Bharti Airtel dials $150-m deal with IBM

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New Delhi, Jan 20 Bharti Airtel on Sunday announced it has signed a $150 million deal with IBM. Under the six-year deal, Bharti will outsource its IT functions in broadband, media and enterprise services to the global IT major. Bharti had already outsourced its IT functions for mobile operations to IBM in a deal about worth $1 billion.

As Bharti is readying to make its foray into DTH and IPTV services, IBM will implement IT systems that will enable the company to launch differentiated services in these areas. “With a thrust on these new areas, we are leapfrogging to the next level which will empower our customers to make informed choices and provide seamless access to a host of services,” said Jai Menon, director-IT and innovation, Bharti Airtel.

The company said IBM would transform the current IT platforms, which will simplify the use of services. This will enable and support channel transformation, which is essential for rural market penetration. IBM will also enhance the delivery of value added products and services to the prepaid segments.

“By bringing to its customers unified services across the entire spectrum of mobile, broadband and television, the company will lead the next wave of telecom revolution in the country,” said, Ramesh Awtaney, VP, communications sector, Asia-Pacific, IBM.

IBM will work with Bharti in areas such as least cost routing, geographic information system, auto discovery, auto provisioning and auto activation. These applications will help bring in enhanced efficiencies and cost savings, besides improving service delivery. The two will innovate technology and solutions to make the IT infrastructure world-class