Nokia and Globe Telecom Sign USD 30 Million Agreement for the Delivery of GPRS Core Network and GSM Expansion in the Philippines - Company Business and Marketing

Cambridge Telcom Report, Nov 22, 1999

Globe Telecom and Nokia have signed a contract for the supply of Nokia's General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) core network solution and expansion of Globe Telecom's GSM-based Handyphone service, the Company's Mobile Telephone System (CMTS).

The agreement, valued at approximately USD 30 million will expand Globe's range and quality of GSM services with work scheduled to be completed by the first half of next year.

The expansion includes Nokia's high capacity Mobile Switching Centres (MSCi), Home Location Registers (HLR), Short Message Service Centres, base stations, and transmission systems.

Additionally, Nokia will deliver its Internet Protocol (IP) core network infrastructure, including the Nokia Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN), the Nokia Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) and the Nokia Charging Gateway. With Nokia's GPRS solution, Globe will be able to provide true mobile Internet access to its subscribers - offering enhanced packet switched data through the enhanced GSM network.

"The continued addition of Nokia's leading technology into our system will allow Globe Telecom to offer the best network coverage and quality, with the most competitive, high quality and flexible service portfolio for our customers," said Manuel De Los Santos, Globe Telecom Senior Vice President for Mobile Services. "Subscriber numbers and data services are continuing to grow strongly so this latest investment will greatly improve the quality of service for Globe's customers."

"Nokia has been working with Globe for more than five years and we are pleased to have taken a leading role in the provision of wireless data and advanced GSM services, "says Kari Ahola, Sr. Vice President, Nokia Networks, Asia Pacific. "GPRS will bring secure, instant packet-switched connections to data networks, such as the Internet, Internet Service Providers and corporate Intranets, all via GSM technology."

Globe Telecom, a Philippine corporation led by the Ayala Corporation and Singapore Telecom International, is one of only three full service telecommunications companies in the country today. The company offers a comprehensive range of telecom products and services which include a nationwide fully-digital cellular mobile phone service based on GSM, fixed telephony, international telephone services, VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminals), Inter Exchange Carrier (IXC) services, data communications and other value added services such as G-Net internet access.

Nokia is paving the way to the mobile information society with its innovative products and solutions. Nokia is the leading mobile phone supplier and a leading supplier of mobile, fixed and IP networks including related services. It also supplies multimedia terminals and computer displays. In 1998, net sales totaled EUR 13.3 billion (USD 15.7 billion). Headquartered in Finland, Nokia is listed on the New York (NOK), Helsinki, Stockholm, London, Frankfurt and Paris stock exchanges and employs more than 53 000 people.