Bangalore: Ericsson and India's Tata Tele Services Limited (TTSL) have signed a contract to deploy CDMA2000 1X wireless infrastructure in India.

The contract includes deployment of Ericsson's end-to-end CDMA2000 1X network solution in the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka circles. In addition, Ericsson will provide core network equipment in other TTSL circles.

"India offers one of the largest wireless opportunities in the world. The country has experienced immense growth in mobile subscriptions within the last year, and currently has approximately a two per cent cellular penetration rate," said Åke Persson, president of Ericsson Mobile Systems CDMA.

"The growth potential in India is tremendous. Ericsson is very pleased to be a key supplier in this growth market and is honored to partner with Tata Tele Services in bringing advanced wireless services to their customers."

Deployment will begin immediately and the network is expected to be put into service in Q1 2004.

"As we bring advanced voice and data services to our customers throughout India, it is crucial that we partner with a trusted vendor of repute like Ericsson. We believe that their CDMA2000 solution will allow us to effectively provide advanced wireless services and meet the demand for capacity growth," said Firdose Vandrevala, chairman of TTSL.

This contract further strengthens Ericsson's momentum in the CDMA industry. Within the last year Ericsson has signed CDMA2000 contracts with 15 CDMA operators worldwide.

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.

Agencies