Nortel Drives Mobilkom 3G UMTS Network

mobilkom austria and Nortel Networks have deployed and made fully operational the first phase of a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) third generation (3G) wireless network across Austria. The companies have also demonstrated 3G video telephony between Vienna and Graz using form factor UMTS handsets. Picture shows Dr. Boris Nemsic, CEO mobilkom austria, COO Wireless Telekom Austria, and Dr. Hannes Ametsreiter, CMO mobilkom austria, launching Europe's first UMTS Network.

Nortel Networks is now the world’s first and only supplier with wireless data networks in service using all three advanced wireless technologies – GPRS, CDMA2000 and now UMTS.

The network was built under a UMTS contract mobilkom austria awarded to Nortel Networks in March 2001. This included the packet and circuit core technology and radio coverage in four major Austrian cities.

mobilkom austria engaged CarrierCom AG, a Kapsch enterprise and Nortel Networks local distributor, for system integration and infrastructure deployment. mobilkom austria expects to begin offering commercial service in the first half of next year.

“mobilkom austria has chosen Nortel Networks as they are able to offer 3G solutions which integrate seamlessly with our current technology, “ said Dr. Boris Nemsic, chief executive officer, mobilkom austria. “Nortel Networks has proven its strength in delivering both GPRS and UMTS technology to us, and we are delighted to be working with them.”

“This milestone further demonstrates our leadership position in supplying next generation wireless data networks,” said Tim Watkins, president, Wireless Networks for Nortel Networks EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa).

“We are working closely with mobilkom austria to ensure they benefit from our unique experience in packet core and CDMA technology, which gives our UMTS customers a key advantage in driving lower cost of network ownership and deploying networks according to their plans,” Watkins said.

The core network supplied to mobilkom austria is based on a common Nortel Networks 2G, 2.5G and 3G platform, which allows a smooth evolution to UMTS. This unified solution will help speed the provisioning of new services, reduce operational and capital expenditures, and maximize existing spectrum and hardware resources to accommodate subscriber growth. The platform is based on common hardware including the Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) and the Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN). The software load is common across 2G, 2.5G and 3G for the voice and data cores respectively.

The UMTS access network delivered to mobilkom austria benefits from Nortel Networks in-depth experience in the key access technologies – cdmaOne, CDMA2000 and GSM – to help deliver maximized spectrum efficiency and capital and operational cost savings.