The Hindu Business Line : Bharti inks $1-b network expansion deal with Ericsson

Hello partner
Deal extends to Airtel networks in 15 circles
Ericsson will upgrade Airtel network with next-gen tech
Ericsson supplies equipment to 70 pc of Airtel network

New Delhi , Aug 24

Bharti Airtel today announced the signing of a $1-billion network expansion contract with Swedish gear manufacturer Ericsson.

The three-year service contract with Ericsson will include design, planning, supply and installation commissioning of Airtel networks in 15 circles.

The agreement is an extension of the three-year $400-million deal signed between the two sides in 2004 to manage Airtel's cellular network.

Ericsson already supplies network equipment to 70 per cent of Bharti's network.

Ericsson will upgrade Airtel's network with next-generation technologies such as mobile softswitch, the solution that paves the way to an all-IP network.

The scope of the agreement extends to the 15 Airtel circles of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, UP (West), Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Chennai, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, UP (East), Jammu & Kashmir, Assam and the North-East.

Mr Manoj Kohli, President of Bharti Airtel, said: "Our partnership with Ericsson allows us to focus on delivering better customer experience even as we leverage the world-class expertise of our partners to roll out our networks across all census towns by March 2007."

He added: "In addition, we are sourcing next-generation products that will allow us to deliver innovative products and services to our customers."

With the cellular segment growing at five million subscribers a month, India has become a huge market for equipment vendors.

Related Stories:
Bharti signs $250-m deal with Ericsson

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page