Cegetel selects Nokia for 3G network

date: 21st February 2001, source by: citpubs.com

French telco Cegetel SFR, the second largest operator in France, has provisionally chosen Nokia to supply a 3G packet core network. The deal follows hot on the heels of the company awarding Nokia a contract to supply GPRS equipment (July 2000), and as evidence of further co-operation between the two firms Nokia will now also become the major provider of SFR’s 3G equipment for its French network.

The auction of 3G licences in France ran into difficulties at the end of January 2001 when mobile operator Bouygues Télécom, and a consortium formed between utility Suez Lyonnaise and Spanish operator Telefónica dropped out leaving only SFR and France Télécom in the bidding. As it stands the French Government is looking into ways of making the licences more appealing in an attempt to attract further bidders.

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