Nokia Networks and Eircell announce contract worth over 30 million Euros

Nokia Networks and Eircell have announced a contract, worth over 30 million, that will lead to a series of enhancements across the Eircell mobile phone network. The contract agreed involves the upgrading of the base station system for Eircell and will be rolled out across the country over the next two years.

The project involves five separate implementation phases. The first phase, which has now been completed, included the provision of a new base station expansion throughout Ireland. A second phase, now underway, sees the replacement and upgrade for the existing base station network. Nokia Professional Services will also provide a full package of services, covering Project Management, Network Implementation, Removal Services, Network Quality and Drive Testing, Emergency Service, training, as well as Hardware Services, Managed Spares Service and Software Maintenance.

The contract signed with Nokia Networks is part of Eircell's overall network enhancement programme which involves 5 million Euros being invested in the network on a monthly basis.
Mr Liam Butler, Director of Networks, Eircell, added "As a result of this significant contract with Nokia Networks, these enhanced base stations being rolled out across the country will bring an additional functionality and increased flexibility to the Eircell network.

"With the growing demand for mobile Internet and high speed data and the increased use of the full range of voice services already on offer, Eircell is committed to ensuring that the network grows and develops in tandem with the sophistication of our customers' needs. This contract with Nokia Networks has been put in place by Eircell to ensure that this happens," he concluded.

Mr Simon Brown, Managing Director Nokia Networks, Ireland said: "This is a new market entry for Nokia in Ireland. Together with Nokia, Eircell can be quickly ready for the continuing growth of GSM traffic and for the rapid introduction of exciting new services for an existing subscriber base of more than one million. GSM is the most proven platform for 3rd generation and offers operators investment protection towards new network technologies such as GPRS."

Eircell is Ireland's leading mobile phone operator with over 1 million customers and carrying some 6 million conversations a day. The company employs in excess of 1000 people and invests 5 million Euros per month in infrastructure and customer care. Eircell has pioneered several new technologies in Ireland, including pre-paid WAP, e-merge, the company's mobile Internet service, and HSCSD - the first high speed data service available to mobile customers in Ireland.

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, fixed and 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 60 000 people.

Further Information:
Communications Department,
Nokia Networks
Tel. + 358 9 5113 8193
Email: nokia.networks@nokia.com

www.nokia.com

Eircell
Joan Keating, Eircell Press Office
Tel: 01 / 2037793 or 087 / 6557276
Email: jkeating@eircell.ie