September 1998

NEW YORK-U.S. telecom giants GTE Corp. and Bell Atlantic Corp. on 28 July announced a US$50-plus billion stock-for-stock pooling of interests that would create the nation’s largest cellular carrier. The …

The head of Philips Consumer Communications quit in late August amidst the company’s announcement it doesn’t expect to break even this year. PCC President and Chief Executive Officer Mike McTighe …

Chile’s Undersecretary of Telecommunications Juanita Gana announced mobile phone carriers no longer can force subscribers to sign long-term contracts, according to an article in El Diario. Until now carrier contracts …

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission is seeking comment from the mobile phone and mobile satellite service industry on whether additional spectrum is needed in the United States for third-generation mobile …

NEW YORK-Nextel International Inc., Seattle, announced it has launched commercial service of its integrated Digital Enhanced Network in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Manila, Philippines. Nextel International, a wholly owned …

TOKYO-In reaction to the Japanese government’s announcement it will limit to three in each district the number of carriers providing IMT-2000 services, cellular carriers here have started playing musical chairs, …

In what is no doubt the single-largest transaction in the history of the U.S. paging industry, Arch Communications Group Inc. and MobileMedia Corp. confirmed they have completed a definitive merger …

Total paging subscribers in the United States will reach 68.9 million by year-end 2002, according to The Strategis Group report “The State of the U.S. Paging Industry: 1998.” Of that …

DUBLIN, Ireland-The number of new phone manufacturers and the introduction of GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) handset design packages have lead to a proliferation of new handsets. However, there …

COPENHAGEN, Denmark-Danish telecommunications services group Tele Danmark A/S announced it sold for about US$160 million approximately 70 percent of its 23.2-percent interest in Hungarian cellular operator Pannon GSM Tavkozlesi Rt. …

MELBOURNE, Australia-The Australian government has been forced to abandon plans to fully privatize Telstra Corp. in the face of a threatened revolt by members of its coalition partner, the National …

The Australian Communications Authority has invited applications for an auction of previously unsold 800 MHz and 1.8 GHz PCS spectrum. Bids closed on 31 August for the partial privatization of …

WASHINGTON-The Mexican government will auction new frequencies for paging, narrowband PCS (two-way paging), trunking and point-to-point microwave. The auctions are scheduled for late 1998 and early 1999, depending on the …

WANDEL & GOLTERMANN RadMan is a personal safety monitor introduced by German company Wandel & Goltermann that measures electric and magnetic fields in any direction. RadMan monitors the limit values …

If all goes as planned, Iridium L.L.C.’s vision of a global wireless phone network-based on a constellation of 66 low-earth-orbit satellites interconnected to several terrestrial-based networks-will begin commercial service on …

MEXICO CITY-Grupo Iusacell announced a restructuring and recapitalization plan aimed at increasing liquidity of its public shares, providing proceeds to pay for PCS (Personal Communications Services) licenses in northern Mexico …

Chances are slim to none that U.S. mobile phone operators will agree on one standard for the next generation of mobile phone services. Already fragmented with three different digital standards-cdmaOne, …

OXFORD, United Kingdom-Conferences are an integral part of the mobile communications scene, an ideal platform for catching up with the latest developments and a chance to meet old friends and …

L.M. Ericsson Argentina. With Telecom Personal to expand its D-AMPS/AMPS network. Value: up to US$77 million Argentina. With Telefonica Comunicaciones Personales to expand its D-AMPS IS-136/AMPS network. Value: US$45 million …

BEIJING-In its latest proposal to gain entry to the World Trade Organization (WTO), China offered on 24 July to open gradually its paging and mobile phone operating services to foreign …

The Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association in July released a consensus white paper on wireless number portability stressing the wireless industry should be treated differently than the wireline industry. Current requirements …

The first GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) network in Zambia is scheduled to be commercial at the end of October. At its launch, Zambia will join more than 20 …

SINGAPORE-Given that Singapore’s paging market is close to saturation with a 43-percent penetration rate, it comes as no surprise that paging operators in the market constantly are on the lookout …

LONDON-Vodafone Group plc announced plans to buy the national GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) network in New Zealand for about US$369.1 million. Vodafone Europe Holdings BV reached an agreement …

OXFORD, United Kingdom-The United Kingdom likes to portray itself as a pioneer in cellular. Certainly it was early on the scene, with two analog TACS (Total Access Communications System) networks …