Ericsson and Warid Telecom sign managed services contract in Bangladesh

August 17, 2006, Warid Telecom has awarded Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERICY) with a managed services contract for its GSM/GPRS network in Bangladesh. The contract covers the operation, management and maintenance of the core network, backbone transmission and real-time charging/Value Added Services (VAS).

Ericsson will also manage Warid Telecom’s Radio Network in the western part of the country, covering Rajshahi, Khulna, and Barisal areas.

Under the four-year managed services agreement, Ericsson will be fully responsible for the operations, management and maintenance of Warid Telecom’s network upon completion, including commercial launch, network surveillance and assurance service, as well as field and site maintenance, service provisioning and optimization.

Muneer Farooqui, Chief Executive Officer of Warid Telecom International LLC, Bangladesh Operations, says: “There is a huge addressable market for Warid Telecom to tap into in Bangladesh where currently the mobile penetration rate is less than 15%. We are excited with the possibilities of bringing mobile communication to more areas and making it accessible by more people in the country. Warid Telecom is aiming to make the mobile communication even more affordable for the masses of Bangladesh.”

“By having Ericsson to manage and operate our network, we are able to focus our resources on building our branding, sales and marketing activities, strengthening our customer services and developing more services that meet our subscribers’ needs and expectations,” Muneer adds.

Jan Signell, President, Ericsson South East Asia, says: “We are proud of being selected by Warid Telecom in this contract. We have enjoyed a fruitful managed services partnership with them in Pakistan, where Warid has exceeded its own expectation. We are committed to ensure that Warid Telecom repeats similar success in Bangladesh.”

This agreement is an extension to the contract signed earlier this year where Ericsson was chosen by Warid Telecom to supply and implement the complete core and backbone transmission equipment for its nationwide GSM/GPRS network. The network deployment work is progressing as planned and it is expected to be completed, in time with Warid Telecom’s launch plan.

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.

Read more at: www.ericsson.com

About Ericsson’s Managed Services Offering
Ericsson has the telecom industry’s most comprehensive managed services offerings, ranging from designing, building, operating and managing day-to-day operations of a customer’s network, to hosting service applications and enablers, as well as providing network coverage and capacity on demand. As the undisputed leader in managed services, Ericsson has officially announced more than 95 managed services contracts with operators worldwide since 2002. In all current managed services contracts, excluding hosting, Ericsson is managing networks that together serve more than 65 million subscribers worldwide.

About Warid Telecom
Warid Telecom International LLC, Bangladesh Operation (Warid Telecom) was recently awarded a GSM license to launch its cellular services in Bangladesh. Warid Telecom is chaired by a member of the Royal Family of Abu Dhabi, His Highness Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan. It is part of the Dhabi Group, which is a player in telecommunications, hospitality and property, oil exploration and supplies, and automobile industries. Warid Telecom’s stated strategy for its Bangladesh operations is to achieve technical differentiation based on premium quality of service, innovative or differentiated propositions, next-generation or future-proof architectures, and solutions that ensure efficient operation and scalable networks.

Contact Information

Ericsson Media Relations

Ericsson

Contact via E-mail