Nokia and Sonera Complete First Ever GRX Based GPRS Roaming
Sept. 14, 2000--Nokia and Sonera have successfully completed tests that bring roaming capabilities for IP traffic between GPRS networks.
GPRS roaming is a basic requirement for making future global mobile Internet services possible for GPRS subscribers in other operators' GPRS networks.
GRX, as specified in the IR.34 recommendations laid down by the international Roaming Expert Group (IREG) of the GSM
Association, is a centralised IP routing network for interconnecting GPRS networks. GRX based GPRS roaming has now been implemented successfully for the first time in the world, with a solution that is fully compliant with the GSM Association recommendation.
The tests were executed by combining Sonera's GPRS system and Nokia's packet core network by a backbone network solution that uses Sonera's GPRS Roaming Exchange. The solution is also designed to meet the roaming
needs of future 3G networks.
Nokia and Sonera recognize the importance of the GPRS roaming and the need to base it on non-proprietary standards. The IREG specifications are ideal for building a long term GPRS roaming solution, which also provides a growth path to next generation GPRS and 3G networks for operators around the world.
``Sonera has always recognized the importance of delivering services across national borders. In the early 1990's Sonera made the world's first GSM roaming agreement and also became the first operator to sign a GSM roaming agreement outside Europe, in Hong Kong. Now Sonera aims to make GPRS roaming a reality by offering GPRS IP roaming backbone services
to all GPRS operators worldwide,'' says Senior Vice President Timo Levoranta from Sonera Mobile Internet Operator Services. ``We already have a backbone GPRS roaming network in Europe, in readiness for the launch of full-scale GPRS services.''
All of Nokia's GPRS system deliveries support non-proprietary interfaces to the customer care and billing systems, and can cope with multivendor environments and roaming between various operator networks. IREG
Model based roaming will be essential in the widespread growth of seamless GPRS roaming services,'' says Petri Poyhonen, Head of GPRS Business Programme, Nokia Networks.
Since August 1999, Nokia has delivered and implemented more than 50 GPRS core networks to leading operators in Europe, USA, Asia and China, and now has the largest installed base of any supplier. SMG31 is the first specification that fully meets the GSM Release 97 standard enabling the GPRS core network to cope with multivendor environments and
roaming between operator networks. All of Nokia's GPRS system deliveries are SMG31 compliant and support non-proprietary interfaces to the customer care and billing systems.
Sonera (HEX: SRA, NASDAQ: SNRA) is an international forerunner in mobile communications and mobile-based services and applications. By combining its expertise in mobile communications, the Internet and service provision, Sonera aims to develop into a global communications operator and provider of transaction and content services. The company also provides advanced data communications solutions to businesses, and fixed network voice services in Finland and its nearby areas. In 1999, Sonera's revenues amounted to EUR 1.85 billion and profit before extraordinary items and taxes was EUR 0.5 |
