Nokia Siemens Networks Wins Azerbaijani EDGE Upgrade Contract

Azerbaijan mobile operator, Bakcell is expanding its 2G network and adding a network upgrade to EDGE provided by Nokia Siemens Networks. Under the contract, Nokia Siemens Networks will provide to Bakcell a radio and a core network extension, introducing its Flexi EDGE Base Station Platform to the Bakcell network.

Ineke Botter, CEO of Bakcell, commented: "It is our aim to provide our subscribers in Baku and the regions with the latest technology and better network coverage. We are convinced that with the new Nokia Siemens Networks technology, Bakcell will be in a position to develop novel data services for its subscribers. The technology is environmentally friendly and enables Bakcell to ensure flexibility in offering a new variety of user friendly mobile services such as combined video, internet and audio usage. It will also allow the simultaneous use of voice and data at a speed comparable to ADSL."

Deliveries to Bakcell will start in March 2009, and the network extension will be fully implemented by the end of 2009.

No financial details were provided.

The operator is the second largest in the country, behind Azercell, and according to figures from the Mobile World tracker, ended last September with around 950,000 subscribers and a market share of 19%.

Posted to the site on 23rd February 2009