Nokia Siemens Networks has announced that it has won Rs 300 crore contract from Aircel, to build and operate a greenfield GSM network in Kolkata. Its first contract from Aircel includes supply of GSM/EDGE equipment, implementation, project management and managed services, such as operating and maintaining the network infrastructure. Nokia Siemens Networks will deploy Flexi base stations, mini-ultra base stations, 3GPP-based mobile softswitching solution including MSC Servers and Media Gateways PDH, SDH, Nokia Siemens said in a statement.
The network will be supported by the multi-technology, multi-vendor NetAct network and service management system, and will be ready for commercial operations by December 2007.

Sandip Das, CEO, Maxis and Aircel director, said, "The Kolkata rollout completes our east/north-east geographic footprint, besides lending us its strategic commercial importance in the region."

Rohit Chandra, CEO north and east, Aircel, said, "Our partnership with Nokia Siemens Networks will provide us with the latest GSM technologies such as the multi-radio Flexi base station platform that will not only help us provide services today but will also makes our network ready for 3G and WIMAX services as and when the regulation permits."

"This contract is special as it is our first contract with Aircel," said Ashish Chowdhary, head India sub-region, Nokia Siemens Networks. "This will not only help them in achieving OPEX savings but also allow them to focus on their customers' acquisition and service strategies from the first day of commercial operations."

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