14 DAY TRIAL // Ericsson announced it has signed a five-year contract with T-Mobile UK, part of Deutsche Telekom, to modernize the T-Mobile UK network and also provide managed services to the mobile operator. The strategic agreement includes modernization of T-Mobile's infrastructure, field operations and multi-vendor spare parts management.
The five-year contract, that came into effect on the 1st of December 2007, will enable T-Mobile UK to lower operational expenses while maintaining the same high quality levels, strengthen the company's platform for growth and improve the customer experience. Ericsson will contribute with its managed service capabilities, which are already in use in UK. About 190 staff members from T-Mobile will join Ericsson's team, to further enhance its service organization.
"Ericsson are a long-term and trusted partner and we are very pleased to extend this relationship. This is an important step in the evolution of our network strategy which underpins T-Mobile's commitment to provide a superior service experience for our 17 million customers in the UK," stated Emin G?rdenli, Networks Director, T-Mobile UK.
"We are very proud to be entrusted with the responsibility for the evolution and continuing field operations of the T-Mobile UK network. This further strengthens our partnership and creates a platform for extended collaboration and future benefits," said Jacqueline Hey, Managing Director, Ericsson UK.
The new contract strengthens the relationship between Ericsson and T-Mobile, Ericsson already being T-Mobile UK's 3G core transformation partner. The partnership between T-Mobile and Ericsson is not limited to the UK, Ericsson supporting the mobile operator's network operations in other countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Czech Republic and the US.
The contract is the second managed services contract Ericsson has concluded with a Deutsche Telekom company this year. It follows a contract for the operation and maintenance of Deutsche Telekom's microwave network in Germany announced in August this year.