Ericsson-Reliance Communications tie up to expand India business

Reliance Communications has signed a seven-year full-scope managed services agreement with Ericsson to operate and manage their wireline and wireless networks across India. As part of the deal, Ericsson will also take over responsibility for the field maintenance, network operations and operational planning of Reliance Communications’ 2G, CDMA and 3G mobile networks.

Magnus Mandersson, executive VP and head of Business Unit Global Services, Ericsson, said, “We are excited to partner with Reliance Communications for this strategic multi-technology managed services deal. We have been managing their networks in north and west and are now pleased to extend this support to all 22 Circles.

Ericsson will streamline RCOM’s operations by bringing all aspects of fiber, mobile networks and wireline access networks to Reliance Communications’ wireless and Global Enterprise Business, across differentiated product lines.

Ericsson will be responsible for network operations, with the goal of increasing customer satisfaction and retention. Ericsson will also work closely with Reliance Communications to identify opportunities to introduce new services and expand its existing businesses to help realise the full potential of its network.

“The growing uptake in the use of new technologies requires an increased focus on customer experience management, and that will be our focus as we take on this mandate. This is the first pan-Indian managed services deal for Ericsson and will help us consolidate our managed services leadership in India,” added Mandersson.

The integration is effective as of December 1, 2014.

Reliance Communications’ infrastructure covers over 150,000 km of fiber, 2G/3G/CDMA mobile network, wireline access and enterprise network in 22 telecom circles, across India and includes 21,000 towns and 400,000 villages to which it offers converged services including voice, data and video.