NEC signs systems integrator deal with Telenor Group

NEC Corp. (NEC; TSE: 6701) says it has inked a global framework agreement to become an end-to-end, turnkey supplier of transport network technology for Norway-based Telenor Group. NEC has named Juniper Networks (NYSE:JNPR) and Infinera (NASDAQ:INFN) as supplier partners.

NEC says it will act as system integrator for Telenor Group's 13 telecommunications affiliates -- Telenor Norway, Telenor Sweden, Telenor Denmark, Telenor Hungary, Telenor Serbia, Telenor Montenegro, Telenor Bulgaria, DIGI Malaysia, dtac Thailand, Telenor Myanmar, Grameenphone Bangladesh, Uninor India, and Telenor Pakistan. The company will manage the delivery, installation, and commission of equipment covering a wide variety of technologies, including microwave, IP routers, and optical transport systems.

Juniper Networks will supply the IP routers, while Infinera will supply WDM systems. Exactly which systems these vendors will supply remains unknown. However, Transmode has supplied its TM-Series WDM gear to Telenor in the past (see, for example, "Telenor selects Transmode for metro core networks"). Infinera recently closed its acquisition of the Swedish-based company (see "Infinera looks to metro with Transmode buy").

NEC, which will supply the microwave gear, has had a long working relationship with Telenor. "Today's announcement further reinforces our 30-year plus relationship with Telenor that started when NEC provided satellite communications systems to the operator in the 1980s," said Takayuki Morita, executive vice president at NEC Corporation. "NEC, together with its partners Juniper Networks and Infinera, are fully committed to helping Telenor maintain its competitive edge through the provision of highly reliable, market-leading transport network solutions."

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