SONOFON to complete the first GPRS call in Denmark in a trial co-operation with Nokia

SONOFON is the first operator in Denmark to have completed the first GPRS data call in its live GSM network using Nokia GPRS technology. GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) is a major stepping stone in the development towards 3rd generation mobile systems and mobile multimedia services.

GPRS enables a continuous connection from the mobile phone to the Internet, corporate Intranet or WAP portals for example. It will be an important carrier for SONOFON's future data services, as the amount of Internet connected mobile phones is forecasted to increase rapidly.

”SONOFON is proud to get the network up and running this early and complete a data call over GPRS. The trial with Nokia brings us useful information, about the GPRS system, which we can use in our current process of selecting a supplier of GPRS core network equipment,” said Ulrik Bülow, Chief Executive Officer at SONOFON. "SONOFON has always been on the cutting edge in the use of new technology and our goal is to continue to be first in introducing new and easy to use mobile services in Denmark".

GPRS will bring a multitude of new services to SONOFON's customers. The greatest advantage for the customer lies in the possibility to have continuous connectivity to the Internet, the corporate Intranet or a WAP portal without being billed per minute.

"Nokia is committed to become the leading supplier for GPRS and 3G networks in Denmark. We see this achievement with SONOFON as an important step to demonstrate that wireless Internet services will soon be reality," says Steen Boas Andersen, Managing Director, Nokia Networks, Denmark" An early start in GPRS paves the way for success in 3rd Generation packet data networks, as it is an important cornerstone in moving toward mobile multimedia and 3G services."

Nokia and SONOFON began their GPRS trial co-operation at the beginning of 1999. The first GPRS call was made using Nokia BSS (Base Station Subsystem) and Nokia demonstration GPRS core network technologies.

SONOFON is Denmark's second largest telecommunications company with a turnover of Dkk 3 Billion and approximately 1500 employees. GN Great Nordic (53.5%) and BellSouth (46.5%) own SONOFON. Since its launch in 1992 the company has established a countrywide network, a solid customer base (approximately 850,000) and Sonofon Partner - franchise based chain of shops. The company is continuously introducing new services – the newest being Variant and Multiplan.

Nokia is paving the way to the mobile information society with its innovative products and solutions. The company is the leading mobile phone supplier and a leading supplier of mobile, broadband and IP networks, related services as well as multimedia terminals. In 1999, Nokia's net sales totaled EUR 19.8 billion (USD 19.9 billion). Headquartered in Finland, Nokia is listed on the New York (NOK), Helsinki, Stockholm, London, Frankfurt and Paris stock exchanges and employs more than 56,000 people. Visit the Nokia website at www.nokia.com

Further information:

Ms Arja Suominen, Vice President, Communications,
Nokia Networks
Tel. (Int.) + 358 9 5113 8193,
Fax (Int.) + 358 9 5113 8199
Email nokia.networks@nokia.com

Ms Karin Skjødt Larsen, Head of Communications,
SONOFON
Tel. (Int.) + 45 72 12 60 36,
Fax (Int.) + 45 72 12 60 60
Email ksl@sonofon.dk