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Indian operator inks MoU with Nokia Siemens |
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Wednesday, 04 July 2007 |
Bharti Airtel Limited,
India’s leading private telecom services provider and Nokia Siemens Networks have strengthened their partnership further by signing a Memorandum of Understanding for a US$900mn (approx.) expansion contract across Airtel’s mobile, fixed and Intelligent Network platforms. In the first multi platform network contract of its kind to be awarded in India, Nokia Siemens Networks will expand Airtel’s GSM network in eight circles; its National Long Distance and International Long Distance network with 1.8 million Next Generation Network (NGN) ports – the largest ever NGN contract in the country – and its International Calling Card prepaid service capacity by 4.5 million news users. The GSM and NGN expansions are planned over two years and the International calling cards expansion over three years. The two year GSM expansion will cover the eight existing circles of Mumbai, Maharashtra & Goa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh & Chattisgarh, Bihar & Jharkhand, Orissa, Kolkata and
West Bengal, where Nokia Siemens Networks already provides equipment and Managed Services. The expansion will enable Airtel to rapidly expand its geographical footprint to rural
India and increase its overall network capacity.
The contract includes network planning, implementation and project management, handling of local logistics and materials as well as system integration for the base station sites. For the two year Fixed Network expansion, Nokia Siemens Networks will deploy 1.8 million Next Generation Networks ports across Airtel’s National Long Distance and International Long Distance. The largest NGN expansion exercise in the country will allow Airtel to consolidate its position as a leading fixed line operator covering Class 4 – Long Distance National and International Switches. Nokia Siemens Networks will deploy its complete IP trunking solution with SURPASS hiE 9200 softswitches, SURPASS hiG 1200 media gateways and SURPASS hiR 200 media servers. For optimised support of international traffic, some of the components will be deployed in other countries. The three year International Calling Cards services expansion will see Airtel more than quadruple its capacity and adequately address its calling card business expansion to tap more international markets. The calling card prepaid service will be supported by Nokia Siemens Networks’ flexible IN@vantage platform for intelligent services. It also allows Bharti to increase network traffic and related revenues by addressing specific market segments and user expectations with dedicated communication solutions.
Both Nokia and Siemens have been associated with building Airtel’s mobile and fixed networks. The previous major deal for GSM expansion that was signed last year between Nokia and Bharti was valued at US$400mn.
www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com |
