China’s leading telecom operators, China Mobile Communications Corporation (China Mobile) and China United Network Telecommunications Corporation Limited (China Unicom) today signed agreements to purchase 2G and 3G mobile equipments and services from Nokia Siemens Networks during 2009. Under the framework agreements Nokia Siemens Networks will roll out WCDMA networks for China Unicom in 11 provinces across China. In addition, it will provide China Mobile with TD-SCDMA and GSM networks. The framework agreements were key items on the agenda of the China-Europe Purchasing Delegation currently visiting Germany. The agreements are valued at 7.6 billion RMB (approx. 880 million Euro).
Nokia Siemens Networks’ experience in building GSM/WCDMA and TD-SCDMA networks makes it ideally positioned to support China’s pursuit of a number of options to boost 3G deployments in the region. The company has played a founding role in setting up the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) of China’s home grown technology, TD-SCDMA, while pioneering work on the next generation technology version, TD-LTE. It also has close to 150 WCDMA network customers worldwide.
To ensure the successful commercial launch of 3G and its further network evolution to LTE, Nokia Siemens Networks has invested in six R&D sites in China. Of them, the Hangzhou High-tech Software Park has become an innovation base for advanced mobile communications technologies such as GSM/EDGE, WCDMA/HSPA, LTE and I- HSPA, WiMAX. China is one of the most significant regions for the company’s global R&D, manufacturing and customer services portfolio. The company is suitably poised to support customers to launch cost-effective, high-quality 3G service and expand its market presence in China.
Wow! That is some serious cash-money ready to go in to Nokia’s coffers – but to be fair it does look like Nokia have put the effort with work in setting up IPR, and R&D centres. China is oft-mooted to be where it’s happening in terms of growth markets, but certainly I’ve seen it’s domestic companies that benefit – so good to see Nokia getting in on the action!
[Via: nokiasiemensnetworks.com]