Nokia Networks bags 12 deals in India during Jan-June 2014

Telecom gear maker Nokia Networks today said it has bagged 12 deals in India, including from a new operator, in the first half of the ongoing calendar year.   “Uncertainty in India is reducing and investments are gaining momentum. We are closing gap with the top player (telecom gear maker). 12 key deals with top operators thereby, defended our market share and widened portfolio,” Nokia Networks’ Vice President and Head of India Region, Sandeep Girotra said here.   Nokia Networks works with Bharti Airtel in eight out of 22 telecom circles in country, in 19 with Vodafone, about 6-7 circles with Idea, Tata Teleservices, MTNL, BSNL, Uninor, Videocon Telecom and Indian Railways.   Girotra said that the 12 deals were from existing customers as well as a new telecom operator.   Nokia Networks said that its major deals were primarily on 2G, 3G, Managed Services and upgrading of old telecom networks to modern internet protocol based networks.   “While telecom operators are enhancing coverage of 3G services, they are investing on upgradation of 2G networks which will help them in reducing operational expenses besides new technology also gives them opportunity to scale,” Girotra said.   The firm had won 9 deals in the same period last year.   “We signed WiFi deal with 2 top operators, signed security solution deal with a top operator and extended customer experience management deal with Airtel for its Manesar unit,” Girotra said.   Globally, Nokia Networks has witnessed growth only in its China and Asia Pacific markets in second quarter of current financial year ended June 2014. Business in India and Japan led to a 5 per cent growth in Nokia Networks’s Asia Pacific revenue.   PTI