WORLD BRIEFS

The Guangdong Machinery and Export Corp. of China awarded Allen Telecom Group’s Decibel Products division a contract to expand its Global System for Mobile communications and Digital Cellular System 1800 networks. Allen Telecom values the contract at more than $9 million. The expansion will bring the system’s capacity to 3.5 million subscribers in the Guangdong province in southern China.

Glenayre Technologies Inc. received an order it values at $1.4 million from BPL Wireless Telecom Pvt. Ltd. for high speed paging infrastructure. BPL’s new network will provide paging services with full roaming capability in Kerala, Tamilnadu and Karnataka, India. Glenayre will supply its GL3000ES wireless messaging switches, GL-C2000S transmitter controllers, GL-T8411 transmitters and GL-C2200 alarm monitoring units. The network is expected to be completed during the first quarter.

L.M. Ericsson signed a contract with Central Japan Digital Phone to expand and upgrade its mobile telecommunications network this year. Ericsson values the arrangement at $122 million. The contract calls for Ericsson to supply a software upgrade with advanced functions and to expand the network using switching centers and radio base stations. Central Japan Digital Phone is one of three operators in the Digital Phone Group, which is licensed to operate a PDC 1500 MHz network.

PageMart Wireless Inc. entered a 10-year agreement with Puerto Rico Telephone Co. that calls for PageMart and PRTC to link their networks and transmit over PageMart’s 900 MHz frequency. The companies will share transmitters and infrastructure equipment to offer expanded service in Puerto Rico, where PRTC will private brand PageMart service through its cellular division Celulares Telefonica, the company said.

Qualcomm Inc. was selected by JSC Personal Communications of Moscow to supply a Code Division Multiple Access system with a capacity for 300,000 subscribers. A definitive contract, which includes Qualcomm’s CDMA digital mobile and wireless local loop infrastructure equipment, network planning and installation services, is being negotiated.

Digital Microwave Corp. will supply digital microwave radios and services to Panafon Hellenic Telecommunications Company SA in Athens, Greece. Digital Microwave values the deal at $11 million. The three-year agreement calls for the radios to be used to expand Panafon’s Global System for Mobile communications network. Shipments are scheduled to begin next month.

Ameritech International sold its interest in the Polish cellular joint venture PTK Centertel S.p. z.o.o. to the company’s remaining partners, Telekomunikacja Polska SA and France Telecom Mobiles International. Details of the transaction were not disclosed. (See related story on Page 31).

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