Ericsson Wins Managed Services Contract

Bangladesh's Warid Telecom has awarded Ericsson a managed services contract for its GSM/GPRS network. The contract covers the operation, management and maintenance of the core network, backbone transmission and real-time charging/Value Added Services (VAS). Ericsson will also manage Warid Telecom's Radio Network in the western part of the country, covering Rajshahi, Khulna, and Barisal areas.

Under the four-year managed services agreement, Ericsson will be fully responsible for the operations, management and maintenance of Warid Telecom's network upon completion, including commercial launch, network surveillance and assurance service, as well as field and site maintenance, service provisioning and optimization.

Muneer Farooqui, Chief Executive Officer of Warid Telecom International, Bangladesh Operations, says: "There is a huge addressable market for Warid Telecom to tap into in Bangladesh where currently the mobile penetration rate is less than 15%. We are excited with the possibilities of bringing mobile communication to more areas and making it accessible by more people in the country. Warid Telecom is aiming to make the mobile communication even more affordable for the masses of Bangladesh."

This agreement is an extension to the contract signed earlier this year where Ericsson was chosen by Warid Telecom to supply and implement the complete core and backbone transmission equipment for its nationwide GSM/GPRS network. The network deployment work is progressing as planned and it is expected to be completed, in time with Warid Telecom's launch plan."

Posted to the site on 18th August 2006