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MobileOne, Singapore to offer the best voice quality in its GSM network
January 26, 1998
- using Nokia's EFR
MobileOne, Singapore, has launched Nokia's EFR (Enhanced Full Rate) Codec in its Nokia GSM network. This means that mobile users in the MobileOne network can enjoy a higher quality in their calls. The service will be available in the whole MobileOne network on 26 January 1998.
As the mobile phone is increasingly becoming the preferred phone for voice communications, subscribers expect to have high quality when talking on their mobile phone. In addition to network capacity and coverage, mobile operators must secure speech quality equal to that of wireline, and EFR provides this capability. Originally pioneered by Nokia in co-operation with the University of Sherbrooke, Canada, EFR provides this enhanced speech quality in GSM networks. EFR is also fully compatible with Nokia’s existing GSM network infrastructure, and can be implemented with only a normal software upgrade.
Mr Low Chin Nam, Chief Operating Officer of M1 said, “The voice quality in our GSM network is already very high and the implementation of EFR will bring it a step closer to fixed line quality. At M1, we are always striving to improve our services to meet our customers’ needs. This innovation is just part of our ongoing efforts.”
"Voice services with quality equal to wireline in mobile networks are extremely important to today's mobile operators," states Mr Antti Räikkönen, Managing Director, Nokia Telecommunications, Singapore. "MobileOne's choice of Nokia's market-leading EFR solution underlines the importance of this for operators, in today's competitive environment."
In November 1997, Nokia introduced its new generation of mobile phones for all GSM frequencies, the Nokia 6100 series. The Nokia 6100 products provide superb audio and speech quality through leak tolerant speaker and acoustic echo cancellation technology. They are also the first GSM phones to support all three existing wireless voice codecs; EFR, Full Rate and Half Rate. Nokia 6100 GSM phones will be available in volume in January 1998.
Nokia and MobileOne have been in co-operation since 1996, with the launch of the MobileOne GSM network. In October 1997, MobileOne selected Nokia once again for the second expansion of their GSM network. Nokia is the sole supplier to the MobileOne network.
MobileOne, Singapore's newest mobile and paging service provider, is a consortium of the Keppel Group, Singapore Press Holdings, Cable & Wireless and Hong Kong Telecom.
Nokia offers total GSM systems with everything from digital mobile phones to transmission and switching. Having supplied GSM technology to 65 operators in 34 countries, Nokia ranks as the world's number one supplier of GSM 1800 networks.
Further information:
Ms Arja Suominen, Vice President, Communications
Nokia Telecommunications
Tel. (Int.) +358 9 5113 8193
Fax (Int.) +358 9 5113 8199
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