Nokia to provide GSM network expansion for Globe Telecom in the Philippines in a USD 310 Million deal

Nokia has signed a contract worth approximately USD 310 million with Globe Telecom's Handyphone service, the company's GSM based Cellular Mobile Telephone System, for the expansion of its GSM network in the Philippines.

Nokia will expand Globe's existing GSM 900 and 1800 network and services nationwide. This expansion will enable Globe to meet the rapid growth in the market place and bring enhanced capacity, coverage and quality to its customers.

Under the agreement, Nokia will supply and install a full range of telecommunications services. Equipment to be supplied includes Mobile Switching Centers, Home Location Registers, Transit Switching layer and Base Station Controllers.

Nokia will also provide its UltraSite base station solution, which answers the increasing demand for higher voice and data traffic in today's mobile networks and the evolution to the Mobile Internet era. An industry-leading product, Nokia UltraSite can support GSM, High Speed Data, GPRS, EDGE and WCDMA for 3G technologies. This contract marks Nokia's 24th turnkey delivery globally, making it the world leader in turnkey network implementation

"As a leading operator, Globe Telecom is pleased to expand its existing partnership with Nokia," said Gerry Ablaza, President and CEO, Globe Telecom. "By extending the use of Nokia's complete state-of-the art solutions in our network, we will be able to provide our customers with the best network coverage, level of service, allowing them to enjoy and experience innovative mobile services."

"With Nokia's Ultrasite, this will incorporate support for WCDMA, allowing us to offer 3G services in the future and to roll-out new applications and services, thus continuing our lead of being at the forefront in bringing real benefits to our customers," he added.

"This contract further underlines our excellent and long-standing relationship with Globe Telecom," said Tapani Sairanen, Account Director, Nokia Networks, Philippines, "Globe and Nokia have been working alongside to build this network since its launch in 1994, and this latest expansion will lay the ground for the introduction and launch of the next generation of multimedia rich services. "

To date, Globe Handyphone has the largest nationwide GSM coverage among cellular phone providers in the country. With more than 3 million subscribers nationwide, Globe Handyphone already has over 1400 cell sites installed across the Philippines. Moreover, Globe Handyphone offers the full range of leading edge GSM services including Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) as well as mobile fax and data. The network also utilizes Nokia's Intelligent Network technology to provide its Globe's Prepaid Plus service and a wide variety of other value-added services in addition to text messaging.

Globe Telecom, a Philippine corporation owned by the Ayala Corporation and Singapore Telecom International, is one of three full service telecommunications companies in the country today. Aside from its fully-digital cellular mobile phone service, the company offers a comprehensive range of telecom products and services which include fixed telephony, international telephone services, VSAT (Very Small Aperture terminals), Inter Exchange Carrier (IXC) services, data communications and other value added services such as G-Net internet access.

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.

Furher information:
Global Communications Department, Nokia Networks
Tel. + 358 (0) 7180 38195
Email nokia.networks@nokia.com

Karen K Wong,
Communications Manager
Nokia Networks, Asia Pacific
Tel: +65 723 1824/+65 93683406
Email: karen.k.wong@nokia.com

www.nokia.com

Jones T.Campos, APR
Assistant Vice President for Public Relations
Globe Telecom Inc.
Tel: +632 7393074
Email: jtcampos@globetel.com.ph