Bharti Airtel, a global telecommunications company with
operations in 19countries across Asia and Africa announced it has expanded and
extended its managed services agreement with Ericsson for
its India operations.
With India emerging as the third largest internet
market and a multi-fold growth in data traffic on the back of a rising number
of smartphones, wireless networks need to be ready for the data revolution that
has only just begun. This unique multi-technology Managed Services partnership
with Ericsson will help us focus on creating a compelling service proposition
for our customers, as we look to ramp up our market access for next generation
services on 3G and 4G,” said Sanjay Kapoor, CEO India and South Asia, Bharti Airtel.
Under this managed services agreement Ericsson will
provide multi-vendor, multi-technology managed services by operating and
maintaining a majority of Bharti Airtel’s network across India.
Ericsson will be responsible for the
Intelligent Network that manages Bharti Airtel’s prepaid customer base. Bharti
Airtel will expand and extend contract across 15 circles for five years.
The 15 telecom Circles include Delhi, Jammu and
Kashmir, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, UP(W), UP (E), Rajasthan, North
Eastern states, Assam, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Chennai and
Kerala.
Ericsson will also ensure effective management of
operational expenditure and maximize efficiencies of scale whilst undertaking
to improve the overall quality of the network in these Circles.
The full suite of managed services will be rendered through
a Global Network Operation Center and field operation activities spread
throughout the country. The evolved managed services now incorporate the
cutting-edge tools that Ericsson gained from its recent acquisitions of Optimi
and Telcordia.
Recently, Ericsson India announced its plans to step up managed
services presence in the country. To meet the evolving needs of operators for
support and operations IT services, Ericsson, world’s largest provider of
telecom services and the 8th largest IT services company, is investing
further in competence in its Global Service Center (GSC) in India.
The rapid increase in customer numbers, and the
network complexities due to multiple technology overlays defines the need for a
renewed focus on differentiated user experience. As more and more people are
joining the Networked Society, in which everybody and everything is connected
it is imperative that we continue to provide high-quality, innovative services
to the end users,” said Fredrik
Jejdling, head of Ericsson India.
By Telecomlead.com Team
