STOCKHOLM -- Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) has been awarded two GSM/EDGE contracts by Digicel Group, the fastest growing mobile telecommunications company in the Caribbean and Central America. Under the contracts, Ericsson will provide nation-wide GSM/EDGE networks in El Salvador and Guyana.

The contracts include GSM radio and transmission equipment, GPRS/EDGE networks, pre-paid systems, network-management systems, implementation services, and training. Commercial deployment is planned for the first quarter of 2007.

Ericsson is now supplying GSM systems in more than 22 markets to the Digicel Group. This is the first contract for Ericsson in Guyana and strengthens the partnership between Ericsson and Digicel across the region.

Mario Assaad, Digicel Group chief technology officer, says: "Extending our long-standing partnership with Ericsson into Guyana and El Salvador ensures the development of an industry-leading infrastructure, allowing new and innovative service offerings and dependable network coverage. With large populations and low mobile-penetration rates, these markets offer enormous prospects for growth and we are confident that this solution will leave us well positioned to maximize such opportunities."

Martin Björk, Country Manager, Ericsson Jamaica, says: "We are honored to be selected by Digicel. The successful cooperation between our companies will provide world-class technology and telecom services in El Salvador and Guyana, and reaffirms Ericsson's position as the leading wireless infrastructure provider in the region."

Ericsson AB (Nasdaq: ERIC)