Europe
UK : Leading operator O2 has selected Ericsson as a sole supplier
for its Irish HSDPA-enabled 3G network. Ericsson will also expand
and modernize O2's existing network with Ericsson IP Multimedia Subsystem
(IMS) and the Ericsson Mobile Softswitch solution.
John
Hennessy, managing director, Ericsson Ireland is quoted below.
Under the four-year agreement, Ericsson will provide new 2G and 3G
core network equipment, including mobile softswitch, and upgrade the
access network with HSDPA technology. Ericsson will have the prime
integrator role and will provide network deployment and systems integration
services for building the network. The deployment will start immediately.
O2 Ireland will become the first Irish operator to launch a 3.6Mbps
HSDPA network, providing its 1.6 million customers with the most advanced
mobile network technology in the world.
Ericsson's HSDPA solution will enable O2 Ireland to introduce a new
generation of mobile broadband services, including mobile TV and video,
and mobile-music-related services. With download speeds up to 3.6Mbps,
O2 subscribers will also enjoy a richer communication experience.
O2 has taken important steps to an all-IP network. Ericsson IMS and
Mobile Softswitch will bring both flexibility and cost efficiency.
O2 will be able to offer a richer user experience; with one common
system for all broadband services, users will have the freedom to
access any multimedia service with the most convenient device at any
given moment.
Danuta Gray, CEO, O2 Ireland, says: "Ericsson's state-of-the-art
technology and experience will allow us to provide a best-in-class
end-to-end customer experience. It will also enable us to make a giant
leap forward on the Irish mobile broadband market, remove the interoperability
complexities of dual-vendor networks and shorten the lead time for
new services."
John Hennessy, managing director, Ericsson Ireland, says: "We
are honored to be O2's partner in transforming and expanding its network,
enabling mobile broadband and the multimedia era and we look forward
to a strong long-term relationship."
Ericsson's HSDPA solution will enable download speeds of up to 14.4Mbps
later this year. The advanced technology lets operators more than
double their system capacity and cuts response times for interactive
services. On average, users will be able to download four times faster
than with current 3G connections using existing PC cards, and 20 times
faster than with a GSM/GPRS connection.
Ericsson is the leader in IMS and mobile softswitch, with more than
50 mobile softswitch networks in full commercial service and with
21 IMS system contracts for commercial launch. Ericsson has 150 mobile
softswitch contracts or trials in progress worldwide and more than
50 additional IMS trials.
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.
