GERMANY
Sonera is looking to reduce its stake in Group 3G, the consortium that won a third-generation license in Germany last year. Sonera, which currently holds 42.8 percent of the consortium, would like to reduce its stake to around 20 percent, according to international press reports. Funds generated from the sale will help Sonera reduce its high debt. Telefonica is Sonera’s partner in the Group 3G consortium.
NORWAY
Telenor’s mobile-Internet portal, DJuice, announced a partnership with Triggerduck Entertainment Engineering, which develops games for mobile devices. The agreement calls for Triggerduck’s games to be distributed on DJuice. In turn, Telenor will acquire 33.5 percent of Triggerduck. DJuice is designed to serve users on both General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) and Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), the company said.
CHINA
Smart card developer Oberthur Card Systems signed a joint venture to open the Oberthur Card Systems Science and Technology plant in Shenzhen, China. The plant, scheduled to begin production in the first quarter of this year, will manufacture personalized cards with an annual capacity of more than 30 million cards. Other members of the venture include Guangbang PTE, Shenzhen Xinsi Industrial and Guangdong Nanfang Telecommunication Equipment. Oberthur said it has captured more than 20 percent of the Asia-Pacific GSM market during the last year.
Chinese mobile infrastructure provider Huawei Technologies has signed a contract for US$10 million to supply mobile infrastructures in Uzbekistan. Huawei signed the deal with Daewoo Unitel, the largest GSM operator in Uzbekistan. Huawei will provide a range of mobile communication equipment to the metropolitan area of Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, and Tashkent providence. The equipment includes mobile switching systems, base station systems, intelligent network, SDH optical transmission systems and C&C08 switching systems. In addition to the deal in Uzbekistan, Huawei has recently launched its third-generation (3G) prototype and is scheduled to test its W-CDMA and cdma2000 products this year.
