Ericsson turns the home into a communication hub

Ericsson turns the home into a communication hub Ericsson launches a new product "EriStream" which will transform the home and small office by solving the increasing frustration of blocked calls and slow data download. EriStream transforms the existing analogue (PSTN) telephone line by splitting it into two digital channels. These are used to provide the user with three telephone numbers: the original PSTN number, a new PSTN number and an ISDN number. Customers have the choice of service ranging from two simultaneous telephone calls through to data download at 128kb/s (4X the speed of most modems). For Network Operators around the world, EriStream is expected to become the delivery mechanism of choice for providing ISDN plus full PSTN services over a single pair of wires. The only new equipment required in the home is the network terminal unit - the EriStream 9030 - a terminal developed by Ericsson and Telspec. To date over 100,000 units have already been shipped. At the local exchange the PSTN line card is replaced with a standard ISDN BA line card plus a modification to the software to route the PSTN calls over the ISDN line. British Telecom (BT) will be the first Operator in the UK to launch the service, which will be called BT Highway and include 2 options, Business Highway and Home Highway. The introduction of BT's Business and Home Highway service is set to triple the number of digital access lines in the UK. Ericsson expects a similar trend to be followed in many countries around the world. In the UK, Ericsson has been working closely with BT and Marconi Communications to develop the changes at the Local Exchange necessary to provide the service and is providing all the network terminal units for the UK deployment. 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 Paula Wagstaff, Communications Manager, Ericsson Ltd Tel: +44 1444 234354 John Dunbar, Business Group Manager, Home Communication, Ericsson Ltd, tel: +44 1444 234237 Torbjörn Johnson, General Manager Home Communications, Business Unit Public Networks, tel +46 8 719 39 15 Lars Östlund, Press Relations Manager, Ericsson Infocom Systems tel. +46 8 681 2656