T-Mobile Netherlands has signed a four-year strategic-partnership contract with Ericsson, which follows T-Mobile's acquisition of Orange in the Netherlands, and will result in the continuation and expansion of existing contracts.

Under the contract, Ericsson will continue to manage end-to-end network operations for the former Orange network. Ericsson will also take on responsibility for streamlining T-Mobile Netherlands' overall network infrastructure by dismantling the former Orange mobile networks.

Ericsson will step up the expansion of T-Mobile Netherlands' WCDMA network, including the building and acquisition of more than 900 new sites by 2010. Ericsson will also deliver more than 2000 MINI-LINK microwave transmission units to help boost capacity and to enable the efficient handling of packet data in T-Mobile's transmission network.

Jan Kuijpers, Director of Technology for T-Mobile Netherlands, says: "We are pleased to continue and expand our partnership with Ericsson. This plays an important role in the further rollout and optimization of our network."

According to figures from the Mobile World database, T-Mobile is the smallest of the four networks in the country - having ended last September with around 15% of the market. It should be noted though that T-Mobile parent, Deutsche Telekom brought larger rival, Orange Netherlands last June - so the combined market share is estimated to be around 27% - pushing the company into the number 2 spot. KPN dominates the market with a market share of just over 50%.

 

Source:cellular-news