Ericsson and Du sign a three-year managed services agreement

Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) and United Arab Emirates-based operator du, have signed a three-year managed services agreement which will enable du to continue develop operational efficiency of nationwide GSM/WCDMA network operations.

The partnership provides du with a long-term sustainable operating model, reducing its operational expenses and enabling the operator to focus further on providing attractive new services to its subscribers. The network operations agreement also guarantees the performance and quality of du’s multi-vendor network.

Hatem Bamatraf, Senior Vice President, Network Development, du, says, “We are committed to continuously develop and use our network at the optimum level. Our partnership with Ericsson is a positive step in realization of this objective. With Ericsson’s experience in managed services, we can bring new mobile telecommunications services to the UAE market more efficiently than ever.”

Valter D'Avino, Vice President and Head of Managed Services, Ericsson, says that the deal confirms Ericsson's position as the industry leader in managed services and underscores a shift toward managed services in the region.

“Managed services have become a key to the success of operators in the Middle East, as well as in the wider industry,” D’Avino says. “With Ericsson running network operations, du can devote even more attention to providing its customers with the latest mobile services with excellent network quality.”

October 29,2009