Saudi Telecom Company (STC)  has selected Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) to upgrade its nationwide GSM and 3G networks and expand its commercial 4G network.

Nokia Siemens Networks is now responsible for building one-third of STC’s nationwide 4G network, said a statement.

It said STC subscribers can expect a new generation of mobile broadband services with super-fast speeds of up to 100 megabits per second (Mbps).

STC announced the launch of its commercial 4G network using TD-LTE equipment from Nokia Siemens Networks in September 2011.

“STC and Nokia Siemens Networks have enjoyed a long-standing, strategic relationship that has gone from strength to strength over the years. The latest round of network expansion and modernization provides a further boost to our partnership and will help us deliver a differentiated experience to our customers,” said Zeyad Thamer Al-Otaibi, STC Group chief executive officer for technical operations.

“User experience with 4G is much more enhanced and satisfactory as compared to traditional mobile broadband technologies. For instance, not only is there a noticeable increase in speed, but end users also get to enjoy new, multimedia applications and services,” said Bandar Mohammed Al Qafari, vice president network sector at STC KSA.

“With more and more subscribers using bandwidth-intensive applications for smart phones and USB dongles, we needed to modernise our existing GSM and 3G networks, while rapidly launching 4G services. This is exactly what Nokia Siemens Networks offered us - excellent technology coupled with a smooth services roll-out.”

As part of the contract, Nokia Siemens Networks is modernizing STC’s GSM and 3G networks to its award winning Single RAN (radio access network) platform based on the compact, energy-efficient Flexi Multiradio Base Station. The company is deploying its 4G radio network infrastructure across 2,500 STC sites over the next two years.

Nokia Siemens Networks is also providing its FlexiPacket Microwave transport platform, which is a common transport medium for STC’s GSM, 3G and 4G networks with on-air speed of up to 400 Mbps, said the statement.

Nokia Siemens Networks’ Self-Organizing Networks (SON) suite, part of the company’s Liquid Radio, enables straightforward plug-and-play 4G base station rollout. This results in operational and capital cost savings, while also improving customer experience by ensuring 4G base stations always deliver their peak performance, it said.

“This contract reiterates our commitment to further the adoption of 4G technology globally,” said Bernard Najm, country head for KSA at Nokia Siemens Networks. “STC is our long-standing partner and we are delighted to bring 4G services to its subscribers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Our expertise in 4G technology and strong services support helped STC deliver on its plans to modernize its nationwide network and roll out 4G services faster.”

As part of the contract, Nokia Siemens Networks is also upgrading its NetAct network management system to enable effective monitoring, management and operation of STC’s GSM, 3G and 4G networks.  - TradeArabia News Service