L. M. Ericsson 100 år

Abstract

The Swedish telephone industry is world-renowned. Its foundations were laid by two men: Lars Magnus Ericsson and Hcnrik Tore Ccdcrgrcn. On 1 April 1876 a factory for the manufacture of telegraph equipment was started in Stockholm under the name of 1. M. Ericsson & Co. In the following year Ericsson began the production of telephones, but his major problem was to find a market. The international concern run by Alexander Graham Bell had already achieved a ncar monopoly in the operation of telephone systems in many countries, including Sweden. Moreover, the fact that Bell also dominated the telephone supply industry and exploited his hegemony in the market by pursuing a policy of high rates, effectively retarded the development of the Swedish telephone industry.