17 11 02

The impact of 3G mobiles will occur by 2004-05, according to a new forecast published by the Association of Swedish Engineering Industries.

The forecast also predicts that Swedish telecoms industry production will stabilise by 2003, after a 9 per cent fall in 2002. Up to now, a drop of 15 per cent has been experienced in exports of Swedish telecoms products.

The Association, which represents around 3,000 companies, released other gloomy numbers, including a 41 per cent decrease in the volume of the telecoms industry's new products on a year-on-year basis, from August 2001-02.

"Even if the Swedish telecoms products industry does not show any recovery next year, the worst seems to be behind for the sector. Demand is, in any case, likely to stabilise at a low level," the Association said.