Alcatel has won 2 GSM network expansion contracts from Gansu Mobile and Jilin Mobile, 2 subsidiaries of China Mobile, worth more than $27 million. Project is Gansu Mobile’s 6th GSM network expansion and when completed in Oct. network will support 2.1 million subscribers. In Jilin province, GSM network will be expanded to 4.6 million subscribers, Alcatel said.
Exports to China
PALO ALTO -- Intel Chmn. Andrew Grove predicted Mon. telecom lobbyists would beat path to Capitol Hill to stifle growth of unlicensed wireless broadband, and he urged Congress to reject protectionist legislation akin to digital- rights management mandates on behalf of entertainment industry. About 30,000 Wi-Fi (802.11) network nodes exist now, Grove told New Democratic Network meeting here Mon. Nodes will grow to 30 million in coming years, but before they hit 3 million, “the congressional halls will be worn down by telecommunications lobbyists” seeking industry relief from inroads on their business, he said.
OpenTV said it had new agreements with 8 partners in China to port its interactive software to digital TV set-top boxes designed for Chinese market. One of partners, Shenzen- based Coship Electronics, currently controls significant percentage of satellite and cable receiver market there, officials said. Other major local Chinese set-top box manufacturing partners include Beijing Beida Jadebird, Shanghai Guangdian (SVA), Beijing Nokia Citic, Sichuan Jiuzhou, Beijing Compunicate, Shanghai DigiVision and Beijing DSP. OpenTV provides interactive TV software, including set- top box middleware, content and professional services that are localized to meet specific market requirements.
PASADENA -- Just hours after Adelphia’s John Rigas was arrested for alleged fraud on Wed., NBC Chmn. Bob Wright, who also serves as GE vice chmn., expressed confidence his company could withstand auditing scrutiny. Addressing TV critics here Wed., Wright said: “I'm very confident, but I will tell you that there really aren’t any such things as simple public companies. The kind of accounting that a public company is required to do is not simple. It’s not straightforward, it’s opaque -- unless you're an accountant. And even if you are an accountant, it has a lot of angles on it so even simple business transactions in simple companies can be difficult to explain to people quickly. We've tried, among the small group of people that I work with, to make it transparent. It just cannot be done. But I'm absolutely comfortable with it.”
China is in talks with BBC to resume satellite broadcasts, Foreign Ministry said Thurs. Foreign Ministry spokesman said BBC had “violated an agreement” with China International TV Corp. China said restoring transmission would depend on BBC’s reaction. China blacked out BBC World Service TV programs after it showed demonstration in Hong Kong against Beijing’s crackdown on banned Falun Gong spiritual group on 5th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule. Channel still is beamed into China from 3 satellites owned by PanAmSat.
China promised to punish members of banned Falun Gong spiritual movement who hijacked state-run satellite signals during World Cup soccer finals as part of protest. “This is extremely despicable and represents yet another crime committed by Falun Gong,” Ministry of Information (MoI) Dir. Liu Lihua said. “We solemnly warn the Falun Gong cult to immediately stop its lawless disruption of normal communications.” MoI said Falun Gong followers, under guidance of exiled founder Li Hongzhi, hijacked 9 national channels and 10 provincial stations by interfering with signals of state-run Sino Satellite June 23-30.
OpenTV said it had finished trial with China Central TV (CCTV), national broadcast network of China. Trial enabled thousands of soccer fans in China to watch live interactive FIFA World Cup broadcasts. Interactive features available on CCTVsi (CCTV Sports Interactive) were developed by OpenTV and CCTV to broadcast World Cup. Available in 19 provinces, event was one of first large-scale deployments of interactive TV technology supported by Chinese govt, OpenTV said. Month- long special event culminates Sun. with World Cup final featuring Germany vs. Brazil.
Nokia trimmed its preliminary outlook for 2nd half of 2002 to sales growth of up to 10% over same period last year, down from previous expectation of at least 15% growth. At midyear investors meeting in Helsinki, Nokia stood behind earlier guidance of 80 cents per share and to estimate that mobile phones would reach 400-420 million handsets, up from 380 million year ago. Nokia has targeted 40% market share for wireless phones and taking leading market position in China. It plans to have first 3G network in operation in Sept. Separately, Nokia signed 3-year agreement with Belgacom Mobile, terms not disclosed, to build 2nd-generation GSM wireless infrastructure in Belgium, providing GSM network infrastructure to carrier, which operates under Proximus brand name.
Motorola won 4 GSM wireless contracts from China Mobile Communications with total value of more than $100 million. Motorola said it would expand China Mobile’s GSM 900 and 1800 MHz networks in provinces of Hubei and Yunnan and cities of Beijing and Tianjin. It also plans to install cellular equipment to replace GSM networks in 2 cities in Yunnan and one in Hubei. China Mobile is country’s largest telecom operator. Network expansions are expected to increase subscriber capacity by 1.2 million users by time upgrades are completed by year-end.
China is interested in joining Galileo project, German Transport Ministry said. Chinese Science Minister Xu Guanhua told German Transport Minister Kurt Bodewig in meeting in Berlin he was interested in project designed to rival U.S. Global Positioning System. “It remains to be seen whether the Chinese want to take part in development plans or in operation of the system,” Transport Ministry spokesman said. Xu will hold talks on subject in Brussels in coming weeks, officials said.