India
The government-owned Department of Telecom Operations (DTO) will start its cellular mobile service in some cities by March 2001. It will soon float a tender for the supply and installation of about 1.5 million lines of GSM equipment on a turnkey basis.
The service would also cover rural areas, where village public telephones will be established. It is expected that most of the cities and towns as well as considerable areas in the villages will be covered by March 2002. This will help the DTO to meet its objective of providing “telephone on demand” and covering all the villages by telecom facilities by the end of March 2002.
Japan
The government granted approval for J-Phone Group for its reorganization plan. Upon approval, J-Phone Group, the mobile business sector of Japan Telecom, is going to reorganize its nine regional companies into three companies on Oct. 1. DDI Cellular Group, another major cellular group and the mobile sector of DDI Corp., is also planning to merge its seven operating companies into one company on Nov. 1.
New Zealand
Bids for second- and third-generation spectrum in New Zealand reached NZ$46.6 million (US$19.7 million) at the end of round 103 on Sept. 14. Regulators released new auction rules earlier in the week to try to speed up the slow-moving New Zealand auction. The number of bidding rounds per day increased from two to four, among other changes. Vodafone Mobile New Zealand, Telstra Saturn and Telecom New Zealand are bidding on 3G spectrum. At the end of round 103, Vodafone held the highest 3G bids at NZ$3.6 million (US$1.5 million) each for two separate management right lots. Each of the 3G bidders held the highest bids for four lots. The auction has been under way since July 10.
China
Chen Suxian, the president of Shanghai Mobile, has said his company wants to ensure proper mobile-phone communications all over the city. Shanghai Mobile plans to install facilities in 23 stops on the city’s subway, costing US$18.12 million.
