Ericsson reported a second-quarter loss in line with expectations today but gave no guidance for the rest of the year.
Uncertainty has increased even further, particularly in the US and Europe, regarding the duration and severity of the current unfavourable market environment, the Swedish telecoms equipment maker said.
"As a consequence, we refrain from specific guidance for the third quarter and the full year," it said in a statement.
Ericsson, the world's biggest producer of mobile networks and fourth-biggest handset supplier, reported a $497.7 million adjusted loss for the April-June period against a $470 million loss in the first quarter.
Its result was affected by losses in its mobile phone handset division and falling margins in the still-profitable mobile systems unit, as telephone operators worldwide deferred new investment amid a global economic slowdown.
Ericsson's reluctance to give a specific forecast echoed results last night from Nortel Networks , the world's biggest supplier of telecoms equipment.
Nortel lived up to an earlier warning to report a stinging second-quarter loss of $19.4 billion as revenues declined and said although its financial health had improved market uncertainty persisted.
Ericcson said its cost-cutting programme, envisaging job cuts of up to 22,000 or one fifth of the workforce and annual savings of euro 4.1 billion from 2002, was on track.