Nokia Siemens Networks today announced that it has been awarded a pan Indiacontract from Bharti Airtel Limited for deployment of a single Interactive VoiceResponse (IVR) platform across all 23 circles. The three year turnkey and multi-millionEuro contract includes designing, planning, systems integration and optimizationservices to enhance overall customer experience. The new IVR solution will enableAirtel to deliver Services such as Voice SMS, Televoting, Call Management Services(Reach-me service / Missed Call Advisor), Caller Ring back Tone (CRBT) and VoicePortal among others on a faster time-to-market basis, reduce OPEX costs due tooptimized network utilization, and increase security by creation of a layeredarchitecture towards Interactive Voice applications.

Nokia Siemens Networks will deploy and integrate the latest state-of-the-art platforms toprovide a multi-technology, multi-vendor integrated solution that includes systems integrationservices. The platforms are HP OCMP (Open Call Management Platform), Video Gateway,Televoting Application and ASR/TTS (Automatic Speech Recognition / Text-to-Speech Engine. The solution will be ready for commercial operation by April 2008 and is expected toscale up to one billion minutes of usage per month in three years for Bharti Airtel.

“Our decision to select Nokia Siemens Networks as our partner in this program is based ontheir project delivery record,” said Manoj Kohli, President and CEO, Bharti Airtel Limited.“Their single IVR Solution and Voice Service Delivery Platform is based on a best-of-breedintegrated approach which will result in cost optimization and increased security, a keyprerequisite for building world class services.”

“This contract further strengthens Nokia Siemens Networks’ commitment to enable BhartiAirtel to continuously deliver new services and enhance its customers’ mobile experiences,”said Michael Kuehner, Head, Sub-region India, Nokia Siemens Networks. “Going forward,voice-based Services will be a key revenue generator and service differentiator in thecompetitive Indian market and Nokia Siemens Networks, with its strong product portfolio andextensive experience, is well positioned to address that need.”

Nokia Siemens Networks provides a comprehensive portfolio of VAS solutions including IPMultimedia Systems, Mobile TV, Intelligent Networks, Music Platforms and Call ControlServices. Nokia Siemens Networks is a strong player in value-added services with more than600 combined references worldwide, over 30 service delivery projects implemented, and 350service delivery platform customization and integration projects completed.