STOCKHOLM -- Telcel and Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) have achieved the world's first commercial implementation of 3GPP standardized MSC Pool technology. This technology is used together with the Ericsson Mobile Softswitch Solution to increase the effective softswitch capacity, while reducing operating expenses and providing efficient network-level redundancy.

Telcel will immediately benefit from the increased capacity of the Ericsson softswitch network, and from the reduced time and effort needed for network planning and routine operation and maintenance.

Telcel's GSM/GPRS/EDGE network is growing rapidly and Ericsson's MSC (Mobile Switching Center) Pool technology is expected to make network expansions easier and faster as it avoids major reconfiguration and re-parenting activities.

Fredrik Alatalo, vice president, Product Area Mobile Core at Ericsson, says: "We are extremely proud to have achieved the world's first commercial implementation of this important new technology on time and to our customer's satisfaction. We are very grateful for the help and close cooperation of Telcel's technical staff in making this happen."

Ericsson AB (Nasdaq: ERIC)