MBNL network consolidation project completed by Ericsson

Ericsson consolidated 12,000 shared sites in MBNL's UK network
T-Mobile and Three customers now get far greater 3G coverage
New business model shows how operators can benefit

Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) announces the delivery of more than 12,000 consolidated 3G sites for Mobile Broadband Network Ltd (MBNL), bringing more coverage and capacity for Three and T-Mobile UK customers. Thanks to this active network consolidation project, all 3G sites, transmitters, base station equipment and backhaul connected to the operator's core networks are now fully configured for high speed mobile broadband access.

MBNL is the network joint-venture between Three and Everything Everywhere, the company that runs Orange and T-Mobile in the UK and today's landmark follows three years of intensive effort and investment by MBNL and its partners.

Alongside the customer benefits, Three and Everything Everywhere will see significant savings and environment benefits because of network sharing. This has included the switching off of more than 5,000 sites - more than 2,000 of which have already been fully decommissioned - as part of a project recognized as the largest and most successful integration of two live networks to have occurred anywhere in the world.

Graham Payne, Managing Director, MBNL said "This was an exciting, challenging and ultimately hugely rewarding project for the team at MBNL. My thanks to all who have worked so hard to deliver this fantastic network, special thanks go to our key partners who are rightly proud of their roles in this project".

Under the five-year managed service contract announced in February 2009, Ericsson is the primary service provider for the project and was responsible for network design and deployment, building of sites, capacity management, equipment swaps and vital upgrades. Millions of man-hours were committed to improve speeds and coverage for Three and T-Mobile customers. The consolidation work started in February 2009 and was completed in October 2010. This was done while keeping the two networks running smoothly during the project, which also saw Ericsson deliver the all-important cost and efficiency savings.

Magnus Mandersson, Head of Business Unit Global Services, Ericsson, said: "This was an unparalleled and quite complex managed services and systems integration consolidation project. Its success shows the benefits to partners of network sharing and reflects a new business model that the industry can learn a great deal from. All the partners involved in this network sharing project - not least T-Mobile and Three customers - have all emerged as winners. I'm proud of our success and look forward to supporting and advising MBNL as their managed services partner."