Bharti Airtel has selected Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) to build and operate its forthcoming LTE network in Maharashtra, one of the country’s largest telecom circles.

The cellco in India will deploy its LTE network in the 2.3GHZ frequency band allocated by the Indian government for broadband wireless access technologies.

NSN will provide network design, integration, commissioning and optimisation services to the operator for rapid roll-out of the network and a full set of services including hardware, software and competence development services. It will use its Global Network Solutions Centre at Noida in India, which is already supporting TD-LTE networks globally, to remotely deliver services.

Ericsson and MTN Group announced the establishment of a strategic partnership to launch m-wallet services in Africa and the Middle East.  MTN will become the first operator to deploy Ericsson Converged Wallet platform, a new complementary service to the integrated prepaid charging system and mobile financial services solution for MTN consumers in those regions. 

The partnership between Ericsson and MTN supports the operator’s strategy to secure a flexible, reliable and efficient solution in the area of mobile financial services. As part of the co-operation, Ericsson will offer a prime integrator engagement model encompassing software, systems integration and managed operation services.

MTN has more than five million Mobile Money subscribers in 12 countries.

Ericsson Converged Wallet solution is built for high volume and secured transactions. It also delivers operational efficiencies by providing a single configuration tool and rating engine for all packages, prices, promotions, policies and notifications.

MTN will initially deploy the Ericsson Converged Wallet as a pilot in selected MTN operations during 2012, with a view to roll out the solution across all its operations in Africa and the Middle East.

The Angolan mobile network operator, Movicel has signed a contract with Huawei for the supply of a LTE network. Under the contract, Movicel will deploy a LTE FDD 1.8GHz network in the province Cabinda, the most productive crude oil region in Angola.

Movicel adopted an end-to-end SingleRAN convergent solution, including radio access network, core network, distributed base stations, and terminal devices.

The network is set to be commercialised by June.

Etisalat has confirmed its exit from the Indian mobile market; three weeks after the India’s Supreme Court cancelled its licence, and is taking legal action against its local Indian partner Swan Telecom.

"The decision of the Supreme Court… has removed [our] ability to operate [in India]," Etisalat said in a statement yesterday. "As unanimously resolved by the board this evening, Etisalat DB will be taking steps to reduce operating costs, including the suspension of its network and services.”

Etisalat’s 15 Indian licences were among the 122 permits revoked earlier this month after being issued four years earlier under controversial circumstances. The licences were originally acquired by Etisalat’s Indian partner Swan Telecom. Etisalat then paid US$900 million in 2008 for its stake in the operator, renaming it Etisalat DB.

Two weeks ago, the UAE telco booked an impairment charge on its 2011 financial statements of AED3.04 billion (US$827 million) relating to its Indian assets – and laid blame at its local partner’s feet. “The Supreme Court decision relates to events that occurred in January 2008, well before December 2008 when Etisalat invested in Swan. Etisalat has no knowledge of what occurred in the licence application process for Swan, far less did it have any involvement.” Etisalat confirmed today it was suing Swan Telecom “for fraud and misrepresentation.”

Etisalat did not rule out bidding for the cancelled licences again, but said it would decide on any future activity in India "when there is clarity on the auction process and telecommunications policy and greater legal and regulatory certainty and stability."

Etisalat DB had 1.7 million mobile subscribers at year-end 2011.

Among the other foreign investors affected by the licence cancellations, Bahrain’s Batelco has announced it is looking to sell its stake in S Tel, while Norway’s Telenor is in dispute with its local partner (Unitech) and is reportedly looking to set up a new Indian subsidiary.

Shares in Bharti Airtel Ltd fell as much as four per cent on today after South Econet Wireless said it is seeking at least US$3.1 billion in damages in a dispute over ownership of the leading Indian mobile carrier’s Nigerian unit.

Bharti said it had no notice or details of any action by Econet seeking damages, but termed claims "grossly untrue and misleading".

"… All such baseless claims are bound to be fully rejected. We have full faith in the Nigerian legal system," Bharti said in a statement February 22.

By 0447 GMT, Bharti shares, valued at about US$26 billion, were down 1.5 per cent at in a Mumbai market that was down 0.2 per cent.

Bharti paid US$9 billion in 2010 to buy mobile operations of Kuwait’s Zain in 15 African countries, including 65 per cent of the Nigerian unit to become the world’s fifth-largest mobile operator by subscribers.
A Nigerian court ruled on January 30 that Bharti’s ownership of the unit was "null and void" because co-founder and five per cent shareholder Econet had not been consulted on the transfer.

Econet claims its holding was unfairly cancelled when Zain took control in 2005. Bharti said the stake had not been cancelled but had been "set aside" since 2006 pending resolution of the on-going litigation.
Bharti previously said its stake in the Nigerian unit was "completely safe" and it had appealed against the Nigerian court verdict.

Bharti had also said at the time of the 2010 deal that it had "sufficient indemnities" in place in case of any problem with the transaction; meaning Zain Group would likely be the party to compensate Econet Wireless should the ruling stand.

Nigeria contributes about 9.5 per cent to Bharti’s consolidated operating profit.