Europe France : The mobile operator SFR, with headquarters in Paris, is equipping its existing W-CDMA network with High-Speed Data Access (HSDPA) technology from Siemens.

SFR is launching its new data service "3G+" in the Western French region of Nantes/Saint Nazaire/Rennes and offering its customers mobile network access with a maximal transmission data rate of 1,8 megabits per second. That makes it particularly well suited to transmit broadband multimedia applications.

SFR is the first mobile operator in France to launch commercially the 3G offer integrating HSDPA technology in its W-CDMA network. Integrating the Siemens solution requires no additional hardware - a simple software upgrade is all it takes. This made it possible to put the modernized network into operation in just four weeks. Siemens began constructing the W-CDMA network for SFR in 2002 and has been involved in building it out since then.

"Siemens' technology has enabled us to launch the first commercial HSDPA pilots for our business customers from March 2006. Our customers can now enjoy all the benefits of latest technology in telephony," said Paul Corbel, Chief Technology Officer of SFR.

"We are excited about this launch, because it enhances our already solid partnership. And it again strengthens our technology leadership in future-ready mobile communications networks," said Christoph Caselitz, President of Mobile Networks at Siemens Communications.

About SFR
With 17.3 million customers and 8,000 employees, SFR is the second largest mobile telecommunications operator in France and has been the market leader in terms of net sales (new customers) since 2003. Operating its own GSM/GPRS and UMTS/HSDPA networks, SFR is able to provide a complete range of mobile telephony and multimedia services, as well as mobile data solutions to its personal, SOHO and business customers. SFR has become the operator of choice for new uses of mobile phones, having been the first operator to launch 3G services on the French market, and now boasts more than 1.4 million exclusively 3G customers. The company is also a player on the fixed telecommunications market through its 28% interest in neuf cegetel, the leading alternative operator on the French market. SFR benefits from a stable ownership structure, with two major shareholders, Vivendi (56%) and Vodafone (44%).

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