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CANADIAN CARRIER TO LAUNCH CDMA

BURNABY, B.C.-BC TEL Mobility announced plans to launch digital 800 MHz service based on Code Division Multiple Access technology in British Columbia, Canada, early next month.

The company completed field trials of Northern Telecom Ltd.’s network in September. Nortel has a five-year $80 million agreement with BC TEL Mobility to provide digital cellular and personal communications services network infrastructure equipment.

BC TEL was granted a 10-megahertz PCS regional license for British Columbia early last year but under government regulations cannot launch 1.9 GHz CDMA service until MicroCell Networks Inc. and Clearnet PCS Inc. launch service in that region. The companies are expected to launch this summer.

Initially, 800 MHz service will cover the greater Vancouver area, with expansion in the Victoria region in late 1997. Customers will use Qualcomm Personal Electronic’s handsets that default to BC TEL’s analog cellular system when out of the CDMA coverage area. The phones will feature caller ID and a visual indicator when new messages are waiting on voicemail. More features, such as text messaging and e-mail notification, will be added, said the company.

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