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Ericsson beat most analyst forecasts in its report, causing the stock to skyrocket on a declining Stockholm stock exchange. Sales and profits increased compared to the same period last year. One big reason is the launch of 5G, especially in North America and China.
– We have 113 contracts within 5G and we continue to gain market share. I am very proud that we as a company have to do this in the middle of a pandemic. At the same time, the importance of a digital infrastructure, where we deliver products, is clear, says Börje Ekholm.
You have said before that it takes market mainly from non-Chinese companies. Does it still apply?
– Yes.
Why is it bad for you as a company if the worst competitor Huawei stops in more and more markets, most recently in Sweden?
– There is a greatness in this industry, which is quite unique. We are fierce competitors to Huawei in all businesses, but at the same time we work together on standardization. This together provides a dynamic that our industry has developed, so that today we can connect 8 billion users worldwide.
Why then is it bad for Ericsson for Huawei as a competitor to stop in important markets?
– I do not believe in monopoly, but in free competition in a global market, promote the best with us. If we want to win in a sustainable way with the client, we must be the best in terms of both function and profitability.
The decision of the Swedish Post and Telecommunications Agency on Tuesday to detain the Chinese Huawei and ZTE caused the Chinese government to react strongly. A Foreign Ministry spokesman believes the decision could have “negative consequences for Swedish companies in China.”
For Ericsson, China is one of the most important markets. What problems can this cause you?
– I have worked with China for several decades, I have personal friends and I am a board member of Alibaba. There is a huge driving force when it comes to developing, among other things, the app economics for 5G.
– We must be present in China. Politics and national security, I believe that all countries should take a position, I should not comment on that. However, we want to continue striving to be a strong partner for our customers there, as we have been with all generations of mobile devices.
News also came on Wednesday that Ericsson has signed an agreement with Telia to build 5G base stations in Sweden and Finland for five years as the sole provider. It is an order that is worth “billions”, how many are secret.
– The most important thing about this agreement is the proximity between a demanding customer and our research and development, which is mainly located in Sweden. It helps us boost functionalities in the networks.
Also read: Huawei is ported from Swedish 5G networks
