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Business Reporter
ECONET Wireless Zimbabwe has partnered Ericsson as the sole supplier for its core network and existing radio access network in an upgrade that will give the mobile phone company more capacity to manage and scale up its network. The upgrade will also result in Econet acquiring latest systems and technologies in the business.

The agreement includes a complete multi-access Evolved Packet Core with Evolved Packet Gateway on SSR 8020, SGSN-MME and service-aware policy controller as well as mobile switching centre and media gateway.

It also includes close integration between policy and charging functions, which will enable Econet to reduce time-to-market for new offerings and increased personalisation capabilities.

In the Harare area, which currently carries more than half of all traffic on the network, the project will also upgrade the RAN to include Ericsson’s multi-standard RBS 6 000 family of base stations for macro and small cell networks.

This collaboration will allow Econet’s subscribers faster and more reliable mobile services and reduce time-to-market for new attractive services.

“We have chosen our trusted long-term partner Ericsson to accompany us on this journey and look forward to the ability to launch new products and quality services to our customers,” Mr Bernard Fernandes, Econet group CTO said.

The deal will see the companies working together to simplify and upgrade the existing 2G/3G/4G/LTE networks, future proofing it for the rapid mobile expansion in the country.

“Econet is the market leader in Zimbabwe and this project will give them one of the most advanced core networks on the continent, providing them far more capacity to manage and scale their network,” said Ericsson Country Manager for Zimbabwe Mr Pieter Goosen.

The NASDAQ-listed company confirmed yesterday that it had been selected as the sole supplier by Zimbabwe’s largest provider of telecommunications services, Econet Wireless Zimbabwe.

The new scope will rationalise and upgrade the core network as well as introduce the latest Ericsson network architecture.

Econet has more than 9,2 million registered subscribers and offers solutions in mobile wireless, internet access and charging solutions as well as overlay services such as Ecofarmer, EcoCash and HPS.