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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Hutchison must listen
April 26, 2003
Hutchison Australia two weeks ago its A$3 billion 3G network, ignoring
criticism that the market can't yet support such a chic product.
With large funding obligations that will need the resources of its Hong
Kong parent, the company doesn't expect to be cashflow positive until
the end of 2006.
Australian consumers will pay up to A$768 for a 3G handset, as well as
a A$100 connection fee. By contrast, phones are often free in deals offered
by bigger local rivals who provide more basic mobile services.
The domestic rollout is part of plans by Hutchison Whampoa to launch
the "3" brand across its home market of Hong Kong, Europe and
Australia. It has already launched the services in U.K. and Italy.
Hutchison Whampoa owns 57.8% of the Australian company.
"This is a long term investment," Kevin Russell, Hutchison
Telecom's chief executive, told reporters. The service is now available
in Sydney and Melbourne, with plans to expand to other Australian cities
such as Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth in the coming months.
In February, the company announced a A$197.3 million calendar 2002 loss,
hurt by pre-operating costs for 3G.
Hutchison Telecom's rivals aren't convinced there is enough demand for
the new technology given Australia's maturing mobile market and relatively
small population of about 20 million.
Hutchison Telecom is a minor player in the Australian market, which is
dominated by Telstra and Optus. The company currently houses its 2G mobile
services under the "Orange" brand in Australia.
Analysts say it is taking a significant gamble on the 3G network as the
product's commercial viability remains unproven.
Ted Pretty, head of Telstra's consumer and marketing arm, told Australian
Broadcasting Corp. television earlier Tuesday that the Australian market
for 3G is "narrow."
"What Hutchison brings to the market is a next step. It's around
video calling and streaming. As to whether you want to build a business
just around those two products, that's a question that Hutchison will
find difficult over the next 12 to 24 months," he said.
Optus is also wary of 3G's viability.
"We will build our 3G network when the demand increases," Paul
Kitchin, Optus' director of mobile marketing, told reportes. He added
that there isn't sufficient consumer appetite for 3G services in Australia
to currently justify a large investment.
Hutchison Telecom has invested about A$1 billion in the network and is
expecting to raise about A$2 billion in the debt market as market conditions
improve, Russell said.
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3G Motorola A920
