14 DAY TRIAL // Ericsson and Warid Telecommunications Limited, one of the dominant mobile operators in Pakistan and and Bangladesh, announced the singing of a three-year managed services agreement. The agreement represents Ericsson's first multi-vendor deal in Pakistan and will strengthen the existing cooperation between the Swedish company and Warid Telecom.
This contract is an extension of an already existing agreement, under which Ericsson manages Warid Telecom's GSM/GPRS network in Pakistan. As part of the new contract, Ericsson will provide various new services to Warid and some Warid employees will be transferred to Ericsson. The agreement implies integral network operations, including network optimization and field operations to guarantee the highest quality of the network.
"The new agreement with Warid Telecom demonstrates our commitment to cultivating long-term, strategic relationships with a view to creating competitive advantages for our customers", said Hans Vestberg, Ericsson Vice President and Head of Global Services.
Warid Telecom's operations will be optimized and its ability to evolve and broaden its business will be enhanced. Ericsson will invest in resources, processes and tools and will have the opportunity to develop a longer term perspective of the network's administered services requirements.
Bashir Tahir, Chief Executive Officer of Warid Telecom International, declared: "With Ericsson taking care of the network operations, we are able to focus on bringing high-quality mobile communications services to all Pakistanis and cementing our position in the market."
Marwan Zawaydeh, Executive Board Member and Group Chief Technical Officer of Warid Telecom, said: "We need a reliable partner to quickly design, implement, integrate and manage our network in the markets we enter. Ericsson is able to meet our aggressive timelines and expectations, which makes it a valuable partner."
Warid Telecom and Ericsson have a strategic partnership since 2004, which allowed Ericsson to build and manage Warid's GSM/GPRS networks in Pakistan and Bangladesh.