Israel's Partner Communications Company Ltd and Nokia have signed a contract for the delivery of Nokia's advanced Base Station systems and related services.
The contract with Partner Communications marks a new customer for Nokia and includes expanding their existing GSM 900 network. Partner commenced full commercial operations in January 1999 as the sole GSM operator in the Israeli mobile telephone market.
Nokia will supply its leading Base Station products including the high capacity Nokia MetroSite for efficient metropolitan area coverage and the triple-mode Nokia UltraSite base station solution. The infrastructure is instrumental for future deployment of EDGE and 3rd Generation services.
Nokia Professional Services will provide support to Partner’s operations and maintenance team, as well as a full set of Remedial Maintenance and Training Services.
Amikan Cohen, CEO, Partner Communications, commented: "We selected Nokia as an infrastructure supplier because we believe the engagement with Nokia will enable our customers to continue to benefit from one of the highest quality networks available and from a range of cutting edge services which position Partner as one of the leading GSM operators.”
Partner has over 420,000 subscribers, representing an estimated 14 percent of the cellular market in Israel, and offers GSM network coverage for approximately 97 percent of the population.
"We are pleased to enter a new country with this deal for Nokia. The success of Partner in Israel underlines the strength of GSM in today's challenging environment with many competing technologies. Nokia's leading edge systems will give Partner the ability to offer superior services in a fast paced market," says Pentti Kamppinen, Area Vice President, Nokia Networks, South Europe.
Partner Communications Company Ltd. is the only Global System for Mobile Communications, or GSM, mobile telephone network operator in Israel. The Company commenced full commercial operations in January 1999 under the international Orange Brand name and, through its network, provides quality of service and a range of features to over 420,000 subscribers in Israel. Partner subscribers can use roaming services in 70 countries using 160 GSM networks. The Company shares are quoted on NASDAQ under the symbol PTNR and on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol PCCD. (For further information: http://investors.partner.co.il)
Nokia is paving the way to the mobile information society with its innovative products and solutions. The company is the leading mobile phone supplier and a leading supplier of mobile, and broadband IP networks, related services as well as multimedia terminals. In 1999, Nokia's net sales totaled EUR 19.8 billion (USD 19.9 billion). Headquartered in Finland, Nokia is listed on the New York (NOK), Helsinki, Stockholm, London, Frankfurt and Paris stock exchanges and employs more than 56,000 people. Visit the Nokia website at www.nokia.com
Further information:
Communications Department, Nokia Networks
Tel. + 358 9 5113 8193, Fax+ 358 9 5113 8199
Email Nokia.networks@Nokia.com
www.nokia.com
Dr. Dan Eldar, Partner Communications Company Ltd.
V.P. Carrier, Investor and International Relations
Tel: +972-3-9054151, Fax: +972-3-9054161
E-mail: dan.eldar@orange.co.il