Ericsson sells Russian network support biz to local managers
- Reference: 1671114674
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2022/12/15/ericsson_sells_russian_network_support/
- Source link:
Under the progress [1]outlined today , the wholly owned Russian subsidiary has signed an asset transfer agreement under which the local customer support business is to be sold for an unspecified amount. Schneider Electric is [2]doing the same thing .
“The transaction includes a transfer of approximately 40 Ericsson employees, and certain assets and contracts related to the business,” the company said in a statement.
[3]
The unit is purely involved in engaging and supporting Russian customers, and that “does not involve the export of hardware, software, or related services to mobile operators in Russia”.
[4]
[5]
The telecommunications giant stopped deliveries of kit and software to Russia in [6]late February following the country’s attack of Ukraine. The move, it said at the time, would cost 900 million Swedish crown (at the time $95.32 million) related to the impairment of assets and other exceptional costs. This did not include redundancies.
Business in the pariah state included helping build a private 5G-ready network for industrial customers with Mobile TeleSystems Public Joint Stock Company, which is Russia’s largest mobile comms provider. Ericsson also launched a 5G Innovation Hub in Moscow, and set up the Ericsson Academy, also in the capital, to provide local training.
[7]
Nokia also followed Ericsson [8]out of the door , so to speak, seemingly leaving Russia mobile operators with only one choice of network kit – Huawei.
[9]Yandex speaks out from front line of Western sanctions against Russia
[10]Infosys quits Russia, ending UK political and tax scandal … maybe
[11]Russian IT pros flee Putin, says tech lobby group
[12]'Russian missiles can't destroy the cloud': Ukraine leader describes emergency migration
However, Huawei was itself [13]rumored in October to be ending its direct presence in Russia from early next year, selling to Russian distributors via Chinese intermediaries. Huawei was reported to have closed its retail stores, and has stopped selling base stations for cellular comms.
We have asked Huawei to comment on the veracity of this report and, if correct, why it has chosen this course of action.
Ericsson concluded today: "Following Russia's invasion in Ukraine, Ericsson announced the suspension of operations and deliveries to customers in Russia and an orderly wind-down in accordance with applicable sanctions. Approximately 400 Ericsson employees in Russia have been notified of layoffs and have been leaving the company as operations have been discontinued.
"Going into 2023, Ericsson expects to have a small presence in Russia on a local basis. A legal entity owned by Ericsson will continue to be registered to complete the winddown and to fulfill legal, contractual, and administrative requirements," it added. ®
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[1] https://www.ericsson.com/en/press-releases/2022/12/ericsson-divests-its-local-customer-support-business-in-russia
[2] https://www.theregister.com/2022/04/28/schneider_electric_to_sell_russian/
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2Y5tSr96Nqvv1D@LDC8bbpwAAANE&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44Y5tSr96Nqvv1D@LDC8bbpwAAANE&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33Y5tSr96Nqvv1D@LDC8bbpwAAANE&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2022/04/11/ericsson_pulls_out_of_russia/
[7] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44Y5tSr96Nqvv1D@LDC8bbpwAAANE&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2022/04/12/finnish_network_kit_maker_nokia/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2022/04/21/yandex_western_sanctions/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2022/04/14/infosys_q4_2022/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2022/03/23/russia_it_pro_exodus/
[12] https://www.theregister.com/2022/11/30/ukraine_cloud_migration/
[13] https://www.silkroadbriefing.com/news/2022/10/31/chinas-huawei-poised-to-exit-the-russia-market/
[14] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Communication
The elusive electronics wizard, known only by his codename "LoNeMan", had been recruited by FSB agents in Scotland for a nearly impossible mission: to rebuild Russia's communication networks without using any Western technologies. The country had been heavily sanctioned for its war against Ukraine, and access to Western technology was strictly limited.
LoNeMan knew that he would have to think outside the box in order to succeed. After much contemplation, he hit upon a seemingly absurd idea: to use badgers and their natural ability to communicate over long distances.
He spent weeks studying the behaviour and abilities of badgers, and soon identified the specific signals and frequencies that they used for mating. With this knowledge, he began to develop a way to encode and transmit information using those signals.
Working tirelessly in his underground laboratory, LoNeMan designed and built a series of small devices that could be implanted on the badgers' bodies. These devices were entirely manufactured in Russia, using only domestic components and technology. But what LoNeMan didn't know was that many of the components for these devices had been stolen from fridges and washing machines in Ukraine.
The team working on the project was made up of Russian engineers who were heavily drunk and barely able to walk. Despite their state, they managed to cobble together a functional network of communication nodes using the stolen components and the badgers.
However, the engineers were also very hungry, and they soon started to eat the badgers, putting the entire project in jeopardy. But LoNeMan, using the early prototype of the device, was able to summon more badgers into the laboratory, saving the project and ensuring its success.
Once the devices were ready, LoNeMan set about training the badgers to respond to certain stimuli in a specific way. By doing so, he was able to create a living, mobile network of communication nodes that could be used by the Russian military.
What Russians didn't know is that LoNeMan was a double agent and his ultimate goal was to destroy Russia. Using the network of communication nodes and the trained badgers, he was able to wreak havoc on Russia, causing widespread destruction and chaos.
The people of Russia were left in shock and disbelief, unable to comprehend the level of destruction that had been wrought by the seemingly innocent badgers and their communication network. It was only then that the truth was revealed: LoNeMan was not a human engineer, but a Loch Ness Monster in disguise hoping to get his reward of treefiddy. And with that, he disappeared back into the depths of the Loch Ness, never to be seen again.
Re: Badgers
Should have tried beavers.
Brilliant in all other respects though.
Have a pint. From the Black Isle Brewery.
Re: Badgers
Beavers are semi-aquatic rodents known for their ability to build dams and lodges, and they are not typically associated with military communications.
We have asked Huawei to comment on the veracity of this report and, if correct, why it has chosen this course of action.
Why ask? The CCP has decided that supporting the tiny Russian market isn't worth the potential hassle with the West, noting in passing, how western sanctions have made cheap energy even cheaper, with Chinese companies now making money on the carry trade of < $ 60 Russian oil.