Ericsson provides fixed-broadband access to all three operators in China

Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) has been awarded contracts with the three telecom operators in China to provide fixed broadband access. Millions of people in an initial nine Chinese provinces will now be able to enjoy high-definition TV, as well as high-speed broadband and quality voice services.

China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom are upgrading their networks with the latest available technology to provide the enhanced services to subscribers in Anhui, Guangdong, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Hubei, Liaoning, Shandong, Shanghai and Sichuan provinces to enjoy services such as quality voice, high-speed broadband and high-definition IPTV.

For these projects, Ericsson is to roll out what are known as FTTH networks for all three operators, using state-of-the-art broadband fiber-access technology (GPON or Gigabit Passive Optical Network), and its patented air-blown fiber solution. Ericsson will also provide a range of professional services including competence development, network design and optimization, support services and consultancy.

Mats H Olsson, President of Ericsson Greater China, says: “It is exciting to see all three Chinese telecom operators deploying fiber networks across the country to deliver data-thirsty, high-quality services. These initial rollouts in China, as well as the endorsements from around the world, have demonstrated yet again that cost-effective optical fiber solutions are becoming the leading technology for fixed deployment.”

Ericsson is the leading supplier of GPON systems across the globe. Over the years, Ericsson has been one of the top contributors to numerous industry standardization organizations, including the Full Service Access Network (FSAN) and Broadband Forum. An FSAN-driven roadmap and industry standards ensure the complete Optical Line Terminal /Optical Network Terminal interoperability of Ericsson’s GPON solution.

Notes to editors:
Ericsson’s multimedia content is available at the broadcast room:
www.ericsson.com/broadcast_room

Ericsson is the world’s leading provider of technology and services to telecom operators. Ericsson is the leader in 2G, 3G and 4G mobile technologies, and provides support for networks with over 1 billion subscribers and has a leading position in managed services. The company’s portfolio comprises of mobile and fixed network infrastructure, telecom services, software, broadband and multimedia solutions for operators, enterprises and the media industry. The Sony Ericsson and ST-Ericsson joint ventures provide consumers with feature-rich personal mobile devices.

Ericsson is advancing its vision of “to be the prime driver in an all-communicating world” through innovation, technology, and sustainable business solutions. Working in 175 countries, more than 75,000 employees generated revenue of SEK 209 billion (USD 32.2 billion) in 2008. Founded in 1876 with the headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden, Ericsson is listed on OMX NASDAQ, Stockholm and NASDAQ New York.

www.ericsson.com
www.ericsson.mobi
www.twitter.com/ericssonpress

About Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON)
Gigabit Passive Optical Networks (GPON) build on a series of technology enhancements that extend and improve on earlier forms of Passive Optical Networks (PON). Like its predecessors, GPON is a point-to-multipoint technology in which a single optical port (Optical Line Terminal, or OLT) communicates, by means of an optical splitter, with multiple subscriber devices (an Optical Network Terminal, or ONT) over common optical fiber. In point-to-point technologies, by contrast, each OLT is connected by a dedicated fiber to a single ONT. Sharing the OLT port and a substantial part of the fiber cable plant reduces the costs of opto-electronics, cabling and civil works.

About Ericsson’s Fiber-To-The-Home solution
Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH) is a mass-market broadband technology. FTTH enables the simultaneous transportation of several services, such as very fast internet, telephony and television, via one optic fiber. Using FTTH, the access network can deliver speed of 100Mbps and even up to 1Gbps. This creates an access network with nearly unrestricted possibilities. This technology supports a complete open business model in which consumers can choose any service provider. Ericsson’s offering in the areas of fixed broadband access and converged networks was significantly strengthened by the acquisition of Entrisphere in 2007, adding a market-leading GPON platform as a complement to the existing fiber P2P solutions. Both types of fiber solutions form part of Ericsson’s EDA portfolio, along with the broadband DSL solutions.