Ericsson supplies GSM 1800 to KTC in Finland

Ericsson has signed a contract with Finnish operator Kuopio Telephone Company for a turn-key GSM 1800 network. KPT's new network, scheduled to go live already this autumn, will initially cover Kuopio and Varkaus in eastern Finland. The contract also includes development and testing of new products and services. Enterprise users have shown a special interest in our new service 'City Telephone' that we will be offering. Other main target groups will be families with children, for which our service will be a very cost-efficient mobile offering," says Pertti Laiho, President of KTC. "KTC is developing new mobile services and an enhanced service level for its customers. Our worldwide GSM leadership is once again reaffirmed with KTC choosing Ericsson as the partner in this type of project," says Veli-Matti Mattila, President of Ericsson in Finland. KTC is a private local telephone company, and a part of the Finnet Group (regional telephone companies with subsidiaries). Ericsson has previously supplied fixed network solutions to KTC. GSM is the world's most widely deployed digital wireless communications standard. Ericsson is the market leader in GSM worldwide, with almost half of the 100 million GSM users connected by Ericsson systems. Nearly 120 network operators in some 65 countries rely on Ericsson GSM systems. 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 Pertti Laiho, President, Kuopio Telephone Company Phone: +358 17 302 200 Veli-Matti Mattila, President, Oy L M Ericsson Ab Phone: +358 9 299 2500 Johan Wiklund, Press Relations Manager Ericsson Business Area Mobile Systems Phone: +46 70 560 0134; E-mail: johan.wiklund@era.ericsson.se