STOCKHOLM -- Vodafone Hutchison Australia (VHA) has chosen Ericsson ERIC, -0.72% as a sole supplier to replace and upgrade the complete core network for their national network. With the latest core technology, including Ericsson's solutions for Evolved Packet Core and IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), policy control and circuit-switched core, VHA will further enhance network robustness, performance and resiliency.

Ericsson will provide integration services for voice and packet core that will support VHA to transform its operations business and enable a more enriched customer offering.

Ericsson's IMS platform is the foundation for the introduction of next-generation communication services over LTE, such as voice over LTE (VoLTE).

This will improve customer experience by providing HD voice calling. In addition, VoLTE also allows users to access voice and data services at the same time over LTE, without compromising data connectivity speeds. Over the period of the 5 year agreement Ericsson and VHA have committed to fully virtualize their core network.

Benoit Hanssen, Chief Technology Officer VHA says: "Our choice of Ericsson's technology and services is an essential part of VHA's program to increase our network performance and customer satisfaction." Hakan Eriksson, Head of Ericsson Australia & New Zealand says: "Our agreement with VHA includes delivering our complete core solution and introducing voice over LTE. With Ericsson VHA will upgrade network architecture which will improve network reliability, performance and efficiency."

Ericsson AB (Nasdaq: ERIC)