Nokia Supports Proximus in Launching the First HSDPA Network in Belgium

ESPOO, Finland, July 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Belgian mobile operator Proximus has launched the first commercial High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) network in the country. With the Nokia HSDPA solution, Proximus will be able to operate its network more cost-efficiently and offer its customers data services at speeds of up to five times faster than current 3G speeds.

"We at Proximus take pride in offering our customers the best quality services, so we are pleased to be the first operator in Belgium to upgrade our 3G network with HSDPA technology," says Laurent Claus, Executive Vice President, Proximus. "Nokia's rapid rollout capability and support are extremely valuable for us in offering 3G broadband HSDPA to our customers."

"We are delighted that Nokia's solutions and support helped Proximus to launch the first commercial HSDPA in Belgium," says Patrick Fichou, Account Director, Networks, Nokia. "The Nokia HSDPA allows Proximus to introduce 3G broadband to their existing and new customers thus enhancing subscriber loyalty and generating revenue."

Nokia is Proximus' sole GSM and WCDMA 3G radio network supplier. Nokia also supplies GPRS and 3G packet core network equipment to the operator. Nokia has supplied mobile networks to Proximus since 1996 and was selected as its 3G supplier in 2001.

In WCDMA 3G, Nokia has 60 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. Several network operators have already opened their HSDPA networks with the Nokia solution.

About Proximus

On 31 March 2006 Proximus had 4,260,000 active customers* (43% postpaid and 57% prepaid customers). Proximus, the mobile telephony market leader in Belgium, is 75% owned by the Belgacom Group and 25% by Vodafone. Belgacom is listed on the Euronext Brussels First Market, under "BELG".

* Active customer = user of a mobile phone who received or sent a call or SMS during the past three months.

About Nokia

Nokia is a world leader in mobile communications, driving the growth and sustainability of the broader mobility industry. Nokia connects people to each other and the information that matters to them with easy-to- use and innovative products like mobile phones, devices and solutions for imaging, games, media and businesses. Nokia provides equipment, solutions and services for network operators and corporations.

http://www.nokia.com/