MUMBAI: Reliance Communications Ltd. has awarded a network expansion contract worth over $200 million to Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd, a provider of CDMA, GSM and telecommunications network solutions.

An official release states that the current network expansion undertaken by Reliance is the largest wireless network expansion ever undertaken by any operator across the world.

Under the agreement, Huawei would supply and provide deployment services for CDMA and GSM base stations, including BSC and switches and help create top-of-the-line all-IP next generation network infrastructure.

The technology from Huawei is expected to bring down Reliance Communications total cost of ownership (TCO) by enabling a significantly faster and more cost-effective expansion of existing CDMA & GSM network services. It is also expected to enhance the company‘s competitive advantage in attracting new subscribers.

"We have chosen Huawei based on its established credentials as a global company producing high quality products and solutions. The relationship with Huawei will help us maintain and strengthen our leadership position in India, the world’s fastest growing telecom market," said Reliance Communications chairman Anil Ambani.

"We are extremely proud and happy to partner with Reliance Communications which has contributed immensely to the growth of the telecom sector in India and has always led from the front in expanding the domestic market. It is, in no small measure, a credit to Reliance Communications that India is today the fastest growing telecom market in the world," said Huawei Technologies chairlady Sun Yafang.

"We look forward to continuing this partnership with Reliance Communications by providing innovative and customer-oriented solutions and services," she added.