By Tony Hallett, 13 November 2003 12:20
NEWS Austrian mobile operator ONE has signed a seven-year €472m contract with Alcatel for the management, operation and maintenance of its network.
The deal will kick in at the start of next year and, according to Alcatel chairman and CEO Serge Tchuruk, shows the French company can play the role of strategic partner as well as equipment supplier.
The move comes as ONE evolves its GSM network and builds out 3G infrastructure. Alcatel has stressed its work will not be affected by the origin of equipment ONE buys.
The network operator said it will now be able to concentrate more on "new customer-oriented services".
Around 200 staff will transfer from ONE to Alcatel as part of the arrangement.
Alcatel has this year also inked a network management contract with Telecom New Zealand and claims to be leading the trend towards this type of outsourcing in the sector.
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