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PRESS RELEASE
Core Network awarded to Nokia
Radio Access Network shared between NEC and Nokia
Hong Kong, London, 2 April 2001, Hutchison 3G UK Limited ('Hutchison 3G'), holder of the UK's largest third generation mobile phone licence, today announced the selection of its Network infrastructure suppliers. The contract to supply the Core Network, including 3G packet core elements and 3G mobile switches has been awarded to Nokia. The Radio Access Network contract, including Base Station Controllers and Base Stations, has been awarded jointly to NEC and Nokia. These agreements are for an initial period of three years and will deliver a complete range of 3G mobile network infrastructure to Hutchison 3G.
As the main network supplier, Nokia will provide mobile core infrastructure, Radio Access Network equipment and professional services including both deployment and support for Hutchison 3G's new Network. Nokia will also provide its mPlatform mobile Internet middleware, which will enable Hutchison to offer a rich set of applications and services to its future customers.
The Radio Access Network contract is shared between Nokia and NEC on a geographical basis, with Nokia responsible for all sites south of the line from the River Severn to The Wash and NEC responsible for all sites to the north. Negotiations are currently taking place for NEC to also supply an element of Core Network to operate a development platform to facilitate end-to-end testing of their Radio Network.
Colin Tucker, Managing Director said, "After a very thorough process, I believe we have chosen the best Network suppliers for Hutchison 3G. They offer the necessary expertise, which will be so vital in the roll-out of our Network over the next three years. Nokia brings us the IP ability and network experience vital to building a brand new Network, while NEC offers us the guarantee of speed to market vital to Hutchison 3G."
"Nokia has continued to introduce industry-first solutions that dramatically reduce costs and improve network capacity for future Mobile Internet networks," said Rene Svendsen-Tune, Senior Vice President, 3G Marketing and Sales, Nokia Networks, "Hutchison 3G aims to build portfolio of service offerings in mobile internet, high-speed data communications and m-commerce services, and with the combined strengths of Nokia's technology and delivery capability, we are delighted to be able to support their drive towards 3G service creation."
Mr Koji Nishigaki, President of NEC Corporation said, "NEC is delighted to be selected as a vendor for Hutchison 3G UK's network solution provider. NEC is confident that through the experience gained as the total network solution provider for the launch of world first 3G network in Japan in May, NEC will be well positioned to offer the best network solution for Hutchison 3G."
In a separate press release today, Hutchison 3G announced the successful completion of a 
3.6 billion financing package over the next three years.
Further information please contact:
| Hutchison 3G UK | Edward Brewster | +44 20 7887 7869 |
| Nokia Networks | Arja Suominen | +358 9 5113 8193 |
| NEC | Kazuya Yoshida | +44 20 7853 5900 |
Notes to Editors
Hutchison 3G UK
Hutchison 3G UK Holdings Limited ('Hutchison 3G') holds license 'A', from the UMTS auction held by the UK government in April 2000. Licence 'A' was the largest block of spectrum auctioned in the UK, it was set aside for a new entrant to the market. The licence consists of 15mhz of paired spectrum, and 5mhz of unpaired spectrum.
3G is a convergence of mobile, telephony and information systems which promises to change people's lives by enabling them to access information when, where and how they want. The 3G standard (agreed throughout Europe, Japan, China, and the rest of Asia) also known as UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), represents a global standard for third generation mobile communication systems and is at the heart of the Hutchison 3G initiative.
Hutchison Whampoa Limited holds a 65% stake in Hutchison 3G, the other major shareholders are NTT DoCoMo (20%) KPN Mobile (15%). The shareholders injected 4.4 billion of equity into Hutchison 3G to pay for the UK UMTS licence won in April 2000.
www.hutchison3g.com
2. Nokia
Nokia's 3G infrastructure is based on open standards, platforms and interfaces, critical for a smooth evolution to commercial 3G services in a multi-vendor network. It includes integrated end-to-end solutions covering charging, security, network management and service control applications.
Nokia already offers a full range of support services and solutions to help network providers differentiate in today's fast-changing business environment and rapidly build out 3G networks.
Built on Nokia's unique IP mobility core and radio access solutions, the network will enable the introduction of exciting new seamless multimedia services for Hutchison's nationwide network in the UK.
As the only dedicated 3G network operator in the UK, Hutchison will provide WCDMA coverage using Nokia's highly flexible Optima Compact and Supreme range of base stations. Nokia will supply its 3G IP mobility core network, including packet switched and circuit switched elements and related professional services including network planning, roll-out, support and training services. This will ensure a smooth evolution to an all-IP core network. Deliveries have already begun.
Nokia is the world leader in mobile communications. Backed by its experience, innovation, user-friendliness and secure solutions, the company has become the leading supplier of mobile phones and a leading supplier of mobile, fixed and IP networks. By adding mobility to the Internet Nokia creates new opportunities for companies and further enriches the daily lives of people. Nokia is a broadly held company with listings on six major exchanges.
www.nokia.com
3. NEC
NEC's Networking and Mobile Communications Business Unit:
NEC Corporation (NASDAQ: NIPNY) (FTSE: 6701q.l) is a leading provider of Internet solutions, dedicated to meeting the specialized needs of its customers in the key computer, network and electron device fields through its three market-focused in-house companies: NEC Solutions, NEC Networks and NEC Electron Devices. NEC Networks is now focusing its businesses on Internet-related fields, Broadband Internet and Mobile Internet, and the next generation mobile is the key business where NEC is putting its major resources and efforts. NEC has been actively involved in promoting the development of W-CDMA technologies and has always been at the forefront in this field. NEC has been actively involved in W-CDMA technical trials all over the world with leading carriers in the region such as British Telecom, Telephone Organization of Thailand (TOT), SK Telecom (Korea), SingTel Mobile (Singapore), Telecom Italia Mobile and Research Institute of Telecommunications Transmission (China). NEC has been selected as a commercial systems supplier from NTT DoCoMo and J-Phone Group in Japan and has already started delivering all the major network systems including core network to NTT DoCoMo's world's first commercial 3G network, which is to commence service in May this year.
www.nec.com
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