Ericsson expands mobile systems in Japan

Ericsson expands mobile systems in Japan Ericsson has been awarded a frame agreement covering three years for further expansions and upgrading of the PDC mobile networks of the Japanese Digital TuKa Group (DTG). The agreement is valued at approximately USD 200 million (SEK 1,700 million). Ericsson will deliver total mobile network solutions to DTG operators in three regions in Japan: Digital TuKa Kyushu (DTQ), Digital TuKa Hokkaido (DTD) and Digital TuKa Hokuriku (DTH). The three operators currently have almost one million users in their networks and a growth rate of 30,000 new consumers per month. With these expansions, Ericsson will support the rapid growth demands on the networks. Ericsson is the only non-Japanese supplier to deliver a total system solution for Personal Digital Cellular (PDC), covering system infrastructure, applications and services. Ericsson has delivered complete mobile systems to Japan since 1994, currently serving about 10 per cent of the cellular subscribers in Japan. With six system customers, Ericsson's current market share of mobile systems is the highest for any non-Japanese vendor. PDC is a digital standard for mobile systems in Japan. There are currently more than 43 million PDC users. Some one million new users are added each month, giving Japan a penetration rate of well over 30 percent and making PDC the world's second largest digital mobile standard. 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 140 countries, 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 James Borup, Ericsson Corporate Communications Phone: +46 70 590 9261; E-mail: james.borup@lme.ericsson.se Morgan Bengtsson, President, Nippon Ericsson K.K. Phone: +81 3 3221 8200; E-mail: Morgan.Bengtsson@nrj.ericsson.se Tomas Hillås, Vice President PDC Systems, Ericsson Radio Systems AB Phone: +46 8 585 32420; E-mail: Tomas.Hillas@era.ericsson.se Background information Digital TuKa Kyushu, Digital TuKa Hokkaido and Digital TuKa Hokuriku are PDC mobile operators in Japan, belonging to Digital TuKa Group (DTG) that covers Japan apart from Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya areas. DTG is owned among other by Japan Telecom and Nissan. Ericsson has established two local companies in Japan; Nippon Ericsson K.K., a joint venture with Toshiba (10%) and Ericsson Mobile Communications Japan K.K., a joint venture with Marubeni (30%). ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/06/30/19990630BIT00430/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/06/30/19990630BIT00430/bit0002.pdf