Bharti Airtel has selected Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) as its managed services partner in eight circles, namely Bihar and Jharkhand; Kolkata; Gujarat; Maharashtra and Goa; Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh; Mumbai; Orissa and West Bengal.

Under this five-year managed services contract, NSN will manage and maintain the operator’s 3G, GSM and iWAN, the operator’s enterprise broadband service. This partnership is expected to help Bharti Airtel achieve better network efficiency, simplify operations and deliver better quality services.

Using its global service delivery model, NSN will also provide network optimisation, operations and maintenance services remotely from its Noida-based Global Network Solutions Center (GNSC).

Commenting on this development, Sanjay Kapoor, CEO, India and South Asia, Bharti Airtel said, “India started its journey of transformation from voice to data with the deployment of 3G. The data story in the country has just begun and we will witness increasing complexity due to multiplicity of network layers specifically when serving data. It is imperative for any service provider to have a complete end-to-end view to manage voice and data services. This initiative is in line with our strategy to create ubiquitous networks for offering enriched customer experience. Nokia Siemens Networks has been our long standing managed services partner and we are happy to continue our association further.”