Northern Telecom Ltd. said it signed a contract with Hebei Posts and Telecommunications Administration to supply a complete global System for Mobile communications network, which teh companies anticipate will support 700,000 subscribers by 2000. The network will provide service in 11 cities across teh Gebei province. The first phase, to be completed by July, will support 40,000 users, said Nrothern Telecom. The contract includes Northern Telecom’s DMS SuperNode MSC swithcing system and 67 radio base stations.
Claircom International, the aviation communications subsidiary of AT&T Corp.’s Wireless Services, received a letter of intent from Swissair to install phones and telecommunications equipment aboard its new Airbus aircraft fleet. Claircom, previously part of McCaw Cellular Communications Inc., will supply its International Advanced Cabin Telecommunications System beginning this fall. The phones will operate using satellite services from the International Mobile Satellite Organization, Claircom said. The phones will be installed so any passenger can make calls from his or her seat. Claircom has contracts with more than 90 percent of European airlines.
AirTouch Communications will not exercise its option to invest in FGI Wireless, a Russian-based cellular company. AirTouch had until May 15 to convert a previously purchased note and acquire an indirect interest in the company. Under terms of the agreement, the note will be repaid by August 1996. Arun Sarin, senior vice president of AirTouch, said the note was purchased with intentions to research the Russian market, which the company decided not to pursue at this time.
L.M. Ericsson received an order from Smart Communications Inc. to provide equipment to help expand Smart’s Total Access Communications System in rural areas in the Philippines. The order is for cellular switching equipment, radio base stations and cellular phones. The contract is valued at $50 million; deliveries are scheduled for June, Ericsson noted. The Smart TACS system began operating in the Philippines in February 1994 and has about 60,000 subscribers. Ericsson has supplied cellular equipment to Smart since 1993. Smart will invest more than $250 million over the next five years to expand its cellular network, said Ericsson. “This countryside expansion program is the fastest ever undertaken by a local cellular operator and manifests our commitment to spur economic growth in areas outside metro Manila,” said Orlando Vea, Smart president and chief executive officer.
Nokia Telecommunications will supply Global System for Mobile communications cellular equipment to Modi Telstra Pvt. Ltd., a GSM licensee in the Calcutta, India market. According to the agreement, Nokia will supply a complete GSM network, including a DX 200 mobile switching center, base stations, base station controllers and transmission equipment. Modi Telstra said service should be launched early in the second half of 1995. This is Nokia’s second contract to supply GSM equipment in India this year. Modi Telstra is a joint venture of Modi Rubber (part of the Modi Group of Companies) and Telstra of Australia.
