Ericsson, Aircel partner for 3G/HSPA roll out

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Telecom operator Aircel has signed a deal with Ericsson to roll its 3G/HSPA network across six out of its 13 circles in the country. 

The framework contract will be implemented from 2010 to 2012. The six Aircel circles where Ericsson will be rolling out 3G network are: Tamil Nadu, Bihar; Orissa; Jammu Kashmir; North East; and Assam.

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The company claims that Ericsson will be its largest partner for 3G implementation.

Sandip Das, CEO, Maxis says, said: "Ericsson and Maxis, have a long history of infrastructure partnership starting up from 2G through to 3G and possibly future technologies, across our subsidiaries and allied companies operating in Malaysia, India, Indonesia and Sri Lanka."

Hans Vestberg, president & CEO, Ericsson, said: "Maxis group and Aircel is a preferred partner for us. We greatly value our strategic association and the India 3G agreement further reinforces this partnership".

Gurdeep Singh, COO, Aircel says: “For many people in India connected for the first time, 3G mobile broadband will bring completely new types of services and benefits. We are confident that with this partnership, we will benefit from Ericsson’s global expertise of 3G deployments, and will be able to offer our customers a world-class 3G experience.

Under the agreement with Aircel, Ericsson will provide core, radio and transmission network equipment as well as related services such as network rollout, network technology and consulting, radio network optimization and support services.

The mobile broadband network will include the latest multi-standard radio base station, RBS6000, and the MSC Server Blade Cluster, which will drastically boost the capacity of the network and evolve it into an IP network.