10Meters News Service

January 18, 2002 – Humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan are getting a helping hand from Ericsson.

The telecom equipment giant, through its Ericsson Response initiative and in conjunction with the World Food Program (WFP), has set up a complete GSM-based mobile telecommunications system in Kabul that will initially provide communications for 200 users from the United Nations and other humanitarian organizations.

The system will be able to host 5,000 subscribers. In addition, Ericsson is donating several hundred R250 mobile phones to the relief workers.

The World Food Program is the leading UN agency in humanitarian aid and will be responsible for the initial set up and maintenance of relief telecommunications in the Afghanistan region.

"The availability of reliable communication is vital to ensure the delivery of food and the provision of humanitarian aid to areas stricken by natural or man-made disasters," says Jessie Mabutas, assistant to the Executive Director in the World Food Program. "Through the partnership with Ericsson, WFP is building new answers to emergency telecommunications' requirements."

Also working on the relief effort, Telia Mobile, the leading operator of mobile services in Scandinavia, which is providing the link from the satellite connection to the Telia GSM network.

SWE-DISH Satellite Systems, a Swedish provider of satellite equipment, is providing, free of charge, all satellite equipment used in Kabul as well as a modem for the satellite connection in Sweden.

"This project is unique and the largest Ericsson Response effort so far," says Kurt Hellstrom, president and CEO of Ericsson. "It is in line with our long-term commitment and partnership with the World Food Program. We are proud that our telecommunications equipment and expertise will improve the quality and efficiency of relief operations."

Ericsson Response is a global initiative aimed at "developing a better and faster response to human suffering caused by disasters," according to the company. It exists in partnership with the World Food Program and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to develop disaster preparedness programs around the world.

The IFRC, based in Geneva, Switzerland, is the world's largest humanitarian organization. The Red Crescent is used in place of the Red Cross in many Islamic countries. For more information, visit www.ifrc.org.

Since 1999, Ericsson Response has participated in disaster aid during devastating floods in Eastern Europe, Algeria and Venezuela and earthquakes in Peru, India, El Salvador, and Turkey. It also helped with relief efforts for Kosovo refugees fleeing to Albania.

On Sept. 11, an Ericsson emergency disaster team was assembled at Ericsson Montreal to help maintain service for overloaded TDMA switches and to support wireless services in New York City area. Additionally, Ericsson mobile phones, batteries and accessories were distributed free to the relief workers in Washington, D.C.

More information about the Ericsson Response program is available at www.ericsson.com/ericssonresponse