Hong Kong’s biggest mobile operator, Hutchison, has signed Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) to a network upgrade deal.
NSN will be the sole vendor and service partner in upgrading Hutch’s home network to HSPA+, with a minimum equipment purchase of nearly HK$350 million ($45 million).
The announcement comes two weeks after rival CSL tapped ZTE to run Hong Kong’s first LTE trial. Earlier this year CSL announced the world’s first all-IP HSPa+ network.
While NSN describes the Hutchison contract as a “five-year framework agreement”, it makes no mention of LTE.
NSN, who was the prime supplier of Hutchison’s 3G network, will deploy HSPA+, using the Flexi BTS base station and its Direct Tunnel solution and the NetAct network management system.
Richard Kitts, NSN’s Hutchison HK account manager, said the Flexi’s energy-saving features and the new HSPA+ capabilities “will provide HTHKH the required edge in the market both in terms of operational efficiencies and cutting edge technology.”
A Hutchison Hong Kong spokesperson said the “rollout timetable is highly competitive” and would be carried out in phases.