Ericsson to pay $1.13 billion for Nortel assets

Status
Not open for further replies.

Matthew DeCarlo

Posts: 5,271   +104
Staff

Swedish telecomm giant Ericsson has reportedly won an auction for the bankrupt Nortel’s wireless technologies unit. Outbidding rival Nokia who recently bagged Nortel’s profitable division for $650 million, Ericsson offered $1.13 billion for the wireless division.

BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion (RIM) complained of being unfairly shut out of the bidding, and was prepared to offer $1.1 billion. However, the two companies are discussing possible patent sales, as RIM looks to future-proof its business. With Nortel out of the picture, RIM has replaced it as the leading Canadian technology company.

The Ericsson-acquired division is said to be Nortel’s most valuable operation. Its assets include Nortel’s business in the CDMA wireless technology used in North America and in the emerging LTE technology – which many operators plan to use – as well as some patents. Ericsson is expected to rename the operation Ericsson CDMA and will offer jobs to 2,500 of Nortel’s workers.

Permalink to story.

 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back