Ericsson introduces GSM 800, a new industry standard, to its global family of GSM offerings

Ericsson introduces GSM 800, a new industry standard, to its global family of GSM offerings Ericsson announces it is developing GSM/GPRS/EDGE for the 800 MHz frequency band, further complementing its world leading mobile Internet total systems offering. Plans call for initial GSM 800 deliveries from Ericsson by the second half of 2001. With the advent of the mobile Internet, operators are eager to rapidly introduce new services and applications. Adding GSM/GPRS/EDGE in the 800 MHz frequency range leverages the efficiencies of the open, global GSM standard and gives both TDMA and GSM operators a new route to 3G services. By adopting GSM, the world's largest standard, operators with these frequencies will take advantage of economies of scale for terminals, infrastructure and mobile Internet applications. "As the leading supplier of GSM solutions in the world, Ericsson is able to support any operator, anywhere who wants to introduce GSM, now in all major frequency bands," says Bo Bergström, head of GSM, TDMA and EDGE systems at Ericsson. "Any operator, large or small, will benefit from the large applications development community working with GSM/GPRS as a base." Subscribers will appreciate facilitated global roaming with multi-band handsets because the service portfolio for GSM 800 will be easily integrated with the service portfolios of GSM networks in any other frequency band, anywhere. "We have committed to GSM/GPRS/EDGE in the 800 band in order to best support the long-term interests of our customers' businesses," adds Bo Bergström. "There is a clear trend in the industry toward a mainstream technology choice of GSM/GPRS, followed by EDGE/UMTS for the third generation." Ericsson's GSM 800 portfolio will include a full range of products and services for smooth introduction over existing networks, including for example site co-location packages, TDMA/GSM number portability solutions, and common pre-paid and network management systems. "Ericsson remains firmly committed to TDMA for primarily voice-centric services, and also to cdmaOne and its 3G evolution path to cdma2000," emphasizes Mats Dahlin, head of Division Mobile Systems at Ericsson. 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 James Borup, Press Relations, Division Mobile Systems Ericsson Corporate Communications Phone: +46 70 590 9261; E-mail: james.borup@lme.ericsson.se Fredrik Näslund, Vice President, Sales and Market Development Ericsson GSM/TDMA/EDGE Systems Phone: +46 70 851 0648; E-mail: fredrik.naslund@era.ericsson.se Further Information GSM is present in every region of the world and is the most widely deployed mobile standard with more than 400 million subscribers globally. GSM today operates in the 900 and 1800 MHz frequency bands primarily in Europe and Asia-Pacific, and the 1900 MHz band in the Americas. The 800 MHz frequencies are today used primarily for AMPS, TDMA and cdmaOne, largely in the Americas and Asia-Pacific regions, and also in Europe-Africa-Middle East. Operators with these frequencies now have the opportunity to deploy GSM/GPRS/EDGE, providing a new route to 3G services. Ericsson's GSM 800 with GPRS can be upgraded to EDGE with only a software upgrade. The core network can later also be integrated with a UMTS introduction, giving operators the flexibility to smoothly combine service offerings with EDGE in existing frequency bands and UMTS in new spectrum. Several operators in the Americas have recently stated their decision to deploy GSM/GPRS networks from Ericsson alongside their existing TDMA systems, and have also stated their decision to take the EDGE/UMTS evolution path to 3G. Rogers (Canada) http://www.ericsson.com/press/20010131-0089.html Telcel (Mexico) http://www.ericsson.com/press/20001221-0112.html Telecom Personal (Argentina) http://www.ericsson.com/press/20001220-0118.html AT&T Wireless (USA) http://www.ericsson.com/press/20001130-0102.html Entel Móvil (Bolivia) http://www.ericsson.com/press/20001113-0068.html