Ericsson signs two major access contracts in Brazil

Ericsson signs two major access contracts in Brazil Ericsson has signed two contracts in Brazil with the operators Telesp S.A. and Companhia Telefonica da Borda do Campo (CTBC). The contracts include advanced access solutions for the fixed telecom network. Both companies have recently been taken over by the Spanish operator Telefonica, as part of the ongoing deregulation of the Brazilian telecoms market. Telesp S.A. has awarded Ericsson the delivery of approximately 80,000 subscriber lines based on Ericsson's Digital Pair Gain System. The new lines will be used to expand capacity in the São Paulo area, where demand for new services is outstripping the operator's ability to deploy infrastructure by laying new cable. The delivery will be completed by the end of the year. Ericsson's Digital Pair Gain System (PGS) allows multiple telephone connections or services to be carried over a single copper subscriber line. The all-digital system reduces the labor-intensive testing of copper pairs required for analogue systems, while delivering high-quality full-duplex 64 kbit/s service over very long cable runs. Ericsson's PGS products, which can provide from two to twelve subscriber lines over a single copper pair, provide new lines at a cost that is typically one third to one quarter of the cost of the other solutions. A second contract has been signed with Companhia Telefonica da Borda do Campo (CTBC) and includes access network products for an advanced optical solution employing SDH. The network expansion, which will add 60,000 lines in the Santo Andre region of São Paulo county, is based on Ericsson's Diamux 500 digital cross connect platform. The delivery has begun and will continue throughout the year. Ericsson's Diamux System Services provides a wide range of solutions for flexible access networks. The Diamux series includes a full range of products designed to handle from 2 to 1, 320 subscribers per node. The Diamux 500 unit selected by CTBC is a cost-effective solution for medium to large sites and offers a full range of options for POTS, ISDN and data services. 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 Paulo Castello Branco, Vice President Ericsson Telecomunicacoes S.A., Brazil Tel. +55 11 68 11 263 Hans-Erhard Reiter, General Manager Marketing & Sales, Multi-Service Access, Business Unit Public Networks, Ericsson Infocom Systems Tel. +46 8 719 0612 or +43 664 201 4670 E-mail: hans-erhard.reiter@etx.ericsson.se Pernilla Melander, Press Relations Manager Business Unit Public Networks, Ericsson Infocom Systems Tel. +46 9 719 11 20, +46 70 327 6434