Nokia and T-Mobile International AG, the mobile holding of the Deutsche Telekom Group have signed a Letter of Intent for the supply of 3G network infrastructure and related services. The network will enable the introduction of new exciting seamless multimedia services for T-Mobile International subsidiaries throughout Europe.
The contract, scheduled to be signed in the first quarter of next year is expected be worth approximately Euros 350 million. The agreement will enable T-Mobile International to combine the power of mobility and the Internet and build on their existing business to rapidly address new markets with cost efficient 3G network.
"With our choice, we have not only laid the cornerstone for a uniform UMTS network within the T-Mobile International; we have also assured the delivery of high-quality UMTS equipment at the earliest possible date,” said Kai-Uwe Ricke, Chief Executive Officer of T-Mobile International. "Deliveries will begin in 2001 and first 3G trials are planned for spring 2001, with commercial service expected to begin at the end of 2002."
"This breakthrough decision marks a major step for Nokia and is significant for our infrastructure business in Germany and the UK. We look forward to further developing our relationship with T-Mobile International towards solutions for the Mobile Internet era," said Mikko Heikkonen, Executive Vice President, Customer Operations, Nokia Networks.
Nokia's 3G infrastructure can be integrated into T-Mobile International's subsidiary networks, as it is based on open standards, platforms and interfaces, critical for a smooth introduction of commercial 3G services where global roaming is required.
T-Mobile International AG includes the subsidiaries T-Mobil (Germany), One2One (United Kingdom) and Max.Mobil (Austria), as well as the joint ventures Ben (Netherlands), Radio-Mobil (Czech Republic), Era GSM (Poland), MTS (Russia) and T-Motion (United Kingdom). The group serves more than 35 million customers across Europe and currently has UMTS licenses in Germany, the United Kingdom, Austria, Poland and the Netherlands.
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 9 5113 8193
Fax + 358 9 5113 8199
Email nokia.networks@nokia.com
www.nokia.com
Notes to Editors:
3G is also known in Europe as UMTS: Universal Mobile Telecommunications System. 3G is the future of mobile communications and in Nokia's vision, IP-based technologies will eventually form the core of the future mobile network. Nokia's GSM/UMTS system will gradually evolve to an all-IP system, having 3G GPRS network elements as its base.
The 3G system will complement the existing GSM system, not replace it. It will be the vehicle that provides wireless access to multimedia services, and a way to provide more voice capacity, or a mixture of voice and multimedia services.