Nokia's Research Center in Helsinki, 2007. The Finnish telecom group Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) said it had won a network expansion deal for 550 million euros (867 million dollars) with China Mobile.

The Finnish telecom group Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) said on Friday it had won a network expansion deal for 550 million euros (867 million dollars) with China Mobile.

NSN will design, build, maintain and optimise the radio and core network for China Mobile, including base station, mobile softswitching and operating support systems in provinces and cities across China.

"This agreement represents the strengthening of our position as a leading solution provider to China Mobile," Zhang Zhiqiang, the head of Nokia Siemens Networks Greater China Region, said in a statement.

Established in 2000, China Mobile has a registered capital of 51.8 billion RMB Yuan (4.8 billion euros, 7.6 billion dollars) and is Asia's largest telecom carrier.

© 2008 AFP