Hi3G and NCC sign agreement regarding 3G infrastructure roll-out in Sweden

Hi3G has entered into an agreement with NCC regarding the roll-out of infrastructure for the third-generation mobile telecommunication (3G). The agreement covers the construction of at least 500 base stations in Sweden.

The agreement with NCC applies to a turnkey contract covering project management, site procurement, project design, construction and telecom installations for at least 500 base stations in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö.

The parties have agreed not to disclose the value of the order. Work has already begun.

"We intent to work with leading construction companies and NCC is a natural choice as partner. This cooperation is an important part of the rollout of the infrastructure that is needed for our future service offering," says Chris Bannister, CEO Hi3G.

"We consider it highly gratifying and stimulating that we will be building the infrastructure of the future and that we will be doing this in cooperation with Hi3G," says Maged Saleh, Business Unit Manager NCC Telecom Sweden.

For more information please contact:

Niclas Lilja, Director Communications, Hi3G

Telephone: +46 7 33 55 70 90, e-mail: niclas.lilja@hi3gaccess.se

Jörgen Askeroth, CTO, Hi3G

Telephone: +46 7 33 55 70 30, e-mail: jörgen.askeroth@hi3gacess.se

Maged Saleh, Business Unit Manager, NCC Telecom Sweden

Telephone +46 8 632 53 01, or +46 70 771 54 01

Gisela Lindstrand, Press Relation Manager NCC AB

Telephone +46 8 585 52346 or +46 70 392 9500

Hi3G is the holder of a Swedish and a Danish UMTS licence and is aiming to become a leading mobile multimedia operator with attractive and innovative services. The company's strength lies in the fact that it is a pure 3G company, with no baggage from old technologies such as GSM. Hi3G is expanding rapidly with the support of its owners, Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. (60%) and Investor AB (40%), who have solid network and industry track records worldwide. Hi3G is cooperating with other Hutchison Whampoa companies that hold 3G licences in Australia, Austria, Hong Kong, Italy, and the United Kingdom. Please stay in touch and visit www.hi3gaccess.se.

NCC is one of the leading construction and property development companies in the Nordic region. NCC has annual sales of approximately SEK 40 billion, with 25,000 employees. All of NCC's press releases are available on www.ncc.se.