Deal will position VimpelCom to provide IoT, mobile entertainment and mobile financial services using Ericsson IT solutions
International telecom group VimpelCom signed a software partnership with Ericsson valued at more than $1 billion.
The partnership encompasses a complete overhaul of VimpelCom’s information technology infrastructure across 11 countries. The Netherlands-based telco plans to digitalize and globalize its business support systems infrastructure using Ericsson’s software and cloud technologies. The improved technology structure is said to enable VimpelCom to accelerate its digital innovation strategy, particularly in the areas of mobile entertainment, communication, the “internet of things” and mobile financial services.
“The new digital stack will help us better respond to our customers while also centralizing and simplifying our business, creating lean and agile operations that will result in a more efficient cost structure across our global footprint,” said VimpelCom CEO Jean-Yves Charlier.
The deal stipulates the management and operation of the new Digital BSS environment using a cloud-based digital support system architecture, with Ericsson’s Revenue Manager at its core.
“The pioneering Digital Stack technology will allow us to deliver new digital services that will be enabled by future networks, including 4G LTE and beyond,” added VimpelCom CTO Yogesh Malik.
VimpelCom counted approximately 200 million subscribers at the end of 2015, and operates in Russia, Italy, Algeria, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Georgia, Tajikistan, Laos and Zimbabwe.
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EE to allow rival telcos to access its LTE emergency network
In other EMEA news, U.K. mobile operator EE said it will allow rival telcos to access a state-subsidized network to support LTE technology for emergency services.
EE, which is now owned by BT, said it will provide access to more than 250 mobile sites after rival operators O2, 3UK and Vodafone complained EE’s new network will receive 500 million pounds ($709 million) in state financial support, the Financial Times reported.
EE is currently deploying the network infrastructure as part of a contract it had obtained last year. The new network infrastructure will connect the U.K.’s police, ambulance and fire services.