Ericsson announces ENGINE Access Ramp contract with France Telecom

Ericsson announces ENGINE Access Ramp contract with France Telecom Ericsson and France Telecom have agreed a groundbreaking contract to provide the French operator with Ericsson's multi-service access platform - ENGINE Access Ramp. Providing in excess of 2.7 million lines, this represents the world's first significant next-generation access contract. ENGINE Access Ramp is a next-generation access solution for both voice and data. This integrated platform provides France Telecom with a smooth migration path from narrowband to broadband-based services and paves the way for high-speed Internet, e-commerce and other broadband services in France. The installation will start in autumn 2000 and, when this program is finished, more than 6.7 million France Telecom subscribers will be served by Ericsson systems. "In Ericsson's view, broadband is not just a matter of bits but also a matter of the services offered. As Internet takes off, today's telecom networks must be expanded to allow for faster and more advanced Internet services," says Einar Lindquist, head of Ericsson's Business Division Multi-Service Networks. "This will happen through the use of various broadband technologies in both the transport and the access part of the networks. This important ENGINE Access Ramp order from France Telecom is further proof of the importance to operators of migrating towards broadband, the strength of our solutions and of our leading position in this market." Ericsson is a leading multi-service Internet communications company. In January 1999 Ericsson was the world's first vendor to receive a substantial order for a circuit-to-packet network migration solution. Ericsson was also the first supplier in February 2000 to announce live service on a circuit-to-packet network. Throughout 1999 and during this year Ericsson has continued to receive significant orders for solutions based on the same concept from leading European and American operators. Ericsson is the leading communications supplier, combining innovation in mobility and Internet in creating the new era of Mobile Internet. Ericsson provides total solutions covering everything from systems and applications to mobile phones and other communications tools. With more than 100,000 employees in 140 countries, Ericsson simplifies communications for customers all over the world. Read more at http://www.ericsson.com/pressroom FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT Isabella Laihorinne Smedh, Ericsson Corporate Communications, Tel: + 46 8 404 5654, + 46 70 551 0369 E-mail: isabella.laihorinne-smedh@lme.ericsson.se Olivier Tarneaud, Press Manager, Ericsson France Tel: + 33 1 6447 6830, + 33 6 0702 6180 E-mail: olivier.tarneaud@esf.ericsson.se Ove Anebygd, Vice President, Ericsson Multi-Service Networks Tel: + 46 8 719 5798, + 46 70 519 5798 E-mail: ove.anebygd@etx.ericsson.se About ENGINE Access Ramp ENGINE Access Ramp is a next-generation access solution for both voice and data. This solution, launched at CeBIT earlier this year, integrates narrowband (PSTN/ISDN) and broadband (DSL) services in one single system and enables operators to freely mix between PSTN, ISDN and xDSL services. Scalable and flexible, ENGINE Access Ramp gives the operator the ability to upgrade the existing access network step-by-step, enabling rapid response to new and changing market conditions. ENGINE Access Ramp is the latest addition to the ENGINE family, Ericsson's Wireline portfolio for next-generation solutions. To learn more about ENGINE Access Ramp, see: http://www.ericsson.se/pressroom/20000228-0020.html About ENGINE Ericsson's vision for future networks is a new type of robust, multi- service network infrastructure based on new packet-switching technologies designed for real-time services; a network able to carry large and growing volumes of bit traffic, and to cope with the interconnection requirements of deregulated and competitive telecom environments. Ericsson has created ENGINE - a powerful, data-enabled, multi-service network offering. The technologies used in this architecture - and the structure itself - are fully optimized to achieve the lowest operational costs, bringing the highest possible revenue opportunities for operators. To learn more about Ericsson's suite of multi-service network solutions, ENGINE, please visit http://www.ericsson.com/ngn ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/07/05/20000705BIT00130/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/07/05/20000705BIT00130/bit0002.pdf