SAN FRANCISCO-AirTouch Communications Inc. said its cellular ventures in Spain and Italy have introduced cellular competition in those countries for the first time.
AirTouch’s cellular operation in Spain, Airtel, has begun commercial service, competing with Telefonica, Spain’s other cellular operator, in most of Spain’s major cities. The network is expected to reach approximately 65 percent of the country’s 40 million people by the end of the year. Telefonica is partially owned by the government and serves about 650,000 subscribers.
In Italy, Omnitel-Pronto Italia has started experimental service in Milan. The company expects to launch full commercial service in the country’s largest cities including Rome, Genoa and Naples by the end of the year, competing with Telecom Italia Mobile, a recent spin-off of government-owned Telecom Italia. TIM has nearly three million customers on its analog and digital networks, penetrating approximately five percent of the population.
AirTouch was responsible for designing and constructing the networks in both countries and is the lead partner in Airtel with a 16 percent interest. The company holds an 11.7 percent indirect interest in Omnitel-Pronto as the second largest partner. AirTouch also recently announced that its venture in Madras began commercial service, becoming one of India’s first cellular operators. All three of the new cellular systems use the Global System for Mobile communications digital standard.
