NSN sheds broadband access unit

Nokia-Siemens Networks (NSN) has announced that it is selling its broadband access unit to US firm Adtran, as it continues with a major restructuring project. The infrastructure vendor has already sold its WiMAX unit to infrastructure player NewNet Communication Technologies and its microwave business to DragonWave.

NSN is now looking to sell off its fixed line VoIP, carrier Ethernet, narrowband, business support systems and communications and entertainment solutions units, but will maintain the units if a suitable buyer doesn’t come along.

The Adtran deal will see 400 of NSN’s staff transfer to the US firm, and is expected to close by the end of April 2012. The staff reduction is in addition to the 300 staff that will move to NewNet and the 360 employees transferring to DragonWave, all of which are in addition to the 17,000 staff reduction announced in November, taking the total number of staff reductions announced so far past 18,000.

Such upheaval might be expected to cause concern among NSN’s customer base, but a spokesperson told Telecoms.com that the firm’s customers have been buoyed by the news. She said they have acknowledged that the move will make the firm a more attractive proposition as a supplier, as it aims to focus on improving the quality of the mobile broadband and customer experience solutions it offers, rather than simply looking out for its own financial motives.

“We want to focus on improving quality. With this new strategy, there will be more focus on quality and on customers, so that we can provide solutions to customers that they need and are so good, right from the beginning, that there are never any issues with them,” she said.

“When we’ve briefed our customers about this, their reaction has been very positive to us taking this kind of focus and of course we are working closely with them to make sure we do provide the sort of solutions that they need. They’ve been positive about this change because maybe they understand that in order to provide the best quality and the solutions for them, we are working closely together with them rather than focusing on money or resources.”