NAIROBI: India's largest telecommunications company and Nokia Siemens Network announced on Thursday they had renewed their Africa contract, enabling the companies to push forward and maintain their current networks across Africa for another five years. Both companies, in a joint statement, said that Nokia Siemens would also help take over Indian networks and “manage the Sunil Mittal promoted telco's 2G and 3G networks in the regions of Bihar and Jharkhand; Kolkata; Gujarat; Maharashtra and Goa; Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh; Mumbai; Orissa and West Bengal, the company said. The deal size was not disclosed. ET had reported this deal in November 2011 while also adding that the contract would be worth upwards of $300 million.” Using its global service delivery model, NSN will also provide network optimization, operations and maintenance services remotely from its Global Network Solutions Center (GNSC) in Noida, the company added. The move was seen here in Nairobi by analysts as a sign that Airtel was serious in maintaining its solid presence in Africa as well as pushing forward on expansion plans. “It really solidifies Airtel's efforts in Africa and makes it a major player for many years to come,” former France Telecom manager in Kenya Jon Khalil told Bikyamasr.com. Like Khalil, others appear ready to keep Airtel on the map and said they expect to see a stock jump in the near future. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/HGTPs Tags: Airtel, Contract, Nokia, Siemens Section: Africa, Tech
