Hutchison's 3 is one of the European carriers to blaze the trail for third-generation UMTS technology with a launch of its services in Sweden, emphasizing mobile video communication."We offer today mobile video and other advanced services at attractive prices for the frequent user of...
STOCKHOLM, Sweden-Tele2 said its subsidiary in Luxembourg has launched its third-generation Universal Mobile Telecommunications System network. Tele2 described the launch as a "soft launch," adding that the major push will come in the third quarter.The Tango 3G network covers 90 percent of the population...
STOCKHOLM, Sweden-Tele2 said its subsidiary in Luxembourg has launched its third-generation (3G) Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network. Tele2 described the launch as a "soft launch," adding that the major push will come in the third quarter.The Tango 3G network covers 90 percent of...
HELSINKI, Finland-In a statement of intent clearly intended to accelerate the pace of rollout performance in Sweden, TeliaSonera has laid down a marker that the company will launch its "first wave" third-generation (3G) services to customers in Sweden during the first quarter of 2004.However,...
OSLO, Norway-An agreement among Sweden's operators to allow customers to send multimedia messaging services (MMS) between competing networks has failed to encompass all the country's operators, as giant TeliaSonera has yet to get on board.With MMS widely tipped by both studies and pundits to...
HELSINKI, Finland-Tele2, the Stockholm, Sweden-based pan-European telecom company, has surprised market analysts by reporting an operating profit of 1.5 billion Swedish kronors (US$182.7 million) on operating revenue of 31.28 billion kronors (US$3.9 billion) in the 2002 fiscal year. Growth in revenue, which rose 25...
OSLO, Norway-The Norwegian government said it will ease third-generation license conditions as it increases competition, with plans to auction two more 3G licenses in the country.The regulator said the minimum conditions for 3G coverage will be reduced to 30 percent of the population within...
HELSINKI, Finland-Hong Kong-based Hutchison Whampoa and Swedish venture group Investor are planning a spring launch for their so-called 3 mobile telephony service in Sweden. Company chiefs insist the new mobile service will return a profit on operations within five years. Hutchison and Investor are...
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia-St. Petersburg-based Delta Telecom, an NMT 450 MHz carrier, launched the first commercial cdma2000 1x network based on the International Mobile Telecommunications-Multi Carrier (IMT-MC) standard and operating in the 450 MHz band.The network, under the Sky Link trademark, will initially target middle...
STOCKHOLM, Sweden-As expected, Tele2 has returned its third-generation license in Norway to the government. Tele2 plans to offer mobile virtual network operator services through an agreement with Telenor instead of building a 3G network in the country.The company said the MVNO agreement will offer...
OSLO, Norway-Tele2 is reportedly in the closing stages of negotiating the return of its third-generation (3G) license with Norwegian communications authorities. Tele2 Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Lars-Johan Jarnheimer said it is likely that terms will be reached this week.Jarnheimer confirmed that Tele2 would not...
HELSINKI, Finland and OSLO, Norway-Hutchison Whampoa and Investor-backed Hi3G, which will operate under the brand name "3," will join Swedish third-generation (3G) license holders seeking rollout extensions. Hi3G has confirmed its intention to ask Swedish telecom authority PTS for an extension of the deadline...
OXFORD, United Kingdom-While industry gurus and market survey reports continue to pour cold water on the likely success of third generation (3G) technology, Hutchison 3G and Tele2 seem determined to overcome the pervading gloom that hangs over the technology. Both firms have recently committed...
OSLO, Norway-Mobile operator Orange may appeal the ruling by Swedish national telecom regulator PTS, which rejected any changes to the conditions of its third-generation (3G) license. Orange asked for a three-year rollout extension and now has until 22 October to decide to fight the...
STOCKHOLM, Sweden-Vodafone Group's Swedish subsidiary Europolitan will not meet regulator deadlines for building a third-generation (3G) network.Europolitan Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jon Risfelt said that reaching the Swedish national telecom regulator PTS' goal of coverage for 99.9 percent of the population by year-end 2003...
HELSINKI, Finland-Tele2, Sweden's second-largest network operator, has threatened to "hand back" its Norwegian third-generation (3G) license unless regulatory authorities in Norway relax the terms under which the license was granted and permit Tele2 to delay the rollout of its 3G network in Norway.Norwegian authorities...
OXFORD, United Kingdom-Having operated as a fixed-line operator in Spain since early 2001, Sweden-based Tele2 has now obtained the necessary license agreements to become the country's first mobile virtual network operator (MVNO). The 20-year license enables Tele2 to interconnect traffic and roam across the...
STOCKHOLM, Sweden-Sweden-based Telia Mobile said it signed a framework agreement with third-generation operator Hi3G for colocating masts. Hi3G is the Swedish 3G subsidiary of Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. and is building a UMTS network in the Nordic country. Under the agreement, Telia Mobile will lease...
MOSCOW-Russian Communications Minister Leonid Reiman promised to grant nationwide GSM licenses to three major carriers-Mobile TeleSystems (MTS), Vimpelcom (BeeLine) and MegaFon.The news is important for the first two carriers, which have not received any regional licenses since 1998 and have expanded to provinces by...
NEW YORK-Tele2 said it signed a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) agreement with Connect Austria, allowing it to use Connect's network to provide an alternative mobile service."This MVNO will enable Tele2 to offer an attractively priced package of fixed and mobile services to our...
STOCKHOLM, Sweden-Orange SA has requested from the Swedish telecom regulator a three-year extension for building out its third-generation network in Sweden. Sweden's 3G license conditions include having an operational network by the end of 2003.Orange would like to delay its rollout until the end...
LONDON—Orange SA said it accepted a UMTS license in Luxembourg following the country's "beauty contest" for licenses, making Orange a new entrant in the market when it launches a UMTS network.Last month, Tele2 said it also won a UMTS license in Luxembourg from the...
Permit issues could delay operator rolloutsHELSINKI, Finland-PTS, Sweden's telecom regulatory authority, appears to have accepted the general position adopted by operators that meeting the 2002 deadline for rollout of third-generation (3G) services will not be feasible. The position taken by PTS is significant, as...
STOCKHOLM, Sweden—Several groups are lining up to bid for Italian company Blu, the country's smallest mobile operator.Sweden's Tele2 AB partnered with Star Capital Partners and has made an offer to purchase Blu. The company said it will serve as a technical and industrial partner,...