Uninor, Huawei join hands for network modernisation

Norway-based Telenor Group's India unit, Uninor, has signed a Rs.1,200 crore contract with Huawei India to modernise its 24,000 base stations across the country, an official said on Wednesday.

"This partnership will help in making our network future ready and help address issues like call drops," Vivek Sood, chief executive officer, Telewings Communications Services (Uninor) said.

"With this ambitious drive, we will be able to offer any advanced internet service to our customers and provide a superior experience both on voice and internet," Sood said.

He said upgradation of network will help in the most efficient usage of spectrum.

The project will be spread over a period of three years and aims to modernise Uninor's existing network with Huawei's new architecture, platforms and equipment.

Under this contract, Uninor will also benefit from Huawei's 'managed services' delivery system integrating multi-vendors that includes swapping of existing network with new and modern equipment, planning and optimisation, maintenance services and customer experience management.

"This project will help us reduce energy consumption by 30 percent. It will help in much better indoor coverage," Sood said.

Uninor has 49 million customers in India and is present in six circles.

Last year, Uninor expanded its network coverage by 30 percent and added 5,000 sites across its six operational circles taking its network coverage to 24,000 sites.

Sood mentioned that the company will be launching its commercial operation in Assam soon and it is waiting for some regulatory clearances.

"In this project we will modernise 24,000 sites for Uninor. This will provide superior voice and data quality, lower power consumption and better spectral efficiency," Baker Zhou, vice president, Huawei said.

Sood mentioned that with this initiative, Uninor prepares for future to offer advanced internet services to the mass market customers.