Nokia picks TCS for R&D support

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) today announced a partnership for joint R&D activities with Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) through a partial transfer of tasks at NSN's Development Centre in Dusseldorf, Germany, as well as the transfer of 90 employees to TCS.

The two companies have concluded a multi-million-euro agreement to transfer product engineering and R&D services as well as parts of the operations and business software (OBS) business unit activities from Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) to TCS.

With this agreement, both the companies will create a set-up, whereby TCS will provide global R&D services to NSN, one of the world's foremost global enablers of communication services, by leveraging its expertise in the telecommunications sector.

The transfer of R&D capabilities to business partners like TCS is a part of NSN's overall strategy to realise synergy savings, TCS informed the BSE.

In working towards its vision of five billion people connected by 2015, NSN puts innovation and R&D at the top of its agenda. Partnership with R&D providers like TCS enhances NSN's ability to deliver new, exciting and profitable services to its customers.

"The agreement with Nokia Siemens Networks reiterates TCS' capability to enhance customers' business by leveraging our superior R&D services and strong domain knowledge," said N Chandrasekaran, COO and executive director, TCS.

"The new regional delivery centre for telecommunications customers in Dusseldorf - where the transferred employees will work - is strategic to us, as Germany is a key European market."

As R&D partner for NSN, TCS will share its innovative approaches, global best practices and benchmark standards to ensure excellence. "The new regional delivery centre for telecommunications customers in Dus."