The deal includes deployment and integration of 5G hardware into Telenet’s mobile network
Telenet expands its managed services partnership with Ericsson. (Credit: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
Belgian communications service provider Telenet has expanded its managed services partnership with Ericsson for the rollout of 5G network in the country.
Under the five-year deal, the Swedish networking company will be responsible for planning, design, operations and optimisation of the network.
It will also include deployment and integration of 5G hardware into Telenet’s mobile network.
To enhance its mobile network performance, Telenet will deploy Ericsson Operations Engine in 2022. The solution consists of the latest in AI and automation to enable service providers to manage the network to improve customer experience.
As part of the expanded deal, Ericsson will also offer network optimisation services, combining multi-vendor networks expertise with the latest AI-enabled Cognitive Software suite.
The solution is expected to enable Telenet to gain an enhanced return from its deployed network assets, apart from improving customer experiences.
Ericsson Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Algeria and Tunisia head Franck Bouétard said: “Prolonging and expanding our managed services contract is the recognition of our operational performance as Telenet’s trusted partner and is complementing our 5G RAN contract.
“As Belgium is continuing its shift toward 5G, we are honoured to extend our partnership with a key actor such as Telenet to deliver leading 5G services to Belgian consumers.”
Ericsson is expected to employ 15 of Telenet’s mobile network experts, as part of the deal.
In a network modernisation deal that was announced in March this year, the Belgian company has chosen Ericsson as a 5G radio access network (RAN) vendor.
The deal involved full modernisation of Telenet’s existing RAN (2G/3G/4G) with Ericsson Radio System products and solutions.
Consisting of a Massive MIMO portfolio, the 5G RAN technology offered by Ericsson is said to provide a range of antenna-integrated radios for maximum 5G experience and capacity, both in urban and rural settings.
Recently, Russia’s mobile operator Mobile TeleSystems has partnered with Ericsson for the deployment of a 5G-ready private network.
The private network will be deployed for the iron ore mining and processing plant Karelsky Okatysh, which is part of the steel and mining company Severstal.