Nokia has announced an agreement with Cable & Wireless Optus for the sole supply of a comprehensive 3G mobile network in Australia. The agreement covers the supply of 3G RAN (Radio Access Network) for both WCDMA and EDGE, as well as the complete 3G Circuit and Packet Core Network. Nokia will additionally be a key mobile internet applications partner of Optus Mobile.
The initial value of the deal is potentially in excess of $900 million Australian dollars over seven years.
Nokia will provide its full end-to-end 3G solution covering applications, charging, security, network management, packet and circuit switched core infrastructure and radio access network. Deliveries of the Nokia UltraSite base station have already begun, and the mobile packet core will evolve from the Nokia GPRS core that Optus already has in commercial use.
The agreement also covers a continuation and extension of Nokia's existing 2G relationship where Nokia has a GSM BSS infrastructure supply agreement with Optus.
