Ericsson has announced it is closing its Australian research center, with the loss of 450 jobs. This is part of a global reduction in R&D across the company's global operations in the last 18 months and will impact 450 staff in both Melbourne and Sydney over the next six to nine months.
The research facilities specialise in key global platform, signalling and service layer products that are integrated into global product offerings; therefore, the closure does not impact local customers.
Anders Wanman, Vice President and General Manager for Ericsson Core Network Development, said yesterday in Sweden: "This in no way reflects on the competence and performance of our R&D group in Australia, but underlines the tough decisions that are being taken in the current environment."
Ric Clark, Managing Director of Ericsson AsiaPacificLab, said: "Naturally our staff are extremely disappointed, but we will refocus to complete our current assignments and transfer our responsibilities with the competence and professionalism that has been the hallmark of the organisation for over 20 years.
"With over 75 registered patents on core switch and signalling technology AsiaPacificLab has influenced global telecommunication standards. Amongst its many product achievements it developed the 'call queuing system', the basis of today's call centre technology, recognised by the Powerhouse Museum as one of the top 100 Australian inventions of the 20th Century along side the Hills Hoist and Victa motor mower. The main New York AT&T switching center that performed faultlessly during September 11 was powered by an AsiaPacificLab processor.
"It is a sad day for R&D in Australia with no upside except that the local industry will have access now to some of the finest communications and software engineers in the world as AsiaPacificLab completes its assignments," he concluded.'"
Posted to the site on 3rd October 2002
Posted to: www.cellular-news.com/story/7653.php