Qualcomm and Teleepoch
Enter Into a 3G CDMA Subscriber Unit License Agreement, October
6, 2007
MTN chooses Cambridge Broadband
Networks for multi-service wireless network in Rwanda, October 6,
2007
Brazilian government to
publish 3G bidding rules soon, October 6, 2007
KTF 3G service suffers
from technical problems, October 6, 2007
Argentina’s Personal
lunches 3G service in Rosario, October 6, 2007
Russia has it's first 3G
network, October 6, 2007
AT&T could drop Alcatel-Lucent
as 3G mobile network supplier, October 6, 2007
Enea Extends License Agreement
with ZTE for 3G Handsets, October 2, 2007
LG to unveil premium handsets
in Brazil, October 2, 2007
KTF 3G subscribers doubled
in less than 3 months, October 2, 2007
3G policy in India will
be non-uniform, October 2, 2007
- previous news
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CEO of Swedish Three expects rollout in 8 weeks
April 15, 2003
CEO of Hi3G Chris Bannister said in a press interview that Sweden would
be able to show that 3G services can attract a big following very soon.
"I have seen the faces of the people trialling our 3G phones and
it gives me a lot of comfort," he said. Within eight weeks, Mr Bannister
expects to launch 3G services in Sweden. The market will be next in line
after Austria, with Hutchison 3G Austria yesterday saying it would begin
offering 3G services on May 5.
Person-to-person video, real-time information, and video clips of goals
from soccer and ice-hockey matches are Mr Bannister's recipe for success.
Professionals aged 25 to 40 are the target.
He expects Hi3G will be first to the market. Sweden has three other 3G
providers: TeliaSonera, Tele2 and Vodafone, and the first two are not
planning to launch 3G services until next year.
Hi3G is 60 per cent-owned by Hutchison Whampoa of Hong Kong and 40 per
cent by Investor, the holding company of Sweden's Wallenberg family. Its
service will be marketed under the name of "Three" and the first
customers will almost certainly be drawn from the big cities. Hi3G has
its own 3G network in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmo and is working with
Vodafone to build a network outside of these areas.
All operators have found it hard to get building permission for 3G masts
in some areas, delaying the roll-out process. Mr Bannister still cautiously
promises that the user "experience will be acceptable".
With a budget of Dollars 2.3bn, Hi3G is less burdened by debt than some
European counterparts, which have paid billions of euros for licences
since Sweden auctioned off 3G.
Pricing has yet to be decided, but Mr Bannister shuns handset subsidies.
"Pricing will be part of the mix, but I don't anticipate a price
war," he says.
Hi3G also has a 3G licence in Denmark, but services there will not start
until 2004 or even 2005. Mr Bannister also hopes to provide 3G in Finland
and Norway.
It is one of the bidders for Telia Mobile in Finland, which the Swedish
company has been forced to sell following its merger with Sonera of Finland.
Telia Mobile has a 3G licence.
There's still a lot of scepticism about demand for 3G, which Mr Bannister
blames partly on the traditional telecom operators themselves. "In
three years no-one will say that 3G isn't the best technology because
all the incumbents will be using it. Incumbents have to paint a bleak
picture because they are not ready."
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3G Motorola A920
