3 Italia assigns Ericsson

3 Italia has signed an extension of its network transformation agreement with Ericsson. Ericsson will transform and upgrade 3 Italia's existing 3Gmobile broadband access, core and transport network to support 42Mbps HSPA and 100MbpsLTE, or 4G. With this contract, Ericsson strengthens its position as the main supplier for 3 Italia.

Vincenzo Novari, 3 Italia's CEO, said, "Thanks to our continued successful cooperation with Ericsson, we will remain a reference for innovation and network development in the Italian market. We are taking another step toward meeting the demand for mobile broadband connectivity and services from Italian consumers and enterprises. We are making HSPA+ coverage available on the entire nationwide network from the end of March and will launch LTE services already in 2012. Our network will become even more efficient at handling data traffic, ensuring a better quality of experience for our customers."

Nunzio Mirtillo, Head of Region Mediterranean, Ericsson, said, "We are encouraged to see this endorsement of 3 Italia's trust in us as a prime partner. We believe strongly in supporting operators that intend to remain competitive and are wisely investing in upgrading their networks to ensure the best possible coverage, capacity and performance for their users. It is great to help our long-term partner, 3 Italia, continue its transformation into high-speed mobile broadband and LTE at a time when dynamism and innovation are so important."