Leading Nordic operator Telenor has awarded Nokia a global frame agreement for cellular transmission solutions and services. The Nokia solution helps keep operating expenditure in check, can be integrated into GSM and WCDMA 3G networks, and also meshes well with fixed network operations.

Under the agreement, Nokia will supply Telenor with Nokia Hopper microwave radios to be used for transmission from both base stations and fixed applications when new sites are deployed, or an increase in capacity is needed. The agreement covers all regions where Telenor and its affiliated companies have operations.

“This two-year frame agreement extends our relationship with Telenor,” says Finn Erik Hermansen, General Manager, Networks, Nokia. “We are confident that Nokia’s transmission solutions for fixed and mobile broadband networks will help Telenor maintain a high-capacity network cost-efficiently.”

Nokia Hopper microwave radios come in a wide product range, with over 200,000 such radios in use today all over the world.

Norwegian telco Telenor acquired Serbia’s Mobi63 for $1.93bn in a public auction in Belgrade on Monday.Telenor won the auction by beating off bids from Austria’s Mobilkom and Egypt’s Orascom.

Mobi63 was owned by the Serbian government and a consortium of Austrian investors. No ownership percentages were available.

Telenor initially bid $1.658bn, around $600m more than a minimum price of $1.020bn, set by the Serbian government. Offered prices could go up by $25.5m in each round of bidding.

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.