Airtel Selects Ericsson, NSN & Huawei As 3G Network Partners

Bharti Airtel is gearing up to roll out its 3G services in India. The company has selected Ericsson India, Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) and Huawei Technologies as network partners to plan, design, deploy and maintain a 3G HSPA network in its 3G licence circles. Bharti Airtel recently won 13 of the 22 telecom zones on offer by paying the highest Rs 12,295.46 crore for 3G spectrum (radio waves).

Bharti Airtel said it has awarded majority of the 3G licence circles to Ericsson India. While Nokia Siemens would manage Bharti’s 3G network in three circles across India, Huawei Technologies, as the third partner, would offer 3G services in a few circles.

This is the third 3G gear deal in India for Chinese equipment vendor Huawei after it recently bagged contracts from Reliance Communications and Tata Teleservices Ltd (TTSL).

TTSL has acquired the spectrum for nine circles for rolling out 3G services. The contract to roll-out network in five circles has been given to Huawei, while it’s Nokia Siemens which would manage TTSL’s network for the other four circles.

Reliance Communications, on the other hand, has selected Huawei and ZTE to upgrade its mobile network for 3G services in 13 circles.

Chinese telecom equipment manufacturers have been allowed to import gear into the country after several months of virtual ban, suggesting a marked change in the mindset of the Indian security establishment. It also signals that the Government’s fears about Chinese telecoms gear posing a security threat to India are on the wane.