Ericsson to build TDMA network in El Salvador

Ericsson to build TDMA network in El Salvador Ericsson has signed a contract with CTE Telecom Personal in El Salvador for the construction of a TDMA (IS-136) wireless network to operate in the 1900 MHz band. The contract is valued at USD 30 million (SEK 235 million). The initial phase of the network will go into commercial service this month with coverage in the San Salvador metropolitan and airport areas. Rapid build- out of the network will provide nationwide coverage by April 1999. CTE Telecom Personal, is a new wireless operator in El Salvador, with France Telecom owning a 51 percent share. Local investors own the remaining 49 percent. Excellent roaming capabilities are available since all neighboring countries also have adopted the TDMA/AMPS standard. TDMA is the dominant digital standard in all of the Americas. Widespread implementation of the TDMA standard not only enables seamless roaming for users throughout North and South America, but to many countries in the Asia Pacific region, as well as Central and Eastern Europe. The contract includes the Jambala open platform for use in creating further personalized services for consumers. Other functionality being supplied includes digital fax and data, voice mail, the ability to send short text messages between phones and the Ericsson's new PrePaid solution. There are more than 90 million subscribers using TDMA/AMPS networks in more than 100 countries worldwide. 18 million of these subscribers are already using TDMA (IS-136) digital services. TDMA (IS-136) already delivers over 85 percent of the IMT-2000 functionality and is being further enhanced to deliver all IMT-2000 capabilities in the existing 800 and 1900 MHz frequency bands and in the new 2 GHz band. Ericsson is the leading provider in the new telecoms world, with communications solutions that combine telecom and datacom technologies with freedom of mobility for the user. With more than 100,000 employees in 140 countries, Ericsson simplifies communications for its customers - network operators, service providers, enterprises and consumers - the world over. Please visit Ericsson's Press Room at: http://www.ericsson.se/pressroom FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT Dominique Jodoin, Vice President Sales & Market Operations Ericsson Business Unit TDMA Systems Phone: +46 8 757 2311 Kristian Tear, President, Ericsson Central America Phone: +525 7262710 Johan Wiklund, Ericsson Corporate Communications Phone: +46 70 560 0134