Iowa GSM Coverage Improves

i wireless, formerly Iowa Wireless Services, has extended its agreement with Nokia for the supply of a complete range of GSM network equipment, including GPRS capability. Nokia has been the sole GSM network supplier to i wireless since June 1998. The agreement is valued at US$15 million. Under the contract extension, Nokia will provide GSM core and EDGE-capable radio network equipment, as well as a short message service center (SMSC), a GPRS capable network and implementation services.

"We've been very pleased with Nokia as our network vendor and feel that our firm partnership provides quality service for our customers," says Michael S. Haskins, Chief Operating Officer, i wireless. "This new agreement will enhance our service even more, with expanded capacity and state-of-the-art GPRS data services."

"Nokia is extremely happy to be continuing our long-term relationship with i wireless as its sole network supplier," says Tim Johnson, General Manager, Networks, Nokia. "This extension is an endorsement of i wireless' trust in Nokia's systems. We're also happy to be providing advanced mobile Internet access through GPRS."

i wireless is headquartered in Urbandale, Iowa, and is a partnership between T-Mobile USA and Iowa Network Services (INS). Iowa Network Services, Inc. (INS) was created in 1988 when 138 of Iowa's independent telephone companies joined together to provide long distance service to their customers in more than 300 Iowa communities."

Posted to the site on 23rd April 2004