Indian operator Aircel has awarded 3G contracts to two vendors. ZTE has won a US$85 million deal “to build and deploy an advanced SDR-based 3G network”. ZTE will also be responsible for an upgrade of Aircel’s 2G network. Meanwhile Nokia Siemens Network has won a contract with the same operator “to supply, deploy and manage its HSPA+- enabled 3G network” in the three circles of Punjab, Kolkata and rest of West Bengal. Last month Ericsson said Aircel had awarded it a contract to supply 3G/HSPA network equipment for six of its 13 operating circles. The Swedish vendor claimed at the time that its deal made Ericsson the operator’s largest partner for 3G implementation.