Ericsson inaugurates newest 3G equipment production facility

Ericsson inaugurates newest 3G equipment production facility Ericsson today launched its newest production facility for 3G network equipment. The state-of-the-art facility, located in Gävle on the east coast of Sweden, will produce WCDMA base stations for the global market. Ericsson has to date been named as supplier in nine commercial agreements for WCDMA 3G networks, more than any other vendor. The first WCDMA systems will go into commercial operation in Japan in 2001, followed shortly thereafter by commercial launch in certain European nets. Within a year from now, there will be some 90 third generation-licensed operators around the world. "We will see high volume WCDMA equipment deliveries within a very short period of time," states Björn Boström, Senior Vice President, Supply and Information Technology at Ericsson. "Market demand is huge - as is Ericsson's ability to satisfy it. We expect that within three years, production levels for WCDMA will be at levels similar to that which it took 10 years to reach for GSM." "Our experience from 2G mobile networks, for example in the management of large development projects, fast ramp-up of manufacturing and support of rapid roll-out makes us ideally positioned to support the 3G market," Boström adds. In addition to the Gävle facility, Ericsson's Swedish-based WCDMA equipment production is set in Nynäshamn, south of Stockholm, and in the Mobile Valley in Kista, north of Stockholm, which will produce MCPA's (Multi Carrier Power Ampliers) for the WCDMA base stations. With 3G, the full potential of the next major trend in communications, the Mobile Internet, will be realized. WCDMA will provide up to 50 times greater data rate than can present-day GSM, converting minutes into seconds and making a range of multi-media applications with mobile terminals a practical reality. Ericsson began research on WCDMA more than ten years ago, and initiated the first WCDMA testbed already in 1995. Ericsson currently has 17 WCDMA trial systems in operation in countries throughout Europe, Asia-Pacific and North America. The company is in a unique position of leadership in mobile systems; larger than its nearest two competitors combined and the only supplier to offer mobile systems in all existing standards, from the first generation through the third generation. 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 www.ericsson.com/pressroom. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT Pia Gideon, Vice President External Relations, Corporate Communications Phone: +46 8 719 2864; E-mail: Pia.Gideon@lme.ericsson.se Björn Boström, Senior Vice President, Supply and Information Technology Phone: +46 8 757 0746; E-mail: Bjorn.Bostrom@lme.ericsson.se Håkan Sundqvist, Vice President, Production, Supply and IT Phone: +46 8 404 4426; E-mail: hakan.sundqvist@era.ericsson.se James Borup, Manager External Relations, Division Mobile Systems Ericsson Corporate Communications Phone: +46 70 699 9412; E-mail: james.borup@lme.ericsson.se ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by BIT http://www.bit.se The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/09/15/20000915BIT00190/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/09/15/20000915BIT00190/bit0002.pdf