Ericsson takes 3G to Vodafone Fiji
October 4, 2005
Vodafone has chosen Ericsson's Mobile Softswitch to expand its
network in Fiji. Ericsson will also introduce the first 3G network
to the Pacific Ocean nation with a WCDMA upgrade.
Under the five-year agreement, Ericsson will also provide managed
services. Vodafone will invest USD 15 million to modernize its core
network and introduce a new 3G-radio network, including mobile softswitch.
The contract also includes turnkey project management and business
consulting. Network management and support services will be provided
by Ericsson's operations center in Australia, and include local
services capabilities in Fiji to support network operations and
effect local knowledge transfer. The business consulting services
will be focused on supporting Vodafone's 3G services launch. Ericsson's
mobile softswitch is the first step towards an all-IP network and
will upgrade Vodafone's network in the most cost-efficient way.
In combination with 3G/WCDMA, Vodafone Fiji will be able to launch
next-generation services that will be a huge bonus for both Fijians
and the many tourists who visit the islands every year.
Barry Borzillo, Managing Director for Ericsson Australia, New Zealand
& the Pacific Islands, says: "We are very proud to work with Vodafone
Fiji as they transition to the next-generation network and to 3G
services. Our offering captures the end-to-end perspective of the
service environment. It's about giving users the services they want
and making them easy to use."
Aslam Khan, CEO of Vodafone, Fiji, says: "Ericsson has proven itself
as the leader in this area. They will help us drive industry growth,
create new jobs and deliver better prices and new services to Fijian
consumers, and to visitors to Fiji who are roaming onto Vodafone's
3G network."
Khan says that while Vodafone Fiji is spending USD 15 million with
Ericsson, they will also invest further over the next five years
in upgrading its network to create a world-class experience for
its customers and potential investors to Fiji. This would include
the introduction of new services and extended coverage throughout
Fiji. Ericsson will deploy 3G/WCDMA coverage from mid-2006.
Ericsson was the first vendor to deploy softswitch solutions for
telephony networks and leads the industry with more than 50 fully
commercial networks. Today, Ericsson has more than 20 live, commercially
deployed mobile softswitch networks on all continents.
According to Vodafone Fiji, about 500,000 tourists visited Fiji
last year. Of these, 80 percent brought their mobile phone, with
90 percent of these roaming onto Vodafone Fiji's current network.
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