M:TEL Telekom Srpske to expand GSM/EDGE network for €30 mln

M:TEL, the mobile subsidiary of Telekom Srpske in Bosnia and Herzegovina, has chosen Nokia Siemens Networks for the implementation and optimization of a mobile network extension and associated services that will lay the grounds for an evolution to a unified IP network.

The deal, comprising several contracts worth a total of more than 30 million Euros, covers a range of state-of-the-art mobile network solutions, products as well as services. It will result in a physical extension of the GSM network, an increase of its coverage and improvement of quality of the service for end users.

The implementation of the whole package will allow Telekom Srpske to offer new, advanced GSM services to M:TEL’s 700,000 mobile subscribers and to further increase its network capacity, thus strengthening the operator’s leading position on the market of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Nokia Siemens Networks’ solutions provide high performance call control, simplify network complexity and create the framework to deliver end-to-end Voice over IP (VoIP) and IP multimedia services.

“This is a very important contract for us, which strengthens the basis for our future expansion in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” said Predrag Culibrk, CEO of Telekom Srpske. “With this contract Telekom Srpske will be able to provide better network coverage and quality of service and a necessary increase of network capacity to accommodate the influx of new subscribers”.

The package includes such technologies as GSM/EDGE radio access, mobile softswitching and media gateway core equipment and prepaid hardware/software extension. It also covers a new Virtual Private Network (VPN) system and a payment platform.

With its head office in Banja Luka, Telekom Srpske provides mobile telephony (M:TEL) and internet (TEOL) services. The Republic of Srpska Government declared Telekom Srpske as the company of strategic importance and in August 2006 accepted the bid of Telekom Srbija a.d. in the amount of 646 mln euros for the purchase of 65% of the company’s.