The expanded network will be capable of serving more than one million mobile users in Thailand with mobile e-commerce capabilities as well as established voice services.

The new network will enable AIS customers to begin using mobile e-commerce services immediately. Mobile banking with complete end-to-end security - using current mobile phones - will be the first service offered, followed in the autumn by several others including shopping from the mobile phone, e-ticketing and others.

"This contract signifies AIS commitment to being the leader in providing new, innovative and top-quality services to our customers," says Somprasong Boonyachai, President and CEO of AIS (Advanced Info Service Public Company Limited).

"We selected Ericsson to supply us with the products, services and solutions we need based on their experience, their expertise and their reputation as an innovator of communications technologies," Mr. Boonyachai continues.

"This contract marks the confidence AIS places in Ericsson. It emphasizes the fact that Ericsson is a very capable and reliable partner not only in telecom development, but also in datacom technologies and mobile Internet," says Jan Kemvall, President of Ericsson in Thailand.

Included in Ericsson deliveries are AXC MultiService Access solutions, an Ericsson WAP Gateway and a fully commercial mobile Internet platform based on the Ericsson User Service Center (USC) enabling a wide range of services to existing GSM phones with SMS capabilities, GSM phones with a SIM Toolkit and WAP phones. The platform will also support future devices and services like speed-enhancing GPRS, positioning, unified messaging and a variety of payment methods.

Ericsson is the leading provider in the new telecoms world, with communications solutions that combine telecom and datacom technologies with freedom of mobility for the user. With more than 100,000 employees in 140 countries, Ericsson simplifies communications for its customers - network operators, service providers, enterprises and consumers - the world over.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT

Johan Wiklund,
Ericsson Corporate Communications
Phone: +46 70 560 0134
E-mail: [email protected]

Amnuaysak Thoonsiri,
Senior Vice President,
Corporate Marketing & Communications,
Ericsson (Thailand) Ltd.
Phone: +66 2 299 7000
E-mail: [email protected]

About AIS

Advanced Info Service Public Company Limited (AIS) was established in 1986 to operate a computer business. In 1990, the company was granted a 20-year Build-Transfer-Operate (BTO) concession from the Telephone Organization of Thailand (TOT) to operate cellular phone networks using analog NMT 900 and digital GSM 900. Later, in 1996, the 20-year concession was extended to 25 years.

AIS was listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) in 1991. The company expanded its wireless communication networks by investing in Advanced Paging Co., Ltd., a market leader in paging service under the brand name - Phonelink.