2nd November - With Ericsson as EDGE supplier and telecom services partner, T-Mobile Germany has completed the first part of its GSM network modernization in record time - a major step towards the operator's goal of being the first operator in Germany to offer mobile broadband nationwide. Consuming about 30 percent less power, the new EDGE-compliant GSM radio network allows for the seamless use of mobile broadband applications.

The new network provides particular benefits for consumers and enterprise customers in sparsely populated areas, where neither DSL nor WCDMA/HSPA are yet available, by providing fast mobile-internet access with bandwidth four times that of ISDN. Users also benefit from EDGE data capabilities and improved network quality.

Over the past 24 months, Ericsson has upgraded more than half of T-Mobile's radio network, replacing more than 10,000 base stations in seven federal states with the network operating commercially and without subscribers noticing any deterioration in service.

Günther Ottendorfer, Chief Technology Officer at T-Mobile Deutschland GmbH, says: "A system swap during commercial operations is like open-heart surgery. We appreciate the fact that, together with our partner Ericsson, we were able to finish the project three months ahead of the original schedule. For us this was uncharted territory. There has not been a similar project of this size before."

Torbjörn Possne, Head of Global Account Deutsche Telekom and Head of Market Unit Northern Europe at Ericsson, adds: "This logistic masterpiece has set new industry standards for speed, quality, efficiency and smoothness for a network swap-out. The extraordinary teamwork between Ericsson and T-Mobile has been one key to the success. Ericsson is pleased to have been able to support T-Mobile with our energy-saving EDGE solutions, which reduce CO2 emissions and costs, and pave the way to a nationwide mobile broadband network."