such as high speed streaming video, music download and business applications together with Nokia, and now the service is available to our customers,” says Paul Corbel, Chief Technical Officer, SFR. “We are very satisfied with Nokia’s HSDPA solution and their support in enabling us to launch our HSDPA service in Paris and Southern France”.

“The Nokia HSDPA solution enables SFR to leverage their new mobile data opportunities and deliver exciting high-speed services to their customers, says Olivier de Percin, Account Director, Networks, Nokia. “HSDPA users can clearly see how much faster the mobile data services, such as streaming video, are and how good the quality really is. Together with the new HSDPA Nseries devices, this HSDPA solution will bring to the mobile internet what PCs and broadband brought to the fixed internet and will widely enhance the consumer’s experiences in multimedia.”

Nokia has delivered the HSDPA solution to SFR as part of a radio network contract extended in May 2006. Nokia uses it’s unique, multivendor Nokia NetAct(TM) network to ensure the quality of service for HSDPA and has provided managed services, consulting and integration services from its business solutions portfolio.

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.

The mobile operator SFR, with headquarters in Paris, is equipping its existing W-CDMA network with High-Speed Data Access (HSDPA) technology from Siemens.

SFR is launching its new data service “3G+” in the Western French region of Nantes/Saint Nazaire/Rennes and offering its customers mobile network access with a maximal transmission data rate of 1,8 megabits per second. That makes it particularly well suited to transmit broadband multimedia applications.

SFR is the first mobile operator in France to launch commercially the 3G offer integrating HSDPA technology in its W-CDMA network. Integrating the Siemens solution requires no additional hardware – a simple software upgrade is all it takes. This made it possible to put the modernized network into operation in just four weeks. Siemens began constructing the W-CDMA network for SFR in 2002 and has been involved in building it out since then.

“Siemens’ technology has enabled us to launch the first commercial HSDPA pilots for our business customers from March 2006. Our customers can now enjoy all the benefits of latest technology in telephony,” said Paul Corbel, Chief Technology Officer of SFR.

“We are excited about this launch, because it enhances our already solid partnership. And it again strengthens our technology leadership in future-ready mobile communications networks,” said Christoph Caselitz, President of Mobile Networks at Siemens Communications.

Pantech Group announced ambitious plans to build market share and increase sales in France, one of Pantech’s strategic handset markets in Europe, through aggressive brand development initiatives and supply partnerships.

At a press conference today in Paris – the company’s first official engagement with the media in France – Pantech outlined its distribution and product launch strategies for the French market, along with details of its long term brand positioning plans. The company aims to become one of the top five most popular handset brands in France by the end of 2008.

Bells Kim, General Manager, Pantech France, said: “This is a critical market for Pantech, in terms of establishing our brand in Europe and creating increased customer awareness in key European countries. By supplying handsets through major operators, we can reinforce our market growth in France and support our brand development in other markets”.

Pantech already supplies phones to shops of SFR, the second largest mobile operator in France, and has just diversified its distribution channel through a partnership with another leading mobile operator, Bouygues TГ©lГ©com. Also, Pantech is in negotiations with other operators and open market distributors to increase its sales volume.

“The French have long been renowned for their sense of good taste across a vast range of areas, from clothing and apparel to cuisine and fine wines. We believe that our focus on advanced, stylish design and innovation means that we will be able to offer a genuinely �different’ option for mobile users in France,” said Mr. Kim.

Pantech plans to actively market its clamshell PG-3500 model in France. The slim, compact, attractively designed model, to be supplied to Bouygues TГ©lГ©com, has a range of fun multimedia applications, including a 1.3 mega pixel camera, MPEG4 camcorder, and MP3 player supported by an external memory. The phone also features wireless Bluetooth technology/USB function and JAVA technology.

Pantech also plans to launch a marketing campaign to enhance its brand image in France, which will include the launch of an elegant, attention grabbing billboard campaign. The company plans to have a neon sign of its logo in the core location of Peripherique, in Paris, to be lit from June 1, 2006.

By participating in the two recent premier European technology trade shows, CeBIT 2006 and the 3GSM World Congress 2006, Pantech showed its long term commitment to not only France but the entire European market.

PG-3500 features include:

Size & weight: 92.7 x 45 x 16.8 mm, 75g

Display: Main: 1.9” 260K TFT (size: 176 x 220 pixels)

Sub: 1.2” 65K TFT (size: 96×128 pixels)

Color: Black and silver

Camera:1.3 Mega pixel with a digital 4x zoom and a built-in flash

Memory: 512/128Mb (Micro SD card slot provided)

Video recording function

Music Player, 64 Polyphonic/MP3 ringtones

Bluetooth technology

SMS/MMS/E-mail