Nokia and Cellular One of Northeast Arizona Sign Agreement for GSM/ EDGE Network Delivery
December 23, 2002
Nokia to supply GSM/EDGE network bringing high-speed data services to Arizona
and New Mexico
Nokia and Cellular One of Northeast Arizona today announced they have signed an
agreement for the delivery of GSM/EDGE network systems. Nokia will be the sole
supplier for the mobile switching and radio access network, which will bring
next-generation services to large areas of Northeast Arizona and Western New
Mexico that do not currently have mobile phone service. Deliveries have begun
with commercial services scheduled for this month.
Under the agreement, Nokia will provide its industry-leading MSCi mobile
switching platform, Base Station Controller, Nokia NetAct(TM) operations support
system (OSS), and Short Message Service Center (SMSC), as well as the Nokia
UltraSite EDGE-capable base stations, which address the growing demand for
higher voice and data traffic in today's mobile networks. The Nokia UltraSite
supports GSM, High Speed Data, GPRS, and EDGE technologies.
Nokia will also provide project management and GSM/EDGE implementation and
optimization services for fast network ramp-up. Also included is an extensive
range of care services, including training, software maintenance and emergency
services, to help maintain the competitiveness of the network after rollout.
The delivery of this network will provide coverage for rural areas and will
allow many Native Americans living on reservations in these regions of Arizona
and New Mexico to benefit from advanced mobile services. The new GSM/EDGE
network will allow Nokia and Cellular One to further extend services to a
population of Native Americans that exceeds 30,000.
The agreement builds on the success of the "Vision One by Cellular One and
Nokia" program initiated in November 2001, which donated 30,000 Nokia wireless
phones and low-cost wireless service to qualifying residents of Native American
reservations. The donation, valued at more than $2.3 million, represented the
largest donation of wireless phones for Native American reservations to date and
has provided mobile phone service to more than 25,000 Native Americans.
"Nokia has a proven track record for delivering superior products that enable a
smooth migration path to continuously advancing mobile services. We are looking
forward to continuing the long-standing relationship we've built with Nokia
through our work together on the Vision One program," said Richard Watkins, COO,
Cellular One. "Together, we are extending the Vision One program to reach over
30,000 Native Americans providing them with the benefits of advanced mobile
communications."
"We are pleased to partner with Cellular One to deliver state-of-the-art service
to residents of Arizona and New Mexico who have previously not had access to
rich mobile communication," said, Heikki Kasko, Senior Vice President, Nokia
Networks. "This agreement further demonstrates our commitment to providing
complete GSM systems to carriers to provide a direct and cost-effective
migration path to the next-generation."
About Cellular One
Smith Bagley, Inc. (SBI) d.b.a. Cellular One operates an "A" band license
covering the northeastern portion of Arizona and select areas of western New
Mexico, a market area of more than 22,000 square miles, which includes the
Navajo, Hopi, White Mountain Apache, and Zuni Native American reservations. In
2001, Cellular One was awarded a personal communications service (PCS) "E" band
license which includes Farmington, New Mexico, Duarango, Colorado, and southern
Utah areas. Also, in 2001 a PCS "F" band license was awarded for areas that
include Tuba City and Page, Arizona. Cellular One currently serves approximately
43,000 customers, employs more than ninety full-time employees and provides all
operations from its main office located in Show Low, Arizona.
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.