NEW DELHI, India—Bharti Enterprises, India's leading cellular service provider, said it will invest 5 billion rupees (US$104.6 million) to build a new cellular network in the Punjab circle in north India. The license was restored to Bharti this week after a protracted battle with...
NEW DELHI, India—The Bharti group is in talks with shareholders in its Chennai operations to buy out the Skycell stakes to gain 100-percent ownership of the license.Currently, Bharti Televentures, the holding company of the Bharti group, has a 40.5-percent stake in Skycell; the remainder...
Cellemetry L.L.C.Numerex Corp. announced that its subsidiary, Cellemetry L.L.C., will incorporate Ida Corp.'s Global Trakit Data Center in its Cellemetry network, enabling automatic vehicle location and remote asset management. According to Geoff Girdler, head of the Numerex wireless communication group, "This powerful tool for...
WOODBURY, N.Y.-Comverse, a unit of Comverse Technology Inc., announced its Intelligent Short Message Service Center (ISMSC) was selected by Airtel Mobil, a mobile operator in Spain and part of the Vodafone Group.Airtel will implement Comverse's short message service solutions, which is based on a...
NEW YORK-Vodafone Group plc introduced international roaming for its prepaid mobile-phone customers on its networks across Europe. The service, already available to Vodafone's postpaid customers, follows the launch of Vodafone Eurocall and Home Services international prepaid roaming services.The new international prepaid service, introduced recently...
GERMANYGerman mobile operator E-Plus introduced natural language access to information and services using iVB Network Solutions' Omvia product line. The E-Plus Voice Assistant service includes live and stored multimedia content, voice management and voice-activated service management activities, including telephone bill status and message access.SWEDENCellPoint...
In a dramatic move to bolster its value and trim debt, British Telecom said last week it would spin off its wireless unit, BT Wireless, as a separately traded company, and temporarily suspend dividend payments. The telecom giant said it expects the moves to...
MUNICH-Airtel Spain has chosen Siemens AG's Siemens Information and Communication Mobile Group as a main supplier for GPRS technology.Siemens IC Mobile will supply and implement all necessary components, including switching network technology and software upgrades, allowing Airtel to offer mobile Internet and intranet access...
LONDON-Vodafone Group plc has agreed to pay $6.9 billion total for British Telecommunications plc's interests in Japan and Spain.The sale includes BT's 20-percent stake in Japan Telecom and its 20-percent stake in J-Phone Communications, JT's mobile subsidiary, making Vodafone the largest shareholder of JT...
GENEVA-How the mighty have fallen. British Telecommunications (BT), once ranked among the world's most powerful carriers, is finding itself buckling under a crippling mountain of debt in a climate where raising equity in the telecom/information technology (IT) sector has hit an all-time low. In...
Amid the frenzy over a flagging economy and road bumps to the next generation of technologies, Nokia Corp. won a series of third-generation infrastructure contracts that gives the handset vendor coveted status as a network provider.The deals, including a $1.3 billion deal to supply...
NEW YORK -British Telecommunications plc will undertake "a massive, massive restructuring, and I don't want to underestimate what we plan to do this year," Sir Peter Bonfield, chief executive officer, told securities analysts at a recent meeting here.Under the umbrella of a new group...
Finally, a glass of champagne.Nortel Networks toasted its fourth quarter with a result that matched market expectations and a robust promise for the future.Nortel, a leader in communications equipment for wireless networks, switching, transmission and access, reported fourth-quarter net earnings of $825 million, or...
Extolling them as "wings of light," Nortel Networks hopes to illumine the wireless Internet space with four new initiatives. Basking in a 55-percent third-quarter growth, the Internet and communications company identifies the four-pronged blitz as optical infrastructure, wireless access, Internet Protocol services to create...
LittlefeetLittlefeet Inc., a wireless network infrastructure developer, appointed Kai Cheong Chan as the general manager and sales director for the company's new regional office, which will serve Singapore and the Asia-Pacific region.Chan will be responsible for developing business relationships and managing distribution channels for...
AlcatelEurope. With Orange as a strategic supplier for its third-generation networks throughout Europe.Value: UndisclosedItaly. With Wind Telecomunicazioni as a preferred third-generation network supplier.Value: UndisclosedEricssonChina. With China Telecom and Guangdong Mobile Communications to build a fixed network and expand Guangdong mobile networks.Value: US$550 millionChina. With China Mobile for...
OXFORD, United Kingdom-The developers of third-generation (3G) infrastructure technology are complaining that mobile operators, which have spent billions acquiring licenses, are demanding heavy discounts on equipment deals.The major manufacturers are saying big pan-European operators are running parallel negotiations with up to six bidders and...
PARIS-Nortel Networks announced it won business from Airtel Movil SA, Spain's second-largest wireless carrier.Nortel will build the initial phase of Airtel's UMTS network. The deal, subject to a definitive agreement, is valued at $100 million, according to Nortel.Airtel said it plans to become the...
MADRID-British Telecommunications plc and Vodafone AirTouch plc ended their ongoing struggle for control of Spain's wireless carrier Airtel, with BT agreeing to support Vodafone in acquiring further stakes in Airtel. Both companies currently are Airtel shareholders.In return, if Vodafone AirTouch's holding exceeds 55 percent,...
MADRID, Spain-A Vivendi-led consortium and Spain's three incumbent mobile phone operators won Universal Mobile Telecommunications System licenses in Spain. The third-generation licenses were awarded through a selective tender process.The Xfera consortium plans to invest about $4.8 billion in its 3G network during the next...
DENVER, United States-While Vodafone AirTouch recently advanced its merger with Germany's Mannesmann AG, the company indicated it may look to fill in its footprint with some smaller acquisitions.In particular, the company has been closing in on a bid for a stake in Spain's second-largest...
MADRID, Spain-Vodafone AirTouch plc and British Telecommunications plc are negotiating a resolution to their battle for control of Airtel, Spain's second-largest mobile provider. The negotiations could lead to an amicable BT exit from Airtel.In addition, Vodafone plans to use Airtel to expand its wireless...
While Vodafone AirTouch plc last week advanced its merger with Germany's Mannesmann AG, the company indicated it may look to fill in its footprint with smaller acquisitions.In particular, the company has been closing in on a bid for a stake in Spain's second-largest mobile...
