Telefonica Movil Chile and Nokia have announced the launch of commercial EDGE services in the metropolitan Santiago area and in the coastal city of Valparaiso. The Telefonica Movil Chile launch is the first commercial launch of EDGE services in Latin America and the first for the Telefonica Moviles group worldwide.EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution), which can increase data speeds three-fold compared to GPRS, will improve the user experience
of data services like file downloading and multimedia services (MMS) that combine high-speed data, voice, audio, video and text.
Under a supply agreement with Telefonica Movil Chile, Nokia supplies EDGE-capable network equipment, as well as implementation,
integration, project management and care services for EDGE. These services will be provided using Nokia NetAct(TM), the only fully featured, multi-vendor, multi-technology operations support system on a single platform.
"Telefonica Movil is the first mobile company developing EDGE in Latin America. Thus, it was strategically important to select a network supplier with quality products, and wide experience in fast and efficient network deployment, as well as support services, which
will allow us to consolidate our leading position in the development of state-of-the-art value-added services in the Chilean market," said
Telefonica Movil Chile's CEO, Oliver Flogel.
"The EDGE network built by Nokia will allow Telefonica Movil to be at the leading edge of an innovative offering of high-tech products and
services that will clearly make the difference with respect to the current supply of mobile telephony in Chile," added Patricio Valenzuela, General Manager, Nokia Networks, Chile.