Ericsson MSA insurance requirements for subcontractors
Ericsson operates as an OEM and turf vendor for carrier-managed network deployments. Their MSA requirements are more demanding than towercos, particularly for professional liability and pollution coverage.
Infrastructure
OEM / Turf Vendor (manages carrier deployments)
Compliance difficulty
High
Vendor type
OEM / Turf Vendor
Ericsson typical MSA insurance requirements
| Coverage Line | Typical Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General Liability | $1M occurrence / $2M aggregate | No height exclusion. Broad form required. |
| Workers Compensation | Statutory limits | All states of operation, all class codes. |
| Employers Liability | $1M / $1M / $1M | Action-over coverage required. |
| Commercial Auto | $1M combined single limit | Full fleet plus hired and non-owned. |
| Umbrella / Excess | $10M | Higher than towerco requirements. Follow-form, no new exclusions. |
| Inland Marine | Required | Coverage for all equipment used on Ericsson-managed sites. |
| Professional Liability | $1M required | Required for ALL subcontractors, not just engineering scope. |
| Pollution Liability | $1M required | Required regardless of scope. Covers generator work, hazmat, site contamination. |
| Additional Insured | Blanket required | Must include Ericsson AND the carrier client. |
| Primary & Noncontributory | Required | All liability policies. |
| Waiver of Subrogation | All lines | Blanket waiver on every policy. |
| Per-Project Aggregate | Required | Dedicated limits. |
| Completed Operations | 3-year tail | Longest tail requirement among non-Nokia vendors. |
| Subcontractor Flow-Down | Required | Sub-tiers must match Ericsson requirements. |
Overview
Ericsson MSAs carry higher insurance requirements than the three major towercos (Crown Castle, SBA, American Tower) because Ericsson serves as both equipment vendor and deployment manager for carrier networks. This dual role creates broader liability exposure, which flows down to subcontractors through more demanding insurance requirements.
The two areas where Ericsson diverges most from towercos are professional liability and pollution coverage. Ericsson requires $1M professional liability for all subcontractors (not just those with engineering scope), and $1M pollution liability. Towercos typically require these only for specific scopes. Ericsson's rationale is that their carrier clients (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon) demand these coverages from Ericsson, which flows them down.
Ericsson also requires a 3-year completed operations tail — significantly longer than the 1-2 year requirement at towercos. This means your GL policy must continue covering completed work for 3 full years after project completion, which has meaningful cost implications if you discontinue your GL program.
Key points for Ericsson compliance
- •Ericsson requires professional liability ($1M) for ALL subcontractors — not just those with engineering scope. This catches many contractors off guard.
- •Pollution liability ($1M) is required regardless of whether your scope involves generators or hazardous materials.
- •The $10M umbrella requirement is double what Crown Castle and SBA require for standard scope.
- •Ericsson's additional insured requirement includes both Ericsson AND the underlying carrier client (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon). Your blanket AI endorsement must be broad enough to cover both.
- •The 3-year completed operations tail is significantly longer than towercos (1-2 years). Factor this into your cost projections.
Frequently asked questions
What are the minimum insurance requirements for Ericsson subcontractors?
Ericsson requires $1M/$2M GL (no height exclusion), statutory WC, $1M EL with action-over, $1M auto, $10M umbrella, $1M professional liability, and $1M pollution liability. Blanket AI must cover both Ericsson and the carrier client. Waiver of subrogation on all lines. 3-year completed operations tail.
Why does Ericsson require professional liability for all subcontractors?
Ericsson's carrier clients (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon) require professional liability from Ericsson as their deployment manager. Ericsson flows this requirement down to all subcontractors regardless of scope. Even if your work is purely installation with no engineering, Ericsson's MSA requires $1M professional liability.
How does Ericsson's MSA compare to Crown Castle or American Tower?
Ericsson is significantly more demanding: $10M umbrella (vs $5M-$10M), mandatory $1M professional liability and $1M pollution liability for all subs (vs only for specific scopes), 3-year completed ops tail (vs 2 years), and AI must cover both Ericsson and the carrier. The total insurance cost to comply with Ericsson is typically 15-25% higher than towerco MSAs.
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