Press release
Stockholm
25 October 2001

The two Swedish mobile operators Hi3G and Europolitan Vodafone have decided to build and operate a common infrastructure for third generation mobile telephony, UMTS, outside the major urban areas. This will be built and operated by the jointly owned company, 3G Infrastructure Services AB, and will be integrated with the operators' respective infrastructure, currently being built separately by both operators in Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malm and Karlskrona.

3G Infrastructure Services AB has chosen Nokia to supply its core network¹, as well as an initial order for radio network equipment² and services relating to implementation and technical maintenance. In addition to delivering equipment and professional services for handling traffic in the jointly owned infrastructure, Nokia will also be responsible for installing the equipment and will be in charge of the supervision, operation and maintenance of the equipment for a period of three years. Deliveries are due to start in October 2001.

"Our owners' requirements with regard to construction times and cost-efficiency at the initial stage, as well as future operating security, present us with a challenge," says Jan Edhll, Managing Director of 3G Infrastructure Services AB. "We are convinced that Nokia's 3G system, along with the support offered by Nokia's Professional Services, will meet our requirements regarding cost-efficient utilisation of the infrastructure and the maintenance of high quality standards."

"We believe that Hi3G and Europolitan Vodafone's strategy of sharing the 3G infrastructure will be followed by other 3G operators all over the world," says Ian McCaig, Vice President of Nokia's Customer Business Team Hutchison. "We are therefore delighted that 3G Infrastructure Services AB, one of the world's first companies to be based on the idea of sharing infrastructure, has chosen Nokia as its supplier."

¹Core network: the network that links telephony and data switches in the UMTS network.
²Radio network: the network of base stations that handles communication with the customers' mobile phones.

For more information, please contact:

Jan Edhll, Managing Director of 3G Infrastructure Services AB
Tel.: +46 8 410 174 77, e-mail: jan.edhall@3gis.ne

3G Infrastructure Services AB was formed in April 2001 by Hi3G and Europolitan Vodafone. The company's objective is to build and operate the infrastructure that will enable operators to offer their customers UMTS-based mobile services outside Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malm and Karlskrona. When the rollout is completed, 70 per cent of the Swedish population will have access to faster communication via the company's infrastructure, which will be integrated with the operators' respective networks. 3G Infrastructure Services AB is undergoing strong growth and plans to have a staff of 100 by the end of the year.