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Soul searching for Britain’s BT

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...

WAP services fall flat in Hong Kong

HONG KONG-The Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) is generally regarded with something between scorn and indifference in Hong Kong among industry sources, and mobile operators will not even reveal subscriber numbers for the service.This contrasts with the bullish claims of Scott Goldman, chief executive officer...

3G licensing update

Hong KongHong Kong's Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA) will use a "hybrid" method-a prequalification followed by an auction-to allocate four third-generation (3G) mobile services licenses early next year. New market entrants must compete with Hong Kong's six incumbent operators. Hutchison Telecom, Pacific Century...

World News

AustriaAustrian mobile operator Mobilkom Austria launched wireless packet data service using a GPRS core network infrastructure solution provided by Nortel Networks through its local distributor, Austria Telecommunication GmbH. Nortel said the GPRS core network is the first in commercial service to support interoperability with...

SmarTone has high hopes for GPRS service

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...

NEWS BRIEFS

British Telecom and AT&T said they are beginning trials to test roaming services for high-speed Internet phones. The tests will involve General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) technology and partnerships with wireless operators SmarTone of Hong Kong and Taiwan's FarEasTone. The trials will begin in...

Wireless enters Hong Kong’s Internet scene

HONG KONG-In January, the Hong Kong government awarded five licenses for wireless fixed telecommunications network services (FTNS), signaling a major advance in Internet access.The licensees will use base stations to transmit voice, data and video signals via microwave links to rooftop antenna dishes on...

Hong Kong awards 17 licenses

HONG KONG-The Hong Kong Telecommunications Authority awarded five fixed-wireless licenses and 12 licenses for long-distance services via satellite, opening further telecommunications competition.The five fixed-wireless license holders pledged a total of $360 million in the next three years. The licensees include PSINet Hong Kong Ltd.,...

license

Hong Kong mobile telephone operator SmarTone Communications said it is looking to secure a wireless fixed network license in Hong Kong. SmarTone is among 14 companies that have applied to the Hong Kong government for wireless local fixed telephone network licenses. SmarTone is beginning...

SmarTone seeks fixed network license

HONG KONG-Hong Kong mobile telephone operator SmarTone Communications said it is looking to secure a wireless fixed network license. SmarTone is among 14 companies that have applied to the Hong Kong government for wireless local fixed-telephone network licenses. SmarTone is beginning the second phase...

CHINA BRIEFS

The Chinese government announced it will enforce regulations announced last year requiring all foreign-manufactured mobile phones and other telecommunications equipment to carry a government-issued seal indicating authenticity. The government said the move will help it reduce smuggled goods from entering the country. Foreign executives...

Asia data rates expected to rival other world markets

SINGAPORE-Mobile data is quickly taking off in many parts of Asia, with growth rates in the region comparing favorably to take-up rates in Europe and the United States, say analysts.Although overall percentages of Asian wireless subscribers that use data services are not available, Steven...

ASIA-PACIFIC BRIEFS

AUSTRALIATelstra will extend its CDMA network in Australia to include country locations currently covered by its GSM network but lacking in analog coverage, said the company.Hutchison Telecoms in Australia announced it will adopt the brand name Orange, the global communications brand of the Hutchison...

ERICSSON SUPPLIES TEST SYSTEM

STOCKHOLM-L.M. Ericsson announced it is supplying a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access system to Hong Kong-based SmarTone Mobile Communications Ltd.The experimental third-generation system could support wireless Internet protocol and other packet-based wireless datacom and multimedia systems at 470 kilobits per second and faster with...

ASIA-PACIFIC BRIEFS

ChinaChina Telecom granted U.S.-based Cwill Telecommunications' smart antenna technology a digital Network Access License to connect its wireless PCS-band technology for WLL to China Telecom's phone system anywhere in China, said Cwill.Hong KongBritish Telecom is continuing its buying spree in Asia. In its latest...

WORLD BRIEFS

JapanConductus Inc. announced it shipped a 16-pole ClearSite wireless subsystem to a major Japanese cellular operator for performance testing. The system will be used for testing within Japanese frequency bands for potential field deployment.SENEGALSENTELgsm launched Global System for Mobile communications 900 service in the...

CNN TEAMS WITH NOKIA TO DELIVER NEWS ON PHONES

CANNES, France-CNN Interactive last week announced at the GSM World Congress its CNN Mobile service, a mobile telephone news and information service using a platform it co-developed with Nokia Oy. The service will allow consumers to get text-based CNN news on their handsets, and...

U.S. DELEGATION PUSHES FOR 3G CONVERGENCE

The State Department late last month urged the European Commission to allow U.S. third-generation wireless equipment and service providers a fair opportunity to compete in Europe.In a letter sent to EC Commissioner Martin Bangemann Dec. 19, the United States expressed concern Europe may be...

HONG KONG STILL DRIVING WIRELESS INNOVATION

BEIJING-Six wireless operators with 11 networks is the daunting choice offered to Hong Kong's techno-savvy consumers.The mobile phone scene here is a lot brighter than one would have expected just one-and-a-half years ago, with the territory's hand-over to the People's Republic of China on...

CARRIERS CREATE WIRELESS VENTURE-CAPITAL FUND

NEW YORK-"One of the humbling things about this business is that, for three out of four years, we are unapproachable and obnoxious, but in the fourth year we have to raise money so we grovel."That is how Ronald White, a partner in Argo Global...

INFRASTRUCTURE DEALS

L.M. EricssonBelgium. With KPN-Orange Belgium N.V. for a DCS 1800 network.Value: US$269 millionBrazil. With ATL-Algar Telecom Leste S.A. for a TDMA network.Value: up to US$350 millionEcuador. Five-year contract with BellSouth Ecuador to upgrade its AMPS network to TDMA IS-136.Value: more than US$250 millionEgypt. Contract from Misrfone to...

WORLD BRIEFS

CHINAL.M. Ericsson signed a $50 million framework agreement to expand capacity on SmarTone's Global System for Mobile communications network in Hong Kong during the next year. SmarTone acquired an 1800 MHz license when it bought the original holder, P Plus, said Ericsson.Glenayre and the...

ASIA-PACIFIC BRIEFS

HONG KONGHong Kong's SmarTone Telecommunications Holdings Ltd. announced agreements with Star Telecom International Holdings Ltd. and Telecom Service Ltd. to acquireP Plus Communications Ltd., a PCS operator, for about US$95 million. The news did not come as a surprise; it has been rumored for...

SMARTONE TO BUY P PLUS

KIRKLAND, Wash.-AT&T Wireless Services Inc.'s Hong Kong venture, SmarTone Telecommunications Holdings Ltd., signed conditional agreements with Star Telecom International Holdings Ltd. and Telecom Service Ltd. to acquire P Plus Communications Ltd. for about $95 million.SmarTone will gain additional spectrum through the acquisition, which will...