Ericsson demonstrates first live micro radio base station.

STOCKHOLM, Sweden--(BUSINESS WIRE)--September 24, 1996--For the first time ever, Ericsson's new micro radio base station RBS 2301 was demonstrated live on Tuesday, September 24. The place was the GSM Memorandum of Understanding Associations 35th plenary meeting in Hong Kong. Attracting over 300 GSM operators and specialists from around the world, the three-day plenary meeting being held from September 24-27, is a fitting location for the first public operation of Ericsson's lightweight two-transceiver micro radio base station.

Being the world's smallest two-transceiver base station, the Micro RBS 2301 measures only 535 mm by 408 mm by 160 mm. It is very light, easy to install quickly and discreetly, and simple to maintain. But even more important, it can handle an area with 180 subscribers, compared to only 60 for a single transceiver station, and 15 traffic channels, thereby tripling the capacity, referring to the today's solutions of one transceiver.

According to Gretel Holcomb Hoffman, Chairperson of the GSM MoU Association, who also chairs the Hong Kong plenary meeting, the new base station will help maintain the continuing growth of GSM systems worldwide.

"Ericsson's new base station will certainly help the further development of GSM systems, for it will enable operators to significantly expand their network capacity, allowing them to serve even more customers and operate with even greater cost efficiency," says Gretel Holcomb Hoffman. Bengt Nordstrom is Chief Technology Officer of SmarTone Mobile Communications, one of Hong Kong's leading operators. It was with the help of SmarTone the live demonstration could take place since the operator provided transmission and upgraded its system to allow the micro RBS to be interconnected to its network.

"We can already see a lot of potential for this base station here in Hong Kong, because demand among mobile phone users is rising so quickly in this crowded and small territory that we are keen to make maximum use of our existing system," says Bengt Nordstrom. "The Ericsson RBS 2301 should be particularly useful in Hong Kong with its high-rise buildings and congested urban area on account of its light weight and the fact that its easy to install unobtrusively."

The expansion potential of the Micro RBS 2301, plus the fact that it reduces operating costs up to 70 percent in hot spots, makes it highly attractive to operators aiming to maximize network capacity, boost subscriber growth and increase profits. Ericsson has supplied GSM systems to 48 countries and is the leading supplier of GSM equipment worldwide.

Ericsson's 85,000 employees are active in more than 100 countries. Their combined expertise in switching, radio and networking makes Ericsson a world leader in telecommunications.

CONTACT: KATHY EGAN 

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LARS JONSTEG

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