PARIS-European operator Orange SA confirmed that it entered nonbinding framework agreements with infrastructure suppliers Alcatel Corp., Nokia Corp. and Nortel Networks Ltd. to supply third-generation technology across the Orange footprint. The mobile operator said the agreements contain no commitments, and terms, financial amounts and conditions must still be finalized.
Orange said it expects full commercial trails of its 3G services to begin later this year in the United Kingdom with commercial launch expected in mid-2004. Orange U.K. expects to offer 3G coverage to more than 40 percent of the country’s population in 10 major cities, the major rail routes and airports.
By end-2004, Orange expects to have 3G coverage in the 10 major cities in France.
Nortel’s stock was up slightly on the news to $4.44 at press time.
