Airtel and ZTE Win Best Cost Efficiency Initiative at AfricaCom Awards

Airtel and ZTE Win Best Cost Efficiency Initiative at AfricaCom Awards

16 November 2012, Shenzhen, China / Nairobi, Kenya – ZTE Corporation, a global provider of telecommunications equipment, network solutions and mobile devices and Bharti Airtel (“Airtel”), a leading telecommunications services provider with operations in 20 countries across Asia and Africa, today announced that they have won the Best Cost Efficiency Initiative Award at the Africa Com Awards held in Cape Town, South Africa for their Hybrid Power Solution.

ZTE’s Solar+DG Hybrid Power Solution is a green energy solution specially designed for Bharti Airtel Africa base station sites. The solution significantly reduces the use of Diesel Generators by almost 80%. It efficiently utilizes solar power alongside existing diesel therefore optimizing initial investment on CAPEX. Compared with traditional hybrid solutions, this new hybrid solution enhances the consistency of power supply of the sites and provides Airtel with a flexible investment strategy. It especially reduces carbon emission in addition to OPEX savings. By going green with ZTE’s solution, Airtel benefits from the perfect balance between Operating Expense Saving and Capital Expenditure whilst greatly contributing to environmental protection.

Amitabh Prasad, Airtel’s Director of Supply Chain Management in Africa said “Airtel is committed to making telecom affordable across Africa on a sustainable basis. ZTE did a great job in implementing the Solar Hybrid solution. We have started to reap benefits from our investment both in terms of fuel savings and environment protection, which is a real win-win for all of us.”

“We are honored to receive this award; it consolidated ZTE’s achievements in the telecom sectors,” said ZTE SVP Mr. Wang Jiaran. “ZTE has established the foundation and partnership with Bharti Airtel Africa and we will continue to bring valuable products and services to our African customers”.

About ZTE

ZTE is a publicly-listed global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions with the most comprehensive product range covering virtually every telecommunications sector, including wireless, access & bearer, VAS, terminals and professional services. The company delivers innovative, custom-made products and services to over 500 operators in more than 140 countries, helping them to meet the changing needs of their customers while growing revenue. In 2011, ZTE’s revenue increased by 29 per cent to USD13.7 billion. Its overseas operating revenue grew 30 per cent to USD 7.4 billion during the period, accounting for 54.2 per cent of overall operating revenue. ZTE commits 10 per cent of its annual revenue to research and development and has leadership roles in several international bodies devoted to developing telecommunications industry standards. ZTE is committed to corporate social responsibility and is a member of the UN Global Compact. The company is China’s only listed telecom manufacturer that is publicly traded on both the Hong Kong and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges (H share stock code: 0763.HK / A share stock code: 000063.SZ). For more information, please visit www.zte.com.cn.

About Bharti Airtel

Bharti Airtel Limited is a leading global telecommunications company with operations in 20 countries across Asia and Africa. Headquartered in New Delhi, India, the company ranks amongst the top 4 mobile service providers globally in terms of subscribers. In India, the company’s product offerings include 2G, 3G and 4G wireless services, mobile commerce, fixed line services, high speed DSL broadband, IPTV, DTH, enterprise services including national & international long distance services to carriers. In the rest of the geographies, it offers 2G, 3G wireless services and mobile commerce. Bharti Airtel had over 259 million customers across its operations at the end of September 2012. To know more please visit, www.airtel.com