Ericsson will expand Partner's 3G/HSDPA radio network and provide accompanying services, enabling the operator to expand its third-generation services. The system rollout will start this year.

Ericsson's HSDPA will enable Partner to introduce a new generation of services, such as mobile triple play, a combination of mobile telephony, mobile broadband and mobile TV.

Amikam Cohen, Partner CEO, says: "In line with our strategic decision to introduce two suppliers for our 3G network, we have selected Ericsson as our second supplier. Ericsson's UMTS/HSDPA technology will continue to provide us with the most advanced equipment available. The decision was based on Ericsson's excellent performance in our GSM network and the quality of its UMTS equipment."

Bjorn Eisner, President of Ericsson Israel, says: "We are pleased to provide Partner with advanced 3G technology. This will strengthen our long-standing partnership and excellent relations with Partner."

Ericsson's HSDPA capabilities enable download speeds of up to 14 Mbps. The advanced technology offers operators more than double the system capacity and makes response times for interactive services faster.

Users will be able to download 1 MB of music five times faster than the current 3G connection and even 33 times faster than using GSM/GPRS.

Ericsson is already at the forefront of HSDPA solutions, leveraging on its leadership in WCDMA/UMTS. Ericsson's HSDPA systems are available now, with commitments in a number of customer trials. Ericsson will launch a commercial release in the fourth quarter of 2005.

Ericsson is shaping the future of Mobile and Broadband Internet communications through its continuous technology leadership. Providing innovative solutions in more than 140 countries, Ericsson is helping to create the most powerful communication companies in the world.

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