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...
The controversy surrounding European third-generation (3G) spectrum auctions reached a new peak with Dutch and Italian competition authorities launching investigations in early November into possible collusion between rival bidders. These moves put further pressure on the European Community (EC) to instigate a pan-European probe...
ROME-The results of the Italian third-generation license auction are unfortunate for the Italian government and British Telecommunications plc, while most opportune for the five companies that have unofficially won licenses at prices much lower than anticipated.After just two days of bidding among six mobile...
AT&T Wireless Services Inc. could have a more difficult time offering bundled services to its customers after the business unit is separated from the parent group, according to one analyst.Now that AT&T has announced it will create four separate companies, each operating under the...
BUCHAREST, Romania-Hungary is preparing to launch an auction for Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) licenses in second-quarter 2001.According Andras Somogyi, the director of the International Organization Communications Authority, the frequency ranges for the third-generation services are located as follows: 1900 MHz to 1980 MHz and...
ROME-The Italian auction for five Universal Mobile Telecommunications System licenses began last Thursday. Italy is Europe's largest cell-phone market, with six groups participating in the auction process, which is expected to raise around $21 billion.The German UMTS auction, which ended in August, drew nearly...
WOODBURY, Spain-Comverse Network Systems demonstrated its third-generation-capable unified messaging service, including video messaging, over Nortel Network Corp.'s Universal Mobile Telecommunications System network at the UMTS Conference in Barcelona, Spain.The demonstration allows users to compose, send and view video messages using a personal computer. Comverse...
BARCELONA, Spain-Nokia Corp. introduced several new third-generation network solutions and mobile Internet application platforms designed for wireless operators and service providers at the UMTS 2000 Congress in Barcelona, Spain.Nokia said it also will introduce live 3G applications like music video downloads and interactive shopping.The...
BARCELONA, Spain-Nortel Networks announced new Internet Protocol core network, base station and management offerings as part of its `Wings of Light' strategy last week at the UMTS 2000 show in Barcelona, Spain.The latest additions to the company's portfolio of wireless Internet solutions are expected...
KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa.-InterDigital Communications Corp. plans to expand its UMTS product portfolio during the next five years to serve the third-generation wireless market with the addition of base station modems, radio resource management software and other devices targeted at the 3G market."We can...
BARCELONA, Spain-Lucent Technologies Inc. and Dutch wireless operator KPN plan to trial Universal Mobile Telecommunications System specifications along with mobile Internet applications.The trial will be based on European Telecommunications Standards Institute Release 99, which includes the newest specifications for the UMTS third-generation mobile communications...
We are a fickle people. What is in vogue one week can be quickly out of fashion the next. So it seems with government comments about the prices paid by telecom carriers in Europe for some third-generation wireless licenses.Yesterday, governments were salivating at the...
NEW YORK-Telecommunications carriers worldwide are under significant pressure due to the bandwidth explosion, rising capital expenditures, competition from new players and delays in commercial rollout of new technologies."I take a cautious view of the telecommunications services world at the moment, although I believe there...
CHICAGO-One of the first commercial deployments of EDGE technology could be in Mexico next year based on presentations and interviews at the PCIA GlobalXchange event. Mexico's largest wireless carrier, Telcel, plans to roll out commercial EDGE service in the country's three largest cities in...
BUCHAREST, Romania-At the end of August, the prime ministers of Lithuania and Latvia met to discuss the possibility of granting just one Universal Mobile Telecom-munications System license across the Baltic states.According to Alar-Ants Smirnov, deputy manager in the Estonian Market Regulation Department, the 3G...
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...
STOCKHOLM, Sweden-Telecom joint venture Broadwave Communications, consisting of five international partners, intends to invest $1.5 billion over a 10-year period to develop a third generation open mobile network in Sweden.The partners, including Swedish broadband operator Telel Europe; U.S. mobile operator Western Wireless International Corp.;...
ROME-Italy's largest wireless operator Telecom Italia Mobile SpA filed a lawsuit against Italy's Communications Authority, arguing it should not have to bid for one of the country's Universal Mobile Telecommunications System licenses because a 1994 agreement with the Ministry of Communications granted it the...
It was no surprise. Powertel Inc., one of the last major U.S. regional carriers, will fold operations with VoiceStream Wireless Corp. Germany's Deutsche Telekom AG, which weeks ago announced plans to buy VoiceStream, has agreed to purchase Powertel for around $5.89 billion.Analysts speculated on...
DUBLIN, Ireland-High license costs and fierce competition have further increased the pressure on European third-generation (3G) operators to quickly roll out their networks. But while this rush to market will create opportunities for companies other than the current dominant cellular infrastructure vendors Nokia and...
FranceFrance released details of its plan to award four 3G wireless phone licenses based on a beauty contest. Bidders, given a 31 January, 2001, deadline to submit proposals, will be judged on the strength of their business plans, before being selected to pay US$4.5...
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...
BOSTON-Telecommunications consultant Charles River Associates Inc. was selected to advise Switzerland's Federal Office of Communications on the implementation of the country's auction of IMT-2000/UMTS spectrum licenses for third-generation personal communications services.Ten applicants have applied to participate in the auction process, which will culminate in...
HONG KONG-Hutchison Whampoa said it joined Italian consortium Andala SpA by buying a 51-percent stake. The consortium, owned 25.5 percent by Tiscali and 15 percent by CIR, plans to bid for one of five UMTS licenses in Italy.Italian company Tiscali operates an Internet network...
