Vietnamese mobile operator MobiFone has entered an agreement with Ericsson to consolidate its six regional network operations centers (RNOC) in Vietnam into one centralised NOC in Hanoi. Under the agreement, Ericsson will, through its consulting and systems integration expertise, consolidate MobiFone's network operations organisation and implement a unified Network Management System.

Ericsson will deliver an integrated and unified Network Management System combined with operational consultancy services. Components included in the unified Network Management System include, among others: fault management; performance management; trouble ticketing and configuration management.

Le Ngoc Minh, Chairman of MobiFone, says: "Partnering with Ericsson in this NOC consolidation project is another step in our effort to further enhance our network performance and maintain our position based on a superior quality of offering in the market. With this project, and the implementation of the unified Network Management system, we will ensure that we have both an efficient organisation and the right technical setup to introduce new services to our customers."

Jan Wassenius, Head of Ericsson Vietnam, says: "The number of mobile subscriptions in Vietnam has increased dramatically in recent years, and today mobile phone penetration is higher than 150 percent. In this environment, network quality and the ability to introduce new services and terminals are essential factors to attract and retain customers. Through the consolidation of the Network Operations Centers and the implementation of the unified Network Management System, we are supporting MobiFone's efforts to further improve its position in the market."