Ericsson wins GSM microcell contract in UAE

Ericsson wins GSM microcell contract in UAE Ericsson has signed a contract with Etisalat valued at USD 65 million (SEK 515 million) for a microcell expansion of their GSM system in the United Arab Emirates. The expanded system will be operational by mid 1999. The project with operator, Emirates Telecommunications Corporation Etisalat, will further expand the network in the areas of Dubai and Al Ain as well as expand the existing GSM microcell network with Ericsson's Radio Base Station RBS 2302. This makes the contract one of the biggest orders ever for Ericsson GSM microcell equipment, and another breakthrough for the microcell solutions in GSM networks. Apart from the company's new high capacity micro RBS 2302, Ericsson will also supply other radio base stations, AXE and service solutions, as well as Operation and Maintenance systems, to ensure further improved coverage, capacity and enhanced features for consumers. The Ericsson RBS 2302 can accommodate up to six radio transceivers, giving it a capacity increase of 15 times compared to what is provided by a single- transceiver micro base station. Starting with a two-transceiver system, extra capacity can easily be added to the RBS 2302 in stages to accommodate for an increasing number of users and to further improve network quality. Microcell implementations are becoming more and more popular and cost- effective in GSM networks, especially in capacity 'hot spots' like downtown areas, shopping malls and business districts. With Ericsson's micro base station solutions it is easy to add further capacity to existing GSM networks. Ericsson's first delivery of mobile systems to Etisalat was an analog network to the UAE in 1988, followed by a GSM system to Dubai in 1995. GSM is the world's most widely deployed wireless communications standard. Ericsson is the global market leader in GSM, with close to half of the world's 140 million GSM subscribers connected by Ericsson systems. More than 125 operators in some 65 countries around the world rely on GSM systems 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 Sven Hellsten, RBS 2000 Micro Product Manager, Ericsson Radio Systems Phone: +46 8 757 0399, +46 70 534 0522, E-mail: sven.hellsten@era.ericsson.se Jerry Carlsson, Market Operation Manager, Ericsson Technical Office, Abu Dhabi, UAE Phone: +971 2 724 222, +971 50 642 1528 Johan Wiklund, Ericsson Corporate Communications Phone: +46 70 560 0134; E-mail: johan.wiklund@lme.ericsson.se