Total Access Communications, a wireless operator in Thailand, has relatively strong credit protection measures due to low levels of wired and wireless penetration and heavy demand for telecommunications services, according to a credit analysis report issued by Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co. Michael Coutre, assistant vice president of DCR and author of the report, said wireless service in Thailand is viewed as a primary, rather than complementary, means of communications. DCR gives a “BBB-” rating to the long-term obligations of Total Access.
Microcell Telecommunications Inc. activated its Fido personal communications services networks in the Ottawa-Hull region of Ontario, Canada. The company’s networks subsidiary, Microcell Connexions Inc., also announced the signing of three new roaming agreements with U.S. operators. The new PCS system, which was built out in six months, serves ten municipalities in the greater Ottawa-Hull region, including Nepean, Hull, Ottawa, Gloucester, Vanier and Rockcliffe Park, said the company. The network will be expanded later this year to cover the Manotick, Stittsvile and Angers areas. Microcell said it signed roaming agreements with Aerial Communications, Powertel PCS Inc. and Western Wireless Corp., all of which operate Global System for Mobile communications networks.
Advanced Info Service PCL, a subsidiary of Shinawatra Group, Thailand, awarded contracts to Ericsson Ltd. to supply Nordic Mobile Telephone 900 and Global System for Mobile communications infrastructure. The contracts, which Ericsson values at more than $100 million, are for switching and radio base station equipment to expand both networks. Delivery and installation will begin this year.
Tele Danmark A/S said it made a binding bid to purchase 25 percent of Mobilkom Austria, which is currently owned by the Austrian postal and telecommunications company. Terms of the arrangement were not disclosed. Tele Danmark said the bid will be viewed in light of its participation in other international businesses including activities in Belgium, Hungary, Poland, the Ukraine and Lithuania. Mobilkom had held the exclusive right to operate mobile telephone services in Austria until July, 1, 1996, when a competing Global System for Mobile communications system was launched.
Glenayre Technologies Inc. said it successfully interconnected systems in 11 provinces of China as part of a nationwide high speed paging network that is set to be deployed soon. The systems use the Inter-switch Paging Network Protocol, which was developed jointly by Glenayre and China’s Ministry of Post and Telecommunications. The network will enable China Telecom to introduce advanced numeric, alphanumeric, voice messaging and roaming services on a nationwide basis, said Glenayre.
