Three UK has selected Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India’s largest IT services firm, to help configure its mobile network for rollout of 5G services.

TCS will assist Three UK to manage the configuration of a new core next generation mobile network, and ensure it integrates correctly with the 5G Radio Access Network (RAN). This will include configuring the core network for new site deployments, site upgrades, performance management, and 3G and 4G tuning changes.

Three UK is in the process of deploying a new 5G radio access network, which is already going live in 175 towns and cities in the UK, across more than 1,000 sites, providing its customers with access to next generation 5G connectivity.

Three UK launched 5G on mobile in February 2020 in 68 locations before extending this to 154 towns and cities across more than 900 sites for mobile and home broadband. Three UK was targeting around 1,000 sites for delivering 5G coverage by the end of 2020.

Three UK had doubled the number of sites with improved 4G technology to 4,000 with performance improvements of up to 150 percent.

Three UK selected Ericsson as the partner for 4G and 5G rollout.

“Three UK’s 5G rollout is underpinned by our agility in bringing services to market. Our decision to partner with TCS was based on this need to deliver at pace whilst being flexible to changing demands,” said Carlo Melis, chief networks officer of Three UK.

TCS’ software will speed-up configuration checking and reduce manual errors, ensuring first-time right network configuration. TCS is providing 24×7 support across the network for configuration corrections and ad-hoc site testing. These improvements will help Three deliver faster, secure and more reliable 5G services.

“With our telecommunications industry expertise and continued investments and innovation in 5G, we are the ideal partner to make this a success. Our new partnership will help Three’s network to continue to provide the standout experience their customers have come to expect,” Carol Wilson, head, Communications, Media and Information Services Business–Europe and UK at TCS said.