Broadband technologies have the potential to strengthen local economies, social and community networks and can reduce society's environmental footprint. Teleworking, enabled by faster data communications with greater capacity, can reduce reliance on transportation. With an online administrative system, public services can be more cost-efficient and delivered when and where people want them.

With our full-service broadband capabilities, Ericsson is poised to play a proactive role in this revolution. 2006 acquisitions strengthened our fixed broadband portfolio. In addition to providing the infrastructure, Ericsson is active in developing end-user services that are enabled by this technology.

Changing demographics will spur the demand to revamp health care systems in all societies – to cut waiting lists, improve patient care and drive overall efficiencies. In 2006, Ericsson Health Solutions launched the second release of a telemedicine solution for outpatients with chronic illnesses such as heart and lung disease. Through the solution, non-critical patients can return home with devices to monitor their vital signs, reducing costs for care, as well as enhancing patients’ sense of security and doctors’ insight into patients’ well-being.

By fusing different mobile technologies, patient parameters like blood pressure and heart rate are transferred to medical specialists situated far away from the patient. The system is designed for easy use by patients and integrates a secure web interface for doctors to access measurement results in the hospital. The solution is based on Bluetooth, an Ericsson invention, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) that provides the mobile communications, and Wireless LAN that facilitates multi-access in hospitals.

In 2006, it was the first product of its kind to be CE labelled in accordance with the EU Medical Device Directive. Ericsson complies with ISO 13485, a quality management certification for medical devices.