JV Digital Cellular Communications of Ukraine Ltd. placed an order, valued at $30 million, for L.M. Ericsson’s fixed Digital Advanced Mobile Phone Service/AMPS cellular network. Under the contract, Ericsson will install the network in Kiev, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Charkiv, Odessa and the peninsular Krim. The network, which offers fax and data communications, uses standard wireless network equipment, a switch and RBS 884 base stations. Headquartered in Donetsk, JV Digital is one of the largest cellular operators in Ukraine.
Millicom International Cellular S.A. has increased its equity ownership in Telefonica Celular del Paraguay S.A. (Telecel) from 76 percent to 84 percent. Millicom acquired the shares from its local partner for $2 million. Telecel is the only cellular service provider in Paraguay and is expanding its networks in the capital city of Asuncion and Ciudad del Este, a major trading town on the Brazilian border. A new network is being developed in Encarnacion. Paraguay has a population of 4.7 million people.
Ho Chi Minh City Post and Telecommunications launched Vietnam’s first high-capacity fixed wireless telephone system using equipment supplied by Hughes Network Systems Inc. Hughes’ GMH 2000 system will provide 20,000 wireless telephone subscriber lines in the city. The GMH 2000 operates on a NEC NEAX 61 digital switching system, the company said. The wireless loop technology is based on digital Advanced Mobile Phone Service technology, with special fixed cellular terminals to support digital voice, fax, data, pay phones and PABX lines. The project was contracted and financed by Kanematsu Corp. of Japan.
Ameritech Corp. opened an office in Belgium to serve as headquarters for its European operations and an expansion center for its new business ventures. The new office will be headed by Herbert R. Hribar, vice president of Ameritech International and managing director of Ameritech Europe. Ameritech is a partner in Belgacom in Belgium and Matav in Hungary. In addition, it provides cellular service in Norway, publishes business-to-business directories throughout the continent and provides electronic library services in nine European nations.
Orbcomm Global L.P. announced it has signed agreements to offer services in Europe, Africa and southeast Asia. According to an agreement with Italian communications holding company Nuova Telespazio, Orbcomm will provide tracking, monitoring and messaging services in Europe by the second half of 1997, the company said. In addition, Orbcomm signed an agreement with Orbcomm Maghreb S.A. to supply services to northwestern Africa by the beginning of 1998. The third agreement between Orbcomm and Cellular Communications Network Sdn. Bhd. of Malaysia provides for service to begin as early as the fourth quarter of this year.
