Hutchison

TOKYO-NTT DoCoMo, the leading mobile carrier in Japan, plans to launch only experimental third-generation (3G) services on 30 May, rather than full commercial services as originally planned. NTT DoCoMo had repeatedly said it would launch commercial 3G services in May, …

HONG KONG-Trunked radio has been the Cinderella of Hong Kong’s wireless communications in recent years, compared with the fast-growing mobile-phone technologies, but things may soon change. China’s industrialization is opening the door to a potentially large market for transport and …

Alcatel Brazil. With Telemar for a GSM 1800 network in the area from Piau

Australia Australia’s third-generation (3G) spectrum auction fell well short of the federal government’s budget forecasts of A$2.6 billion (US$1.3 billion). Six bidders paid a total of almost A$1.17 billion (US$577 million) for spectrum in the 2 GHz band. The auction …

Two U.S. companies are taking their respective technologies to the Australian market, following third-generation spectrum purchases in the country last month. Qualcomm Inc. paid $79 million for 10 megahertz of paired spectrum in all capital cities through a company called …

GroupServe GroupServe announced Tom Stroup, president, will also take on the role of chief executive officer. Stroup’s first task as CEO will be to oversee the commercial product launch of GroupPort. Stroup will also oversee the company’s business development, strategic …

SYDNEY, Australia-Cable & Wireless Optus confirmed it has received revised proposals from parties interested in buying the Australia-based carrier. Vodafone Group plc, Singapore Telecommunications and Telecom New Zealand are understood to be interested in buying the carrier, which has mobile, …

With a commercial launch in full gear in South Korea, Samsung Inc. may be the John the Baptist of 3G as the first manufacturer to streak out of the uncertain cloud hovering over migration to the technology. Already eyeing the …

MILAN, Italy-Andala, the Italian consortium headed by Hutchison Whampoa that won a third-generation license last year changed its name to H3G and announced it will invest $3.7 million in the new network by 2006. And in contrast to the warnings …

HONG KONG-Hutchison Whampoa bought Motorola Inc.’s 25-percent stake in Hong Kong operator Hutchison Telephone for $120 million. Hutchison now owns 81 percent of the Hong Kong carrier. If Hutchison sells any of the Motorola shares during the next two years, …

GENEVA-Despite a subdued initial public offering (IPO) that saw the company reap a modest US$9 per share-near the bottom end of an already hastily reduced US$8.7 to US$10 range-the future is looking good for Orange, the former U.K. operator that …

HONG KONG-Hutchison Whampoa bought Motorola’s 25-percent stake in Hong Kong operator Hutchison Telephone for US$120 million. Hutchison now owns 81 percent of the Hong Kong carrier. If Hutchison sells any of the Motorola shares during the next two years, Motorola …

MELBOURNE, Australia-Vodafone Pacific said it will transfer at least 1 million mobile-phone customers and distribution assets to Hutchison Telecommunications if it wins regulatory approval for its proposed acquisition of Cable & Wireless Optus, according to the Wall Street Journal. Under …

SINGAPORE-Singapore’s smallest paging operator, Hutchison Intrapage, has quit the sector four years after it began operations. The shareholders-Hong Kong’s Hutchison Telecommunications (40 percent), Intraco (30 percent) and its subsidiary Teledata (30 percent)-looked for a buyer for the loss-making operations for …

KARLSKRONA, Sweden-Europolitan and Hi3G, two companies granted Universal Mobile Telecommunications System licenses in Sweden last year, agreed to jointly build part of their UMTS infrastructure. The companies will form a common entity designated to build and provide UMTS infrastructure, mainly …

Bulgaria Ote Telecom won Bulgaria’s third mobile-phone license for US$135 million, beating out Telecom Italia Mobile through an auction. Ote plans to partner with Bulgarian Telecommunications Co. (BTC), the country’s fixed-line provider, to build out the GSM network. France Martin …

NEW DELHI, India-The slide in the Thai paging industry seen in 2000 is likely to continue during 2001, but operators hope to ride out the crisis by exploring value-added products and using their networks for the emerging business of call …

TOKYO-KDDI, the sole cdmaOne operator in Japan, has been expanding its international roaming services, fully using its universally standardized cdmaOne technology. In January, KDDI launched international roaming services in Canada in cooperation with Telus Mobility, a major Canadian carrier. Canada …

The millennium is off to a good start for Vodafone Group. The U.K.-based carrier began 2000 with a hostile takeover of Mannesmann, parent of its rival Orange, and continued with a spending spree for third-generation (3G) licenses across Europe. The …

TOKYO-NTT DoCoMo has been gearing up its global strategy, concluding one investment agreement after another. Since December 1999, it has invested in carriers in Hong Kong, the Netherlands and Britain. At the end of November 2000, DoCoMo announced another big …

MELBOURNE, Australia-The Australian Communications Authority (ACA) will hold the keenly awaited auction of third-generation (3G) spectrum in the 2 GHz radio-frequency band in early March. The new 3G mobile services are expected to combine popular communications forms, such as mobile …

STOCKHOLM, Sweden-In a surprise announcement, the Swedish government awarded four Universal Mobile Telecommunications System licenses on Dec. 16, dismissing a proposal from Telia, the country’s current mobile leader. Sweden’s other two incumbent operators, NetCom and Europolitan, won licenses through a …

Chris Gent has had quite a year. For the chief executive of Vodafone Group plc, 2000 began with a hostile takeover of Mannesmann AG, parent of its rival Orange plc, and continued with a spending spree for third-generation licenses across …

BIENNE, Switzerland-The auction of Universal Mobile Telecommunications System licenses in Switzerland ended quickly last week, with only four companies bidding on four licenses, raising $120 million for the government. Swisscom; dSpeed, the combined diAx and Sunrise Telecom; and Team 3G, …

The strategic alliance announced between NTT DoCoMo and AT&T Wireless Inc. is fairly simple on the surface, but may have long-term implications for the global wireless industry. DoCoMo will invest about $9.8 billion in AT&T preferred stock for a 16-percent …