Regulatory environment changes

Telecommunications is an industry subject to particular regulation and regulatory changes affect both our customers’ and our own operations. For example, regulations imposing more stringent, time-consuming or costly planning and zoning requirements or building approvals for radio base stations and other network infrastructure could adversely affect the timing and costs of network construction or expansion, and ultimately the commercial launch and success of these networks. Similarly, tariff and roaming regulations or rules on network neutrality could also affect operators’ ability or willingness to invest in network infrastructure, which in turn could affect the sales of our systems and services. Also radio frequency spectrum allocation between different types of usage may affect operator spending adversely or force us to develop new products to be able to compete.

License fees, environmental, health and safety, privacy and other regulatory changes, in general or particular to our industry, may increase costs and restrict operations for network operators and service providers or us. Also indirect impacts of such changes could affect our business adversely even though the specific regulations may not apply directly to our products or us.

Country-specific political, economic and regulatory risks

We conduct business throughout the world and are subject to the effects of general global economic conditions as well as conditions unique to a specific country or region. We conduct business in more than 180 countries, with a significant proportion of our sales to emerging markets in Asia Pacific, Latin America, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa. We expect that sales to such emerging markets will represent an increasing portion of total sales, as developing nations and regions around the world increase their investments in telecommunications. We already have extensive operations in many of these countries, which involve certain risks, including volatility in gross domestic product, civil disturbances, economic and political instability, nationalization of private assets and the imposition of exchange controls.

Changes in regulatory requirements, tariffs and other trade barriers, price or exchange controls or other governmental policies in the countries where we do business could limit our operations and make the repatriation of profits difficult. In addition, the uncertainty of the legal environment in some regions could limit our ability to enforce our rights. In addition we must comply with the export control regulations of the countries and any trade embargoes in force at the time of sale and/or delivery. Although we seek to comply with all such regulations, even unintentional violations could have material adverse effects on our business, operational results and brand.

Compliance with high standards of corporate governance

Ericsson applies mandatory corporate governance statutes and rules, such as the Swedish Corporate Governance Code and is also committed to several corporate responsibility and environmental initiatives. To ensure that our operations are executed in accordance with these requirements, our management system includes a robust corporate culture and a Code of Business Ethics as well as policies and directives to govern our processes and operations. We regularly perform communication and training in these areas, and we monitor and audit internal compliance with the policies and directives as well as our suppliers’ adherence to our Supplier Code of Conduct. There is however no guarantee that violations will not occur, which could have material adverse effects on our brand, reputation and business.

Compliance with environmental, health and safety regulations

We are subject to certain environmental, health and safety laws and regulations that affect our operations, facilities and products in each of the jurisdictions in which we operate. We believe that we are in compliance with all material laws and regulations. However, there is a risk that we may have to incur expenditures to cover environmental and health liabilities to maintain compliance with current or future laws and regulations or to undertake any necessary remediation. It is difficult to reasonably estimate the future impact of environmental matters, including potential liabilities. This is due to several factors, particularly the length of time often involved in resolving such matters.

Potential health risks related to electromagnetic fields

The mobile telecommunications industry is subject to claims that mobile handsets and other devices that generate electromagnetic fields expose users to health risks. At present, a substantial number of scientific studies conducted by various independent research bodies have indicated that electromagnetic fields, at levels within the limits prescribed by public health authority safety standards and recommendations, cause no adverse effects to human health. However, any perceived risk or new scientific findings of adverse health effects of mobile communication devices and equipment could adversely affect us through a reduction in sales or through liability claims. Although Ericsson’s products are designed to comply with all current safety standards and recommendations regarding electromagnetic fields, we cannot guarantee that we or the jointly owned Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications or ST-Ericsson will not become the subject of product liability claims or be held liable for such claims or be required to comply with future regulatory changes that may have an adverse effect on our business.