Du inks AED400m mobile network expansion deal with NSN

Following on from the signing of an export credit facility for network expansion last month, UAE telecoms company Emirates Integrated Telecommunications (Du) has announced it has selected Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) to upgrade its mobile network operations. Under the AED400 million (USD109 million) investment project, the Finnish vendor will expand Du’s 2G network and introduce HSPA+ services offering download speeds of up to 42Mbps. NSN will provide a comprehensive portfolio of telecoms equipment and services across radio, core, transmission, value added services (VAS) and operational support systems. NSN’s Flexi Base Station hardware and software will double Du’s voice capacity and improve its GSM/EDGE data rates. The vendor will also deploy an all-IP FlexiPacket Microwave Backhaul solution to reduce Du’s operating costs and additionally integrate the operator’s VAS platform. CommsUpdate reported last month that Du secured USD207 million in export credit financing to help fund the purchase of NSN solutions and services. Commenting on the deal, Hatem Bamatraf, senior vice president of network development at Du, said: ‘NSN will help us upgrade and modernise our network to improve coverage, and enhance our customers’ communication experience on the move in services such as internet browsing, e-mail, mobile TV, voice and video mail among other value added services (VAS).’