Ericsson and Verizon plan for millions of IoT devices

• Ericsson's cellular low-power wide-area (LPWA) networking solution welcomed by Verizon
• New network software enables Verizon to leverage existing LTE infrastructure for diverse IoT opportunities on a massive scale 
• Joint IoT trials between Ericsson and Verizon will continue in 2016

Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) and Verizon today announced joint activities to further the development and deployment of cellular low-power wide-area (LPWA) networking for a diverse range of IoT applications. Ericsson and Verizon have been engaged in IoT trials since 2014 to demonstrate the range of IoT use cases - both consumer and industrial applications - that today's mobile networks can support.

Adam Koeppe, Vice President, Network Technology and Planning, Verizon, says: "Verizon's nationwide LTE network provides an ideal platform for the acceleration of IoT applications that benefit consumers, industry and cities. We're committed to simplifying IoT and have introduced a developer platform - ThingSpace - and new network advancements that do just that. Ericsson's new software will enable us to expand our coverage of low-cost IoT devices while supporting years of battery life."

LTE is already especially well-suited to support high-capacity, low-latency applications. Ericsson's LPWA solution will scale Verizon's LTE network to connect a wider variety of IoT use cases by supporting the connectivity requirements of lower power, lower cost and reduced complexity.

Arun Bansal, Senior Vice President and Head of Business Unit Radio, Ericsson, says: "Verizon has been a great partner in the advancement of cellular technologies to address IoT networking requirements. IoT applications will drive 5G development so it is essential for us to work with leading operators like Verizon to proactively spearhead the industry and ecosystem."

IoT promises to change the way we live and work by using connectivity to bring new levels of intelligence that link us with the world around us in ways never before possible. This will require connections in orders of magnitude higher than those used by current systems and solutions that work together and scale to meet diverse requirements.

Ericsson's recently launched new software, called Networks Software 17A, addresses the anticipated massive number IoT devices and the diversity of their connectivity requirements.  The software includes key features enabling cellular networks to support Smart Cities, Smart Metering, and Smart Agriculture. Ericsson is accelerating the uptake of IoT with the industry's first complete cellular LPWA offering, enabling operators to address the full diversity of IoT use cases across their networks.

By leveraging its existing network infrastructure, Verizon achieves a faster time to market with new IoT applications that benefit from its LTE network's mobility, reliability, security and reach. Ericsson and Verizon will work proactively with ecosystem partners to accelerate the pace of commercialization of advanced IoT solutions. Joint trials between Ericsson and Verizon will continue in 2016, focused on live network testing of IoT use case scenarios.

Ericsson will also feature IoT demonstrations at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) event, held January 6 to January 9, 2016 in Las Vegas, US. Use cases include connected scooters/bikes, smart metering and grid management, water quality monitoring, smart agriculture and wearables.
 
NOTES TO EDITORS

Diversifying Cellular for Massive IoT
Video: Diversifying Cellular for Massive IoT
Ericsson and Orange trial Internet of Things (IoT) over GSM and LTE
Ericsson, Sony Mobile and SK Telecom trial IoT wearables over LTE
Ericsson innovations expedite adoption of "Internet of Things"

For media kits, backgrounders and high-resolution photos, please visit www.ericsson.com/press

Ericsson is the driving force behind the Networked Society - a world leader in communications technology and services. Our long-term relationships with every major telecom operator in the world allow people, business and society to fulfill their potential and create a more sustainable future.

Our services, software and infrastructure - especially in mobility, broadband and the cloud - are enabling the telecom industry and other sectors to do better business, increase efficiency, improve the user experience and capture new opportunities.

With approximately 115,000 professionals and customers in 180 countries, we combine global scale with technology and services leadership. We support networks that connect more than 2.5 billion subscribers. Forty percent of the world's mobile traffic is carried over Ericsson networks. And our investments in research and development ensure that our solutions - and our customers - stay in front.

Founded in 1876, Ericsson has its headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden. Net sales in 2014 were SEK 228.0 billion (USD 33.1 billion). Ericsson is listed on NASDAQ OMX stock exchange in Stockholm and the NASDAQ in New York.

www.ericsson.com 
www.ericsson.com/news
www.twitter.com/ericssonpress
www.facebook.com/ericsson
www.youtube.com/ericsson

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT

Ericsson Corporate Communications
Phone: +46 10 719 69 92
E-mail: media.relations@ericsson.com

Ericsson Investor Relations
Phone: +46 10 719 00 00
E-mail: investor.relations@ericsson.com