Ericsson had won a turnkey contract valued at USD 1.3 billion to supply GSM and WCDMA/HSPA equipment and related telecom services to Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL), the largest telecom operator in India and the sixth largest in the world.

Ericsson will be responsible for the expansion and upgrade of BSNL’s existing GSM network and introduction of WCDMA/HSPA functionality. This upgrade marks an important step in BSNL’s network evolution and sets the stage for end-customer access to a range of innovative telecommunications.

Ericsson will supply a GSM and WCDMA/HSPA radio access network, transmission equipment and a complete GSM/WCDMA common core network – including the Ericsson Mobile Softswitch Solution, service-aware Packet Core, IMS and a multiservice IP Packet Backbone Network. Ericsson will also deliver telecom-related services, such as network design, deployment and systems integration.

Deliveries will start in October 2007, with the first phase of the project set to be completed in 12 months.

“Upgrading our network will pave the way for a premium communications experience for our customers, and enable us to address new customer segments cost-efficiently,” said Kuldeep Goyal, Chairman and Managing Director of BSNL.

Ericsson has played a major role in spreading the cellular revolution in India. Having supplied 49 out of 96 operational GSM mobile networks in India, Ericsson today has a market share of about 40 percent in terms of connected subscribers.