Poland
L.M. Ericsson said it signed an $80 million contract with Polska Telefonia Cyfrowa to expand its Global System for Mobile communications network in Poland. Ericsson will deliver base stations, base station controllers, Mini-Link microwave transport solutions and services, as well as mobile switching centers and home location registers, the company said. When fully implemented during the first quarter of next year, total network capacity will be increased to more than 2 million GSM users.
Germany
Cellular operator T-Mobil and Motorola Inc.’s Network Solutions Sector signed a $43 million contract to expand the German operator’s T-D1 network, said the companies. Motorola will be responsible for ongoing enhancement of the T-D1 network. T-Mobil said it also will carry out field trials of Motorola’s General Packet Radio Service data communications infrastructure and handsets.
Canada
Clearnet Communications Inc. announced talk time enhancements to its Clearnet PCS rate plans. The new Clearnet PCS consumer rate plans offer at least 200 minutes of local calling per month, voice mail, caller ID, call waiting and other services. Pricing for the new plans start at $25.
China
Brightpoint Inc. commenced new operations in China by forming a partnership-Sunrise International Ltd. The partnership formed an enterprise that will seek to source wireless products and accessories and distribute them to various customers, including domestic trading companies that have access to retail channels. Brightpoint is the managing partner of Sunrise and owns substantially all of its interests therein, said the company.
Japan
Nettech Systems Inc. said it has given computer systems and software distributor Itochu Techno-Science Corp. exclusive rights to distribute Nettech’s wireless middleware products in Japan.