Claimed to be the first 4G LTE managed services contract signed in sub-Saharan Africa, the deal will see Ericsson provide managed, end-to-end services for Smile's 4G LTE networks in Tanzania, Uganda, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). These services will cover network operations, performance, optimisation, field support and general maintenance of the networks, and the deal follows the launch of Smile's 4G network in Nigeria – also in partnership with Ericsson – in March 2014. "We regard Ericsson as more than a vendor, we are long-term partners focussed on delivering on the Smile promise to be the broadband provider of choice in Africa and to ensure that our customers fully benefit from the internet world," said Tom Allen, group CCO at Smile Communications. Ericsson has more than 15 years' experience in the delivery of managed services across Africa, and in February 2014, partnered with MTN Nigeria.