2001

NEW DELHI, India-Though a late starter, the Asia-Pacific region may steal a march over Europe in rolling out third-generation (3G) networks. On May 30, NTT DoCoMo became the first operator …

NEW DELHI, India-Wireless network operators the world over are preparing to move from offering voice-only services to data and content-based services. The transition means they will have to install real-time, …

DUBLIN, Ireland-Opinion is divided on the identity of the “killer applications” that will allow operators to make a return on their significant investments in General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) and …

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina-Mobile communications are vital to Israel. The permanent tension, caused by terrorist attacks, compels everyone to be in constant communication. Despite its conflicts and small population, Israel has …

Young Israeli men go through three years, and girls two years, of compulsory military service when they reach 18 years of age. All Israeli Jews of age belong to the …

TOKYO-Amid harsh competition among mobile carriers, Japanese cellular handsets have been evolving rapidly. Most handsets currently used are light, tiny, fashionable and smart. Internet-ready capabilities and color screens are almost …

HELSINKI, Finland-There is an old saying in Norway that declares “true arrogance is a city inhabited by Swedes.” However generalized and over the top that expression may be in the …

WASHINGTON-European countries are having difficulties with spectrum policy-not to mention a continental spectrum policy-for much the same reason the United States is having difficulties with spectrum policy issues. “Currently, different …

MADRID, Spain-As many European mobile-phone markets inch closer to saturation levels and as voice calls become more commoditized, European mobile providers are seeking other products and services to boost sagging …

Bosnia Five companies bid for the third GSM license in Bosnia. The companies include Croatia’s Hrvatski Telekom, in which Deutsche Telekom has a 35-percent stake; Turkey’s Rumeli; and privately owned …

COPENHAGEN, Denmark-The discussion surrounding m-commerce includes questions such as whether m-commerce will be a success and what kind of services will be purchased via a mobile phone. Research shows that …

Explaining logic behind 3GSM Dear Editor: Regarding the opinion article “Happy Families” in the May-June 2001 issue, no one should leave Stuart Sharrock “disturbed” for too long. However, I would …

It was a pretty violent descent. The plane was being tossed around like an ice cube in a cocktail shaker. I decided there was only one safe course of action. …

JAKARTA, Indonesia-Amid an unpredictable economic crisis, Indonesia’s telecommunication sector is moving forward, with new regulation in effect since 8 September, 2000. The new regulation, which says any company can provide …

MELBOURNE, Australia-Most of the major telecommunications carriers to have successfully bid at the recent Australian 2 GHz spectrum auctions plan to adopt wideband-CDMA (W-CDMA) for third-generation (3G) services. Cable & …

OSLO, Norway-Telenor said it is looking to increase its shareholding in Malaysian mobile operator DiGi.Com. The Norwegian company currently has a 32.9-percent stake in DiGi. Telenor informed the Malaysian operator’s …

WASHINGTON-NextWave Telecom, a one-time poster child for everything that went wrong with the U.S. government’s C-block auction for PCS licenses, said it stands ready to continue to build its network, …

Handsets/ devices Mitsubishi Mitsubishi released three new handsets. The Eclipse is a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) phone with a color display. The dual-band phone offers 256 colors and up …

China IMT-2000/3G International Summit 11-13 July Beijing IIR Tel: (+852) 2219 0111 Fax: (+852) 2219 0112 [email protected] RadioCom 2001 11-13 July Mexico City Andear Tel: (+52) 12 244 5193 Fax: …

MELBOURNE, Australia-Melbourne wireless telecom developer Advanced Communications Technologies (ACT) is on track to be the first company in the world to commercially launch a multiprotocol mobile base station, including third-generation …

TOKYO- NTT DoCoMo, in cooperation with KPN Mobile and E-Plus, is scheduled to launch i-mode-like services in the Netherlands and Germany in the fourth quarter. Access, a Japanese provider of …

OXFORD, United Kingdom-After all the publicity, time and money spent obtaining third-generation (3G) licenses, European mobile operators are keeping plans strictly to themselves about what mobile applications they might launch …

SEOUL, South Korea-South Korea is confronting a row over awarding a third license for third-generation (3G) mobile services, as the government has called for consolidation in the telecom market as …

SINGAPORE-Singapore network operators will not make General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) widely available to consumers here before the end of this year, executives from operators and handset manufacturers said at …

TOYKO-Usen, the largest music cable caster in Japan, launched a six-month field test for high-speed wireless services in Tokyo in mid-June in cooperation with Root. According to Usen, the services, …