2001

WICHITA, Kansas, United States—IFR Systems announced it was chosen to provide test equipment for the United Kingdom’s US$2.4 billion BOWMAN tactical communications program. The program will provide secure voice and …

KIRKLAND, Wash.—Nextel Partners announced the results of its “Nextel Cans For A Cause” nationwide food-drive program that took place this holiday season. Their efforts resulted in nearly 17,000 pounds of …

STOCKHOLM, Sweden—Tele2 announced a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) agreement in Germany with Viag Interkom. Tele2 will use Viag’s mobile network to provide the air interface for Tele2’s fixed-line customers. …

LONDON—NEC announced it will close a semiconductor plant in Scotland, eliminating 1,260 jobs. The Livingston, West Lothian, plant closure is blamed on the widespread downturn in demand for cellular phone …

DUBLIN, Ireland—Ireland has announced details of its third-generation (3G) licensing process following a year-long delay. Four 20-year licenses will be awarded through a “beauty content” method. An “A” license with …

HELSINKI, Finland—Finnish vendor Tecnomen said it will supply a messaging solution to Brazilian operator Algar Telecom Leste (ATL). The deal, worth around US$1.6 million, comprises a combination of voice mail, …

PARIS—Alcatel said it signed a US$12 million contract with Saudi Telecom Company (STC) to deliver local multipoint distribution service (LMDS) equipment. The first phase of the contract includes deploying several …

JAKARTA,Indonesia—PT Telkom, Indonesia’s dominant telecommunication operator, is carrying out an auction for the development of CDMA-based fixed wireless network networks worth US$1 billion in January 2002. Eddy Praptono, Telkom’s vice …

CARROLLTON, Texas, United States—G-Tel Wireless said Taiwan handset maker Senao will distribute G-Tel’s shielding phone case and antenna cap to all customer who purchase a Senao cellular phone “as a …

BEIJING—Motorola announced it has been awarded US$95 million in contracts to supply wireless equipment to China Mobile Communications. According to the contract, Motorola will expand China Mobile’s GSM networks in …

PALO ALTO, California, United States—In an effort to debunk criticism of the move and rally stakeholders, Hewlett-Packard and Compaq Computer released a detailed, 50-page document outlining the benefits of the …

COPENHAGEN, Denmark—Danish carrier TDC Mobile has partnered with Vodafone Group to develop and market international roaming products and services to international travelers and corporate customers. The first service to be …

DALLAS, United States—Nokia continued its massive push for its open mobile architecture initiative by signing some of the world’s largest information and technology infrastructure and application server vendors, including BEA …

PARIS—Alcatel will supply a GSM network to Tanzanian Telecommunications Company Limited (TTCL) under a e25 million (US$22.4 million) contract. The first phase of the network is already installed in the …

SAN DIEGO, United States—Qualcomm announced it signed memoranda of understanding to provide its Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless (BREW) technology to several wireless operators in Latin America. BellSouth in Guatemala, …

ROSH HAAYIN, Israel—Israel’s Ministry of Communications has awarded third-generation (3G) spectrum to the country’s three incumbent mobile operators and second-generation (2G) spectrum in the 1800 MHz band to Partner Communications …

SAN DIEGO—Qualcomm Inc. said JB Hunt Transport, a truckload carrier out of Lowell, Ark., selected Qualcomm’s OmniExpress mobile communications system for its intermodal fleet. Under terms of the agreement, JB …

OXFORD, United Kingdom—KPN Mobile, the financially troubled Dutch operator, will later this month start the first practical i-mode tests in Europe through its joint venture with Japan’s NTT DoCoMo. The …

HELSINKI, Finland—Nokia announced it has upgraded its third-generation (3G) wideband-CDMA (W-CDMA) network to meet 3GPP’s Release 99, June 2001 version standards. “The milestone of switching to the June 2001 version, …

LONDON—Satellite communications provider Inmarsat said the Asia-Pacific region will be the major driver of demand for satellite services in 2002, following significant market growth during 2001. New vertical markets for …

WASHINGTON—The association representing U.S. wireless carriers, Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA), has made Radio Frequency Investigation (RFI) a CTIA Approved Testing Laboratory (CATL), the first CATL in the United …

TOKYO—NTT DoCoMo, the leading mobile carrier in Japan, said it terminated its talks with SK Telecom over a business alliance including an investment. The carriers have carried out the bilateral …

BEIJING—Nokia officially inaugurated its largest production base in China on 20 December. Beijing Nokia Mobile Telecommunications and 15 of Nokia’s component suppliers are located in the Xingwang International Industrial Park, …

HELSINKI, Finland—In a deal that marks Playboy’s entry into the wireless market, the U.S.-based adult entertainment company, partnered with Finland’s Wireless Entertainment Services Finland (WES). Under the agreement, WES will …

CHICAGO, United States—U.S. Cellular said it intends to deploy CDMA 1x technology in all its markets beginning early next year. The carrier currently uses CDMA in approximately one-third of its …