Ericsson to provide GPRS and nationwide GSM extension to Tunisie Telecom

Ericsson to provide GPRS and nationwide GSM extension to Tunisie Telecom Ericsson and Tunisie Telecom have signed a contract for a full GPRS system as well as for the nationwide extension and enhancement of Tunisie Telecom´s GSM 900 network. The contract is valued at more than USD 50 million and the system will be rolled out within 12 months. Under the terms of the contract, Ericsson will deliver GSM 900 infrastructure, a full GPRS system, PrePaid functionality, as well as additonal nodes such as billing system and Fraud Management System. Ericsson will build out coverage in new areas in Tunisia for the extended nationwide network, while the supplier of the existing GSM 900 network will expand its portion. As the national PTT, Tunisie Telecom is currently the sole operator in Tunisia. Upon completion of the expansion, the new system will have a capacity of 300,000 subscribers. "Tunisie Telecom has expressed great confidence in Ericsson's technology and expertise and we believe that our long term relationship will enable Tunisie Telecom to attract many new customers as well as offer differentiated services when they move into a competitive situation," says Gábor Éry, Ericsson's sales manager for Tunisia. With this contract, Tunisia becomes the twenty-seventh African country where Ericsson has delivered GSM. All North African countries now have GSM from Ericsson. 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 James Borup, Ericsson Corporate Communications Phone: +46 8 757 5612; E-mail: james.borup@lme.ericsson.se Ulf Borison, Marketing and Sales Director, Direct Markets, Ericsson Phone: +46 8 757 15 80; E-mail: ulf.borison@era.ericsson.se ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/06/16/20000616BIT00620/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/06/16/20000616BIT00620/bit0002.pdf