VimpelCom, Ericsson Sign 5-year Agreement

VimpelCom

subscribers in Siberia and the Urals to enjoy improved network quality and end-user experience More than 400 VimpelCom employees to join Ericsson in the company's first major managed services contract in Russia Contract covers management of both fixed and mobile networks, including more than 10,000 base stations in 41 cities and more than 10,000km of optical transport cables VimpelCom, one of the world's 10 largest integrated telecommunications services operators, has signed a managed services contract with Ericsson

. Under the five year agreement, Ericsson will manage network operations on VimpelCom's behalf at more than 10,000 sites, as well as overseeing more than 10,000km of optical transport cables and an extensive fixed network across Siberia and the Urals in Russia. Ericsson will be responsible for network operations and field maintenance for active and passive network components, for the operator's mobile, fixed and transport networks. As part of the agreement over 400 VimpelCom employees spread over 41 locations across Siberia and the Urals will be transferred to Ericsson in April. "This agreement meets VimpelCom's long-term plans in strategic programs to increase operating efficiency. The transfer of network maintenance