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BPL Mobile launches the first speech quality enhancing, GSM network in India, using Nokia EFR technology.
October 16, 1998
BPL Mobile has launched the first EFR network in India, using Nokia's (Enhanced Full Rate) Codec in its Nokia GSM network. This technology will enable BPL Mobile to offer its customers speech quality comparable to wireline quality in the mobile network. This service will first be available in BPL US West Cellular Ltd's Tamil Nadu circle.
As the mobile phone is increasingly becoming the preferred phone for voice communications, subscribers expect high quality and solutions that deliver to their needs. EFR provides this capability, securing speech quality equal to that of wireline. Originally pioneered by Nokia in co-operation with the University of Sherbrooke, Canada, EFR provides 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 standard software upgrade.
"Superior voice quality in our GSM network is an absolute must for us today, in keeping with our objective of constant innovation to offer our subscribers the best in quality value added services, and in the long standing BPL tradition of 'Believe in the Best'. Although the voice quality in the network is already extremely high, the implementation of the Nokia EFR solution will raise this quality even higher and even closer to fixed line quality", states Mr K S Jayanth Kumar, Managing Director, BPL US West Cellular Ltd.
As Mr Olli Oittinen, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Radio Access Systems, Nokia states, "Today's competitive environment means that network coverage and capacity are not enough - voice quality has become a major competitive advantage. For operators such as BPL Mobile in India, the provision of wireline quality voice services in the mobile network is essential. We are therefore extremely pleased that BPL Mobile has selected the Nokia EFR solution for the first network of this type in India."
In November last year, Nokia introduced the first GSM phones, the Nokia 6100 series, to support all three existing wireless voice codecs: EFR, Full Rate and Half Rate. The current range of GSM mobile phones available from Nokia in India are EFR ready. In addition to the EFR, the Nokia 6110, Nokia 5110 and Nokia 8810 mobile phones provide superb audio and speech quality through leak tolerant speakers and acoustic echo cancellation technology.
BPL US West Cellular Ltd and Nokia have a close relationship in India. Nokia is the sole supplier to the BPL Mobile GSM 900 network in the Tamil Nadu circle and has supplied mobile switching equipment and base station subsystem in the Maharashtra and Kerala circles. At present Nokia is in the process of building a high capacity SDH transmission backbone in the Tamil Nadu and Kerala circles.
BPL US West Cellular Ltd is a joint venture between the Rs 2800 crore BPL Group, built on the corner stone of the Group philosophy "Believe in the Best" and US West International, a unit of US West Media Group (NYSE : UMG).
Nokia offers total GSM systems from the latest and most innovative digital mobile phones to transmission and switching, as well as extensive services for building, efficiently operating and developing these networks. Having supplied GSM technology to 74 operators in 37 countries, Nokia ranks as the world's largest supplier of GSM 1800 networks and one of the two largest in GSM 900. A leader in the cellular industry in many markets in Asia Pacific, Nokia provides innovative, industry-leading technology and products to around 30 markets in the region.
Nokia is a broad-scope communications company supplying mobile phones, mobile and fixed telecommunications networks, wireless data communications solutions, multimedia terminals and computer monitors. In 1997, net sales totaled FIM 52.6 billion ($9.8 billion). Headquartered in Finland, Nokia is listed on the NYSE (NOK.A), has sales in 130 countries and employs more than 41,000 people worldwide.
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