­Mobile Broadband Network Limited (MBNL), the 50:50 joint venture formed by Hutchison 3G UK (3UK) and T-Mobile UK to manage the integration of both operators' 3G radio access networks (RAN), has awarded Ericsson a four-year managed services contract for the operation and maintenance of the consolidated network.

T-Mobile and 3 formed their infrastructure sharing agreement in January 2008 - with network integration and upgrades expected to be completed in 2010.

Under the terms of the agreement, Ericsson has responsibility for the operation and performance management of both parent companies' 3G networks and T-Mobile's 2G RAN infrastructure. The four-year contract will enable MBNL to control operational expenses and deliver high service levels at a time when the 3G network consolidation is moving into the mass deployment phase.

The first integrated cell site was commissioned in early February 2008. Since then MBNL has concluded a pilot in the Leeds and Bradford area which successfully validated the network sharing technology and is now engaged in consolidating the radio access networks across the UK.

Around 80 employees from T-Mobile have been transferred to Ericsson. In the UK, Ericsson holds separate managed services contracts with T-Mobile and 3. T-Mobile and 3 are both global Ericsson customers.

The contract with Ericsson is the latest of a number of key supplier agreements awarded by MBNL in recent months for the provision of 3G radio network infrastructure and a five-year managed service contract for the supply of high-speed Ethernet connections to 7,500 cell sites.

Source:cellular-news