Bharti Airtel has ended its dependence on western vendors by awarding a contract to supply 3G equipment to China's Huawei. It had chosen Ericsson, Nokia Siemens Networks, and Huawei as network partners to launch 3G services in India. Bharti Airtel had acquired 3G spectrum in 13 circles allowing it to offer services like video calling and fast internet. Global private equity firm 3i will invest $150 million in road construction company Soma Enterprises. ZTE, a Chinese telecom equipment supplier, won a $200 million contract from RCOM to supply 2G and 3G gear in eight circles.

1. Weekend News-5Presented By- Neelam Monga

2. Bharti Airtel ends dependence on western vendors for telecom gearBharti Airtel, India’s largest telecom company by revenue and customers, has ended its dependence on western vendors by awarding China’s Huawei a part of the telecom gear contract to supply 3G equipment.

3. Bharti said that it had chosen Ericsson India , Nokia Siemans Networks and Huawei Technologies as Networks partners to launch 3G services in India .In the 3G auctions that are ended in May, Bharti Airtel had bagged 3G airwaves that allows it to offer high end services such as video conferencing and ultra fast internet on mobiles in 13 of the 22 telecom circles in the country.

4. It had paid about Rs.12300 crore for these airwaves.

5. For Ericsson and NSN, this marks their second major 3G contract in India.3i to invest $150 million in Soma EnterprisesGlobal private equity firm 3i group is likely to invest $150 million (Rs.684 crore)in the road business of Hyderabad-based construction and engineering company Soma Enterprises.

6. London-based 3i’s infrastructure fund will invest the large part of the money in Soma Enterprises.ZTE bags $200-m RCOM contractZTE Corp., a leading Chinese telecom equipment supplier, has bagged two contract worth nearly Rs.1220 crore.

7. ZTE has clinched a near $200-m(920 crore approx) contract from RCOM to supply a mix of 3G and 2G gear in eight circles.

8. The deal effectively means that mobile operators are now comfortable placing their orders with Chinese companies.ZTE had recently clinched a Rs.3oo crore WiMAX deal from BSNL.

9. RCOM is likely to source 3G networks gear for its Delhi and Mumbai circles Huawei.Airtel users may get to pay bills up to Rs.5000 via mobiles.Bharti Airtel customers will soon be able to make virtual payments at retail outlets and restaurants using their cell phones.