Bharti Airtel, which operates mobile networks in 16 African countries, has undertaken an end-to-end network transformation program with Ericsson.
The project, which Ericsson describes as the largest of its kind on the African continent, involves the upgrade and expansion of network elements on all of Airtel’s African operations, including switching, radio, network management, data, charging, and consumer-services platforms and systems. In addition, a full upgrade of the charging platforms across all operations was implemented introducing the latest version of Ericsson’s Charging System, enabling Airtel to offer subscribers new and innovative value-added services such as mobile wallets.
In 2011, Ericsson won a five year network management contract with Airtel.
Lars Lindén, head of Ericsson Sub-Saharan Africa, says, “In the transition to a Networked Society in Africa, operators are facing growing challenges in meeting the rapidly evolving demands of consumers. The focus of this project was transforming Airtel Africa’s networks to meet current and future consumer demands.”
