Globe Telecom, Nokia ink $35-M supply deal

Globe Telecom has awarded Finnish telecom giant Nokia a $35-million deal to deliver end-to-end solutions for Globe’s GSM (global system for mobile communications) network expansion, designed to increase its subscriber base in the provinces.

Equipment deliveries of base station subsystems (BSS) and network subsystems (NSS), which include GSM radio access network infrastructure as well as mobile switching center and home location register, have already began and network rollout is scheduled for completion by the end of October this year, Globe officials said.

Under the agreement, Nokia will supply an extensive range of operator services to help Globe Telecom maximize its operating efficiency. These services include rollout and network planning, site acquisition, project management, installation and commissioning for network fast ramp-up. The network will continue to be supported by Nokia’s wide range of care services.

"We are placing our trust in Nokia’s end-to-end system capability in GSM with a view to the widely accepted GSM/GPRS/EDGE/WCDMA evolution path," said Globe president and CEO Gerardo Ablaza, adding that in both the delivery and care phases, Nokia has demonstrated its proven ability and dedication to support the company with fast network ramp-up and overall system maintenance and optimization.

Nokia has been working with Globe Telecom since 1994, providing turnkey services for the operator’s GSM infrastructure.

For his part, Nokia’s Globe team account director Tapani Sairanen said with this new award, Globe’s GSM network reach will be quickly enhanced to capitalize on the continued growth in mobile services, while ensuring a smooth and efficient evolution path to GSM/EDGE as data demands grow even further in the future.

Globe is one of the leading providers of digital wireless communication services in the Philippines utilizing a fully-digital network based on GSM technology. Primarily owned by Ayala Corp., Singapore Telecom International and Deutsche Telekom, it also offers a broad range of wireline voice communication and data transmission services as well as domestic and international long distance communication services.

A global leader in the cellular industry, Nokia provides innovative, industry leading and market-relevant technology and products to around 20 diverse markets in the Asia-Pacific region.