Ericsson in rural India

Ericsson has launched the Gramjyoti Rural Broadband Project, an initiative to
introduce benefits of WCDMA/HSPA technology in rural India and connect
communities to high-speed internet services for the first time.

The trial project was launched in early September and will showcase the
benefits of a host of mobile broadband applications across 18 villages and 15
towns close to Chennai, in the state of Tamil Nadu.

By creating a stable ecosystem based on leading WCDMA/HSPA technology,
Ericsson will provide these communities with high-speed internet so they can
access a range of new services including: telemedicine; e-education;
e-governance; online local information; voice and video call services; and live
TV and entertainment.

The initiative seeks to demonstrate how WCDMA/HSPA technology can be a major
catalyst for social and economic empowerment in this developing region, helping
to bridge the digital divide and increase productivity and quality of life.

Based on leading global technologies such as HSPA, the trial project was
launched in early September. Rural Communities are the beneficiaries of the
initiative. Community centres with PCs and mobiles, Mobile ambulances connected
using HSPA are extending government services and tele-medicine benefits to rural
communities. As part of the project, more than 3000 students at three high
schools in these communities will have high-speed internet access and receive
e-learning courses.

Mats Granryd, Managing Director of Ericsson India, says: "Ericsson aims
to help India's rural population get first-hand experience of broadband
applications. This pioneering project will provide communities with access to
meaningful broadband services for the first time."

P Balaji, Vice President of Marketing & Strategy, Ericsson India, says:
"We chose this location because, it reflects the typical telecom profile in
rural communities that have limited or no access to fixed telephones, but are
seeing the benefits of voice communication over a mobile network."

The Gramjyoti Project is supported by partners including Apollo Hospitals,
Hand In Hand, Edurite, One97, CNN and Cartoon Network.