14 DAY TRIAL // Ericsson announced it has signed a deal with Warid Telecom International to deliver mobile communications to more than 60 million people in Bangladesh. The four-year network expansion and managed services contract involves supplying, rolling out and operating the operator's GSM/GPRS network in the capital city, Dhaka, which has the highest number of mobile users in the country.
Earlier this year, Ericsson signed two contracts to supply and roll out all the Mobile Softswitch, packet core and backbone transmission equipment for Warid Telecom's GSM/GPRS network in other parts of Bangladesh. Under the new agreement, which is an extension to the earlier contracts, Ericsson is responsible for the design, rollout, operations, management and maintenance of Warid Telecom's network. The contract includes more than 600 sites.
"Our focus in Bangladesh is to ensure that we offer our customers a wide range of differentiating services that will add value to their lives, as well as redefining customer service in the country," said Bashir A Tahir, chief executive officer of Warid Telecom. "Ericsson has the knowledge and understanding of our requirements, as well as the local competence, to ensure that Warid is able to meet its commitment of bringing superior quality network and mobile communications to the people of Bangladesh."
"We are confident that, with our strong local presence and in-country technical and rollout expertise, as well as our strong capabilities in managed services, we will be able to meet Warid's aggressive timelines," stated Arun Bansal, country manager of Ericsson Bangladesh. "Ericsson is committed to ensuring that Warid exceeds its high expectations in Bangladesh, as it has in Pakistan. We look forward to being the partner of choice for Warid Telecom well into the future."