Ericsson wins GSM expansion contract in China

Ericsson wins GSM expansion contract in China Ericsson has signed a USD 68 million (SEK 580 million) contract with Jiangsu Mobile Communications Corporation (JMCC) for GSM network expansion in the Jiangsu province. This is the fourth GSM expansion project Ericsson has won in this eastern province of China. "We have developed our long-term and good cooperation with Ericsson," says Mr. He Ning, General Manager of JMCC. "Based on the principal of mutual benefits, and with Ericsson's state-of-the-art technology, we will continue our partnership with Ericsson by launching in the near future WAP and other GPRS-based services." The capacity of JMCC's network in the province will increase to 2.35 million GSM subscribers after the expansion is completed in October. Nanjing Ericsson Communications Company Ltd., one of Ericsson's joint ventures in China, will provide the equipment. "Ericsson's advanced system equipment and quality services were the keys to this contract," says Michael Ricks, President of Ericsson (China) Co., Ltd. "This is an example of Ericsson's strategy of localization by leveraging the capabilities and expertise of Nanjing Ericsson Communications Co., Ltd." This latest contract further enhances Ericsson's leadership position for GSM infrastructure in the province. Ericsson started its cooperation with JMCC in 1995 when it obtained its first GSM contract in the province. In 1998, Ericsson delivered one of China's first GSM 1800 MHz systems to JMCC. 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 Johan Wiklund, Ericsson Corporate Communications Phone: +46 70 560 0134; E-mail: johan.wiklund@lme.ericsson.se Tu Min, Deputy Corporate Communications Manager Ericsson (China) Company Ltd. Phone: +86 10 6561 9988 Li Hongming, Sales Director Region Central, Ericsson (China) Company Ltd. Phone: +86 21 6218 3399 About Ericsson in China Ericsson China has more than 3,800 employees, 23 offices in different parts of the country and 8 joint ventures that provide a full range of communications solutions and services. About ENC Nanjing Ericsson Communications Co., Ltd. (ENC) was founded in September 1992 in Nanjing, the capital of the Jiangsu province. Ericsson has recently nominated ENC to be the Supply Center of Switching and Radio Base Station Systems for Ericsson's Asia-Pacific region. ENC's new plant, with a total area of more than 12,400 square meters, is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities. ENC has achieved fast growth over the past seven years since its establishment. In 1999, the export growth was five times that of the previous year. The company has also been honored as an outstanding foreign-invested company by the Chinese government.