Ericsson nabs $400 million services deal in India

Mobile phone maker Ericsson this week signed an agreement with cell phone service provider Bharti Tele-Ventures in India. Under the three-year, $400 million deal, Ericsson will take over management, maintenance and quality assurance operations of Bharti's 13 cellular networks. In addition, Ericsson will supply Bharti with equipment for expansion of its networks as needed. About 250 of Bharti's technical employees will join Ericsson India as part of the agreement.

This is the first such deal in the Indian mobile phone market, the companies said. Bharti has about 5.9 million wireless subscribers.