Ericsson announces agreement with Wind in Italy

Ericsson announces a three year framework agreement with Wind, the third mobile operator in Italy. Ericsson will be the major supplier of both mobile and fixed networks to Wind. The agreement includes turn-key solutions for a GSM dualband 900/1800 mobile network and a fixed network, both based on AXE architecture. Ericsson will provide an Intelligent Networks solution, enabling Wind to offer their customers converging fixed and mobile services. Users can have the same service, regardless whether they are using a fixed or a mobile phone service, for example having the same voice mail box. Wind, the winner of the third mobile operator license in Italy, was established in November 1997. The company also holds a licence to provide fixed network services in Italy. Its main shareholders are Enel, the Italian electricity company, with 51 per cent, operators France Télécom and Deutsche Telekom, with 49 percent jointly. Enel is the world's second largest electric utility in terms of installed power and number of customers. GSM is the world's most widely deployed digital wireless communications standard. Ericsson is the market leader in GSM world wide, with almost half of the world's 100 million GSM subscribers connected by Ericsson systems. Nearly 120 network operators in some 65 countries around the world rely on Ericsson GSM systems. Ericsson´s 100,000 employees are active in more than 130 countries. Their combined expertise in fixed and mobile networks, mobile phones and infocom systems makes Ericsson a world-leading supplier in telecommunications. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT Massimo Gentili, Vice President and General Manager, Mobile Systems Division, Ericsson Telecomunicazioni S.p.A. Phone: +39 6 7258 4103 Marino Marin, Information and Communication Manager, Ericsson Telecomunicazioni S.p.A. Phone: +39 6 7258 3592 Johan Wiklund, Press Relations Manager, Ericsson Business Area Mobile Systems Phone: +46 70 560 0134; E-mail: johan.wiklund@era.ericsson.se