Ericsson selected to help deliver broadband to rural communities in Alaska

·         Project will connect 65 rural communities in southwest Alaska to broadband

·         Part of the TERRA-Southwest project by United Utilities Inc.

·         Ericsson to supply a Marconi LH microwave digital relay radio system

Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) and United Utilities Inc (UUI) today announced a technology agreement to bring broadband technology to 65 rural communities in southwest Alaska. UUI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Alaska's largest telecommunications provider, GCI.  Through the construction of a microwave network, broadband speeds will be made available to people and businesses that currently rely only on satellite connectivity.  

The TERRA-Southwest project is building a next-generation communications network connecting rural communities in southwest Alaska. Upon completion, TERRA-Southwest will serve more than 9,000 households and nearly 750 businesses in the covered communities. The project will also serve numerous public/non-profit/private community anchor institutions, such as regional health-care providers, school districts and other regional and Alaska Native organizations.

"Ericsson envisions a Networked Society where everything that benefits from a connection will be connected.  A key piece of making that vision a reality is the availability of broadband connectivity for everyone, no matter where they live," said Angel Ruiz, Head of Ericsson North America. "Innovative programs like TERRA-Southwest are making it possible, using Ericsson's advanced microwave technology to connect people and businesses anywhere in the country."
This is the largest long-haul microwave contract for Ericsson in North America.  Initial deployments started this month. 
"The goal of GCI and UUI has long been to provide the underserved citizens of remote rural Alaskan communities the benefits of broadband technology to improve the quality of their lives," said Martin Cary, Vice President and General Manager of GCI Managed Broadband Services.  "Our selection of Ericsson to provide the critical technology for the TERRA-Southwest project takes us one step closer to providing the first-ever terrestrial high-speed connection to southwest Alaska."
TERRA-Southwest is a jointly funded project with $44 million coming from the USDA Rural Utilities Service and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and $44 million in the form of a loan to UUI/GCI. 
According to the terms of the five-year contract, Ericsson will be the sole microwave equipment supplier for the project. 

Notes to editors:

Marconi LH details

http://www.ericsson.com/ourportfolio/products/marconi-lh

Facts and figures:
www.ericsson.com/ericsson/press/facts_figures/index.shtml

Pictures or rural Alaska:

http://www.ericsson.com/thecompany/press/photolibrary

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Ericsson is the world's leading provider of technology and services to telecom operators. Ericsson is the leader in 2G, 3G and 4G mobile technologies, and provides support for networks with over 2 billion subscribers and has the leading position in managed services. The company's portfolio comprises mobile and fixed network infrastructure, telecom services, software, broadband and multimedia solutions for operators, enterprises and the media industry. The Sony Ericsson and ST-Ericsson joint ventures provide consumers with feature-rich personal mobile devices. 

Ericsson is advancing its vision of being the "prime driver in an all-communicating world" through innovation, technology, and sustainable business solutions. Working in 175 countries, more than 90,000 employees generated revenue of SEK 203.3 billion (USD 28.2 billion) in 2010. Founded in 1876 with the headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden, Ericsson is listed on NASDAQ OMX, Stockholm and NASDAQ New York.

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