The future of third-generation networks took a hit last week following NTT DoCoMo's announcement that it was suspending the introduction of its highly touted 3G network in Japan from May until October. Japan's largest wireless operator, which many in the industry look to as...
BUCHAREST, Romania-Throughout the 1990s, NMT analog wireless systems became somewhat obsolete, particularly with the advent of GSM technology. Digital GSM systems, which offer users services such as short message service, caller ID, group calls and data transmissions, are widespread throughout Europe and have outperformed...
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa-Globalstar could be the last hope for global mobile personal communications by satellite (GMPCS) survival in Africa. During a heated debate at the Satcom Africa '99 conference held recently in Midrand, South Africa, many participants concluded that after the setbacks experienced by...
Only a year ago, prospects for the GSM standard in Latin America seemed dim. At that time, Chile's Entel PCS and Venezuela's rural operator Infonet were the only operators offering GSM-based services in Latin America, and only a handful of other operators in Bolivia...
PRAGUE, Czech Republic-During the 11 years since the fall of communism in Central Europe, the region's countries have rapidly embraced mobile telephony, including the ubiquitous GSM networks now blanketing the region. And operators are beginning to plan for next-generation mobile telephony in countries where...
MELBOURNE, Australia-The Australian Communications Authority (ACA) will hold the keenly awaited auction of third-generation (3G) spectrum in the 2 GHz radio-frequency band in early March.The new 3G mobile services are expected to combine popular communications forms, such as mobile phones, the Internet and computers,...
NEW DELHI, India-Wireless seems to be the latest buzzword in the corridors of the Sanchar Bhawan, the building that houses India's telecom establishment, as well as in telecom industry circles.GSM subscriber numbers are booming. Fixed service providers (FSPs) will soon be allowed to offer...
BARCELONA, Spain-Net2wireless Corp. joined Lucent Technologies Inc.'s Mobile Internet affiliates program under which Net2Wireless' 3Gate Platform, a solution designed to enhance the performance of multimedia content on mobile devices, will be offered to global mobile service providers."The 3Gate Platform and Net2Wireless' advanced compression techniques...
HELSINKI, Finland-Nokia Corp. and Sonera completed tests of roaming capabilities for Internet Protocol traffic between GPRS networks.The tests involved GRX, a centralized IP routing network for interconnecting GPRS networks, and were executed by combining Sonera's GPRS system and Nokia's packet core network by a...
NEW YORK-The number of licenses awarded, not the prices paid for them, likely will lead Standard & Poor's Corp. to downgrade the debt ratings of many winning bidders in Germany's recent third-generation wireless auctions."The total paid, 50.5 billion euros ($45.85 billion), conforms to our...
The Personal Communications Industry Association made another move designed to evolve the association into one that serves the global mobile Internet market.PCIA last week announced the PCIA Global Initiative, a new PCIA division designed to provide consumer and market data for the mobile Internet...
SCHAUMBURG, Ill.-Motorola Inc. and MasterCard International said they will commit resources in a joint effort to speed mobile commerce deployments.The companies will collaborate on research and development projects to assure interoperability between MasterCard's electronic payment system and Motorola's Internet-enabled wireless devices.Motorola and MasterCard also...
NEW YORK-Any wireless carrier that frets about competition on its turf should consider SmarTone Telecommunications Holdings Ltd., the fourth licensee in Hong Kong.The city-state has a population of 6.9 million, of whom 4 million already are mobile customers. Serving this market are six mobile...
MADRID, Spain-Telefonica Moviles and Terra Networks set up Terra Mobile, a new company charged with developing and operating the Telefonica group's global mobile Internet portal.Telefonica Moviles will control 51 percent of the new company, with Terra Networks controlling the remaining 49 percent.The Internet portal...
NEW YORK-Globalstar reported that its roaming satellite telephone service is commercially available between nearly 30 countries in North America, South America and Europe.The company said roaming agreements in Australia and Russia, as well as other countries in Europe and South America will be added...
British Telecom plc unveiled its mobile Internet strategy last week, setting up a new unit to offer global mobile Internet services by extending its existing Genie Internet services to Wireless Application Protocol-enabled phones.BT said it will invest $250 million in WAP technology and form...
DENVER, United States-Globalstar USA became the latest Globalstar L.P. partner to launch full commercial service, completing the company's North American coverage for its mobile satellite phone service, perhaps Globalstar's most important service region.Globalstar USA launched at the same time as Globalstar Canada, while Globalstar...
Brazil's spectrum choice in auctioning new personal communications services licenses could be an important decision for the GSM community as it struggles to gain inroads into Latin America.The Brazilian telecom regulatory authority, Anatel, plans to auction new PCS licenses as early as this year,...
BRASILIA, Brazil-The Global Mobile Suppliers Association presented its views at a public hearing held earlier this month on the allocation of spectrum for personal communications services in Brazil. Anatel, Brazil's telecom regulator, is determining whether new wireless services should be deployed in the 1900...
A U.S. bankruptcy court has given ICO Global Communications final approval for $500 million in financing from an investor group led by Craig McCaw and Indian media magnate Subhash Chandra, who had challenged McCaw with a competing financing bid.Under the agreement, McCaw will provide...
SAN FRANCISCO-Telstra Corp. Ltd. and KPN of the Netherlands said they may merge their global mobile satellite businesses to form a joint venture aimed at being a major player in the global satellite industry.The companies would contribute approximately a combined $200 million in existing...
IRVING, Texas-Nokia Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jorma Ollila raised the company's global mobile subscriber estimate to more than 450 million subscribers worldwide by the end of the year.Nokia said it expects global subscribers to reach 1 billion by the end of 2002, one...
ICO Global Communications Ltd. received final commitments for the $1.2 billion in financing needed to finish building its satellite voice network from none other than cellular industry pioneer Craig McCaw.ICO announced at the end of October it had received letters of intent for the...
GENEVA-Globalstar officially announced at Telecom '99 a phased launch of its mobile satellite service. The phased launch begins with user trials, followed by a soft launch that will allow the company to work out quality issues. Commercial service should begin in early 2000, Globalstar...
