Nokia to shift telecom network services base to Chennai

The Finland-based global telecommunications major Nokia, which on Monday announced the merger of its telecom infrastructure business with Siemens , is shifting its global telecom network management services business to India.

Effective July Nokia's managed services business will be led globally from India. The move underscores Nokia's commitment to tap global services market growth, as well as India's outsourcing environment.

Nokia's first Global Networks Solutions Center (GNSC) in Chennai, which started operations recently, will eventually serve as the hub for other Nokia operationscentres around the world. Nokia had announced the setting up of the centre in May this year.

The Chennai GNSC offers a wide variety of services, including remote care, remote integration, consulting, planning and optimisation. Nokia currently runs the telecom networks of service providers from remote locations. These will be led globally from India from July this year. The current head of India network operations will be designated as the global head of managed services by the end of this year.

India will play a major role in the scheme of things for Nokia`s managed services, not only as a large target market but also as the main delivery point.

With the extension of the managed service contract with India's Hutchison Essar, announced today, Nokia's Chennai GNSC will see it eventually running 19 of the operator's 23 circles. This contract extention of 10 additional circles builds on the initial nine-circle five-year contract awarded by Hutchison Essar to Nokia earlier this year.

This expansion contract will further strengthen Nokia's position as the leading managed services provider globally. In India too, Nokia has emerged as the leader in managed services providing services in 27 circles.