Siemens mobile to upgrade GSM services in Yemen with USD28 million network expansion project

The deal with the provider is worth US$28 million and includes the second EDGE contract for Siemens in the Middle East.

As part of the project, Siemens mobile will deploy its General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) platform and upgrade SabaFon's infrastructure to a Packet Switching and High Speed Data Rate network which will prepare SabaFon's Switching Network for 3G. Siemens mobile will also implement its leading EDGE and charge@once technologies, and expand its capacity by 250,000 subscribers. It also includes the upgrade of SabaFon's Radio Network by 150 EDGE ready new Base Stations. It incorporates professional services such as installation and commissioning, system integration, a customized concept for spares inventory, training and enabling network operations. SabaFon's new services will be deployed by end 2004.

When the project is completed, both SabaFon's prepaid and postpaid GSM users will potentially enjoy a wealth of Siemens E-GPRS based VAS such as MMS, Internet Access, Video Streaming, PoC, IM and LBS.

"We are happy to sustain SabaFon success in such a dynamic and competitive market as in Yemen. The achieved leading position of SabaFon in Yemen is incentive for both of our companies to enhance it further with state-of-the-art technology and support from Siemens. From an infrastructure angle, SabaFon is one of the pioneering operators in current technology as well as the readiness to move straightforward to 3G" says Mr. Soenke Peters, Vice President and Head of Siemens mobile networks, Middle East.

"We in Siemens do believe in business partnerships and most of all consider SabaFon to be a fundamental pillar of our success in the Middle East. We highly value SabaFon entrustment to Siemens on strategic decisions and hope we will always prove to be the right partner to rely upon," he adds.

An acknowledged leader in the world of mobile network services, Siemens Mobile Network has worked extensively with operators across the world, enabling them to offer numerous voice, multimedia and data services to their customers - wherever they may be at the time. In particular, the company is a leading provider of GPRS, EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) and UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), technologies.

"We are satisfied with Siemens professional performance since the outset of SabaFon operations, which reflects the solid and fundamental partnership course as progressing from one achievement to the other," says H.E. Sheikh Hameed Al Ahmar, Chairman of SabaFon.

"The network expansion is a continuous process, both in terms of lines and coverage. Added to that, we embarked upon deploying a wealth of VAS offerings that would enable both postpaid and prepaid subscribers to enjoy new generation services on par with international operators. We, in SabaFon, have elaborated ambitious plans for the future and we look forward to see Siemens as part of it," he added.