Nokia Siemens Networks to develop a new network for broadband services for Albania’s Albtelecom

(18 mar 2008) - Albtelecom Sa, the incumbent fixed network operator in Albania, has chosen Nokia Siemens Networks to develop a Next Generation Network as it moves to offer broadband services to its subscribers. Thanks to the new technology providing broadband access to the Internet, Albtelecom expects to increase gradually the number and quality of services offered to its current hardly one million customers and to attract thousands of new ones.

Espoo, Finland / Milan, Italy - The market-leading solution provided by Nokia Siemens Networks will bring to end users a new exciting experience as they get access to many new services based on Internet Protocol (IP), including high-quality voice, data and multimedia.

“Albtelecom has chosen Nokia Siemens Networks thanks to its strong competence in Next Generation Network solutions and also due to our longtime collaboration especially in the areas of switches and multiplexing,” said Ercan Agir Deputy General Manager of Albtelecom.

Under the recently signed contract, Nokia Siemens Networks will deliver to Albtelecom an efficient and cost-effective solution for a streamlined, consolidated network, featuring broadband access and high-quality voice services, which is also capable of handling traditional telephony, simple access points and circuit-switched digital network.

The solution features Nokia Siemens Networks’ SURPASShiE 9200 softswitch, a powerful device controlling Voice over IP calls as well classical switching in a single network, and broadband access technology based on Multiservice Access Node (MSAN) integrating the whole range of fiber and copper access technology.

The solution also includes a set of services ensuring efficiency and operational performance for Albtelecom’s network: an effective project management to help overcome commercial, operational and technical challenges, network implementation, including installation, commissioning and integration to optimize spending and maintenance services ensuring higher efficiency and reducing costs.

“Nokia Siemens Networks, with its solutions leading the technological change towards all-IP networks, will demonstrate in practice its entire capability in the development of Next Generation Networks in Albania,” said Roberto Loiola head of Nokia Siemens Networks South East Europe sub region.

Albtelecom is the leader in the Albanian fixed telecommunication market which is in general an open one, with some regional fixed operators and a couple of actors dealing in the mobile market. At present is the company the main fixed Albanian operator holding the 90% of the Albanian market.