Yoigo, part of TeliaSonera, has inked an exclusive four-year deal with Ericsson for the expansion and upgrade of its existing HSPA network to HSPA+ technology. The Swedish vendor will supply Yoigo with radio access, circuit switched core, packet switched core, expansion and upgrade of charging systems. The Spanish operator has also prolonged its existing managed services contract with Ericsson for four years.

Yoigo, a subsidiary of TeliaSonera and Spain's fourth-largest operator, has entered a new agreement with Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) to extend its current 3G HSPA mobile broadband network. The agreement makes Ericsson Yoigo's single vendor of the latest technology in the radio access and core network and the only managed services partner.

The extension will increase Yoigo's network coverage and meet the needs of the operator's growing number of subscribers. It will also allow the company to increase its profitability and competitiveness and get ready for 4G/LTE. The agreement runs until December 2014 - and the existing managed services contract that was due to end in September this year has been extended until the end of 2014.
Announcing the agreement at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Yoigo's Chief Executive Officer, Johan Andsjö, said that the new agreement represents the company's commitment to the Spanish market. In a country with 55 million mobile subscribers - a 112.5 percent penetration rate - the competition between mobile operators is tough.

Johan Andsjö, CEO of Yoigo, says: "Our customer base has grown in a short amount of time; increasing 51% in 2010. By extending the existing managed services agreement with Ericsson, we guarantee that our customers maintain the high level of satisfaction that we have achieved."

Ingemar Naeve, Head of Ericsson Spain, says: "Being Yoigo's sole managed services partner from their start of operations in 2006 makes it extra special for us to continue to extend their mobile broadband network and enable them to enter the next era of 4G/LTE."
Deliveries will include radio access, circuit switched core, packet switched core, expansion and upgrade of charging systems.

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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 2 billion subscribers and has the leading position in managed services. The company's portfolio comprises 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 being the "prime driver in an all-communicating world" through innovation, technology, and sustainable business solutions. Working in 175 countries, more than 90,000 employees generated revenue of SEK 203.3 billion (USD 28.2 billion) in 2010. Founded in 1876 with the headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden, Ericsson is listed on NASDAQ OMX, Stockholm and NASDAQ New York.
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