Ericsson in wireless broadband field trial with NEXTLINK

Ericsson in wireless broadband field trial with NEXTLINK Ericsson is in trials with US LMDS license winner and operator, NEXTLINK (Nasdaq: NXLK - news), for Ericsson's point to multipoint microwave system, TM MINI-LINK BAS (Broadband Access System). MINI-LINK BAS is being trialed to demonstrate the capability to significantly expand NEXTLINK's high capacity, last-mile connection capabilities and dramatically increase the number of buildings that can economically be connected directly to local and national inter-city networks being deployed throughout the United States. MINI-LINK BAS is optimized to support next generation networks with carrier class wireless services that efficiently combine bursty IP based services - such as high-speed Internet and LAN-LAN interconnection - with established services, such as leased lines. It combines Ericsson's strengths in microwave access, IP and ATM technologies to provide cost efficiency and reliable performance. Open interfaces and standards mean that it can be easily integrated with other vendors' IP and ATM products, as well as with Ericsson's IP router family, scaleable ATM switching line and business switches. Advance features and technology of the MINI-LINK BAS system, such as Fast Dynamic Capacity Allocation (F-DCA) with speeds up to 37.5 Mbps and MMIC (Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit) based radio design, ensure extremely efficient use of the NEXTLINK wireless spectrum and fiber facilities and gives significant capacity and cost advantages. "Ericsson signed its first LMDS contract in July of this year with a Nordic operator. The trials we now are participating in with NEXTLINK confirm that our MINI-LINK BAS is one of the leading solutions in the market," says Sivert Bergman, Executive Vice President, Ericsson Microwave and head of business unit Transmission Solutions. To address the emerging demand for broadband services Ericsson will leverage on its existing flexible production capacity and strong customer base in transmission and access systems. With a 1999 production volume of more than 70 000 units, Ericsson is well prepared to meet the expected demands from NEXTLINK and the LMDS (Local Multipoint Distribution Systems), broadband wireless access market. 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 Antoinette Torell, Ericsson Corporate Communications Phone: +46 70 519 3699; E-mail: antoinette.torell@lme.ericsson.se Peter Nohren, Director Broadband Access Ericsson, Inc. Phone: +1 972 583-5460, +1 972 567-8052 peter.nohren@ericsson.com Hans Herbertsson, Marketing Director, MINI-LINK BAS Ericsson Business Unit Transmission Solutions Phone: +46 31 747 3229, +46 70 987 3229 E-mail: Hans.Herbertsson@emw.ericsson.se About NEXTLINK NEXTLINK was founded in 1994 by telecommunications pioneer Craig O. McCaw to provide high quality, broadband communications services to businesses over fiber optic and broadband wireless facilities across the United States. Additional Information Ericsson holds the world leading position with its MINI-LINK product family with more than one third of the world market for short haul microwave radio systems, which is more than three times that of its nearest competitor. The point-to-multipoint MINI-LINK BAS offering is based on Ericsson's proven point-to-point MINI-LINK microwave radio solution. MINI-LINK BAS was launched for the European market at CeBIT in March 1999. MINI-LINK is used to transport services in wireless and wire line networks, for operator as well as enterprise use. With the MINI-LINK BAS system, operators can dynamically provide users with instantaneous bandwidth allocation appropriate to their need, using available spectrum efficiently. By using shared transmissions with statistical multiplexing, operators can efficiently offer broadband access at an attractive cost level. Operators will also achieve cost savings when implementing new wireless access networks and can gain market advantage on competitive markets with a rapid rollout MINI-LINK BAS is a complete end-to-end solution, from customer services to backbone network solutions. The system operates in the 24 to 31 GHz frequency band, including European ETSI bands, US LMDS bands and Canadian bands. For more information on Ericsson's new wireless broadband access system, see press release on http://www.ericsson.se/pressroom/Archive/1999Q1/19990316- 0008.html ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/09/21/19990921BIT00520/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/09/21/19990921BIT00520/bit0002.pdf