Chosen by NetCom as sole supplier for GSM and 3G/UMTS network technology
The Siemens Information and Communication Mobile Group (Siemens mobile) has signed a letter of intent with NetCom, one of the leading mobile providers in Norway, to upgrade its GSM infrastructure with 3G/UMTS technology. After first implementing the GSM network and 3G/UMTS base stations in southern Norway this declaration now covers the delivery and installation of GSM and 3G/UMTS radio and core equipment in the northern part of the country. The estimated business volume is 200 million euros over the next six years. This agreement makes Siemens the sole supplier to NetCom of infrastructure technology and strengthens its leading position in 3G/UMTS mobile networks.
The final contract will be signed during the next few weeks and implementation of the GSM network upgrade will commence immediately afterwards. Netcom will be offering its first commercial 3G/UMTS services to over 1.2 million mobile telephone subscribers by March 2005.
“We have been working with Siemens for many years now and are very satisfied with its work”, says Dag Kleivan, VP Director Operations at NetCom. The mobile provider is part of TeliaSonera, the leading Swedish-Finnish telecom company, and has been a major customer of Siemens mobile since 1993.
“We have a strong presence in Norway and will continue to extend our support for NetCom’s needs. At the same time we are aiming to strengthen our links with TeliaSonera” said Christoph Caselitz, head of the Networks Division at Siemens mobile. “As a sole supplier we will now streamline processes and deliveries to NetCom. As a consequence both installation and logistics will be much more efficient and faster.”
Siemens has established itself in the Norwegian market as one of the country’s key network suppliers. The new agreement with NetCom also confirms the company as a leading provider of 3G/UMTS technology. 26 3G/UMTS networks from Siemens and its partner NEC in 19 countries in Europe and Asia are presently in rollout. Alone 12 of the 22 3G/UMTS networks in commercial operation worldwide are from Siemens mobile and its technology partner.