French operator selects Nokia Siemens Networks to expand mobile broadband coverage, enhance service quality, and pilot LTE

SFR will soon offer improved mobile broadband services, including faster Internet access, to its 3G subscribers throughout France. Nokia Siemens Networks is upgrading SFR’s radio network and will provide, operate and maintain new all-IP packet core technology ready to support 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) services. The two companies will also work together to trial LTE services.

“In order to maintain its leadership on new innovative services, SFR is constantly offering superior network quality,” said Nicolas Huguet, head of the SFR customer team at Nokia Siemens Networks. “Therefore, it is looking at next-generation networks to deliver leading-edge services and superior customer experience.”

Nokia Siemens Networks will deploy its compact, energy-efficient Flexi Multiradio Base Station for the radio network upgrade. This will enable SFR to reuse the GSM900 MHz frequency band, previously used for 2G services, in order to expand advanced 3G broadband services coverage into rural areas, simplify its network and reduce operating costs.

The mobile packet core solution being provided by Nokia Siemens Networks under a three-year agreement includes the company’s LTE-ready, ATCA-based*, Flexi Network Gateway for handling growth in data traffic and for ensuring uninterrupted mobile broadband services. In addition, Nokia Siemens Networks will implement, operate and maintain SFR’s mobile packet core and its associated IP network to deliver improved network quality and efficiency.

The operator will also deploy Nokia Siemens Networks’ NetAct network management system and the company’s charge@once mediate solution to simplify the collection and processing of charging and billing data, providing SFR with a variety of sophisticated services, including differentiated billing.

SFR and Nokia Siemens Networks will collaborate on piloting LTE services using Flexi Multiradio base stations that can be software upgraded to enable HSPA+ and LTE capability, as well as Nokia Siemens Networks’ Evolved Packet Core for LTE.