Vodafone Planning Huge Indian Network Expansion
Vodafone is reported to be close to awarding a huge US$1.8 billion network contract to expand its network coverage at its recently acquired Indian subsidiary. The Economic Times newspaper reports that the contract will be split between Nokia-Siemens Networks, Ericsson and Motorola.
The newspaper reports that according to sources, Nokia Siemens Networks is likely to be the principal supplier of network electronics such as base tower stations (BTS), base station controllers (BSC) and transcoders in 12 out of Vodafone Essar's 16 existing circles. Motorola, in turn is slated to supply BTSs, BSCs and transcoders in the company's Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Punjab circles. As for mobile switching centres (MSC), Nokia Siemens will supply to almost all existing Vodafone Essar circles, with the exception of Mumbai metro circle where the MSCs will be supplied by Ericsson.
The newspaper also reported that while it had not confirmed the information - it understands that Vodafone Essar has also identified locations for setting up mobile towers in some of the new circles that it has an operating license through a subsidiary, Vodafone Essar Spacetel. That holding company has not currently been granted any radio spectrum though, so the plans are speculative at best.
Posted to the site on 20th August 2007
