Ericsson will also provide its Mobile Softswitch Solution to provide the network capacity to support the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) environment.

Claes Hagel, Ericsson Key Account Manager for Vodafone Ireland, says the deal builds on a long-standing partnership with the operator – Ireland’s largest – and Ericsson’s solid competencies in systems integration.

“We have a very broad competence base in the telecommunications area,” he says. “Based on those competencies, we also have the processes, ways of working and methods to break down an operator’s needs into requirements, implementation ideas and finally a project to realize an operator’s vision,” he says.

He says Ericsson’s real-time charging solution will provide the operator with a flexible, secure and efficient revenue-management system, while the IMS environment and expansion of IP service capacity will support next-generation broadband multimedia applications that will facilitate a richer user experience.

Mats Svärdh, Chief Technology Officer at Vodafone Ireland, says: “The always-on, multimedia demands of our customers challenge us to deliver consistent high quality with real-time charging at home, on the move, and when traveling abroad. Ericsson’s strengths as an end-to-end systems integrator are helping make our multimedia vision a reality.”

As the telecoms market increasingly shifts to mobile broadband and fixed-mobile convergence, more and more operators are turning to Ericsson for systems integration. The company’s systems integration organization currently delivers more than 1000 projects per year in multivendor and multi-technology environments.

Cable & Wireless in Jamaica is one operator to have recently signed a systems integration deal with Ericsson. Under the deal, Ericsson will transform the operator’s core network to a next-generation IP network. It will deploy the Ericsson Mobile Softswitch Solution and Mobile Packet Backbone Network, as well as Ericsson Multi Mediation platform, to facilitate the launch of a wide range of new and innovative next-generation broadband multimedia services.

Phil Green, President and CEO of Cable & Wireless Jamaica, says: “With strong partnerships in the UK, Panama and Macau, Cable & Wireless is aiming to strengthen its position in the Caribbean market. By taking advantage of Ericsson’s expertise in systems integration and next-generation IP broadband networks, we are set to launch a range of innovative mobile services for our customers.”