Nokia Siemens Networks wins Bharti Africa deal

NEW DELHI: Bharti Airtel has awarded Nokia Siemens Networks a contract to expand its 2G network and deploy and manage 3G services in Africa, a joint statement by the two companies said.

Nokia Siemens Networks will expand, plan and operate mobile networks and provide energy-efficient base stations for Airtel in seven African countries including Madagascar, Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Congo Brazzaville.

NSN will also provide technology for a transition to 3G and 4G networks in the future, the statement said. Bharti has been giving contracts to expand and upgrade its network in Africa, where it began operations last year after acquiring African operations of global telecoms major Zain for around $9 billion.

In July, Bharti signed a five-year deal with gearmaker Ericsson to modernise and upgrade Airtel's networks in Africa. It signed another two-year deal with Ericsson in the same month to provide technology consulting, network planning and design and network deployment. The financial details of both the deals were not announced. Bharti got licence to operate in Rwanda earlier this month.

Airtel offers mobile voice and data services, fixed line, high-speed broadband, IPTV, DTH and turnkey telecom solutions for enterprises, besides national and international long distance services to carriers.