14 DAY TRIAL // Nokia and Vodafone Australia have signed a USD 230 million, seven-year managed services agreement that includes engineering, operations and maintenance of Vodafone's HSDPA, 3G, GPRS and GSM networks.
As part of the arrangement, Nokia will be responsible for managing Vodafone Australia's ongoing network operations covering HSDPA, 3G, GSM and core networks infrastructure including the detailed design, engineering, optimization operations as well as network management, monitoring, fieldwork and maintenance services for the networks.
As part of the managed services agreement, Vodafone Australia will transfer related employees and contractors into the Services business unit of Nokia Networks.
"We are pleased to be helping Vodafone meet their competitive challenges," said Simon Beresford-Wylie, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Networks, Nokia. "The skills of the Vodafone team and the operational expertise of Nokia Networks, gained from running networks for many operators around the world, make a powerful combination and we look forward to a long and successful relationship."
The new deal extends Nokia's current WCDMA 3G network infrastructure relationship with Vodafone Australia. Nokia also provides the WCDMA 3G network for Vodafone New Zealand and is currently supporting the 3G broadband (HSDPA) rollout for Vodafone in Australia and New Zealand.