Batelco picks Ericsson to develop network

Batelco, the largest mobile phone operator in Bahrain, has picked Ericsson to expand and upgrade its network in its home market.
Under the deal, which was signed on May 5, Ericsson will increase the capacity of the 3G network so that it can handle an…

Batelco, the largest mobile phone operator in Bahrain, has picked Ericsson to expand and upgrade its network in its home market.

Under the deal, which was signed on May 5, Ericsson will increase the capacity of the 3G network so that it can handle an anticipated surge in the use of mobile broadband.

Ericsson will also prepare the network to support the emerging 4G radio standard, long-term evolution.

An Ericsson spokeswoman declined to say whether Ericsson had renewed an existing contract with Batelco, or whether it had replaced an incumbent infrastructure supplier.

She also declined to say whether Ericsson would work for Batelco’s two mobile phone operations outside Bahrain in Jordan and Yemen.

In Bahrain, Batelco competes with Kuwait’s Zain and – since 3 March – the local subsidiary of Saudi Telecom.