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Warid Telecom has awarded Ericsson, a Swedish mobile network systems maker, a managed services contract for its Global Systems of Mobile Communications/ General Pocket Radio Service) (GSM/GPRS) network in the country.
It has also signed a deal with Indonesia's largest cellular phone operator Telkomsel to provide a 3G/WCDMA network in Indonesia.
The Bangladesh contract covers the operation, management and maintenance of Warid Telecom's core GSM/network, backbone transmission and real-time charging/Value Added Services (VAS).
"As per the terms of the four-year managed services agreement, Ericsson is expected to be in charge of Warid's operations, management and maintenance, which covers commercial launch, network surveillance and assurance service, as well as field and site maintenance, service provisioning and optimisation," according to a report of Ericsson website.
This agreement is an extension to the contract signed earlier this year where Ericsson was chosen by Warid Telecom to supply and implement the complete core and backbone transmission equipment for its nationwide GSM/GPRS network.
Ericsson will now also manage Warid Telecom's radio network in the western part of the country, covering the areas of Rajshahi, Khulna, and Barisal.
Warid Telecom Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Muneer Farooqui said: "By having Ericsson to manage and operate our network, we are able to focus our resources on building our branding, sales and marketing activities, strengthening our customer services and developing more services that meet our subscribers' needs and expectations."
Ericsson South East Asia President Jan Signell said: "We are proud of being selected by Warid Telecom in this contract. We have enjoyed a fruitful managed services partnership with them in Pakistan, where Warid has exceeded its own expectation. We are committed to ensure that Warid Telecom repeats similar success in Bangladesh."
Under a three-year agreement signed with Telkomsel, Indonesia, Ericsson will deliver a 3G/WCDMA radio and core network, including HSPA, with deployment beginning immediately. The contract also includes three years of managed services with Ericsson providing a comprehensive services offering including establishing, operating and managing the operations of Telkomsel's 3G network.
Telkomsel is 65 per cent owned by PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk and 35 per cent by Singapore Telecommunications Ltd.
The GSM expansion contracts with China Mobile together worth $550 million were signed during the first half of 2006. They include projects in 17 regions of China.
Ericsson has already started deliveries of network equipment, which it claims will be able to support nearly 200 million subscribers across the 17 regions.
Under the contracts, Ericsson will provide China Mobile with core and radio networks, together with related technical support and services. It will also deploy its Mobile Softswitch Solution in the contracted regions.
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