Nokia Siemens Networks said on Tuesday it signed a contract with Bharti Airtel Ltd to supply $900 million worth of equipment to help Bharti expand its network for mobile, fixed-line and intelligent network (IN) platforms that can aid both fixed and mobile services.
The agreement for what the company described as the largest GSM expansion deal in India will involve 1.8 million subscriber lines for national long distance (ILD) and international long distance (ILD) calls and also enable a major expansion of pre-paid services based on international calling cards for 4.5 million new users on the Airtel network.
“The GSM and NGN (next generation network) expansions are planned over two years and the international calling cards expansion over three years,” Nokia Siemens said in a statement.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Manoj Kohli, President and CEO of Bharti Airtel, and Simon Beresford Wylie, CEO of Nokia Siemens Networks.
Nokia Siemens had on Monday announced a plan to invest $ 100 million in India over the next three years to strengthen its presence in the exploding market. The plan includes a manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu for wireless network equipment, new offices and expansion of a research and development centre and a global networks solutions centre.
“We are honoured to be awarded this first of its kind end to end network expansion contract by Bharti Airtel. Nokia Siemens Networks has been a strong partner in Bharti Airtel’s growth and this contract establishes us as the leading integrated partner across their networks,”Beresford-Wylie said in a statement. “Nokia Siemens Networks has the experience and expertise in delivering integrated solutions and services and will enable Bharti Airtel to tap new market opportunities driven by convergence."
NSN is the world's fourth largest telecommunications infrastructure provider, behind Cisco Systems, Alcatel Lucent and Sweden's Ericsson. It ranks second to Ericsson in mobile infrastructure sales.
“We are honoured to be awarded this first of its kind end to end network expansion contract by Bharti Airtel. Nokia Siemens Networks has been a strong partner in Bharti Airtel’s growth and this contract establishes us as the leading integrated partner across their networks,”Beresford-Wylie said in a statement. “Nokia Siemens Networks has the experience and expertise in delivering integrated solutions and services and will enable Bharti Airtel to tap new market opportunities driven by convergence."
NSN is the world's fourth largest telecommunications infrastructure provider, behind Cisco Systems, Alcatel Lucent and Sweden's Ericsson. It ranks second to Ericsson in mobile infrastructure sales.