Belgium
Belgium’s ASTRID, the government-owned corporation responsible for providing communications to all Belgian public safety organizations, launched Nokia Corp.’s TETRA network. Nokia said the TETRA system will provide ASTRID with secure and reliable communications to emergency and security organizations nationwide.
Hong Kong
The government of Hong Kong announced the country will use a hybrid “beauty contest” and auction to issue four third-generation licenses. The licenses will be granted early next year, following the final establishment of the regulatory framework by year-end. Hong Kong has six incumbent second-generation wireless operators, with very tight competition.
Japan
Nokia Corp. signed an agreement with J-Phone Communications Co. to supply its third-generation wideband-CDMA network infrastructure. J-Phone is preparing to launch 3G services in Japan during the fourth quarter of next year, the companies said.
Russia
Washington-based telecommunications company MCT Corp. completed its purchase of MediaOne International’s stake in the Russian Telecommunications Development Corp., which provides wireless communications services in eight regions of Russia and other fixed network switching and transmission services. Financial terms of the acquisition were not released.
Korea
Korea Multinet Inc. selected Vyyo Inc. to provide multichannel multipoint distribution service DOCSIS+ wireless broadband access systems for KMI’s customers in Seoul, Pusan, Taegu and other Korean cities under a contract valued at $7.8 million, Vyyo said.
Romania
Telesystem International Wireless Inc. said MobiFon S.A., its Romanian subsidiary and the first company to launch GSM service in Romania, reached the 1 million subscriber level. “Since the beginning of this year, MobiFon has been adding an average of more than 33,000 subscribers per month,” said Bruno Ducharme, president and chief executive officer of TIW.
MobiFon launched commercial service in April 1997.
