Smile Communications designates Ericsson to manage its 4G/LTE networks across operations

Under the terms of a five-year multi-country managed services agreement, Ericsson will manage Smile Communications 4G/LTE networks across all operations. The partnership is the first of its kind 4G/LTE managed services contract signed in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Smile communications under Smile group operates in countries across the continent; Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania and SouthAfrica. The communications company first launched 4G LTE broadband internet service in Tanzania, in March 2012 as Africa’s first 4G network.

Ericsson will provide a fully managed end-to-end service that includes network operations, performance, optimization, field support and maintenance for Smile’s LTE networks in Tanzania, Uganda, Nigeria and – later – in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Tom Allen, Group COO of Smile Communications said: “We regard Ericsson as more than a vendor, we are long term partners focused on delivering on the Smile promise to be the broadband provider of choice in Africa and to ensure that our customers fully benefit from the internet world”.

This managed services contract extends Ericsson’s relationship with Smile in Nigeria, where Ericsson is Smile’s sole vendor for 4G networks. The agreement also leverages Ericsson’s more than 15 years of experience in managing multi-vendor, multi-technology networks in Tanzania, Uganda and the DRC.

The partnership enables Smile Communications to focus even more on the core business of delivering products and services that cater to the needs of its subscribers, whilst at the same time improving operational cost efficiency.

Ericsson is present today in all high-traffic LTE markets including US, Japan, and South Korea, and is ranked first for handling the most global LTE traffic. Forty percent of the world’s mobile traffic is carried over Ericsson networks.

The contract extends Ericsson’s relationship with Smile in Nigeria, where Ericsson is Smile’s sole vendor for 4G networks.