WORLD BRIEFS

Poland

Poland may call tenders for three new mobile phone licenses for Global System for Mobile communications 900 MHz and 1800 MHz systems during the first half of next year. Reuters reported that the country’s telecommunications minister Marek Zdrojewski said the tenders would be issued immediately after the defense ministry releases some of the frequencies it uses.

Canada

Telesystem International Wireless Inc. said it more than doubled the number of wireless subscribers served by its subsidiaries during the third quarter, ended Sept. 30. Total subscribers rose to more than 1.4 million, compared with 674,000 at the end of the second quarter. Cellular subscribers passed the 1-million milestone, while specialized mobile radio subscribers broke 200,000.

Italy

Wind Telecommunicazioni SpA, the Italian telecommunications consortium, announced it has selected Electronic Data Systems and LHS Group to provide billing and customer care for its wireless and wireline services. Wind is a joint venture of Deutsche Telekom, France Telecom and Enel, an Italian electric utility. It has been awarded licenses for fixed wireline and Global System for Mobile communications 1800 wireless telephony.

Brazil

Lucent Technologies Inc. said Telefonica Group in Brazil selected Lucent to build Code Division Multiple Access networks in the state of Rio de Janeiro and Sergipe in Brazil. The initial project phase calls for Lucent to install a CDMA network to serve 1 million subscribers in the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro. The award is subject to final terms and conditions, said Lucent.

Colombia

Motorola Inc. said it will provide infrastructure for a nationwide expansion of Colombian paging provider Espectracom’s 900 MHz network.

Chile

Leap Wireless International Inc. announced its Chilesat Telefonia Personal S.A. operating company launched 1900 MHz personal communications services in Chile. The network uses Code Division Multiple Access technology and is serving a market of 14.9 million. Leap owns half of Chilesat PCS and Telex Chile and its affiliates own the other half.

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