Nokia Wins GSM Contract

The Philippine mobile operator SMART Communications has announced over US$70 million worth of GSM network expansion and Care services contracts awarded to Nokia. Deliveries of equipment and services have already begun, and are expected to be completed by the end of the year.

"Our market projections show continued growth in the mobile arena. We are very pleased with the growth of multimedia messaging and mobile data. We are happy to have reached our "10 for 10" milestone, that is, ten million subscribers on our tenth year of service," said Ramon S. Fernandez, SMART's Head for Administration and Materials Management Division.

The agreements include EDGE-ready (Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution) Base Station Subsystem and Network Switching Subsystem, increase in Short Messaging System capacity, and Nokia Flexihopper microwave radios. It also includes systems implementation and integration services, as well as a Care agreement with the latest software upgrade and spare parts service.

"Servicing 10 million subscribers is a challenge, especially now as we go beyond voice and text messaging and towards data and multimedia messaging services. SMART is looking forward to optimizing our entire business chain, from subscriber acquisition, maintenance, and operating expenditures," said Olan Pena, SMART's Head for Network Services Division. "No other mobile operator in this country faces this kind of challenge. The inclusion of Nokia's Care services gives us a lot of confidence in meeting these challenges."."

Posted to the site on 2nd July 2003