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Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERICY) Ericsson's (NASDAQ:ERIC) pioneering solar-powered site solution has been selected by Digicel Group, the largest mobile telecommunications operator in the Caribbean, to provide energy-lean network coverage in remote areas of Suriname. The solution offers the market's lowest energy consumption, helping reduce operating costs and environmental impact, and its deployment marks a first in South America.
The solution is based on Ericsson's main remote GSM base station RBS 2111, which is one in a series of energy-optimized, innovative base stations from Ericsson. It has a smaller environmental footprint than a standard base station, consuming up to 50 percent less energy.
As part of the agreement, Ericsson will also supply MINI-LINK TN all-outdoor transmission, solar panels and battery back-up solutions. Ericsson will also be responsible for network deployment and systems integration.
Ericsson's solar radio-site solution allows autonomous sites to be deployed in remote areas that have limited access to the electricity grid. It helps reduce total cost of ownership by cutting energy-related operating and maintenance costs. It also improves the environmental performance of mobile networks.
Mario Assaad, Chief Technology Officer for Digicel Group, says: "Ericsson's energy-friendly solution will help lower operational expenditure and reduce environmental impact. By extending coverage in Suriname, we open the door to new revenue streams, giving subscribers access to services on the move, as well as providing communications to people in remote areas for the first time."
Sergio Quiroga da Cunha, President of Ericsson in northern Latin America, says: "This deal marks an important milestone and we are proud to implement the first solar solution in South America. Energy efficiency is a key factor for network optimization: it helps lower total cost of ownership and enables operators to bring affordable communications to subscribers."
This deployment follows a series of initiatives from Ericsson to optimize the energy efficiency of mobile networks by creating solutions that reduce environmental impact and lower operator costs. These initiatives include: GSM power-saving features; the Ericsson Tower Tube; biofuel-powered telecom sites; hybrid diesel/battery back-ups; and the Solar Village Charger, co-developed with Sony Ericsson. Ericsson delivered its first solar-powered sites in 2000 to Maroc Telecom, and has so far provided more than 200 sites in Africa and Southeast Asia.
Notes to editors: Background information on innovative energy efficiency (pdf): www.ericsson.com/press/facts_figures/doc/energy_efficiency.pdf www.ericsson.com/campaign/sustainable_mobile_communications/ Photo library: www.ericsson.com/ericsson/press/photos/alternative_energy.shtml
Ericsson's standard multimedia content is available at the broadcast room: www.ericsson.com/broadcast_room
Ericsson Corporate Responsibility Report 2007 www.ericsson.com/corporate_responsibility
Ericsson is the world's leading provider of technology and services to telecom operators. The market leader in 2G and 3G mobile technologies, Ericsson supplies communications services and manages networks that serve more than 195 million subscribers. The company's portfolio comprises mobile and fixed network infrastructure and broadband and multimedia solutions for operators, enterprises and developers. The Sony Ericsson joint venture provides consumers with feature-rich personal mobile devices.
Ericsson is advancing its vision of 'communication for all' through innovation, technology, and sustainable business solutions. Working in 175 countries, more than 70,000 employees generated revenue of USD 27.9 billion (SEK 188 billion) in 2007. Founded in 1876 and headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, Ericsson is listed on OMX Nordic Exchange Stockholm and NASDAQ.
For more information, visit www.ericsson.com or www.ericsson.mobi.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT
Ericsson Media Relations Phone: +46 8 719 69 92 E-mail: press.relations@ericsson.com
About Ericsson's RBS 2111
RBS 2111 is a radio base station offering wide area coverage using a main-remote concept that needs no site floor space. Its distributed architecture reduces total site costs and makes rollout significantly easier. It provides the best available voice quality and complete GPRS/EDGE mobile data support thanks to the Ericsson BSS feature portfolio. About Digicel Digicel is the largest mobile operator in the Caribbean and new entrant to the Central American market. The company currently has operations in 23 markets with 6.5 million customers. For more information visit http://www.digicelgroup.com.
