Europe Finland : Philippines' wireless service provider Smart Communications Inc. (SMART) and its sole network supplier Nokia have signed an agreement for the supply of WCDMA 3G network technology.

As part of the agreement, Nokia will deliver a WCDMA 3G radio network including the Nokia High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) solution, a 3G upgrade to the existing circuit and packet switched networks, and related services.

The network will enable Smart to offer its customers 3G services such as video streaming and high quality broadband mobile data services.

"Smart is committed to offer the best 3G services in the market. As of today, deliveries of equipment and services are underway. The investments under this contract will allow us to establish quality nationwide 3G coverage in the shortest possible time," says Napoleon L. Nazareno, SMART President and CEO.

"We are pleased to continue our cooperation with Smart in the 3G sphere, where Nokia's solutions will benefit Smart's customers by delivering the higher data transfer rates needed for mobile multimedia services," says Markku Nieminen, Account Director, Networks, Nokia.

The extensive services in the agreement include network design, planning and optimization, and Operations Support System upgrade. Also included are deployment services consisting of installation, commissioning, integration and acceptance testing of the network.

Nokia has been the sole network supplier to Smart since 1998.

About Smart Communications Inc.
Smart Communications, Inc. is the Philippines' leading wireless services provider with 20.8 million subscribers on its GSM network as of end-September 2005. Of the total subscriber base served, 15.8 million are under the brands Smart Buddy, Smart Gold, addict mobile, addict mobile prepaid, Smart Infinity, Smart Kid, Smart Kid Prepaid and Smart ACeS. The remaining 5 million are serviced through its subsidiary, Pilipino Telephone Corp., under the GSM brand Talk 'N Text.

Since launching its GSM service in 1999, SMART has introduced world-first wireless data services, including mobile commerce services such as Smart Money, Smart Load and Smart Padala. SMART is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Philippines ' dominant telecommunications carrier, the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company.