NEC and Siemens to supply W-CDMA/UMTS 3G Network for 3 Ireland
Tokyo, London and Dublin, -/August 17, 2005 - Wi-Fi Technology News/- NEC Corporation (NEC) and its third generation (3G) partner Siemens Communications, today announced that they are assisting Hutchison 3G Ireland (trading as ??3 Ireland??) in deploying its W-CDMA/UMTS 3G network. The announcement represents the eighth Hutchison 3G network deployment that NEC and Siemens have been involved in.
As the supplier of 3 Ireland??s W-CDMA/UMTS radio access network (UTRAN), the contract includes the delivery of a full complement of Node-B radio base stations and radio network controllers with an aim to providing ubiquitous 3G network coverage for 3 customers around Ireland. 3 formally launched its 3G service in Ireland on July 26th, 2005, and currently provides 3G coverage for 60% of the Irish population, and voice and text coverage for 99.5% of the population.
As an existing supplier of its 3G network solutions to Hutchison 3G in Austria, Hong Kong, Italy and the UK, NEC and Siemens are further developing their strategic relationship with Hutchison 3G, which launched Europe's first 3G networks in Italy and the UK.
The implementation of the W-CDMA/UMTS network from NEC and Siemens allows 3??s video mobile users in Ireland to access extremely high data speeds (up to 384 kbps) which will facilitate fast and easy access to next generation data services, including advanced audio, video and interactive gaming services and content.
NEC will also deliver a large number of units of its point-to-point wireless access system ??PASOLINK??. ??PASOLINK?? is a PDH/SDH microwave system and, due to the rapid expansion of mobile networks globally, operators are deploying ??PASOLINK?? to connect radio base stations to facilitate the reliable and speedy installation of 3G mobile infrastructure. Worldwide sales of NEC??s PASOLINK exceeded 200,000 units in 2004.
According to According to Katsuhiro Nakagawa, Associate Senior Vice President of NEC Mobile Solutions Operations Unit. ??This latest contract is a clear testimony to the continuing success of the highly effective 3G network provided by NEC and Siemens for Hutchison.??Since Europe??s first commercial service launch, by Hutchison 3G in March 2003, we have delivered a good many 3G networks to Hutchison. I believe that our achievement has been evaluated and led NEC to become a major supplier for 3 Ireland.
Kevin Buckley, General Manager of NEC UK??s Mobile Network Solutions Division, added ??Our on-going close co-operation enables us to continue to maximize Hutchison??s competitive position in the marketplace and really differentiate the 3 brand globally as it rolls out more and more innovative 3G services worldwide.??
Christoph Caselitz, President of Mobile Networks at Siemens Communications, said, ??This is yet another significant milestone in the continuing development of the highly successful Siemens and NEC strategic partnership. Together with NEC we are world leaders in 3G/WCDMA infrastructure??
Market independent industry analysts position NEC and Siemens in the 3G/W-CDMA market as No.1 with regard to commercially installed radio base stations ?C Node-Bs (source: Multimedia Research Institute, Tokyo, April 05).
About NEC Corporation
NEC Corporation (NASDAQ: NIPNY) (FTSE: 6701q.l) is one of the world's leading providers of Internet, broadband network and enterprise business solutions dedicated to meeting the specialized needs of its diverse and global base of customers. Ranked as one of the world's top patent-producing companies, NEC delivers tailored solutions in the key fields of computer, networking and electron devices, by integrating its technical strengths in IT and Networks, and by providing advanced semiconductor solutions through NEC Electronics Corporation. The NEC Group employs more than 140,000 people worldwide and had net sales of 4,855 billion yen (approx. $45 billion) in the fiscal year ended March 2005. For additional information, please visit the NEC home page at: http://www.nec.com.
NEC's mobile business
NEC is a total solution provider for 3G and the mobile Internet. NEC has been involved in every first-stage rollout of 3G systems worldwide. NEC is also responsible for developing the first 3G handsets for use on the world's first 3G networks. NEC has competence in the mobile Internet area with its mobile infrastructure system, mobile application platform and its impressive portfolio of contents. NEC's mobile handsets are known for their prominent technologies including large color screens, built-in cameras and other functions that make them ideal for use in mobile Internet.
About Siemens Communications
Siemens Communications is one of the largest players in the global telecommunications industry. Siemens is the only provider in the market that offers its customers a full-range portfolio, from devices for end users to complex network infrastructures for enterprises and carriers as well as related services. Siemens Communications is the world??s innovation leader in convergent technologies, products and services for wireless, fixed and enterprise networks. It is the largest Group within Siemens and operates in more than 160 countries around the world. In fiscal 2004 (year-end September 30), its 60,000-strong workforce posted sales of approximately 18 billion euros. More about Siemens Communications at http://www.siemens.com/communications
About 3 Ireland
3 Ireland is the new entrant in the Irish mobile services market and operates one of Ireland's 3G mobile phone licences under the '3' brand. 3 is Europe's leading video mobile (3G) operator and was the first to offer 3G services to European customers. In Ireland, 3 has built a new video mobile (3G) network, to offer a convergence of media, information and telephony to enable live video calls, multimedia content and entertainment while on the move. 3 has also signed a national roaming agreement, giving 3??s customers full access to Vodafone Ireland's GSM (or 2G) network, ensuring that 3's customers will have the same level of national coverage as Vodafone Ireland's GSM customers. 3 Ireland is 100 per cent owned by Hutchison Whampoa Group which also holds 3G licenses in Australia, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, Norway, Sweden and the UK. In March 2005, 3 announced that it had over 8 million customers worldwide.
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