Advertising-funded MVNO Blyk has selected Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) to host its core network for its planned expansion into the Netherlands and Belgium. NSN said in a statement today that it will host Blyk’s prepaid charging, messaging systems and device management across both countries remotely via its hosting centre in Vienna, Austria. Patrik Sallner, the vendor’s global head of hosting services, said its “shareable multi-country mobile virtual network operator platform” will allow operators such as Blyk to quickly expand into new markets without the need for significant numbers of local staff or other investments.

Blyk, which offers free calls and text messages to 16 to 24 year-olds in return for users accepting advertisements, launched in the UK in 2007 and recently claimed to have surpassed 200,000 UK subscribers. The MVNO plans to extend its service into the Netherlands later this year and will launch in Belgium, Germany and Spain next year.