Ericsson celebrates 50 years in Malaysia, launches new office
By Digital News Asia April 28, 2015
- New location for faster response times and closer collaboration with industry
- Over the years, has set many milestones and historic firsts in the country
SWEDISH telco giant Ericsson celebrated its 50th anniversary in Malaysia with the official launch of a brand new office location in The Pinnacle, in the Sunway township in Subang Jaya, about 11km away from Kuala Lumpur.
The company first set up operations in 1965, it said in a statement.
Its first contract in Malaysia was to supply, install and commission Malaysia’s first crossbar exchange, or electro-mechanical switch, by Jabatan Telekom Malaysia, or the national telecommunications department.
“Technology has enabled us to stay connected with one another at anytime and anywhere without the concerns of physical boundaries,” said Ahmad Shabery Cheek, Malaysia’s Minister of Communication and Multimedia.
“I am proud to say that Ericsson has played an important role to make this happen,” he said when officiating at the launch of the new office (pic, above).
Ericsson said it has established many firsts in the local industry, including:
- Deploying the first analogue mobile system network in 1984, the first of its kind in Asia Pacific;
- Incorporating Ericsson Mobile Communications Sdn Bhd in 1997, Malaysia’s first mobile phone manufacturing company and Ericsson’s first in South-East Asia;
- Bringing the first live demo of 3G (Third Generation) technology and concept to Malaysia in 1998, subsequently it was commissioned to implement Malaysia’s first cellular infrastructure-sharing project;
- First to showcase a live international, 3G mobile-to-mobile call between Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong in 2002; and
- Enabling telecommunication operators in Malaysia to offer 4G or LTE (Long-Term Evolution), a wireless communication service with high-speed data for smartphone users.
“As the first telecommunications company to establish operations in the country, Ericsson’s continuous success is through collaborations with the Government of Malaysia, local companies and the society at large, to empower people, enable businesses and connect societies,” said Todd Ashton, head of Ericsson Malaysia and Sri Lanka.
“We aim to continue our vision of building a Networked Society where every person and industry is empowered to reach its full potential,” he added.
With approximately 650 employees, Ericsson’s new 49,000 sq ft facility is better suited for faster response times and closer collaborations with its industry players, the company said.
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