Ericsson has launched spare parts management services (SPMS) to support TM International Bangladesh’s (TMIB) mobile network. The deal marks Ericsson’s first SPMS contract in Bangladesh, and will help boost operational efficiencies, revenue and network performance, the company reported. Ericsson will provide TMIB with high-level hardware support for routine as well emergency maintenance.

Ericsson will also take over the responsibility of the spare parts and provide TMIB with first-line local support, enabling immediate response to the customer’s needs. SPMS is part of Ericsson’s Professional Services offering. Ericsson’s support services secure that networks in more than 140 countries can deliver both preventative and corrective services to more than one billion users worldwide.

Ericsson is one of the world’s leading providers of technology and services to telecom operators. A market leader in 2G and 3G mobile technologies, Ericsson supplies communications services and manages networks that serve more than 195 million subscribers. Working in 175 countries, more than 70,000 employees generated revenue of USD 27.9 billion (188 billion Swedish crowns) in 2007.

TM International Bangladesh (TMIB), which operates under the brand AKTEL, is one of the leading telecommunications service providers in Bangladesh with about eight million mobile-phone users. It is a joint venture between TM International Sdn Bhd (70 percent) and AK Khan & Co (30 percent). The AK Khan Group recently completed the sale of its entire shareholding of 30 percent in TMIB to NTT DoCoMo. The company operates GSM 900 and 1800 cellular services under a 15-year license granted in November 1996.