Core Viewpoint - Ericsson's performance in the Chinese market continues to decline, with a warning from CEO Börje Ekholm about a potential significant drop in market share and plans to adjust sales and distribution strategies starting in Q4 [1][5]. Financial Performance - In Q3, Ericsson's total sales amounted to 56.3 billion Swedish Krona, a 2% decrease from 57.5 billion Swedish Krona in the same period last year [3]. - The gross margin increased to 44% from 43.2% year-on-year, while the EBIT margin decreased slightly from 15.7% to 15% [3]. - Excluding the Chinese market, the network business sales grew by 8% year-on-year [3]. Market Challenges - In the Chinese market, Ericsson's sales accounted for only 5% of total revenue, halving compared to the previous year, primarily due to declines in network and digital services [4]. - The sales in China decreased by 3.6 billion Swedish Krona in Q3, marking a significant drop for two consecutive quarters [4][6]. - Competitors like Huawei and ZTE dominate the market, with Huawei holding approximately 60% of the market share in recent tenders [6]. Strategic Adjustments - Starting in Q4, Ericsson plans to reduce the size of its sales and delivery teams in China, which may lead to restructuring costs [6][7]. - Analysts suggest that without addressing underlying issues, mere restructuring may not yield significant improvements in market share [7].