STOCKHOLM-An international consortium involving Ram Mobile Data Network GmbH, a German subsidiary of BellSouth Corp., said it has chosen Mobitex technology for its mobile data network in Germany.
Gessellschaft fur Datenfunk GmbH, a German consortium, was awarded a license in May from the German Bundesposte to build and operate a nationwide mobile data network. Expected to cost more than $300 million, the GfD network is scheduled to begin providing service in July.
L.M. Ericsson, which will deliver the Mobitex network, said the order is valued at $67 million.
Initially, the operator will target commercial customers, including trucking fleets, mobile sales forces and banks, BellSouth said. Following that, more than 90 percent of Germany’s population will be offered service when the network is completed in 1997.
Mobitex is being installed or already operating in 11 other countries. Those countries are the United States, Belgium, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, France, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Canada. BellSouth has stakes in eight of those systems.
“The GfD network will use the same architecture and equipment used by other BellSouth Mobile Data operations throughout Europe, thereby encouraging roaming between countries,” said BellSouth Mobile Data’s Michael Harrell. International roaming could be available in first quarter 1995.
