Ericsson is planning for a “flattish” mobile network infrastructure market in 2009 and pointed on Monday to the prospect of increasing sales in developing countries being offset by a decline in the US and Europe.

The world’s largest telecoms equipment maker reported third-quarter results that exceeded the market’s expectations, led by a 13 per cent rise in sales. Ericsson’s shares closed up 16 per cent at SKr58.40.