Warid Telecom Pvt Limited (Warid Telecom) has chosen Ericsson to build a green-field nation-wide GSM network in Pakistan. Under the Letter of Intent (LOI) signed between the two parties, Ericsson will provide a complete turnkey GSM solution comprising the supply of core, radio network equipment, professional services covering complete network design, rollout, managed services encompassing full network operations and maintenance.
According to the Chief Operating Officer of Warid Telecom, Hamid Farooq, the company's goal is to build a high quality and reliable network in the shortest possible time with a focus on quality, differentiated products and customer friendliness in an effort to provide Pakistanis with alternative solutions, better coverage, new innovative services and competitive prices in line with the PTA's vision.
"There is a lot of unmet demand in Pakistan, even in the voice-only market segments, as telecommunication penetration rates, both for fixed and mobile, are among the lowest in the world. With a current population of 140 million, the outlook for the future, too, is bright as we see today's basic mobile users as being potentially tomorrow's advanced users".
He added, "By having a leading international leader such as Ericsson as a partner, we are confident that we will deploy a cost-effective network that provides for scalable coverage, while at the same time is flexible and future-proof to accommodate future capacity expansions and next generation services.
We also want to capitalise on Ericsson's established technology leadership and experience in the evolution of GSM towards 3G, to ensure that we are able to quickly offer data centric services to relevant subscriber segments when the demand arises".
Mr Farooq also said that Ericsson's expertise in managed services will help Warid Telecom achieve operational efficiencies and allow it to focus on core activities such as sales & marketing and revenue-generating activities to address and maximise the market potential.
"Ericsson is honoured to be chosen by Warid to provide our leading-edge solutions and managed services for the establishment of its GSM network to meet the communications needs of Pakistan", said Zibber Mohiuddin, President & CEO of Ericsson Pakistan.
"We believe we will be a strong partner to Warid Telecom's goal to be the leading private telecommunications company in Pakistan. We are committed to provide rapid mass deployment which can be ready for launch during the first half of 2005.
Our high volume production, backed by a strong existing global and regional support, will ensure that delivery and rollout are expedited to guarantee Warid Telecom the shortest time-to-market", he added.
"As a pioneer of mobile communications in Pakistan our long established local presence will also augur well for the partnership. Our recognised network of contractors and deep understanding of the country's procedures will enable Warid Telecom to stay on track with its aggressive rollout plans", he added.
Warid Telecom is owned by The Abu Dhabi Group which is led by His Highness Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al-Nahayan. Abu Dhabi Group apart from having a substantial share holding in Bank Alfalah and United Bank Limited has also other investments internationally in the Telecommunications, Financial Institutions, Hospitality & Property, Oil Exploration Supplies and Automobile Industries.
Ericsson is the world's leading GSM supplier, with approximately 40 per cent market share. Ericsson has been instrumental in the creation, development, standardisation, deployment and growth of GSM, the world's most widely deployed mobile standard. Its portfolio of base stations is built for cost-effective implementation and operation, including common platforms, common OSS systems and scalable radio and core network solutions.
Ericsson's WCDMA leadership builds on its GSM strength, and share a common core network, service network and mediation and network management systems. This allows its GSM customers to deploy WCDMA equipment more quickly and less expensively.
Ericsson's Managed Services offering ranges from building, operating and managing day-to-day operations of a customer's network, to hosting service applications and enablers, as well as providing network coverage and capacity on demand. Ericsson has signed 18 major managed services contracts since 2002 and has a proven track record in managing complex multi-technology systems.
Ericsson is shaping the future of Mobile and Broadband Internet communications through its continuous technology leadership. Providing innovative solutions in more than 140 countries, Ericsson is helping to create the most powerful communication companies in the world.
Ericsson Pakistan has been supporting the telecommunications industry of Pakistan for more than 40 years. Its long-term commitment to the country is underscored by a strong base of highly skilled employees, a number which is expected to grow significantly as a result of the partnership with Warid Telecom.-PR