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The First TETRA call in Bulgaria Made Today with Nokia Equipment



SOFIA, Bulgaria, Feb 25, 2003 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The first ever in Bulgaria connection using a TETRA network was established today. The border police network is now ready for work within weeks.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Bulgaria Mr. Nikolay Vassilev called colonel Valery Grigorov, Director of the Border Police National Service using the TETRA system for the first time. The Minister of Foreign Trade of Finland Mr. Jari Vilen also took part in the call addressing the Border Police National Service on behalf of the Government of Finland.

The first in Bulgaria TETRA official call was made in the presence of the President of Bulgaria Mr. Georgi Parvanov and the President of Finland Mrs. Tarja Halonen, who is in Bulgaria on official visit on the invitation of her Bulgarian colleague.

"Today is an exceptionally important day - the first TETRA network on the Balkans is now a fact. Nokia invested in the project the best of its know-how and technologies, the best solutions that will enhance the security of Bulgaria and will bring the country closer to the European structures", said Veli Sundback, Executive Vice President of Nokia Corporation Oy before handing over the TETRA device to the Minister Vassilev.

The TETRA system developed and implemented by Nokia for the Border Police National Service of Bulgaria is the first TETRA network on the Balkans. The TETRA technology is a world standard approved by ETSI and adopted by the European Union for digital mobile trunking networks serving the needs of organizations in the public security and safety sector (police, emergency, civil defense, security services, etc.) and the state administration (parliament, president, government administrations).

TETRA is a technology that minimizes the capital investments and the operational expenses of the state organizations because it allows simultaneous using of one existing network by many services, administrations and ministries who in the same time can keep their independence. It enhances the safety of the classified information with the crypting of the connection and increases the effectiveness and the coordination of the different services and ministries in crises situations and natural disasters through connecting the independent VPNs into one communication environment.

The European Union through its PHARE programme finances the first on the Balkans TETRA network build for the Border Police National Service to make the control of the future outer borders of the European Union more secure. The tender for building the TETRA network was won by the Finnish company Nokia at the end of 2002.

Nokia has a proven track record in delivering multiswitch TETRA networks capable of providing all TETRA services uniformly countrywide. The open interfaces of Nokia TETRA solutions enable seamless integration to command and control systems.

About Nokia

Nokia is the world leader in mobile communications. Backed by its experience, innovation, user-friendliness and secure solutions, the company has become the leading supplier of mobile phones and a leading supplier of mobile, fixed broadband and IP networks. By adding mobility to the Internet Nokia creates new opportunities for companies and further enriches the daily lives of people. Nokia is a broadly held company with listings on six major exchanges.
CONTACT: Nokia Networks
Communications Department
Tel (int.) [phone]
[e-mail]
www.nokia.com

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