|
Other 3G News
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
|
|
3G rollout problems challenge Swedish government
date: 14th March 2001, source by: 
Total Telecom
The Swedish government's ambitious plan to ensure that all homes have
access to a 3rd generation mobile phone network by 2003 has run into trouble.
Key players, including Skanska Telecom, complain that the situation is
now "chaotic," with no moves made to acquire the land needed for the infrastructure
or to set about forming a blueprint for the project.
Operators are concerned that the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI)
has been slow in producing a blueprint, while the MTI has accused the
operators of sluggishness in purchasing land to house masts and base stations.
The MTI asserts that operators already have a clear blueprint, and the
onus is on them to move the project forward.
The MTI disputes the contention that it is dragging its heels. "We are
constantly discussing financing, infrastructure and technology issues
with operators. There is only so much the MTI can do. We want to meet
deadlines, and we are making progress. I still believe we can meet these
deadlines if all parties involved pull their weight," said the Minister
for Trade and Industry, Bjorn Rosengren.
Skanska, a company that will play a key role in building the physical
networks, contends that the situation is fast becoming chaotic. The company
denies that any conflict exists between operators, but argues that the
MTI needs to play a strong leadership role.
"When one builds a house the owner buys a site, the architect designs
the house, and a construction firm builds it. What we currently lack is
the land and a blueprint. The operating groups have not completed detailed
plans to allow them to sign contracts with construction companies," said
Antti Kuivalainen, managing director of Skanska Telecom Networks.
The four groups that have secured 3G licenses plan to construct some 40,000
to 60,000 radio base stations nationwide at a combined cost of 50 billion
Swedish krona (US$6 billion). The first phase of the rollout is scheduled
to be ready by January 2002.
"It is up to the operating groups to accelerate the pace of progress.
If the first phase is to be ready by January 2002, construction must start
now. But the prospect of this happening is extremely slim," said Kuivalainen.
Skanska's fears are echoed by Europolitan Vodafone and Orange, both of
which anticipate delays in the establishment of a Swedish 3G network.
Sweden's Post and Telecom Authority (PTS) awarded four UMTS licenses in
December to:
- Europolitan, part of U.K.-based Vodafone;
- Orange consortium, comprising the mobile arm of France Telecom, Bredbandsbolaget,
Framtidsfabriken, Skanska, NTL and Norwegian broadcasting company Schibsted;
- Tele2, the cellular arm of Netcom, which bid together with Societe
Europeene de Communication
- Hi3G Access group, comprising Investor and Hutchison Whampoa.
Swedish incumbent Telia failed to win a license, but has since linked
up with Tele2 to jointly build a 3G infrastructure.
top
|
