VimpelCom Awards 5-year Managed Services Deal to Ericsson

VimpelCom awarded a five year managed services contract to Ericsson covering 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. Over 400 VimpelCom employees spread over 41 locations across Siberia and the Urals will be transferred to Ericsson in April.

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.

"This agreement meets VimpelCom's long-term plans in strategic programs to increase operating efficiency. The transfer of network maintenance and support to Ericsson will allow us to more effectively optimize costs and network management. Similar projects have already become standard practice in the world, and we are actively supporting this trend, as we see the effectiveness of this model with examples of global operators. We are confident that the knowledge and experience of Ericsson in the extended network service and support, will allow us to maximize our focus on business development, improve the quality of services for our customers and provide additional quality services"- said Anton Kudryashov, General Director of Joint Stock Company" VimpelCom."

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