International Wireless

The announcement last week that Comcast Corp. and MediaOne Group signed an agreement to merge in a $60 billion deal driven by broadband cable networks could affect the wireless industry halfway around the world. MediaOne’s international wireless interests, which cover …

NEW YORK-Montreal-based Telesystem International Wireless Inc. has wandered far from its home base and original paging strategy as it pursues emerging opportunities in developed and developing markets in Europe, Latin America and Asia. “We like to say that only crazy …

The state of Utah awarded Applied Cellular Technology Inc.’s Communications Infrastructure division a $6.1 million contract to provide infrastructure and construction improvements for the 10 buildings on the University of Utah campus that will be used to house Olympic athletes, …

MONTREAL-Telesystem International Wireless Inc. announced its affiliate, Telet S.A., launched digital cellular service in Greater Porto Alegre and Greater Caxias do Sul in the state of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil under the brand name “Claro Digital.” Telet’s network …

The domestic telecom market is abuzz with mergers, acquisitions and mega-deals. The industry is consolidating again, not so long after AT&T Corp. was broken up into Baby Bells; cellular and then personal communications services licenses were awarded, and carriers of …

TAMPA, Fla.-BellSouth International Wireless Services announced it selected Cibernet Global Settlement as its international financial settlement provider for its Pan American Roaming Consortium. PARC membership provides cellular carriers services that allow them to provide their customers the ability to roam …

SINGAPORE Motorola Inc.’s Cellular Infrastructure Group signed a contract valued at $23 million to upgrade M1’s digital wireless telephone network in Singapore. In addition to its SC 4852 base transceiver station, Motorola CIG will install two new base station types …

NEW YORK-Denmark-based Bosch Telecom Inc., which introduced the World 718 phone in June, has decided to close its Dallas office for U.S. sales and marketing, although it will continue selling the handsets here. The World 718 phone can operate on …

More legal issues have fallen in the way of Venezuela’s plans to tender a personal communications services license earlier this month. Conatel, Venezuela’s telecom regulatory agency, was set to tender a license by Nov. 4, but protests from three cellular …

President Bill Clinton signed into law late last month the federal Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act of 1998, which authorizes prison terms of up to three years and fines of up to $250,000 for such crimes. “The new … …

Poland Poland may call tenders for three new mobile phone licenses for Global System for Mobile communications 900 MHz and 1800 MHz systems during the first half of next year. Reuters reported that the country’s telecommunications minister Marek Zdrojewski said …

Telesystem International Wireless Inc., Montreal, announced its French subsidiary, Regiocom S.A., has acquired S3RP, the trunked-radio operations of Bouygues Telecom marketed under the brand name Orbicom, making it the only national trunked-radio operator in France. The acquisition adds about 6,500 …

MONTREAL-Telet S.A., the B-band affiliate of Telesystem International Wireless Inc., said it awarded L.M. Ericsson a three-year contract to supply its cellular network in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, which initially will support 500,000 subscribers, said TIW. The contract is …

Which signs should a person pay attention to in today’s crazy stock market? Wireless companies haven’t fared too well from the looks of RCR’s StockWatch the last few weeks, although the stocks RCR follows have started to rebound from their …

NEW YORK-Paris-based France Telecom Group reported Sept. 17 that its Itineris Global System for Mobile communications customers totaled 4.26 million at the end of August, giving it a 51-percent market share. The carrier said its cellular customer base doubled between …

MONTREAL-Telesystem International Wireless Inc. announced its French subsidiary, Regiocom SA, has acquired S3RP, the specialized mobile radio operations of Bouyges marketed under the brand name Orbicom, making it the only national SMR operator in France. The acquisition adds about 6,500 …

International Wireless Communications Holdings Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection earlier this month, saying its finances and several of its businesses have been adversely affected by the financial and political instability in Asia. IWC owns and operates wireless communications …

Political turmoil and economic problems around the world have delayed tenders and auctions of mobile phone spectrum in some countries. At least three Latin American countries-Argentina, Colombia and Venezuela-have put on hold plans to grant wireless concessions. “In all three …

WASHINGTON-A powerful Senate resolution that was to promote third-generation wireless harmonization was thoroughly diluted by U.S. backers of European-based mobile phone technology last week, a bizarre turnabout that drew a mix of new faces into the escalating controversy and further …

WASHINGTON-The House and Senate are pushing bills to curb foreign bribery in international business, legislation that should aid the U.S. wireless telecom industry as trade barriers come down and carriers and manufacturers move into global markets. “American industry is the …

The government of Brazil received premiums of more than 200 percent over minimum bid requirements on some of the cellular properties it auctioned off last week. The sealed-bid auction last Wednesday that split Telecomunicacoes Brasileiros S.A. (Telebras) among several international …

ATLANTA-LHS Group Inc. and Bell Atlantic Corp. entered into a deal to strengthen their existing relationship, the companies said. Bell Atlantic’s international wireless markets will be able to license LHS’ Business Support and Control System, or BSCS product, and LHS …

Global System for Mobile communications operators in Europe soon could face a formidable opponent for commercial business accounts if Canada’s Telesystem International Wireless Inc. follows through with its plans. The company has emerged not only as the dominant specialized mobile …

SAN DIEGO, United States-Qualcomm Inc. filed an information statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission concerning its proposed spinoff of its joint-venture and equity interests in certain international wireless operating companies. The new entity is known as Qualcomm SpinCo …

WASHINGTON-They announced it, delayed it, set deadlines and then extended them-each one of these at least once and often amid accusations of scandal and preferential treatment. Currently, the tender process for two 1.9 GHz PCS (Personal Communications Services) licenses to …