Bharti Airtel, the largest GSM-based cellular player, today extended its partnership with Nokia Siemens Networks by awarding a USD-900-mn contract for expansion of its mobile, fixed lines and next generation network.
There were also indications from the company that it may place a similar sized contract with Swedish telecom vendor Ericsson for mobile expansion, discussions for which are currently going on. This will be among the largest GSM expansion deals in India with the installation of an estimated 22,000 base station sites.
"Discussions with Ericsson are going on," Bharti Airtel President and CEO Manoj Kohli said here without divulging financial details.
Bharti has already announced a capex of 3.5 billion dollars for this fiscal to penetrate into the country.Under the contract, Nokia Siemens Networks will expand Airtel's GSM network in eight existing circles, long distance and international long distance network with 1.8 million Next Generation Network (NGN) ports and its international calling card prepaid service capacity by 4.5 million new users.
The MoU on the contract was signed between Manoj Kohli, and Simon Beresford Wylie, CEO of Nokia Siemens Networks.
Two years ago BSNL floated the world's largest mobile tender of 60 million lines valued at 4.5 billion dollars which is still stuck in delays. Ericsson was the lowest bidder followed by Nokia. BSNL has already lost its subscribers and market share due to the non-procurement of the equipment.
