Ericsson swiftly outgrew its Swedish homebase, embarking on international ventures in the early 1880s. Initially exporting to Norway and Finland, Lars Magnus Ericsson recognized opportunities in Russia during the 1890s. The Russian Post and Telegraph Administration became a significant customer, leading to Ericsson establishing a telephone plant in St Petersburg in 1897.
The Russian odyssey, marked by robust growth and profits, took a turn for the worse during the October Revolution when all Ericsson assets were nationalized. Despite long and earnest negotiations with the new Soviet authorities, the Swedish company couldn't salvage its Russian foothold.
In contrast, Ericsson’s early foray into Great Britain remained a success, with the British market comprising half its total sales at the turn of the century. Ericsson opened a sales office in London in 1898, and a manufacturing plant in Beeston near Nottingham in 1903.
Global expansion reached beyond Europe. While operations in Paris, Vienna, and Budapest predated World War I, it was the endeavor across the Atlantic that brought both promise and challenges. In 1907, Buffalo, New York, became home to an Ericsson telephone production plant, where the company hoped to mirror its success in Britain. However, Bell’s market dominance hindered substantial growth.
On the other side of the globe, Ericsson entered Shanghai, China in the early 1890s via sales efforts of former Swedish sea captain, now businessman, Gustaf Öberg. Collaborating with Chinese businessmen, Öberg established the Shanghai Mutual Telephone Company, securing the telephone concession in 1900. He turned to Ericsson for help building the network and the company successfully constructed Shanghai's telephone network.
In the 1920s, Ericsson maintained its global stride, securing concessions worldwide. Initial investments in Mexico, Argentina, Poland, and Finland laid the groundwork for Ericsson's enduring legacy in international telecommunications.