Nokia has enjoyed considerable success in China in recent months with the Nokia ConnectSite base station for new growth markets. A total of 12 provincial Chinese mobile operators have ordered the Nokia ConnectSite as part of routine network expansions or all-new supply contracts.
ConnectSite is an important element of the Nokia Mobile Entry Solution and Products to lower the total cost of ownership (TCO) for operators and drive the global mobile subscriber base towards 2 billion in 2008. China, as the largest GSM market in the world, will be a major contributor to this growth.
Nokia is already delivering the highly optimized Nokia Connect Site base station solution to subsidiaries of Chinese mobile operators in some of their biggest markets.
The recent deals reinforce the strong demand for a base station such as Nokia ConnectSite, which uses preconfigured installations, a unique "shelter-less installation" concept, and other benefits to squeeze the greatest cost-efficiencies from GSM technology. Nokia ConnectSite, together with optimized services, makes it possible to offer profitable mobile services to rural regions and other areas with relatively low average revenue per user.
"We couldn't be happier with the keen interest our Chinese operator customers have shown in ConnectSite," says David Ho, Senior Vice President, Nokia Networks, China. "Nokia ConnectSite's widespread success in a rapidly expanding market such as China points to the important role this optimized base station solution will play as operators expand their networks to reach potential new mobile customers."
China has 268.7 million mobile subscriptions at the end of year 2003. Mobile penetration has already exceeded fixed line usage in China, meaning that "voice going wireless" is already a reality. To meet the demand, many regions will need basic mobile voice coverage at affordable costs, which the Nokia Connect GSM solution provides by reducing the overall total cost of ownership (TOC) at all levels of the network implementation.
In addition to the Chinese operators, Nokia has previously supplied Nokia ConnectSite base stations for networks in the Philippines, Brazil, Africa and Iraq.
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Notes to the editor:
The Nokia Connect GSM Solution is an integrated solution that combines optimized network infrastructure, network management systems and operator services. Combined with Nokia entry-level terminals, the Nokia Connect GSM Solution allows operators to realize savings in CAPEX and OPEX and offer handsets and services tailored precisely for entry-level mobile phone customers.
Significant savings can be achieved through use of Nokia ConnectSite 10 and Nokia ConnectSite 100 base stations, which utilize a "shelter-less installation" concept. "Shelter-less" means that the base stations are located close to the antenna masts, avoiding costly on-ground installations.
The solution consists of reliable and robust network elements:
- Complete site solutions based on "shelter-less" Nokia ConnectSite 10 and Nokia ConnectSite 100 base stations, including auxiliaries, transmission and site services. Shelter-less means that the base stations are located close to the antenna masts, avoiding costly on-ground installations.
- Nokia Connect Base Station Controller for expandable capacities and enhanced functionality.
- The scalable Nokia GSM core network, including MSC, HLR and the INAP-based Nokia Connect Prepaid service.
- A centralized Nokia Connect Network Management System for reduced need for site visits.