Airtel teams up with NSN to expand in Africa

Indian operator Bharti Airtel will rely on Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) to expand, plan and operate its mobile networks in seven African countries as part of a deal struck between the two companies.

The operator, which provides services in 19 countries across Asia and Africa, has contracted NSN to expand its 2G (GSM/EDGE) networks and deploy 3G networks in the countries. NSN will manage end-to-end network operations, including planning, designing and implementing the 2G and 3G networks for Airtel.

The company will provide its energy-efficient Flexi Multiradio Base Stations to expand network coverage to under-served areas, including smaller towns and villages in  Madagascar, Malawi, Congo Brazzaville, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

“This partnership will further enable us to rapidly expand our network coverage and provide high-speed wireless internet connectivity to our customers,” said Manoj Kohli, CEO and joint managing director at Bharti Airtel.

NSN will use its FlexiHybrid microwave radio to address growing data traffic and provide the platform for a cost-effective transition to 3G, and potentially 4G networks in the future.

It will also provide its NetAct network management system for to enable network monitoring and management.

Financial details were not disclosed.