Startel, a wireless network operator in Chile, launched digital service on its network using Interim Standard 136 Digital Advanced Mobile Phone Service technology provided by L.M. Ericsson. The new digital services are being introduced initially in Santiago and later will be expanded to cover the entire national network. Startel said it expects digital subscribers to account for more than 10 percent of its subscriber base by the end of the year.
Digital Microwave Corp. said it has received an additional $2.1 million in orders under a supplier agreement with Canada-based Rogers Cantel Inc. for Spectrum II digital microwave radios. Digital Microwave said its radios provide cell site interconnection in Cantel’s Digital PCS system throughout Canada. The supplier agreement was effective in January, and orders received from Cantel since then have totaled $5 million, said Digital Microwave.
Motorola Inc.’s Advanced Messaging Group signed a contract to supply paging infrastructure for Video Grylm to cover all of Mexico. Motorola values the arrangement at $1.2 million. The Grylm Group has experienced significant growth recently in the television and video production service industries in Mexico, said Motorola.
American Management Systems deployed its Spectrum2000 Global System for Mobile communications customer care and billing system for Polkomtel S.A., a GSM operator in Poland. AMS said the implementation marks the first installation of the system in Eastern Europe. The system also currently is used by four Western European operators and one North American personal communications services carrier. AMS customized the system and provided business process consulting for Polkomtel’s Plus GSM system, which launched last October.
Ericsson Mobile Communications AB signed an agreement with French operator Infomobile, which calls for marketing cooperation for Ericsson’s in-house developed pagers, the PNE108 and PTE218. The PNE108 can store up to 20 messages 20 characters long each. The PTE218 is an alphanumeric pager that allows users to receive text, graphics and numeric messages. The pagers are compatible with the European Radio Messaging System protocol.
Motorola Inc.’s Cellular Infrastructure Group won a contract from China Unicom to expand and upgrade the digital Global System for Mobile communications system in Guangdong province of China. Motorola values the arrangement at $65 million. The current network in Guangdong supports 50,000 subscribers in the cities of Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Following the expansion, the network is expected to cover the entire province, including Dongguan, Huizhou, Foshan, Zhaoqing, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Zhuhai, Zhanjiang, Shaoguan and Shantou.
