January 2001

WASHINGTON-The Bush administration and a Republican-majority Federal Communications Commission likely will put their stamp on wireless issues in 2001, even though telecom issues are largely nonpartisan. “Understand a lot of …

BOSTON-In a new report, Strategy Analytics said it expects 2.5-generation technologies to dominate the world market through 2010, generating revenues of about $450 billion with 1.3 billion users. “Globally in …

OWINGS MILLS, Md.-Aether Systems Inc. announced its recent acquisition, RTS Wireless, will supply WebLink Wireless with its Advantage Gateway, as well as installation, training, support and related services. WebLink Wireless …

While the number of products incorporating Bluetooth technology was slim this past holiday season, the number of companies interested in producing Bluetooth chipsets is bountiful. Of the 82 exhibitors at …

CARLSBAD, Calif.-Motorola Inc. renewed its contract with Dot Hill Systems Corp. for another two years, allowing Dot Hill to continue to work on storage and infrastructure solutions to design, develop …

At the end of each year, the RCR Wireless News editorial staff looks back on the new events that made RCR headlines and decides which were the most significant, industry-impacting …

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa.-Wireless operator UbiquiTel Inc., a Sprint PCS Network Partner, expanded its coverage area along the Interstate 90 corridor from Spokane, Wash., to east of Moses Lake, Wash., and Sandpoint, …

BELLEVUE, Wash.-Lucent Technologies Inc. has signed an equipment and software agreement to expand Sprint PCS’ network coverage and capacity in its Michigan, Indiana and Kentucky markets. The $50 million deal, …

BEIJING-China’s mobile communications market made big strides forward during 2000. The number of GSM subscribers leapt to more than 70 million, with a penetration rate of 5.5 percent. China Unicom …

The talk throughout 2000 centered on third-generation (3G) technology-its high costs, functionality, risks and mostly its promise. But 3G has different meanings in different circles. Because 3G is something that …

While consumers in the United States will be pushed by government regulations into adopting location-based services, consumers in Western Europe and Japan are pulling for these types of services to …

SEOUL, South Korea-South Korea awarded much-coveted third-generation (3G) mobile service licenses to SK Telecom, the country’s largest mobile carrier, and state-run Korea Telecom on 15 December. The race, however, is …

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina-After a year of strong conflicts between newcomers and established players, the total liberalization of Argentina’s telecommunications market is finalized. Early November found 21 companies licensed to offer …

Dear Editor: I have found your Global Wireless news to be quite edifying. I, however, must correct you on the “First Caribbean CPP provider emerges” article in the September-October 2000, …

HONG KONG-“This time it’s for real,” stated Robert Mao, president of Nortel Networks China. But Irwin Jacobs, chairman of Qualcomm, was rather more sanguine. “I’ve gone from being cautiously optimistic,” …

GENEVA-Europe is set to witness an explosion in the number of mobile base stations, as operators gear up for the imminent launch of third-generation (3G) services in early 2002. A …

LONDON-State regulators in Europe are gearing up to promote the 40 GHz-43.5 GHz band for fixed-wireless telecom services, which will enable new entrants to compete against dominant operators such as …

HONG KONG-“Third-generation services are here,” proclaimed the advertisements from Qualcomm at International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Telecom Asia 2000. “The wait is over.” Korea’s SK Telecom was the first operator to …

The millennium is off to a good start for Vodafone Group. The U.K.-based carrier began 2000 with a hostile takeover of Mannesmann, parent of its rival Orange, and continued with …

DENVER, United States-Like the harmony of opposites, caution and adventure characterize the journey to the wide-scale rollout of General Packet Radio Service (GPRS). Vendors are playing starry-eyed idealists, while operators …

PRAGUE, Czech Republic-During the 11 years since the fall of communism in Central Europe, the region’s countries have rapidly embraced mobile telephony, including the ubiquitous GSM networks now blanketing the …

TOKYO-KDDI, the second-largest carrier in Japan, has decided to launch its third-generation (3G) services based on High Data Rate (HDR) technology. KDDI will launch its HDR services initially using the …

HONG KONG-Hong Kong’s usually efficient telecom regulators are struggling in their efforts to license third-generation (3G) spectrum, while avoiding the damaging costs of European-style spectrum auctions. The Office of the …

NEW DELHI, India-The Indonesian cellular phone market, which witnessed strong growth during 2000 despite political turmoil, is set for further expansion in 2001 when two more GSM players join the …

TOKYO-KDDI, the sole cdmaOne operator in Japan, has been expanding its international roaming services, fully using its universally standardized cdmaOne technology. In January, KDDI launched international roaming services in Canada …