Ericsson, Suntel To Deploy CDMA2000 1X Network "

STOCKHOLM -(Dow Jones)- Sweden's Telefon AB LM Ericsson (ERICY) Tuesday said it has signed a sole supplier agreement with Sri Lanka's Suntel Ltd. to deploy an island wide CDMA2000 1X network for voice and data services.

No financial details were disclosed.

Ericsson said deployment will begin shortly with expected commercial availability in the second quarter.

Ericsson said it will provide its comprehensive CDMA2000 1X network solution, including: core and radio and value-added applications such as multimedia messaging service, short messaging service and prepaid.

It will also provide services such as radio network design and optimization, training and network rollout.

Suntel is a joint venture between Swedish telecom company Overseas Telecom AB, Sri Lanka's Metropolitan Group, Townsend Ltd. of Hong Kong, Sri Lanka's National Development Bank, and the International Finance Corp., which is a member of the World Bank Group.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires"

Posted to the site on 29th March 2005