Spain
The government of Spain reportedly may award its fourth mobile phone license to a consortium made up of two formerly separate consortia-Lince and Uni2. Both companies submitted failed bids during Spain’s third tender for a Global System for Mobile communications 1800 MHz license earlier this year. The fourth license would not be awarded until next year. The winner of that third license, Retevision Mobil S.A., recently won European Union approval to operate.
Malaysia
Corsair Communications Inc. announced its PhonePrint fraud-prevention system will be deployed in Celcom’s wireless network in Malaysia through an agreement with infrastructure provider L.M. Ericsson. The contract is valued at $10 million and will begin immediately.
Argentina
A joint venture, of which Millicom International Cellular S.A. owns 65 percent, received a wireless data communications services license in Argentina, the company announced. According to Millicom, the license covers 90 percent of the country’s urban population. The 50-megahertz frequency range extends from 3.4 GHz to 3.7 GHz.
Brazil
Qualcomm Inc. announced its Brazilian subsidiary, Qualcomm do Brasil, signed an agreement with Telesp for Qualcomm’s 800 MHz dual-mode Code Division Multiple Access Q phone handsets. The contract is valued at up to $35 million. Telesp is the primary telecommunications public utility concession in the state of Sao Paulo.
Singapore
Nortel Networks won a contract from SingTel Mobile to expand the company’s Global System for Mobile communications 1800 network in Singapore. Nortel values the deal at $60 million. The company will supply additional radio and switching equipment, as well as enhance existing Nortel switches in the network.
China
STM Wireless Inc. announced an agreement with Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications to jointly market satellite/terrestrial hybrid networks in China. The agreement includes interfaces to wireless local loop and wireline services.
