Ericsson Wins Vivo Contract

STOCKHOLM -- Ericsson has been selected by Vivo - the largest mobile operator in Brazil and part of the Portugal Telecom and Telefónica Móviles groups- to manage Vivo's field operations in more than 2,000 sites in the states of Distrito Federal, Goiás, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, São Paulo and Tocantins. The managed services contract spans two years.

The contract represents a breakthrough for Ericsson with Vivo, the leading mobile operator in the Brazilian market, with more than 27 million subscribers. The contract is aligned with Vivo's strategy to reduce operating expenditure in order to create an even stronger position in the competitive Brazilian market.

Vivo's choice of Ericsson as its managed services partner is based on Ericsson's industry leadership in managed services, knowledge about both the operator's existing networks - CDMA and TDMA - as well as Ericsson's extensive local competence and presence. The field operation services will be delivered in a multi-vendor, multi-technology environment including both core and radio networks.

"This services contract underlines Ericsson's strong position in Brazil, an exciting market with healthy competition among operators,"said Anders Runevad, President of Ericsson Brazil. "We are utilizing Ericsson's expert services organization to support Brazilian operators in becoming even more competitive, cost efficient and in focusing on their core businesses."

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