News, Business, Global: Nokia Siemens Networks started its operations on April 1. The new company, owned by Nokia and Siemens, holds a top three position in the industry, based on 2006 pro-forma revenues of EUR 17.1 billion, and is ideally positioned to tap growth opportunities in both the wireless and fixed communications markets.

“Already starting as one of the leaders of the industry, we have a clear objective: to become number one.” said Simon Beresford-Wylie, CEO. “Nokia Siemens Networks has the capability to bring true innovation to its customers. A deep partnership with Nokia gives us unique insights into end-users and allows us to provide full end-to-end solutions to our customers. And we have a portfolio that is ideal for the world of convergence, with strength in both fixed and mobile systems.”

Nokia Siemens Networks has five product business units – Radio Access, Broadband Access, Service Core and Applications, IP/Transport, and Operations Support Systems – that provide a full range of products and applications for fixed, mobile and converged networks. Additionally, the new company addresses the growing demand for services through its Services Business Unit. It has approximately 600 customers and operates in about 150 countries. “We have the size and resources to compete, but we also recognize that true competitiveness goes well beyond scale,” said Beresford-Wylie.

Nokia Siemens Networks builds on the rich research and innovation strength of its parent companies. It will have one of the world’s best research and development teams, focused on advancing the development of best-in-class products for next-generation fixed and mobile network solutions. In 2006, the R&D team that is now part of Nokia Siemens Networks demonstrated the world’s first Long Term Evolution (LTE) radio access solution. In fixed access, research teams were able to transmit data at a rate of 10 gigabits per second via an optical access network, which is four times faster than the rate previously possible.

Recently, a 10x111 gigabit per second native transmission was achieved over 2400km using a Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) infrastructure originally designed for 10 gigabit per second transmission - showing that operators will be able to migrate to 100 gigabit ethernet services per wavelength using their existing optical infrastructure.

This strong R&D capability, together with the innovative solutions already commercially available today like IMS, MSC Server System and Internet HSPA, will enable Nokia Siemens Networks to help customers meet their business goals.

“As the market changes and our customers face complex business challenges, we will also need to change at Nokia Siemens Networks,” continued Beresford-Wylie. “Bringing the internet and connectivity to the vast majority of people by 2015 will require finding new ways to lower the cost of connections, particularly in the large emerging markets.”