Global LTE smartphone market starts with Ericsson network functionality

Consumers can use the full potential of LTE smartphones now also with support for telecom quality voice and SMS
New network functionality provided by Circuit Switched Fallback (CSFB) technology enables best available data speeds for smartphones combined with telecom quality voice services from operators’ existing 2G and 3G networks
Ericsson has successfully deployed CSFB in several networks around the world
Worldwide, about 150 million people currently have access to LTE networks, which are now mostly used for data services. During the second half of 2011, Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) began the commercial deployment of CSFB technology, providing consumers with telecom quality voice and SMS services in LTE smartphones on the global GSM/WCDMA market. This 3GPP standardized functionality has now been deployed in several networks in North America, Europe and the Asia Pacific region.

"We now introduce telecom grade voice services to work in combination with the superior data connection speeds that are available in LTE smartphones for the global GSM/WCDMA market. These commercial deployments of Circuit Switched Fallback prove the market maturity of this new technology and demonstrate Ericsson’s technology leadership and commitment to helping operators launch services on the latest consumer devices," says Magnus Furustam, Head of Core & IMS at Business Unit Networks at Ericsson.

Circuit Switched Fallback network functionality means that mobile broadband data traffic is run over LTE, or HSPA when LTE coverage is not available, while voice and SMS services are provided using GSM or WCDMA circuit-switched networks.

CSFB is a software upgrade to operators’ core and radio networks, which include circuit-switched core (Mobile Softswitch Solution), Evolved Packet Core (Serving GPRS Support Node-Mobility Management Entity or SGSN-MME) and radio access (GSM, WCDMA and LTE).

Ericsson also offers a complete end-to-end solution portfolio for providing voice over LTE based on VoLTE (GSMA IR92), enabling the commercial launch of telecom quality voice and new multimedia services using pure all-IP LTE networks.

Notes to editors:

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 180 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.

www.twitter.com/ericssonpress
www.facebook.com/technologyforgood
www.youtube.com/ericssonpress