AirTouch Communications Inc. announced it has officially opened its European headquarters in the Netherlands. The company said it opened the office because its cellular operations in Europe are becoming an increasingly important part of AirTouch’s overall business strategy.
L.M. Ericsson announced it has signed a contract to supply a turnkey Global System for Mobile communications system to Polska Telefonia Cyfrowa. PTC is a newly formed telecommunications company in Poland, holding one of the two recently issued GSM licenses. The initial order is valued at more than $80 million, Ericsson said. System delivery is scheduled to be completed during 1996-97, but service already is up and running in Warsaw. The main shareholders in PTC are Elektrim, DeTeMobil and U S West Inc.
Asia Satellite Communications Holdings Ltd. has completed a successful initial public offering, announced founding investor Cable & Wireless plc. AsiaSat provides satellite transponder capacity in Asia. The company provides satellite coverage to more than 50 countries, with a population of 3.3 billion people, said Cable & Wireless. Cable & Wireless initially held 33.3 percent of AsiaSat and will retain a 23 percent investment in AsiaSat valued at $98 million based on the initial public offering share price of $2.60 per share.
Italian Global System for Mobile communications provider Omnitel Pronto Italia announced it has signed a commercial agreement with Elsag Baily for Globalstar, the satellite-based telecommunications service. Omnitel said the agreement calls for Omnitel to be Globalstar’s exclusive commercial agent for Italy. The service uses a network of 48 satellites orbiting the Earth and will offer telephony, data transfer and positioning services to clients worldwide within the next three years. Omnitel said the agreement will enable the company to offer its clients mobile communications services in areas not covered by the land-based GSM service.
Clearnet Communications Inc. announced it has applied for a national Canadian Local Multipoint Communication Systems license. The application is a joint effort being led by a long-distance operator, fOnorola Inc., and includes the participation of iSTAR Internet Inc., which provides Internet services in Canada. Clearnet said the application is for one of the first two LMCS licenses in each of 367 cities, suburbs and towns that are expected to be awarded by the Minister of Industry this fall. Clearnet said LMCS technology has the potential to become an effective and economical carrier of backhaul traffic for both Clearnet’s Business Communications Services and personal communications services digital wireless networks. The “wireless fiber” may also be used to provide other wireless services such as wireless cable service and wireless Internet access. LMCS spectrum is at the 28 GHz range.
