Sonera, a leading provider of mobile and advanced telecommunications services, and Nokia have signed a Letter of Intent for the purchase of the Nokia D500 multiservice access platform to begin their next generation broadband access rollout to the wider mobile consumer market in Finland.
The Letter of Intent covers the purchase of the Nokia D500 and technical support. Nokia D500 equipment will be used as the broadband access platform for the delivery of `easy to grasp' consumer broadband service packages as part of Sonera's converged service concept.
"We have had a long and successful cooperation with Nokia both in mobile and fixed networks over many years." says Jouko Harle, Vice President, Sonera Carrier Networks Ltd. "We chose the Nokia D500 because it is the best solution today to support our network evolution plans to All-IP and truly converged services."
"We are extremely pleased to continue our strong relationship with Sonera," says Ari Lehtoranta, Vice President, Nokia Broadband Systems. "Sonera is a proven world leader in innovative mobile service solutions."
"The Nokia D500 multiservice access platform will give Sonera a high-density, multimedia-enabled broadband access node that will help evolve their fixed network access from today's ATM-based services to an All-IP based architecture. This evolution will allow Sonera to offer truly converged mobile and wireline service packages," he adds.
Sonera's converged service concept aims to offer customers services, rather than technology. This also supports the creation of new customer relationships through easy-to-grasp service packages that bring life management to mobile service.
The Nokia D500 Multiservice Access Platform is built with broadband multiservice, network convergence, and "All IP" as its foundation. It brings the advantages of multiservice capability to a highly scalable, high-capacity, and flexible platform that enables all of today's services as well as meeting future needs. The D500 can be deployed either in an ATM-based network, a hybrid ATM/IP based network, or be used in an All-IP based network. It is able to support both the network and the service evolution from ATM to IP and from high-speed Internet to full service access and on to converged services.
Deliveries of the Nokia D500 for network testing have already begun and full-scale deliveries are scheduled for the end of September 2002. Sonera is a new broadband customer for Nokia.
About Sonera
Sonera Corporation (HEX: SRA, NASDAQ: SNRA) is a leading provider of mobile and advanced telecommunications services. Sonera is growing as an operator, as well as a provider of transaction and content services in Finland and in selected international markets. The company also offers advanced data solutions to businesses, and fixed network voice services in Finland and neighbouring markets. In 2001, Sonera's revenues totaled EUR 2.2 billion, and profit before extraordinary items and taxes was EUR 0.45 billion. Sonera employs about 9,000 people.
About Nokia
Nokia is the world leader in mobile communications. Backed by its experience, innovation, user-friendliness and secure solutions, the company has become the leading supplier of mobile phones and a leading supplier of mobile, fixed broadband and IP networks. By adding mobility to the Internet Nokia creates new opportunities for companies and further enriches the daily lives of people. Nokia is a broadly held company with listings on six major exchanges.
Further information:
Communications Department, Nokia Networks
Tel. + 358 7180 38195
E-mail nokia.networks@nokia.com
www.nokia.com
Jouko Harle, Vice President, Sonera Carrier Networks Ltd, Tel +358 400 512 184, e-mail: jouko.harle@sonera.com