Nokia to Supply GPRS Core Network to Vodafone New Zealand
HELSINKI, Finland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 14, 2000--Vodafone New Zealand and Nokia have agreed to implement the Nokia General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) core network solution into Vodafone's commercial mobile network. Vodafone aims to launch commercial GPRS services during the fourth quarter of this year.
"We aim to be a leader in the field of mobile data and mobile Internet," said John Rohan, Managing Director, Vodafone New Zealand Ltd. "Vodafone New Zealand has already delivered a range of new services to customers and with the selection of Nokia's GPRS system we will continue to expand and develop our network, through providing customers with innovative products and services that will give them the information they need anytime, anywhere."
"Our long relationship with Vodafone will provide an ideal opportunity for Vodafone's customers to make the most of the benefits that mobility and continuous connectivity will bring," said Bob Bird, General Manager (Vodafone Pacific), Nokia Networks. "We are seeing many Nokia GPRS customers around the world today in an ideal position to launch their commercial GPRS network this year."
The Nokia GPRS solution includes the industry's strongest and most efficient core GPRS system and Connecting@Care support services including applications consultancy and integration expertise to integrate the GPRS core network into systems the existing service delivery and billing environment. Since August 1999, Nokia has delivered and implemented well over 40 GPRS core networks to leading operators in Europe, USA, Asia and China, and now has the largest installed base of any supplier.
Vodafone have been trialing the Nokia GPRS core network infrastructure since the first quarter of this year. All of Nokia's GPRS system deliveries support non-proprietary interfaces to the customer care and billing systems, and can cope with multivendor environments as well as roaming between various operator networks. As a result, with Nokia's GPRS solution, Vodafone will be able to provide true mobile Internet access to its subscribers - offering packet switched data via the GSM network.
Vodafone New Zealand is part of the largest mobile telecommunications company in the world, Vodafone Group PLC based in Great Britain. The Vodafone group entered the New Zealand mobile telecommunications market with the purchase of BellSouth New Zealand in November 1998. This network now covers more than 96% of New Zealand's population, operating mobile phone and data services on the 900-megahertz radio frequency.
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, broadband and IP networks, related services as well as multimedia terminals. In 1999, net sales totaled EUR 19.8 billion (USD 19.9 billion). Headquartered in Finland, Nokia is listed on the New York (NOK), Helsinki, Stockholm, London, Frankfurt and Paris stock exchanges and employs more than 60 000 people.
CONTACT:
Nokia Networks
Tel. + 358 9 5113 8193
Fax + 358 9 5113 8199
Email nokia.networks@nokia.com
www.nokia.com
KEYWORD: INTERNATIONAL EUROPE
BW2095 AUG 14,2000
4:46 PACIFIC
7:46 EASTERN |
