Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Further strengthens quality of mobile broadband focus for operators across the regions

Nokia Siemens Networks is bringing together its business in the Middle East and Africa into a new, single, regional organization structure covering the Middle East & Africa (MEA). Igor Leprince, who was leading the company's business in the Middle East until 31 December 2012, has assumed the role of head of MEA from 1 January 2013.

With this change, Nokia Siemens Networks is expanding its Asia and Middle East regional cluster to include business in Africa. Continuing under the leadership of executive board member Ashish Chowdhary, the new Asia, Middle East & Africa cluster (AMEA) will manage the company's customer operations in MEA, India, Asia Pacific, Greater China and Japan.

As part of the company's transformation, the new combined MEA region will allow Nokia Siemens Networks to further strengthen its quality of delivery for all its operator customers in MEA. In addition, the move will allow the company to serve its large multi-country operators such as Bharti Airtel, Etisalat, Qtel, Saudi Telecom Company (STC), Vodacom and Zain in a more integrated manner both within the MEA region and across AMEA operations.

'MEA is a key market for Nokia Siemens Networks, where we have identified an increasing demand from operators for advanced mobile broadband technologies including TD-LTE and FDD-LTE technologies,' said Leprince. 'With our focus on being the world's specialist in mobile broadband through product innovation and quality processes, we are absolutely committed to helping our MEA customers realize their vision of becoming advanced mobile broadband providers.'

Nokia Siemens Networks operates in 30 countries in the combined MEA region and is committed to helping operators across the region address their mobile broadband needs.

About Nokia Siemens Networks

Nokia Siemens Networks is the world's specialist in mobile broadband. From the first ever call on GSM, to the first call on LTE, we operate at the forefront of each generation of mobile technology. Our global experts invent the new capabilities our customers need in their networks. We provide the world's most efficient mobile networks, the intelligence to maximize the value of those networks, and the services to make it all work seamlessly.

With headquarters in Espoo, Finland, we operate in over 150 countries and had net sales of over 14 billion euros in 2011. http://www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com