The deal aims to deliver improved quality of service and enhanced coverage for Orange UK’s 15.9 million mobile subscribers, while driving operational efficiency.
Nokia Siemens Networks is also finalising arrangements for a UK sub-contractor to provide first line maintenance services. As part of the mobile network operations outsourcing, close to 470 staff are planned to transfer from Orange UK with approximately 230 joining Nokia Siemens Networks and the remainder being transferred to a first line maintenance sub-contractor.
Pete Marsden, VP of IT & Networks for Orange, UK, stated: “Nokia Siemens Networks has a proven global expertise in managing large, multi-technology networks, and our partnership with the company is a win-win for all involved – Orange UK, our customers and our employees. Nokia Siemens Networks will provide our transferring employees with strong career paths within global organizations recognised as telecommunications industry leaders.”
In order to deliver the quality of service needed by Orange, Nokia Siemens Networks will take over responsibility for network operations. This includes the full range of 2G and 3G network operations including network planning and optimisation, spare parts management and providing turnkey network rollout services. Orange will continue to own and strategically plan its network.
Rajeev Suri, head of services at Nokia Siemens Networks, added: “This contract strengthens the close co-operation between Orange UK and Nokia Siemens Networks, building upon our long term partnership with France Telecom. It reiterates the value that managed services brings our customers, helping them run their business more effectively and efficiently and allowing them to focus on their end users. More specifically, it strengthens our leadership in the managed services domain, allowing us to provide our employees with opportunities across our growing customer base and portfolio.”
Nokia Siemens Networks has more than 200 managed services contracts in mobile and fixed networks globally, connecting more than 190 million subscribers on customer networks. Nokia Siemens Networks holds the number one or two position in managed services in most major markets: Latin America, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, the North East and West-South-Europe region.