Bharti Airtel on Monday signed a network management services contract with Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) under which the private service provider will manage the complete enterprise resource planning backbone of REC including data centre and network connecting the firm’s Delhi office with 18 other zonal offices.

"We are delighted to be entrusted with this prestigious project from REC, a premier Government of India Navaratna enterprise. The Managed Services opportunity in India is set to expand exponentially in the years ahead," Bharti Airtel Director (Sales and Operations - Enterprise Services) Chris Tobit said.

As part of the deal Bharti Airtel will supply, install and manage the hardware security and network equipment and set up a standby server center infrastructure and also establish a data center co-located at Bharti Airtel facilities. Additionally it will also offer training and on-site facility management services and set up a helpdesk facility for REC.