3 UK reaches 70 percent population coverage
3 now has over 70 percent population coverage for
its video mobile services in the UK
02 January 2004
3 UK, the video mobile network, today announced
that it has successfully completed the build and integration of
its 5,000th radio base station. These sites mean that 3 now has
over 70% population coverage for its video mobile services in
the UK, as well as over 98% voice coverage through its national
roaming agreement.
The 3 network is fully operational, the quality
of voice and messaging services is comparable to other networks
and the network leads the industry in speed and quality of data
transmission.
In conjunction with its partners 3 has undertaken
one of the fastest network rollouts in European telecoms history.
Under contracts announced in April 2001, NEC is supplying the
radio infrastructure for the southern half of the United Kingdom
and Nokia is supplying the radio infrastructure for the Northern
half.
The companies have implemented the Radio Access
Network (RAN) and Radio Network Controller (RNC) equipment in
each region respectively. The speed and scale of the deployment
of the radio network is unprecedented in the mobile industry,
with up to 200 base stations being installed per week.
David Cooper, CTO 3 UK said: "I am delighted
to announce that we've integrated the 5,000th radio site into
3's network. This is a truly remarkable achievement as the network
has been installed and optimised in just over two years, probably
the fastest wireless rollout ever achieved in Europe. This coverage
means that we have the capacity and the network to offer customers
an unrivalled package of voice, data and video services."
Kevin Buckley, General Manager, NEC UK 3G Systems
said: "This is an important milestone for NEC, Siemens and
3. The speed of implementation of 3's network in the UK is unsurpassed
in Mobile communications. NEC and Siemens are proud to have delivered
the radio network for the first large-scale commercial video mobile
service outside of Japan."
Rajeev Suri, Vice-president and General Manager
Nokia Networks said: "We are delighted to be a part of the
tremendous success of 3's nationwide radio network rollout, where
we are responsible for the northern half of the UK. 3G is a superior
technology to existing networks, in that it can deliver faster
and higher quality of media content to an ever demanding consumer.
We are committed to 3's leading position in this market."
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