Ericsson delivers largest prepaid TDMA network in the Americas to Telcel, Mexico

Ericsson delivers largest prepaid TDMA network in the Americas to Telcel, Mexico Ericsson and Telcel, the largest mobile network operator in Mexico, have been working to implement prepaid service nationwide in Telcel's TDMA (IS-136) wireless network. Telcel recently migrated their entire Mexico City prepaid subscriber base to the Ericsson PrePaid Calling Service, bringing the total number of prepaid subscribers to over 1.5 million. This makes Telcel the largest provider of prepaid wireless services in the Americas. Since potential capacity of the Ericsson prepaid solution can be expanded modularly, Telcel will be able to meet rising demand in one of the world's largest and fastest growing prepaid calling markets. Ericsson's PrePaid Calling Service integrates into Telcel's existing nationwide TDMA wireless network. A strength of this prepaid solution, supplied together with Corsair Communications, is that it is signalling-based and optimizes trunk usage. Telcel is one of the world's first wireless operators to implement Ericsson's PrePaid Calling Service for TDMA networks. The demand for prepaid services is rapidly increasing and Ericsson has already sold this prepaid solution to eleven operators, in Latin and Central America and Russia. Telcel chose to replace its previous prepaid facilities because the Ericsson system offers several benefits: modular expansion capability and the ability to expand prepaid services cost-effectively and in parallel with customer demand. Telcel also selected the Ericsson system in preparation for the future growth of prepaid value-added subscriber services, such as roaming, not currently available. Wherever there are agreements between operators using Ericsson's PrePaid Calling Service solution, subscribers will be able to use prepaid phone services within other networks. TDMA/AMPS is the dominant wireless standard in Latin America, available in virtually all countries in the region. In addition, TDMA is the most widely spread mobile standard in North America as well as in many countries in the Asia Pacific region and Eastern Europe. Telcel (Radiomovil DIPSA) is the leading cellular operator in Mexico, with 2.1 million users nationwide and a 64 per cent share of the fast-growing Mexican wireless market. Corsair Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: CAIR) is a leading provider of software and system solutions for the wireless industry. The company's products include systems for fraud prevention and prepaid billing. There are approximately 95 million subscribers using TDMA/AMPS networks worldwide. TDMA is commercially available as a dual-band (800/1900 MHz and dual-mode (analog-digital) technology. Over 22 million subscribers are already using TDMA digital services. TDMA (IS-136) already delivers nearly all of the IMT-2000 functionality and is being further enhanced to deliver all IMT-2000 capabilities in the existing 850 and 1900 MHz frequency bands and in the new 2 GHz band. Ericsson is the leading provider in the new telecoms world, with communications solutions that combine telecom and datacom technologies with freedom of mobility for the user. With more than 100,000 employees in 140countries, Ericsson simplifies communications for its customers - network operators, service providers, enterprises and consumers - the world over. Please visit Ericsson's press room at: http://www.ericsson.se/pressroom FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Dominique Jodoin, Vice President Sales & Market Operations Ericsson Business Unit TDMA Systems Phone: +46 8 757 2311 Cecilia Brändström, Vice President Sales Ericsson Telecom, S.A. de C.V. Phone: +52 5726 2955 Johan Wiklund, Ericsson Corporate Communications Phone: +46 70 560 0134; E-mail: johan.wiklund@lme.ericsson.se Patricia Ramirez, Public Relations Chief Radiomovil DIPSA, S.A. de C.V. Phone: +52 5 625 3947 Background Information With PrePaid Calling Service, subscribers pre-purchase air-time credits which diminish each time their phones are used. This way of billing accounts for over 50 per cent of mobile subscriber revenue in many markets. Since no contracts or monthly invoices are involved, prepaid calling makes owning a mobile phone easier, particularly for low volume use or subscribers who do not have access to financial credit. It also creates a new way for operators to market services, while reducing administration and improving cash flow. The Ericsson PrePaid Calling Service is integrated in the network's switching system, unlike other prepaid solutions that require additional voice trunking equipment. This means that the capacity of the service is only limited by the switching system itself. It is cost-effective compared to other prepaid solutions because limited additional equipment is needed to support expansion of the prepaid solution.