Italy
Olivetti plans to split Telecom Italia, which it won in a takeover bid in May, into two operating companies under its Tecnost acquisition arm. Telecom Italia Mobile, TI’s mobile phone company, will transfer to Tecnost. The deal will help Tecnost pay off debts incurred through the TI takeover. Olivetti owns 70 percent of Tecnost, which holds a 52-percent stake of TI. TI owns about 60 percent of the voting stock in TIM.
Canada
L.M. Ericsson announced it received a $340 million, three-year agreement to build a third-generation network for Rogers Cantel Inc. of Canada. The partnership for evolving Rogers’ Time Division Multiple Access systems to 3G will accelerate rollout of Cantel AT&T wireless data services, said Ericsson.
Czech Republic
The Czech government selected Telesystem International Wireless Inc.’s subsidiary, Cesky Mobil, to operate the Global System for Mobile communications 1800 license in the Czech Republic, said TIW. Cesky Mobile will extend cellular coverage, introduce new services and facilitate employment.
Mexico
Unefon, a Mexican wireless operator, was granted its operating license by Cofetel, Mexico’s telecommunications regulator, according to a Reuters report. The company won a May 1998 $241 million bid for a nationwide personal communications system license. Because of missed payments and interest, Unefon paid $150 million above its original bid. Unefon plans to provide inexpensive digital phone services to low-income markets without wireline service.
Brazil
Lucent Technologies Inc. announced it was selected by Vesper, a new service provider in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, to supply a wireless network for fixed voice and data services. Vesper plans to begin offering service in December. The project, which could reach $470 million over five years, includes a CDMA network that will operate in the 1.9 GHz band and offer a range of voice and data communications services.
