2000

DENVER, United States-Rumors that Deutsche Telekom was preparing a US$32 billion offer to acquire U.S. GSM carrier VoiceStream Wireless circulated at press time. DT has been hunting for U.S. acquisitions …

BEIJING-The mobile Internet revolution is knocking on China’s door. With 60 million mobile-phone subscribers and only 10 million people surfing the Internet using personal computers, Web access through mobile phones …

The U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit to block the US$129 billion merger between WorldCom and Sprint, the second- and third-largest U.S. long-distance telecom carriers, respectively. The lawsuit, combined with …

BUCHAREST, Romania-At the end of May, the principle vendors of mobile telephones in Romania held a meeting to discuss the country’s black market for mobile handset sales. In the other …

SAO PAULO, Brazil-Telecom regulatory authority, Anatel, said Brazil’s personal communications services (PCS) licenses will be auctioned later this year in three geographic areas, with up to three operators in each …

TORONTO-The major Canadian carriers are cautiously laying the groundwork for third-generation (3G) wireless networks. But true, full-blown 3G in Canada is at least three to four years away. “Canadian mobile …

BEIJING-China is still set to enter the World Trade Organization (WTO) by the end of the year. Upon accession, foreign operators will be permitted a 25-percent share of Chinese mobile …

SINGAPORE-Governments in Asia will issue licenses of third-generation (3G) cellular networks to around 40 operators in 11 countries within the next year, representatives from several equipment vendors said at the …

TOKYO-Since NTT DoCoMo launched its iMode wireless data service in February 1999, the number of mobile Internet users in Japan-more than 10 million as of the end of May-has taken …

Alcatel. Benin. With Office des Postes et Telecommunications (OPT) for a GSM network, along with fiber-optic and switching equipment. Value: US$32.8 million Kenya. With KenCell for a 50,000-subscriber capacity GSM …

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina-Cuba’s government decreed that the new millennium begins on 1 January, 2001, and to mark the event, grand celebrations are being prepared. In tone with the decision, the …

GENEVA-The sky-high third-generation (3G) license fees generated by the United Kingdom’s May auction are having serious repercussions for European operators seeking a pan-regional presence. Governments on the mainland are rejigging …

DUBLIN, Ireland-Trunked radio may be dismissed by some as the poor relation of GSM and an irrelevance in the world of multibillion pound Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) license bids, …

HONG KONG-The government of Hong Kong is likely to be among the first in the Asia-Pacific region to clear spectrum and issue licenses for third-generation (3G) mobile phones, according to …

LONDON-The fixed wireless market in Israel is set for a period of heightened activity. The Communications Ministry submitted regulations to the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, in early May that will pave …

TOKYO-While the Japanese cellular phone market has been rapidly expanding, the paging industry is in decline. According to the Telecommunications Carriers Association (TCA), an industry association, Japan had 1.8 million …

SEOUL, South Korea-South Korea said it would limit the number of licenses for operating much-coveted third-generation (3G) mobile services networks to three, adopt a modified “beauty contest” that will bring …

SEOUL, South Korea-As the ban on handset subsidies went into effect 1 June, Korean mobile handset makers, wireless carriers and distributors are undergoing a drastic change in market conditions that …

LONG BEACH, Calif.-Sea Launch said it successfully completed its return to flight/systems readiness review, which was part of an investigation conducted by the Sea Launch Failure Review Oversight Board following …

ATLANTA-SED International Inc. and AT&T Wireless Group signed an agreement expanding the retail distribution channel for AT&T Wireless prepaid services to 20,000 resellers in the United States. The agreement calls …

VANCOUVER, British Columbia-Sierra Wireless Inc. agreed to purchase Qualcomm Inc.’s Code Division Multiple Access module business, including its module inventory, manufacturing and customer commitments. In addition, Sierra signed a supply …

PARIS-SnapTrack Inc. said an international consortium of Global System for Mobile communications wireless carriers and equipment manufacturers are preparing to evaluate SnapTrack’s Wireless Assisted Global Positioning System technology, which provides …

HELSINKI, Finland-Finnish mobile operator Sonera said it has had discussions with several companies regarding a merger and serious talks are expected by the end of the year, according to international …

ALLEN, Texas-Wireless Dimensions Corp. announced a solution called Mobile-Venue Suite, which is a portfolio of products allowing stadium operators and other similar entities to offer wireless gaming, trivia, contest and …

NEW YORK-Where wireless data is concerned, Dennis F. Strigl, president and chief executive officer of Verizon Wireless, has assumed the enthusiasm of a recent convert. “I was not bullish on …