Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) today announced that it has bagged an order from Idea Cellular towards upgrading the VAS network across the 22 circles in the country enabling subscribers of Idea to enjoy multimedia messaging, email, web browsing, online music and other innovative mobile-based value added services.

NSN will make use of its GPRS (general packet radio service) technology and Unified Charging Solution (UCS evolve) with the GPRS capability in 10 circles being added and expanding GPRS capability in the other 12 areas. The 10 circles where the GPRS facility will be added are Mumbai, Orissa, Tamil Nadu including Chennai, Kolkata & West Bengal, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Punjab, Assam & North East. The circles where existing GPRS facility will be expanded are Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh East, Uttar Pradesh West, Haryana, Kerala, Bihar, Maharashtra and Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat.

“The value added services market in India holds tremendous potential. The greater opportunity lies in data services, and in expanding our capabilities and service portfolio in this area. The right technology foundation is fundamental to our success, and it needs to include not just a method of delivering services, but of monetizing them effectively. Nokia Siemens Networks has strong credentials in this field and has played an important role in the development of our technology strategy for data services,” said Anil Tandan, Chief Technology Officer, IDEA Cellular.

NSN further said that it has designed a charging solution enabling Idea to use a single system across the locations for real time charging of new services for prepaid as well as postpaid subscribers.

Michael Kuehner, Country Head, Nokia Siemens Networks, said, “Customer lifecycle management entails building a flexible ecosystem of multiple partners that can develop innovative applications and content quickly, and at the right price points. The volumes and complexity are high, which makes billing and charging of these services difficult. As its technology partner, we are confident that our solution will not only help IDEA Cellular build new revenue streams but also deliver greater quality of service.”