Bharti Airtel dials Nokia for 3G network rollout

NEW DELHI: Country's top telecom operator Bharti Airtel has selected Nokia Networks to roll out its 3G networks in five new telecom circles and network expansion in three existing circles.

Under the four-year contract, Nokia Networks will provide its radio elements and services expertise to power Bharti Airtel's infrastructure.

The deal will envisage network planning and optimization, network implementation, network operations, project management and care services, including hardware and software maintenance as well as competence development.

It would also include compact and energy-efficient Flexi Multiradio 10 Base Station, a software-defined radio platform complemented with Flexi Lite Base Station, a small all-in-one base station optimized for indoor and outdoor micro-cell deployments with superior capacity and coverage in densely crowded areas

"We are happy to further extend our long term association with Nokia Networks towards innovating our network's service delivery mechanism and deliver a host of multi-media apps as well as services for Airtel customers. We see this association underscoring Airtel's constant focus on building a world-class, next-generation smartphone network for its customers,” said Abhay Savargaonkar, Director of Network Services Group, Bharti Airtel.

"With this project, we have further strengthened Bharti's 3G proposition in eight business-critical circles in India including five new circles, adding yet another dimension to our collaboration which continues to gain momentum with such strategic engagements,” said Sandeep Girotra, Vice President and Head of India Market, Nokia Networks.

As per media reports, Bharti Airtel is investing about Rs 6,400 crore in this financial year to expand its pan-India 3G coverage, expanding the network in new and existing circles to deploy data spectrum purchased in March.

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