Maxis Communications Berhad ("Maxis") today signed a contract with Ericsson for the expansion of Maxis' 3G network, including HSDPA upgrade, and the extension of its Managed Services contract. Ericsson will be responsible for managing and operating Maxis' 3G network and equipment in all areas of 3G coverage. With the signing of this contract, identified under Phase II of Maxis' 3G network rollout plans, Ericsson will provide a significant portion of Maxis' 3G radio network infrastructure.

When completed, Maxis’ 3G coverage will be available in more areas in the Klang Valley and in the southern city of Johor Baru. Ericsson will also provide Maxis with HSDPA upgrade that will enable Maxis to be one of the first to launch HSDPA in South East Asia.

Ericsson was involved in the first phase of deployment of Maxis’ 3G network in the Klang Valley and is already operating and maintaining its existing 3G network.

Edward Ying, Chief Operating Officer of Maxis, says: “It has been our priority from the beginning to provide quality Maxis3G network and services within high data usage areas. Now we need to expand our 3G network to cover more areas and customers”.

“Ericsson has proven to be invaluable in helping us launch and deliver new 3G services to our customers, and we are confident that this partnership will be further enhanced through phase II of our 3G implementation programme,” he adds.

President of Ericsson South East Asia, Jan Signell, says: “This agreement reinforces the strong partnership between Ericsson and Maxis. Our teams have been working very closely over the past two years, and have come a long way. We have put into place sound work processes and established stringent KPIs that have enabled Maxis to have one of the highest quality 3G networks in the world”.

“We are also pleased that Maxis has chosen us for the HSDPA upgrade as Ericsson HSDPA represents a natural, fully standardized evolution of UMTS that will improve the peak data rate to as high as 14 Mbit/s. With this upgrade, Maxis will have more than twice the system capacity within the current radio spectrum, which will enable it to deliver more advanced mobile broadband services such as Internet and corporate access. Its unprecedented data rates will allow Maxis customers to download audio, video and large files or attachments significantly faster than with traditional UMTS,” adds Signell.

Ericsson is the world’s market leader in GSM/WCDMA, with a 35 per cent global market share in GSM/GPRS/EDGE/WCDMA. Ericsson has commercial agreements with 60 out of the 130+ WCDMA licence holders worldwide; and is a supplier to 41 out of 73 operators who have launched commercial WCDMA services

Ericsson is shaping the future of Mobile and Broadband Internet communications through its continuous technology leadership. Providing innovative solutions in more than 140 countries, Ericsson is helping to create the most powerful communication companies in the world.

Read more at http://www.ericsson.com/press

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Azlyn Abd Rahman, Media Relations, Ericsson Malaysia
Phone: +60 3 8314 6066; Fax: +60 3 8314 6069

About Ericsson Managed Services
Ericsson has the telecom industry’s most comprehensive managed services offerings, covering management of day-to-day operations of a customer's network and can also include managed capacity for efficient network build out wherever and whenever needed, as well as hosting of applications and content management. As the undisputed industry leader in managed services, Ericsson has officially announced well over 50 managed services contracts with operators worldwide since 2002. In all current managed services contracts, excluding hosting, Ericsson is managing networks that together serve over 43 million subscribers worldwide.

About Maxis Communications Berhad
Maxis is Malaysia's premier telecommunications company and market leader that provides high quality voice and data services to more than 6.6 million customers. Its mobile postpaid and prepaid services are offered under the maxis and Hotlink brands respectively. The company reaffirmed its leading position through a clear strategy of developing premium brands, providing quality network and customer services and introducing innovative services and products. This includes being the first to launch prepaid maxis3G services, as well as the maxis3G Connect data card. In support of its mobile business, Maxis also operates an international portal as well as a domestic fixed line network which offers voice and data services to business customers. Its broadband infrastructure includes fibre optic, microwave and VSAT technologies. Maxis also operates in Indonesia through subsidiary, PT Natrindo Telepon Seluler. For more information on Maxis, please visit http://www.maxis.com.my.