Ericsson and Sprint Sign Master Purchase Agreement For CDMA Infrastructure Equipment - Company Business and Marketing

Cambridge Telcom Report, Dec 6, 1999

Ericsson Wednesday announced a signed master purchase agreement with Sprint PCS for 1900 MHz CDMA open architecture network equipment. The seven-year agreement enables Sprint PCS to use Ericsson's Compact Radio Base Station (RBS) and Base Station Controller (BSC) products in expanding its nationwide CDMA network.

Through the use of an open interface protocol, the Interoperability Specification (IOS) standard, Ericsson can connect its RBS and BSC equipment to Sprint PCS' existing all-digital network. Sprint PCS and Ericsson strongly support open architecture solutions, which allow operators to implement multi-vendor solutions that leverage their existing backbone networks to deliver more capacity and new value-added features to their customers.

Testing and integration of Ericsson's CDMA equipment has already begun in Sprint PCS' IOS lab.

cdmaOne is one of the fastest growing wireless technologies in the world, currently serving nearly 42 million subscribers. Ericsson's cdmaOne networks deliver the full advantages of CDMA technology for strong performance in mobile, fixed and wireless internet applications. Ericsson's innovative compact radio base stations provide macrocell performance in a microcell package. Ericsson's cdmaOne products offer a clear migration path to cdma2000, enabling operators to evolve their networks to provide the full range of third generation services.

Sprint PCS operates the largest 100 percent digital, 100 percent PCS nationwide wireless network in the United States, already serving the majority of the nation's metropolitan areas including more than 4,000 cities and communities across the country. Sprint PCS has licensed PCS coverage of nearly 270 million people in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For more information, visit the Sprint PCS web site at http://www.sprintpcs.com. Sprint PCS is a wholly-owned tracking group of Sprint Corporation trading on the NYSE under the symbol "PCS."

Ericsson is the leading provider in the new telecoms world, with communications solutions that combine telecom and datacom technologies with freedom of mobility for the user. With more than 100,000 employees in 140 countries, Ericsson simplifies communications for its customers -- network operators, service providers, enterprises and consumers. FMI: http://www.ericsson.se.