Siemens Wins Middle Eastern 3G Contract

Siemens says that it has won a contract from Kuwait's MTC-Vodafone to build a 3G network in Bahrain following the company's award of a cell phone license there a couple of months ago. In early 2004 the MTC-Vodafone network in Bahrain will commercially launch what they expect will be the first 3G network in the Middle East. Siemens mobile and its partner NEC are providing the network infrastructure for the new network, which encompasses everything from GSM to W-CDMA, including GPRS and EDGE technologies.

In Kuwait, MTC-Vodafone and Siemens have already been working together for ten years.

"We are confident that the partnership between MTC-Vodafone and Siemens will provide a telecommunication showcase in the Middle East", said Karl-Christoph Caselitz, President of Networks within the Siemens Information and Communication Mobile Group. "3G from Siemens in Bahrain underlines our goal to be the first choice as a mobile network supplier worldwide - fast and reliable."

"This contract between MTC-Vodafone and Siemens is based on our strong partnership which began in 1994 with the inception of our GSM services for MTC in Kuwait. Through understanding the specificities of our region, Siemens is well positioned to support us in achieving our vision. The introduction of third generation technology in Bahrain puts MTC-Vodafone and the Middle East on a par with Europe," said Dr. Saad Al Barrak, Director General of MTC-Vodafone."

Posted to the site on 22nd July 2003