Telco aims to launch LTE services in the Democratic Republic of Congo in late 2015
African telecommunications operator Smile Communications has signed an agreement with Swedish infrastructure provider Ericsson that will see the European company provide 4G LTE managed services across all Smile’s operations in Africa.
Under the terms of the five-year multicountry managed services agreement, Ericsson will provide a fully managed end-to-end service that includes network operations, performance, optimization, field support and maintenance for Smile’s LTE networks in Tanzania, Uganda, Nigeria and – later – in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
This new contract extends the relationship between the companies as Ericsson is the sole provider for Smile Communications’ LTE networks.
“We are excited to be delivering this service to Smile as it further extends our partnership with the operator in the region. This partnership enables Smile Communications to focus even more on the core business of delivering superior products and services that cater to the needs of its subscribers, whilst at the same time improving operational efficiency,” Fredrik Jejdling, Ericsson president for the sub-Saharan Africa region, said.
Smile Communications has its headquarters in South Africa and currently operates LTE networks in Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda. In these three markets, the operator offers LTE services through spectrum in the 800 MHz band.
Smile Communications’ COO Tom Allen told RCR Wireless News that the managed services contract will be fully implemented by mid-August. The executive also said that the company is working to expand LTE coverage across its markets.
“4G coverage will match the 3G coverage of the current mobile operators in each of our operations by the first quarter of next year,” Allen said. “We are currently in an expansion phase [of the LTE networks] and construction will be complete by September this year. This will double our current coverage.”
The company is also planning to launch LTE services in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the coming months. Allen said that the construction of LTE infrastructure in this African nation will start in the third quarter and that its two main cities will have the service operational in the last quarter of 2015.
