China
L.M. Ericsson signed four Global System for Mobile communications contracts in China, which the company values at a total of $756 million. Ericsson will expand existing GSM networks in Shandong, Liaoning and Heilongjiang. The fourth contract calls for the company to provide a new GSM 1800 network in the Jiangsu province.
Morocco
Nokia was selected by the Office National des Chemins de Fer of Morocco to supply an Actionet trunked mobile radio and optical fiber transmission system. Nokia also will provide turnkey implementation and project management of the venture, including transmission and radio network planning and verification, tunnel coverage, terminal installations to trains and railway stations, system training, system implementation and testing. Network equipment deliveries are scheduled to begin later this year.
Vietnam
Vietnam recently joined the global mobile satellite organization Inmarsat, becoming its 82nd member country, Inmarsat said. The national signatory will be the Vietnam Maritime Communications and Electronics Co. “Vietnam is transforming into a competitive market economy and this is dictating the rapid expansion of its telecommunication infrastructure, offering tremendous potential for remote and coastal mobile satellite communications,” said Frankie Neo Thuay, regional director of South East Asia for Inmarsat.
Ireland
Orange plc launched mobile phone service in Northern Ireland, and said it plans to expand network coverage and quality in the coming months. “Coverage is an important issue for mobile phone users,” said Eric Carson, the general manager for Orange in Northern Ireland. “People expect their phone to work wherever they take them, and it is our intention to provide maximum coverage to all parts of Northern Ireland as soon as possible, exceeding the levels offered by established operators.”
