Ericsson to expand mobile networks in Japan

Ericsson to expand mobile networks in Japan Ericsson is awarded expansion agreements to supply extensions of the Japanese Digital Phone Group's (DPG) mobile PDC networks. The total order value is USD 53 million (SEK 425 million). Japan has a rapid growth rate of mobile users. Over 800.000 currently join the PDC networks each month, giving Japan a 30% penetration of mobile users and making PDC the worlds second largest digital mobile standard with over 39 million users by December 1998. Ericsson will deliver AXE and radio solutions for DPG's network in three regions in Japan. DPG currently have 3,6 million users in their networks and a growth rate of 125,000 new consumers each month. With these expansions Ericsson will support the rapid growth demands on the core network. PDC is a digital standard for mobile systems in Japan. PDC is based on TDMA technology and will during the first quarter of 1999 reach over 40 million users in Japan, making it the world's second largest digital standard. Ericsson is the only non-Japanese supplier to deliver a total system solution for PDC, covering system infrastructure, applications and services. The Digital Phone Group consists of the three operators Tokyo Digital Phone, TDP, operating in Kanto area, Kansai Digital Phone, KDP, active in the Kansai area and Central Japan Digital Phone, CDP, with a mobile network in the Tokai area. Ericsson have established two local companies in Japan, Nippon Ericsson K.K. a joint venture with Toshiba (10%) and Ericsson Mobile Communications Japan K.K. a joint venture with Marubeni (30%). 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 Morgan Bengtsson, President Nippon Ericsson K.K. Phone: +81 3 3221 8200 Stefan Karlsson, Director PDC Systems Ericsson Radio Systems AB Phone: +46 8 404 7729 Isabella Laihorinne Smedh, Ericsson Corporate Communications Phone: +46 8 4045654, +46 70 5510369 E-mail: Isabella.Laihorinne-Smedh@lme.ericsson.se