Nokia Siemens Networks kicks off the “Connecting Brazil” expedition

Vendor and partners to showcase sustainable rural communications solution

Nokia Siemens Networks, in partnership with Oi, Nokia, Intelsat and Hughes, today sets off on an expedition into rural Brazilian where it will showcase the potential of its innovative Village Connection solution, using Nokia devices to bring mobile communications services to communities previously unserved by networks.

The “Connecting Brazil” roadshow has the Nokia Siemens Networks Village Connection solution installed on a vehicle that will visit the cities of Cravolandia, Muniz Ferreira and other small cities in the rural part of the state of Bahia.

The vehicle will arrive at the destinations with all the required equipment to offer mobile telephony and Internet access that is provided by Hughes and Intelsat exclusively via satellite. Here in Brazil, the solution will use the HughesNet broadband satellite service and technology from HUGHES, and satellite capacity primarily on Intelsat’s extensive fleet of satellites in the Atlantic Ocean Region. The local population, assisted by Nokia Siemens Networks professionals, will have the opportunity to make calls, send text messages and surf the web.

From a technical perspective, Nokia Siemens Networks Village Connection works as a standalone mobile service station where all internal calls are locally processed. Subscriber management can be done within the Village Connection system and the technology makes it possible for the mobile operator to work together with members of the local communities in operating the network and mediating the service. This approach significantly reduces both the capital and the overall operating costs.

“In addition to providing cost-efficient GSM technology and communications services for these towns, this business model offers a path to economic growth and development for them and a promise of applications that can raise living standards,” said Mario Baumgarten, corporate affairs director for Nokia Siemens Networks Latin America.

The Village Connection solution has been developed in India. It is operational in four states, providing connectivity to the rural communities. This project is succeeding in many regions where subscribers spend less than US$ 3 per month with telecommunications. We believe that this economic viability can be replicated in similar Brazilian contexts,” added Baumgarten.

“We expect that 5 billion people will be connected by 2015. To achieve our Corporate Social Responsibility goals, Nokia Siemens Networks, together with its partners in this project, is dedicated to the work for extending the benefits of mobile communication to people in rural areas, and to collaborate with the Millennium Goals.“, stated Baumgarten.

The Village Connection Solution

Nokia Siemens Networks Village Connection is an award-winning GSM- and IP-based network solution, specially designed for rural village communities in emerging markets where rolling out and operating a traditional GSM network would be too costly. It is cost effective, easy to implement and operate. It’s franchise-based innovative business model makes rural coverage a realistic business opportunity for operators and village entrepreneurs and ultimately brings connectivity to villagers enabling them to benefit from mobile voice and Internet services.

Nokia Siemens Networks will supply the entire kit to install, operate, manage and maintain the solution. For Oi, this can mean a more efficient solution in terms of connection and backbone costs.

Follow this expedition online at: www.expedicao.nokiasiemensnetworks.com

About Nokia Siemens Networks
Nokia Siemens Networks is a leading global enabler of communications services. The company provides a complete, well-balanced product portfolio of mobile and fixed network infrastructure solutions and addresses the growing demand for services with 20,000 service professionals worldwide. Nokia Siemens Networks is one of the largest telecommunications infrastructure companies with operations in 150 countries. The company is headquartered in Espoo, Finland.
www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com

About Nokia

Nokia is the world leader in mobility, driving the transformation and growth of the converging Internet and communications industries. We make a wide range of mobile devices with services and software that enable people to experience music, navigation, video, television, imaging, games, business mobility and more. Developing and growing our offering of consumer Internet services, as well as our enterprise solutions and software, is a key area of focus.

About Oi

Oi is the principal provider of telecommunications services within its region of operations, Brazil’s largest telecoms operator, in terms of revenue, and the biggest wireline telephony company in South America, in terms of total lines in service. Oi offers a broad range of integrated and convergent communications products, including fixed and mobile telephony, broadband and pay-TV.

About Intelsat
Intelsat is the leading provider of fixed satellite services (FSS) worldwide, delivering information and entertainment for many of the world’s leading media and network companies, multinational corporations, Internet service providers and governmental agencies. Intelsat’s satellite, teleport and fiber infrastructure is unmatched in the industry, setting the standard for advanced transmissions of video, data and voice services. With the globalization of content, broadband, telecom, HD and IPTV fueling next-generation growth, the ever-expanding universe of satellite communications is the cornerstone of today’s Intelsat. Real-time, advanced communications with people anywhere in the world is closer, by far.

About Hughes Network Systems

Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES) is the global leader in providing broadband satellite networks and services for large enterprises, governments, small businesses, and consumers. HughesNet® encompasses all broadband solutions and managed services from Hughes, bridging the best of satellite and terrestrial technologies. Hughes has shipped more than 1.5 million systems to customers in over 100 countries. Its broadband satellite products are based on global standards approved by the TIA, ETSI and ITU standards organizations, including IPoS, RSM-A and GMR-1.

Headquartered outside Washington, D.C., in Germantown, Maryland, USA, Hughes maintains sales and support offices worldwide. Hughes is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hughes Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: HUGH). For additional information, please visit www.hughes.com.

Media Enquiries

Gaspar & Associados Comunicação Empresarial
Laís Guarizzi / Larissa Shiraishi / Ana Carolina Rizzi
Phone: +5511-3037-3205
+5511-3037-3234
larissa {at} gaspar.com(.)br / anacarolina {at} gaspar.com(.)br

Nokia Siemens Networks
Media Relations
PO Box 1
FI-02022 Nokia Siemens Networks