Motorola Inc.’s Cellular Infrastructure Group won a supply agreement from Sweden’s Comviq to install a Digital Cellular System at 1800 MHz, which will be used to enhance coverage and capacity on Comviq’s Global System for Mobile communications 900 MHz network in Sweden. Motorola CIG said the new system will serve as an underlay system to Comviq’s existing network. The first phase of the program is scheduled to be completed in February.
Telecom Egypt has selected Lucent Technologies Inc. to deploy switching and wireless access equipment in Egypt’s telecommunications network, which Lucent said will double telephone ownership in the country during the next five years. Telecom Egypt plans to spend up to $300 million on Golden Pyramid, the expansion project that is designed to enhance telephone services in Cairo, Alexandria, and the Nile Delta and Upper Egypt regions, said Lucent.
Brightpoint Inc. has completed the acquisition of the business and certain assets of Caracas, Venezuela-based Cellular Trading 3 C.A., Brightpoint announced. Cellular Trading 3 is a provider of distribution and value-added services to the wireless communications industry in Venezuela.
Motorola Inc.’s Cellular Infrastructure Group recently announced the signing of a $47 million contract to expand the existing analog cellular network in China’s Heilongjiang province. The expansion will increase subscriber capacity of the network from 220,000 to 290,00 when it is completed in the middle of next year, the company said. As part of the contract with Heilongjiang Posts and Telecommunications Administration, Motorola CIG says it will add new Total Access Communications System cell site equipment and will upgrade existing TACS base stations throughout the province.
Millicom International Cellular S.A. is continuing its reorganization effort to transfer greater operating authority to the management of five new geographically focused companies and evolve MIC into a holding company. The two newest companies created by MIC are Societe Europeanne de Communication S.A. in Europe, and FORA Telecom, which will operate cellular networks in Russia and the Baltics. MIC also appointed Magnus Mandersson president and chief executive officer of SEC, and Peter Macnee president and CEO of FORA Telecom.
Spain’s development ministry said it expects to charge $1.2 million, or 26 billion pesetas, for the new 1800 MHz mobile telephone license that will be awarded next spring. The two current mobile phone operators in Spain, Telefonica’s Movistar and competitor Airtel, will receive the license automatically, “but Telefonica de Espana will have to pay the current value of 26 billion pesetas,” said Development Minister Rafael Arias Salgado.
