Nokia Siemens Networks says that it has secured a five-year network management contract from Zain covering its networks in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. NSN said the contract is its biggest multi-vendor outsourcing case in the region and it's one of the first supplier swap Managed Services deals of its kind in Africa.

NSN's off-grid site solution combined with Energy OPEX management are key components included in the deal.

As part of the agreement, approximately 350 Zain employees who work on networks operations in these three East African countries are planned to transfer to Nokia Siemens Networks.

"This deal is unique as it's the first mobile network outsourcing contract in East Africa and with this we are able to capture strategic market share in the Managed Services arena that further strengthens our leadership position in this business," said Joerg Erlemeier, head of the Middle East African region, Nokia Siemens Networks. "We will also modernize the network with our state-of-the art equipment for a sustainable and robust network that has the required capacity to capture the expected high customer growth within the next five years."

No financial details were provided.