Nokia and Ericsson announced today that they will provide T-Mobile USA with 3G network infrastructure as the carrier looks to play catch-up with its rivals in the U.S. market. While the vendors declined to disclose the value of the contracts, T-Mobile had previously estimated it would spend $2.6 billion in rolling out the next-generation network over the next two to three years. Nokia and Ericsson will provide WCDMA technologies. Nokia will provide small, low-power WCDMA basestations for T-Mobile in the south, central and western states (not California), while Ericsson will provide the needed WCDMA equipment in New York City and other currently unspecified regions. The carrier has previously pledged to capture 18 percent to 20 percent of the U.S. market or increase its 23 million strong subscriber base to 35-40 million by 2015. The U.S. carrier has buoyed its parent company Deutsche Telekom which sees lower profit margins in its highly competitive European markets.
For more on T-Mobile's deal with Nokia and Ericsson:
- see this press release from Ericsson
- and this press release from Nokia