Hi Maurice/Tom, all--don't know BCE charge, will have to check.
Re China--The battle over the Asia standard continues:
Thursday November 7 9:45 AM EDT
Ericsson signs $280 million expansion contracts with Guangdong
Mobile Communications
STOCKHOLM, Sweden--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 7, 1996--Ericsson today signed major expansion contracts
with the Guangdong Mobile Communications Corporation valued at $280 million which will bring increased
capacity, enhanced coverage as well as leading edge technology into Guangdong Province, China.
The contracts include the introduction of DCS 1800 technology - Personal Communications System based on the
global GSM standard - and expansion of subscriber capacity for digital GSM systems in Guangdong.
After the completion of the project in 1997, the GSM capacity in Guangdong will reach 2.5 million and the total
mobile phone subscriber capacity in the province will be around 4 million. Commenting on the contract, Cui Xun,
Director of Guangdong Posts and Telecommunications Administration, said," These contracts mark a new
milestone in the development of mobile communications in Guangdong as they're by far the largest we've ever
had both in terms of size and investment. Following the completion of these contracts in 1997, we'll be much
better-positioned to provide even better coverage and services to our customers."
"When these expansion contracts are completed in 1997, the capacity and coverage of the digital network in
Guangdong will surpass that of the analogue network, but being accomplished in less than half the time it took to
establish the analogue network," said Mr. Olof Lenneman, President of Ericsson China.
"With the introduction of DCS 1800 to Guangdong, we are seeing the beginning of a new network structure -
using both 900 and 1800 MHz bands - that will take the network capacity well beyond what was originally
envisaged only 2-3 years ago," Mr. Lenneman added.
The contracts were signed in the presence of visiting Swedish Industry and Energy Minister Mr. Anders
Sundstrom and Dr. Lars Ramqvist, President & Chief Executive Officer of Ericsson. Ericsson is the largest
supplier to Guangdong, and China is now Ericsson's second largest market in the world.
Ericsson's 90,000 employees are active in more than 120 countries. Their combined expertise in switching, radio
and networking makes Ericsson a world leader in telecommunications.
CONTACT: Ericsson, New York
Kathy Egan/Lars Jonsteg, 212/685-4030 |
