Nokia delivers more than 30 GPRS core networks worldwide; Providing a leading position for operators in the evolution towards future 3rd Generation networks.

Business & Technology Editors

HELSINKI, Finland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 20, 2000

Nokia today underlines its world-leading track record in the delivery of GPRS (General Packet Data Service) core networks and can announce over 30 delivered GPRS core networks.

With recent deliveries, Nokia is at the forefront of development and implementation of GPRS infrastructure for mobile operators and their Internet Service Provider partners. An early start in GPRS paves the way for success in 3rd Generation packet data networks, as it is an important cornerstone in moving toward mobile multimedia and 3G services.

"Nokia has now delivered more than 30 GPRS core networks. We believe this is more than any other supplier has delivered to-date. Nokia is also the only vendor to offer a complete GPRS billing system and customer care package including the Nokia Charging Centre," says Dr JT Bergqvist, Senior Vice President, Nokia Networks. "An investment in GPRS infrastructure is an investment in future services. GPRS is already part of the future 3rd Generation network infrastructure. Many of these future 3G services will be based on IPv6 and the GPRS core network is the key step in introducing the IP service platform into the present GSM networks."

As existing second Generation networks evolve to 3rd Generation, GPRS is the packet mobile core platform and radio access which enables the provision of Mobile Internet and Mobile Intranet.

This announcement illustrates Nokia's vision of putting the Internet in every pocket - GPRS networks provide a smooth and cost-effective path to the multimedia networks of tomorrow through the reuse of existing GPRS investments. Time-critical voice and video services will continue using the circuit-switched path through the mobile switching centre (MSC). Non-time-critical services, such as messaging and retrieval services, will use packet-switching through GPRS network elements.

Nokia's success in the competitive GPRS market is because it offers a complete, secure end-to-end solution. The Nokia GPRS solution includes the Internet Protocol (IP) core network infrastructure, the Serving GPRS Support Node, the Gateway GPRS Support Node, the Domain Name Server, the Charging Gateway, Router/Firewall and Ethernet switches, service charging and provisioning solution and applications. The GPRS Core from Nokia is future proof, since it is possible to connect new WCDMA base station sub-systems to the SGSNs ensuring seamless evolution to 3G services.

Nokia is paving the way to the mobile information society with its innovative products and solutions. Nokia is the leading mobile phone supplier and a leading supplier of mobile, fixed and IP networks including related services. It also supplies multimedia terminals and computer displays. In 1998, net sales totaled EUR 13.3 billion (USD 15.7 billion). Headquartered in Finland, Nokia is listed on the New York (NOK), Helsinki, Stockholm, London, Frankfurt and Paris stock exchanges and employs more than 55,000 people.