Ericsson and Nokia support emerging standard for GSM on 450 MHz frequency band

Joint release with Nokia Ericsson and Nokia support emerging standard for GSM on 450 MHz frequency band Ericsson and Nokia today announced that they support the work of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) on a global standard for GSM on the 450 MHz frequency band. Ericsson and Nokia are aiming to make GSM 450 products available for the market during 2001. ETSI recently accepted GSM 450 as a work item, and plans to release a specification of the standard in their GSM-99 specification release. Ericsson and Nokia believe that the introduction of GSM in the 450 MHz frequency band will further leverage the success of global GSM, which so far has been established through the current 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 1900 MHz bands. "GSM on the 450 MHz frequency band will provide a future proof, cost efficient coverage solution and improved range for the later offered GPRS and EDGE services," says Bo Langemark, Director of the GSM 450 Project Office at Ericsson. "The GSM 450 standard will open up new and exciting market prospects, especially in Eastern Europe and South East Asia. We are glad to be able to offer fully featured digital terminals in the near future for new groups of customers in those regions," says Hannu Huttunen, Vice President, Special Products, Nokia Mobile Phones. Ericsson is the leading provider in the new telecoms world, with communications solutions that combine telecom and datacom technologies with the freedom of mobility for the user. With more than 100,000 employees in 140 countries, Ericsson simplifies communications for its customers - network operators, service providers, enterprises and consumers - the world over. Nokia is the world's leading mobile phone supplier and a leading supplier of mobile and fixed telecom networks including related customer services. Nokia also supplies solutions and products for fixed and wireless datacom, as well as multimedia terminals and computer monitors. In 1998, net sales totaled FIM 79.2 billion (USD 15.7 billion, EUR 13.3 billion). Headquartered in Finland, Nokia is listed on five European Stock Exchanges and on the New York Stock Exchange (NOK.A), has sales in over 130 countries and employs more than 44,000 people worldwide. Please visit Ericsson's Press Room at: http://www.ericsson.se/pressroom For more information about Nokia, pleasse visit: http://www.nokia.com/ FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT Ericsson: James Borup, Press Officer Ericsson Corporate Communications Phone: +46 8 757 5612; E-mail: james.borup@lme.ericsson.se Nokia: Marianne Holmlund, Communications Manager, Nokia Mobile Phones Phone: +358 10 505 5760; E-mail: marianne.holmlund@nokia.com