Ericsson CEO sets the scene for industry transformation at MWC15

• Predictions for 2015 focus on video, LTE subscriber growth and mobile broadband coverage
• Announces hyperscale upgrade to Ericsson Cloud System -adding new software and hardware to ensure a secure cloud experience -and a first step beyond connected devices to connected systems with the launch of Ericsson Traffic Cloud

Broad set of new launches support operator needs across network evolution, IT transformation and opportunities for innovation and revenue growth

Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) President and CEO Hans Vestberg reflected on the pace of change in the industry at the company's opening-day media and analyst briefing at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, showcasing the latest solutions that the company is bringing to market, and making predictions for 2015.

Vestberg said: "We predict four key changes during 2015: more people will watch streamed, on-demand video than broadcast TV on a weekly basis; video will generate half of the mobile data traffic; LTE subscriber growth will exceed 80 percent; and world mobile broadband coverage will be above 70 percent. This all are massive forces of change and open up new opportunities both in the ICT industry and in other industries."

Vestberg continued: "There is a new logic being applied across industries. We can see a definite shift from physical products to digital services. New business models are emerging, along with new ways of solving old problems that create new efficiencies. True customer intimacy can be created using digital tools. All in all, you can see that ICT drives transformation that is really changing the game."

At Mobile World Congress, Ericsson shows its full range of capabilities supporting a broad variety of customer needs. A total of nine new launches were lined up with a common theme of transformation and advancing digital experiences.

Already at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, Ericsson was first to introduce LTE-LAA, License Assisted Access on small cells, enabling consumers to leverage the combination of licensed and unlicensed bands to achieve higher peak rates indoors.

The Ericsson Radio System is a completely new approach to how to build radio networks on the road to 5G, with the Router 6000 Series integrating IP backhaul into the radio network. Networks Software 15B, the latest release of Ericsson's network wide software, introduces Ericsson Virtual Router, app coverage improvements such as simultaneous LTE TDD-FDD operation, a new release of the Ericsson Network Manager, along with other features.