Vodafone Albania picks Nokia Siemens as 3G network supplier

Vodafone Albania picks Nokia Siemens as 3G network supplier

TIRANA, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Vodafone Albania, a subsidiary of theVodafone Group Plc (VOD.L) and the Balkan nation's leading mobileoperator, said on Monday it had chosen Nokia Siemens Networks tobuild its 3G network.

"Albania enjoys one of the highest mobile subscriber growth ratesin Eastern Europe. This growth will be spurred further by the launchof 3G services," said Haris Broumidis, the chief executive officerof Vodafone Albania.

"To maintain our leadership, we are pioneering the country'sfirst 3G services. We selected Nokia Siemens Networks because itstechnical expertise and rapid rollout capabilities were best suitedto our needs," Broumidis said.

Last Monday, Vodafone Albania launched 3G service in the Albaniancapital Tirana and will offer the service over the whole country in18 months. As of September 2010, it had 1.7 million customers.

Vodafone Albania was given the first 3G mobile phone networklicense by Albania's government last November after it offered 31. 4million Euros (40.7 million US dollars), outbidding Turkish- ownedrival Eagle Mobile.

Under the four-year contract, Nokia Siemens Networks will buildVodafone Albania's 3G radio access network, deploying its FlexiMultiradio Base Station, the industry's smallest and most energy-efficient Single RAN base station, which means Nokia SiemensNetworks' Single RAN implements GSM, 3G and LTE technologies in oneradio access network, enabling an excellent, seamless userexperience.

Vodafone said the base station is just 20 percent the size andweight of traditional network equipment, and consumes over 70percent less energy than previous models, without impactingperformance.

In addition, Nokia Siemens Networks will replace the existing GSMradio network provided by Vodafone Albania's previous radio networkvendor.

"Vodafone Albania provides leading smartphones, software andservices for easy access to a host of business and lifestyleapplications such as streaming video and online communities," saidGeorge Angelis, head of the Vodafone customer team at Nokia SiemensNetworks.

"The 3G network will allow the operator to offer broadbandservices, which adequately match its portfolio in a cost-effectiveand energy-efficient manner. We will combine our strong productportfolio, service expertise and understanding of the operator'sneeds to provide the best 3G experience," Angelis added.

Albania, one of Europe's poorest, is the last country in theBalkans to issue permits for 3G technology, which enables fasterinternet services, including video calls, on mobile phones.

Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha criticized mobile phoneoperators and banks for charging very high and unjustifiable feesand tariffs. In a population of 3.2 million, there are more than 4.16 million mobile phone subscribers in Albania.