Launch: Ericsson Networks Software drives network evolution

• Ericsson's first network-wide software launch, Networks Software 14B, focuses on enhancing network performance and enabling operator growth
• Release highlights include doubled app coverage for all devices, speeds up to 450 Mbps for LTE and enhanced HD video conferencing
• Software-driven network evolution enables operators to respond to quickly changing network requirements

Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC), announces the industry's first coordinated network-wide software launch, Networks Software 14B, which is focused on enhancing network performance and enabling operator growth. The over 200 new and enhanced features included in the release are rigorously tested to ensure smooth rollout. Ericsson tests the software on network equipment with devices from all major vendors.

Performance-enhancing highlights include LTE Carrier Aggregation for three carriers, to reach peak data speeds of 450 Mbps; LTE Uplink Coordinated Multi Point (UL CoMP), which can provide twice the app coverage for all devices; and Ericsson-unique features for WCDMA, such as Ericsson's Dynamic Power Sharing feature which gives all devices up to 50 percent faster data speed.

Ken Rehbehn, Principal Analyst, Yankee Group, says: "Software is now just as important as the hardware in a network. As network equipment providers drive software innovation, comprehensive release packaging -- along with tools and processes for rapid software roll-out across massively scaled mobile and fixed networks -- provides operators needed agility to confidently launch new capabilities while boosting network performance."

Many of today's solutions, such as voice over LTE (VoLTE) require software interaction between virtually every part of a network. Ericsson has industrialized upgradability, meeting the requirement for large-scale software release processes that ensure a fast and reliable way to move to the latest software release for telecom operators.

Johan Wibergh, Executive Vice President and head of Networks, Ericsson, says: "We promise and deliver proven network quality and industrialized upgradability for any size network. Traffic is growing, but also changing and in order to keep pace network evolution must be driven by software. Nowadays, a network is only as good as the software release it is running and by staying on the latest release operators will benefit from enhanced performance and growth."

One new feature addressing operator growth is the Virtual Home Gateway. It offers personalized service chaining for devices and users while simplifying operator network management.

The enterprise segment is addressed with the external release of IMS software functionality for VisualCom, enabling HD video conferencing that is as easy and reliable as a phone call.

Upgrading to the latest software release means getting all the benefits from previous releases combined with new functionality to further enhance capability in the network. Measurements from live commercial networks show that operators the run the latest release of network software have on average 30 percent better downlink speeds and a staggering 50 percent improvement in uplink speeds compared to operators running on older software.

Release 14B also adds features to further guarantee network robustness. Critical nodes get enhanced redundancy, for example Inter-chassis redundancy in the SSR and Geo-redundancy in the Blade System. Networks Software 14B will be available for network roll-out later this year, when all features and functionality have been tested and confirmed in live networks. Network Software 14B will be demonstrated in Ericsson's Hall 2 at Mobile World Congress.

During Mobile World Congress 2014 in Barcelona, Spain, Ericsson is showing world-leading technology and service capabilities and innovations. We believe that anything that benefits from a connection will be connected, and we lead the way with solutions that drive the development in mobility, broadband and the cloud, creating the foundation for eco-systems and transformation across industries. We are your guide in the Networked Society.

Welcome to our media and analyst briefing, Monday, February 24, 08:30am CET. You can find us at MWC in Hall 2, Stand 2S60. RSVP to media.relations@ericsson.com

Follow us during the event using @Ericsson and @Networked_Soc and join the discussion using #MWC14.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Ericsson's Mobile World Congress media kit

Download high-resolution photos and broadcast-quality video at www.ericsson.com/press

About Ericsson Networks Software

Ericsson is a world-leading provider of communications technology and services. We are enabling the Networked Society with efficient real-time solutions that allow us all to study, work and live our lives more freely, in sustainable societies around the world.

Our offering comprises services, software and infrastructure within Information and Communications Technology for telecom operators and other industries. Today 40 percent of the world's mobile traffic goes through Ericsson networks and we support customers' networks servicing more than 2.5 billion subscribers. 

We are more than 110,000 people working with customers in more than 180 countries. Founded in 1876, Ericsson is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden. In 2013 the company's net sales were SEK 227.4 billion (USD 34.9 billion). Ericsson is listed on NASDAQ OMX, Stockholm and NASDAQ, New York stock exchanges.

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