Siemens Wins in Tunisia

MUNICH -- The Siemens Information and Communication Mobile Group (Siemens mobile) has received an order from Tunisian mobile radio provider Orascom Telecom Tunisie (OTT) to build its GSM network. The framework contract is worth a total of 110 million euros over three years and further consolidates Siemens mobile’s position as OTT’s leading supplier. As per the contract, Siemens mobile will provide OTT not only with the switching network but also with Intelligent Network Services (such as prepaid services), in which Siemens is the global mobile market leader. Siemens mobile is one of two suppliers for the radio network of OTT. The network is scheduled to go live in November 2002, and will initially reach around 20 percent of Tunisia’s population. Last year Siemens mobile concluded a frame agreement with Orascom Telecom Holding S.A.E., the leading mobile operator in Africa and the Middle East, to build and expand GSM mobile networks. This makes Siemens mobile one of the region’s major suppliers of mobile network equipment. Orascom Telecom Holding has various companies in 20 countries, including Egypt’s MobiNil, Jordan’s Fastlink, Orascom Telecom Algeria and Pakistan’s Mobilink. Orascom Telecom Holding and Wataniya Telecom have signed last week a joint venture agreement to jointly develop and operate OTT. "Siemens mobile and our two parent companies Orascom Telecom Holding and Wataniya Telecom have worked together for many years. We would like to extend now this outstanding cooperation to Tunisia, and to quickly establish here a GSM mobile network with international quality standards. We know that Siemens mobile is an efficient partner in terms of speed and network quality”, says Jean-Pierre Roeland, OTT’s Chief Executive Officer.Siemens Information and Communications Networks Inc.