L.M. Ericsson announced it will deliver a Global System for Mobile communications network, valued at $77 million, to the Indian cellular operator Birla Communications Ltd. Birla Communications is a joint venture between AT&T Wireless Services Inc. and the Indian company A.V. Birla Group. Its network will cover two of India’s most attractive telecommunications circles, Maharashtra and Gujarat, Ericsson said.
Northern Telecom Ltd. said it has been chosen by Lanka Bell to supply and install a new nationwide fixed wireless communications network in Sri Lanka. Lanka Bell was awarded a 20-year public carrier license in January to provide domestic telephone service based on Nortel’s Proximity I 3.5 GHz fixed wireless access technology and network solution.
RangeStar Telecommunications Ltd. announced its antenna technology has been licensed to UTStarcom for use in the company’s personal handyphone system based wireless local loop systems in China. UTStarcom is deploying trial wireless local loop systems in several Chinese provinces, including Guangdong and Zheijiang. RangeStar said its antenna technology will be used to increase the performance of the network as personal communications services are expanded into the provinces’ urban and rural areas.
The GSM MoU Association met for the first time in the United States and added a record 23 new operators to the Association’s 34th Plenary meeting. The operators represent systems in Austria, Belgium, Cambodia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Ethiopia, Montenegro Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Republic of Guinea, India, Ireland, Lesotho, Poland, Sudan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.
Norwegian state owned telecommunications company and public operator Telenor Group recorded a 16 percent increase in revenue compared with the same period last year. In the first quarter, consolidated revenue totaled about $810 million, nearly $112 million higher than in the first quarter 1995. The company attributed the growth in revenue to an increase in volume of traffic and from acquisitions made in 1995. Both corporate and private markets recorded an increase, the company said.
Millicom International Cellular S.A. announced it has raised about $500 million through a completed offering of 13.5 percent senior subordinated discount notes due 2006. The company said it plans to use the net proceeds for the continued construction and expansion of its current cellular systems and for working capital requirements and operating expenses. The proceeds also may be used to fund the acquisition and development of additional licenses or systems or to increase the company’s ownership in its existing systems.
