Telkomsel Indonesia has chosen Ericsson to improve its nationwide network by deploying its MSS (Mobile Softswitch Solution) in order to increase the network's performance, coverage and capacity.

The Mobile Softswitch Solution of the Swedish company will offer a core network platform for both of Telkomsel's GSM and WCDMA technologies, diminishing the overall operating expenses. Moreover, Ericsson's solution will bring users improved voice-over-IP network services as well as the best-possible voice quality.

Including Ericsson's next-generation MSC Server Blade Cluster, the new solution provides a higher network capacity while at the same time requiring less energy (by up to 60%) and less operational space.

"We are pleased to extend our partnership with Ericsson in ensuring smooth migration of our network. This will enable us to secure network evolution while constantly maintaining service and quality, it also will extend Telkomsel's footprint to address the ever-increasing need for mobile communications", stated Mr. Muhammad Iswan, Vice President of Procurement & Logistics at Telkomsel.

Bengt Thornberg, President of Ericsson Indonesia, added: "We are proud to continue our longstanding relationship with Telkomsel and support its move towards an all-IP network, allowing the company to broaden its service offering and tap into new revenue streams."

This recently announced deal represents one of the most important softswitch network modernizations ever deployed in Asia Pacific.

Telkomsel is currently the largest mobile operator in Indonesia, serving almost 48 million customers, far ahead of Indosat (20 million subscribers) and Excelcomindo (16 million subscribers), the other two major Indonesian carriers.

Although there are about 70 million mobile users in Indonesia, the country's mobile penetration rate is only of around 30%, mainly because most of the people living in the country (more than 320 million) have low or even insufficient incomes. Anyway, together with an economic increase, the future will surely bring more Indonesians closer to mobile phones.