Bharti Airtel, India’s largest GSM mobile service provider geared up to expand and upgrade its 2.5G network in eight circles to increase the its present network capacity by 50%. The Airtel GSM network expansion contract is given to Global telecom equipment maker Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN). The NSN will cover the eight telecom circles named Mumbai, Maharashtra-Goa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh-Chattisgarh, Bihar-Jharkhand, Orissa, Kolkata and West Bengal.
According to the announcement by NSN, the network up-gradation work will ensure improvements in 2.5G network capacity and spectral efficiency and moreover the solutions will also ensure that its core 2.5G network to be 3G-ready and enables a smoother and faster up-gradation to 3G ecosystem in future thereby reducing the time-to-market for the operator.
The contract includes network planning, implementation and project management, handling of local logistics and materials as well as system integration for BTS (mobile towers). NSN announced that it will deploy its Flexi multi-mode radio base stations, packet core platforms and microwave solutions for the operator’s new and legacy networks
Bharti Airtel CEO Sanjay Kapoor said “Airtel continues to drive innovation and leadership in the telecom sector. This expansion will not only expand our networks deeper into the rural hinterland but will also allow us to deliver a rich end-user experience, and satisfy the increasing demand for top-quality services.”
