Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson Stock Price, News & Analysis

Ericsson's latest Mobility Report reveals a remarkable 300-fold increase in global mobile data traffic since 2011. By the end of 2021, 660 million 5G subscriptions are expected, driven by demand in China and North America. 5G will dominate mobile subscriptions globally by 2027, covering 75% of the population. Mobile data traffic surged 42% year-on-year in Q3 2021, totaling 78 exabytes. The report predicts that mobile data traffic could reach 370EB by 2027, spurred by a significant rise in broadband IoT connections.

Legion Partners Asset Management, a 2.2% shareholder in Vonage Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: VG), expressed strong support for Ericsson's acquisition of Vonage for $6.2 billion, or $21 per share. Chris Kiper from Legion Partners praised the strategic transaction as a key move to enhance shareholder value, highlighting their collaborative efforts with Vonage over five years. The partnership led to the appointment of Michael McConnell to Vonage's Board, which has been pivotal in governance. This acquisition is viewed positively by Legion Partners, reflecting confidence in the future potential of Vonage's shareholders.

Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) has announced its plan to acquire Vonage Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: VG) for USD 21 per share, amounting to a total of USD 6.2 billion. This acquisition aligns with Ericsson's strategy to bolster its presence in the wireless enterprise market, projected to be worth USD 700 billion by 2030. The merger, expected to close in the first half of 2022, was unanimously approved by Vonage's board and is anticipated to create synergies generating USD 0.4 billion in additional revenue by 2025.

Ericsson has achieved a significant milestone by mapping the connectivity status of one million schools as part of its partnership with UNICEF supporting the Giga Initiative. This initiative aims to connect every school globally to the internet by 2030. Over the past year, Ericsson provided funding and data science expertise, accelerating efforts across seven countries. A report indicates that improving school connectivity could boost GDP by 20% in less connected nations. Ericsson aims to map connectivity in 35 countries by the end of 2023, calling on stakeholders to join in bridging the digital divide.

On October 21, 2021, Ericsson announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) identified breaches in its Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) from December 6, 2019. The breaches relate to failures in document submissions. Ericsson plans to respond and continue cooperating with the DOJ. The DOJ has the sole discretion to determine the breach's implications, making it too early to assess potential outcomes.

On October 11, 2021, Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) and AT&T announced a five-year agreement to enhance AT&T's 5G network. The collaboration involves deploying the recently acquired C-band spectrum and advancing 5G Standalone technology. Ericsson's expertise will support key industries, including public safety and entertainment. The partnership emphasizes innovations like the Ericsson Radio System and Cloud RAN, aiming for improved flexibility and scalability. This initiative signifies a crucial step in AT&T's network evolution, driven by the need for enhanced connectivity.

Ericsson is set to publish its Q3 2021 financial report on October 19, 2021, at approximately 7:00 AM CEST. The comprehensive report will be available on its website, featuring detailed tables in PDF format.

Following the release, CEO Börje Ekholm and CFO Carl Mellander will discuss the report in a live video webcast at 9:00 AM CEST. Investors can join the session or watch it on-demand through Ericsson's investor relations page.

On September 20, 2021, Viaero Wireless announced its partnership with Ericsson to modernize its network by upgrading existing LTE equipment to 5G-ready solutions. This initiative aims to enhance mobility and broadband services for Viaero's customers across Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Kansas. As part of the agreement, Ericsson will replace core, radio access network, and other equipment at over 900 LTE sites, facilitating improved connectivity and service quality. This project will ultimately help bridge the digital divide in rural America.