Japan's first HSPA Evolution network has been launched in the country's largest metropolitan cities, including Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama and Nagoya, enabling peak data rates of 21Mbps. The deployment is part of a major expansion and upgrade agreement between Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) and leading mobile broadband operator, EMOBILE.

EMOBILE's new mobile broadband services, launched on July 24, are powered by HSPA Evolution, Ericsson's latest high-speed broadband access technology. The 21Mbps peak rate adds a new dimension to the broadband experience, providing significantly faster internet browsing and file downloads. It increases network capacity and allows more customers to enjoy higher mobile broadband speeds.

Eric Gan, Representative Director, President & COO of EMOBILE, says: "Deploying the first HSPA Evolution network in Japan is an important milestone for EMOBILE. Ericsson's HSPA Evolution technology provides us with the fastest level, most advanced mobile broadband network in the country and gives our customers a true mobile broadband experience."

Fredrik Alatalo, President of Ericsson Japan, says: "EMOBILE's successful launch of 21Mbps significantly improves the mobile broadband user experience and also provides new business opportunities. We are proud to be part of this exciting launch and will continue to use our leading technology and services to support EMOBILE in the future."

Under the agreement, Ericsson is the sole supplier of the core network and core systems integration services. Ericsson is also the main supplier for upgrading the existing WCDMA/HSPA radio access network with HSPA Evolution, including network deployment services.

EMOBILE is a leader in mobile broadband in Japan and has been working closely with Ericsson since 2006. As of July 31, 2009, EMOBILE's subscribers numbered more than 1.74 million.

About Ericsson
Ericsson is the world's leading provider of technology and services to telecom operators. Ericsson is the leader in 2G, 3G and 4G mobile technologies, and provides support for networks with over 1 billion subscribers and has a leading position in managed services. The company's portfolio comprises of mobile and fixed network infrastructure, telecom services, software, broadband and multimedia solutions for operators, enterprises and the media industry. The Sony Ericsson and ST-Ericsson joint ventures provide consumers with feature-rich personal mobile devices.

Ericsson is advancing its vision of "to be the prime driver in an all-communicating world" through innovation, technology, and sustainable business solutions. Working in 175 countries, more than 75,000 employees generated revenue of SEK 209 billion (USD 32.2 billion) in 2008. Founded in 1876 with the headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden, Ericsson is listed on NASDAQ OMX Stockholm and NASDAQ New York.