Airtel ties up with Nokia to provide network services and equipment

Nokia Oyj said on Tuesday it has won a multi-year deal with India’s third-largest telecom firm Bharti Airtel Ltd[BRTI.NS] to provide equipment and services.

“This is an important agreement for the future of connectivity in one of the world’s largest telecoms markets and solidifies our position in India,” Nokia Chief Executive Officer Rajeev Suri said in a statement to Reuters.

Nokia said the Indian firm’s rollout, which will also lay the foundation for providing 5G connectivity in the future, will see some 300,000 radio network units deployed across nine circles in India, but did not give any financial details of the deal.

However, industry analysts said this kind of deal could be valued at around $1 billion.

Nokia said the deal includes Nokia’s Single Radio Access Network solution, AirScale Radio Access, Baseband, related Services, and it will be completed by 2022.

In February, Nokia said customer demand could weaken and risk could increase further in India after the country’s Supreme Court upheld a ruling that telecoms companies must pay retroactive license and spectrum fees.

India’s telecoms department has been seeking carriers to pay 920 billion rupees ($12.1 billion) in overdue levies and interest. Vodafone Idea Ltd and Bharti Airtel, two of India’s top three carriers, have been in the center of the row.