Nokia Siemens Networks talks vision and progress on its first year anniversary

Nokia Siemens Networks Head of Middle East and Africa region Jan Cron has noted the progress that the company has achieved in a year time since its parent companies have merged to create a singular force in telecommunications.

Nokia Siemens Networks has recorded some of its largest deals right here in the region, with Zain in Saudi Arabia accounting for almost $1m of mobile network implementation and development.

In Africa, Vodafone Tanzania will connect rural and suburban communities for the first time with Nokia Siemens Networks' 'Village Connection' - realizing communications for unconnected communities and offering new means for development.

These successes have been based on the ability of our people to unite together under a new culture and set of values that have redefined Nokia Siemens Networks; with staff more optimistic than ever before and motivated to meet our targets.

The vision of Nokia Siemens Networks is unwavering; our goal to connect five billion people by 2015 is boosted by our concentration on connecting one billion people from the Middle East and Africa.

Today, about 750 million people have access to broadband communications. By 2015, we hope this will reach four million, fuelled by the strong growth of data traffic over 3G networks, competitive pricing structures and localized content demanded for this traffic.

Nokia Siemens Networks has also recently published its Connectivity Scorecard, an index which ranks countries in terms of ICT usage.

The study, which highlights how even the most connected nations have room for improvement, should be seen as a wake up call to nations to take decisive action to reap the full economic and social benefits of communications.

'With these new opportunities in mind, Nokia Siemens Networks is committed to helping communications service providers understand the changing market dynamics and transform their business in order to secure long-term growth' said Cron.

Nokia Siemens Networks is also strengthening its work in new markets with innovative solutions such as the Village Connection, which lets service providers leverage the potential of rural markets by offering mobile connectivity to villages at relatively low levels of investment.