Vodacom Tanzania and Nokia Siemens Networks Sign Managed Services Contract

By Rahul Arora

TMCnet Contributor

 

Vodacom Tanzania has signed a five-year managed services contract with Nokia Siemens Networks. Vodacom (News - Alert) Tanzania considers this as a great step toward improving its service quality.

 

Apart from managing, operating and maintaining Vodacom's network in eastern Africa, Nokia (News - Alert) Siemens Networks will also take care of its Network Management Center and operations across the radio, transmission and core networks. Moreover, by establishing 338 hybrid energy solution sites, Nokia Siemens (News - Alert) Networks will help Vodacom Tanzania enhance energy efficiency and reduce energy cost. Vodacom Tanzania employees also will transfer to Nokia Siemens Networks, according to the agreement.

 

"We are committed to providing a world-class customer experience," said Dietlof Mare, managing director of Vodacom Tanzania, in a press release. "We trust Nokia Siemens Networks (News - Alert) with one of our most vital assets, our network, to help us realize greater network and operational efficiency. The deal will help us consolidate our strong position in a highly competitive market."

 

"This agreement is a key milestone in our engagement with Vodacom and shows our strong commitment to operators in Africa," said Armando Almeida, head of Global Services for Nokia Siemens Networks, in a statement. "We will apply the experience we've gained in other emerging markets with our global best practice in network operations to help Vodacom achieve world-class network quality and operational efficiency. Our aim is to allow Vodacom to focus on its core business and deliver greater value to its shareholders."

 

"We look forward to integrating Vodacom Tanzania operations team into our global services team. We are excited about the synergies and opportunities that will be created as we begin to work together," added Almeida.

 

Vodacom Tanzania Limited is Tanzania's leading cellular network offering state-of-the-art GSM communication services to more than 9 million customers across the country. The company, along with GSMA Development Fund and Qualcomm (News - Alert), recently connected Internet cafes in three of the cities to its HSPA mobile broadband network, enabling locals to gain high-speed access to the vast repository of information on the World Wide Web.