Ceragon Networks bags $13 mn wireless backhaul deal in India

Ceragon Networks CEO Ira PaltiCeragon Networks has bagged a $13 million wireless backhaul deal from a top India operator during the first half of 2017 to increase its 4G LTE network capacity and enhance subscriber experience.

Ceragon Networks said the $13 million order includes a $9 million order in the second quarter for its IP-20 Platform and related services from the same 4G operator. India has Reliance Jio, BSNL, Airtel, Idea Cellular and Vodafone in the 4G market.

Ceragon Networks did not name its client in India.

The mobile operator aims to accelerate macrocells deployment to provide more capacity to meet its subscribers’ growing demands and achieve better coverage. Indian telecoms face spectrum crunch due to heavy price during spectrum auctions.

The top mobile operator is accelerating wireless backhaul rollout using Ceragon Networks FibeAir IP-20 multicore technology to cope with limited fiber availability to macrocells.

Ceragon Networks said FibeAir IP-20 will enable the India operator uses as little as one quarter of the spectrum otherwise needed to deliver 1Gbps backhaul capacity to 4G macrocells and earns the added benefit of reducing energy consumption.

“India is experiencing a dramatic rise in wireless data usage and internet penetration rates, coupled with fierce competition for market share among mobile operators,” said Ira Palti, president and CEO of Ceragon Networks.