Ericsson provides wireless datacoms to Telcel

Ericsson provides wireless datacoms to Telcel Ericsson has received a contract from Venezuelan operator, Telcel, for a wireless datacoms network in the country. Among services Telcel is planning to offer are wireless credit card verification and interactive messaging services. As demand of wireless datacom services in Venezuela is growing, Telcel expects to expand its network to cover all major cities. This will for example enable companies to serve branch offices or employees in remote areas without other adequate communications infrastructure. The network will be in service by first quarter next year, initially in the Caracas area. "Telcel is the first operator in Venezuela to offer mobile datacom services," says Enrique Garcia Viamonte, President, Operations Group Telcel, "One of the main advantages with Mobitex is that the network is separate from the mobile telephone network, in which voice services generally has priority over data. Mobitex enables us to deliver mobile datacom services with guaranteed delivery and the maximum level of reliability and security." "Telcel shows great promise as one of the new players in mobile datacoms. Together with Ericsson's leadership in wireless communications, we are well- positioned to further serve the burgeoning Latin American market," says Gunilla Rydberg, Manager, Marketing and Sales of Mobitex infrastructure at Ericsson Mobile Data Design. Telcel is one of Venezuela's leading telecom companies. A dynamic and relatively young company, 80 percent owned by BellSouth of U.S. Telcel offers a number of services within the framework for data and telecommunications, such as fixed and mobile telephony, mobile data and Internet. Their web site is: www.telcel.net.ve Ericsson is the world-leader in dedicated mobile datacoms networks. Public and private network operators in over 20 countries on five continents have chosen Ericsson's Mobitex networks to meet growing demand for reliable, cost and frequency-effective services. Mobitex is a de facto international standard for wireless data, with several 100 available applications. Ericsson´s 100,000 employees are active in more than 130 countries. Their combined expertise in fixed and mobile networks, mobile phones and infocom systems makes Ericsson a world-leading supplier in telecommunications. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT Gunilla Rydberg, Manager, Marketing and Sales of Mobitex Infrastructure Ericsson Mobile Data Design AB Phone: +46 31 703 6063, E-mail: gunilla.rydberg@erv.ericsson.se Cristobal Orsini, Compañía Anónima Ericsson Phone: +58 2 239 07 11, E-mail: cev.cevcror@mesmtpse.ericsson.se Johan Wiklund, Press Relations Manager Ericsson Business Area Mobile Systems Phone: +46 70 560 0134; E-mail: johan.wiklund@era.ericsson.se