Ericsson has been awarded a contract by mobilkom austria to supply radio base stations for the expansion of its UMTS network. The frame agreement lasts through 2007. Delivery of base stations will start immediately.
The agreement includes a comprehensive customer support contract to ensure high-level vendor support. Ericsson will provide guaranteed service levels to secure network performance regarding hardware and software functionality. Ericsson will provide continuous access to the latest software releases through its software base subscription service.
"Ericsson is proud to be a UMTS supplier to mobilkom austria," says Kristian Teär, President of Market Unit Germany, Austria and Switzerland. "As the world leader in mobile networks we will provide mobilkom austria's innovative UMTS strategies with first class support and the latest mobile network technology."
"As the leading Austrian mobile operator we are expected to provide top quality and reliability. This was the reason that mobilkom austria chose Ericsson, one of the top system suppliers for the new mobile network generation UMTS. The most important criteria in choosing a supplier was a strong commitment for UMTS. Already in April 2003, Ericsson made it possible for mobilkom austria to offer UMTS-based services to their customers for the first time in Austria," states Dr. Boris Nemsic, CEO mobilkom austria and COO Wireless, Telekom Austria.
In June 2001, mobilkom austria signed one of Ericsson's first UMTS contracts. The first roll-out comprised a core network and radio base stations (UTRAN) and was deployed in September 2002. By the end of 2003 mobilkom austria achieved about 50% population coverage with a nationwide radio network in Austria.
Ericsson is shaping the future of Mobile and Broadband Internet communication 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/press
For further information, please contact:
Vivienne Almqvist,
Ericsson Communications
Phone: +46 70 526 2231
E-mail: press.relations@ericsson.com
Gerhard Gindl
Ericsson Austria, Communications
Phone: +43 1 81100 4046,
Fax: +43 664 100 7384
E-mail: gerhard.gindl@ericsson.com
About mobilkom austria
mobilkom austria was founded in 1996, and since then has remained Telekom Austria Group's most successful venture. By end of 2003, mobilkom austria group counted more than 4,7 million customers and 3656 employees - bringing revenue of 2.030,2 million EUR. By the end of 2003 the EBITDA rose to 727,1 million EUR. mobilkom austria has passed another milestone - Europe's first national UMTS network was launched on September 25, 2002 and the customer launch of the third generation started on April 25, 2003.
