NEC Corp. has signed a global framework agreement with the Axiata Group, one of Asia's largest telecom operators, regarding the provision, installation and related maintenance services for NEC's iPASOLINK Series of ultra-compact microwave communication systems. The global framework agreement covers the Axiata Group telecom operators in Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Bangladesh.

Previously, NEC provided the iPASOLINK Series under individual arrangements to XL Axiata (Indonesia) and Dialog (Sri Lanka) in the Axiata Group. With the new cooperation NEC will be able to conduct marketing efforts towards additional Axiata Group companies.

Toshiya Matsuki, chief executive officer of NEC Asia Pacific said, "It's a great honor for us to be chosen by the Axiata Group as its strategic supplier. NEC is strongly committed to making further contributions to enhance the Axiata Group's mobile networks, while trying to achieve higher functionality, an expanded product line-up and better maintenance services for the iPASOLINK Series."

It is expected that operators' investment in mobile network infrastructure will remain brisk, especially in the Asian markets where the Axiata Group operates in view of the surging mobile traffic amid LTE services and smartphones becoming increasingly popular in the region.

NEC's microwave communications systems have been selected by telecommunications operators all over the world as an ideal solution for quickly expanding their mobile phone infrastructure, with shipments of approximately 2.3 million units throughout 152 countries.