Smart (Telecom) Philippines deploys HSPDA

Nokia released today; June 19, 2006; states that Smart Philippines has deployed its HSPDA network which is a simple software upgrade on its existing 3G network.

Original Press Release:

NOKIA PRESS RELEASE June 19, 2006

Nokia powers Smart's HSDPA network in the Philippines

Nokia Connection 2006, Singapore - After the first High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) call in a live WCDMA network in the country, Philippines' leading wireless service provider Smart Communications Inc. (SMART) launched their HSDPA network. The solution, provided by Nokia, allows Smart to operate its network more cost-efficiently and offer its customers data services at speeds of up to four times faster than current 3G speeds.
 
"Our aim is to revolutionize mobile communications by enabling our subscribers to access data-rich multimedia content and application right through their handset," said Rolando Peña, Network Services Division head at Smart Communications. "To accomplish this, our engineers are working round-the-clock to establish the widest 3G network in the country in the shortest possible time."
 
To date, Smart has deployed more than 1,000 3G base station sites across the country. This allows more subscribers to enjoy Smart 3G services such as video calling, video streaming, high speed Internet browsing and downloading of data-rich content like full music tracks and video clips.
 
"Nokia is pleased to have met our rollout challenge with Smart. Deploying HSDPA is just a simple software upgrade to the Nokia supplied WCDMA network. It is for this reason why it was easy for us to make the first HSDPA call in the country which was just a month after 3G network was operational in February," says Markku Nieminen, Account Director, Networks, Nokia. 
 
In WCDMA 3G, Nokia has 59 customers to date. Nokia's high-performing HSDPA is a simple software upgrade to Nokia WCDMA networks, thus enabling cost-effective and fast rollout.  Nokia is a leader in the HSDPA market, with over 20 contracts globally.  Many network operators have already opened their HSDPA networks with the Nokia HSDPA.
 
Nokia is supplying the HSDPA solution to Smart as part of the WCDMA 3G network contract announced in January 2006. 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 20.4 million subscribers on its GSM network as of end-December 2005. Of the total subscriber base served, 15.4 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. For more information, please visit www.smart.com.ph