February 2000

STOCKHOLM, Sweden-L.M. Ericsson signed two deals providing increased capacity to wireless telecommunications providers. A $300 million contract with Mannesmann Mobilfunk will provide Global System for Mobile communications system equipment to …

NEW YORK-Qualcomm’s meteoric stock price appreciation in 1999 may well be a unique phenomenon that other companies are unlikely to replicate. Nonetheless, other established and new telecommunications players seem poised …

Speculation continues about Metrocall’s stated intention to participate further in the paging industry’s consolidation. The quintupling of Metrocall stock to more than $10 a share-along with the $75 million in …

WASHINGTON-A major controversy with national implications has erupted in Massachusetts over draft legislation that would promote antenna siting collocation and streamline siting approval for carriers throughout the state, despite protests …

SAN DIEGO-Leap Wireless International Inc. reached a definitive agreement to acquire personal communications services operating licenses in Macon, Columbus and Albany, Ga., from Zuma PCS L.L.C. covering 1.3 million potential …

WASHINGTON-A group of lawmakers, responding to the growing shortage of skilled workers in the digital economy, last week introduced legislation to increase the number of visas for college-educated foreigners. “We …

OSAKA, Japan-KansaiTele-Message became the latest victim in Japan’s declining paging industry by filing for liquidation with $183 million in debts, according to a Kyodo News Service report. The filing came …

Is it a bird? A plane? No, it’s Craig McCaw, swooping in to rescue yet another struggling satellite wireless phone company-leading a group of investors to provide $74.6 million in …

WASHINGTON-As wireless e-commerce struggles to establish itself as an industry mainstay, it faces major legal, technical and security challenges like the cyber attacks of last week that temporarily shut down …

While Vodafone AirTouch plc last week advanced its merger with Germany’s Mannesmann AG, the company indicated it may look to fill in its footprint with smaller acquisitions. In particular, the …

WASHINGTON-Slowly, but surely, the picture is getting brighter for wireless carriers that wish to obtain federal universal service support subsidies as two states recently joined the list of those that …

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago-Cable & Wireless is said to be in negotiations with Trinidad and Tobago regarding the future of the carrier’s monopoly on the islands. The discussions …

WASHINGTON-“The vision of robust competition laid out in the [Telecommunications Act of 1996] is beginning to unfold,” said the FCC’s Office of Plans and Policy in a report released on …

WASHINGTON-A request by Nextel Communications Inc. that it be granted a waiver to use frequencies close to the Canadian border on a secondary basis should be denied, said Chadmoore Wireless …

BOULDER, Colo.-CellPort Labs Inc. changed its name to Cellport Systems Inc. to reflect what the company says is the evolution from a research and development firm to a customer-driven wireless …

Public skirmishes over third-generation technology died last year when the wireless industry embraced a harmonized CDMA-based standard, but old feelings between camps die hard it seems. The CDMA Development Group, …

WASHINGTON-President Clinton plans to meet with Internet executives and key government officials on Tuesday to discuss last week’s cyber attacks that temporarily shut down several popular web sites. Joining Clinton …

WASHINGTON-An FCC staff proposal for the implementation of calling party pays service is being heavily debated by the commissioners’ offices-a debate that could lead to its removal from this week’s …

NEW YORK-Tower companies are sitting pretty and poised for even greater prosperity in 2000 and beyond as domestic demand for their properties grows. Prime movers in this rosy scenario are …

NEW YORK-Publicly held long-term debt set an unwelcome record in 1999 as 147 corporate and sovereign issuers defaulted on $44.6 billion in bonds, more than double the $21.2 billion of …

SAN FRANCISCO-Telephia Inc., a provider of integrated marketing and network quality data, reported its series B round of financing totaled more than $11 million. The company said it plans to …

PALM SPRINGS, Calif.-Speaking at a Goldman Sachs Technology Symposium, the head of Texas Instruments Inc.’s wireless business unit said the company expects last year’s accelerated pace in the market for …

I wonder what it was like to be around when the automobile first really hit it big. Suddenly, there was a whole new world opened up for people, all based …

BellSouth Corp. said last week it could issue a tracking stock for its highly successful Latin American operations by late April or early May, a move that will allow investors …

WASHINGTON-The Telecommunications Industry Association is joining other business sectors in backing President Clinton’s call for congressional passage this year of permanent Normal Trade Relations for China. With China’s application for …