MILAN, Italy-Andala, the Italian consortium headed by Hutchison Whampoa that won a third-generation license last year changed its name to H3G and announced it will invest $3.7 million in the new network by 2006. And in contrast to the warnings that 3G services in Europe will not be available until much later than 2002, H3G said commercial launch of its network is scheduled for the first half of next year.
The carrier said it will cover 72 percent of the population within a year of launching service, with 97-percent coverage by 2005.
“We are aiming to be the first in Italy to bring services and content-video telephones, Internet mobile, music and pictures-for third-generation mobile terminals to the mass market,” said Vincenzo Novari, chief executive officer of H3G.
The carrier said it also plans to offer 3G users soccer results with the commercial launch.