Bharti Airtel (“Airtel”) and IBM (NYSE:  IBM) today jointly announced a 10-year agreement to provide comprehensive IT solutions to its employees across 16 African countries.

In terms of the agreement, IBM will provide a standard operating environment; help desk and desk side support to enhance employee efficiency and convenience.  Today's announcement builds on a strategic partnership signed in late 2010 to manage the computing technology and services to power Airtel’s mobile communications.

In  terms  of  the  new  agreement, IBM will provide comprehensive end user services  to  Airtel  employees  across  Africa, in French and English. The consolidation  of  Airtel’s  helpdesks,  is  expected to bring greater cost savings  and  efficiencies  by  streamlining the processes of addressing IT operational issues. It will also include an enhanced information enterprise security solution that further strengthens Airtel’s commitment to customer data privacy.