New partnership offers wireless cable and cellular to Eastern Europe

Mobile Phone News,  June 6, 1991  

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International Telcell Inc. has formed a limited partnership called International TelCell Group L.P. (ITGLP). The new partnership has formed joint ventures with various foreign companies and has secured frequency rights within Eastern Europe and various republics in the Soviet Union with the intent to provide wireless cable and other radio frequency-based services, including cellular. Wireless cable service should be initiated in Moscow by Sept. 1.

With the rights that are already secured, and those that protocols of intent have been signed or preliminary agreements have been reached, ITGLP expects to serve 26 million people in 13 markets, said ITGLP. ... The Partnership is Limited in its Paging and Cellular Markets

Although ITGLP's cellular and paging rights are limited to certain markets. the partnership will have the right to provide wireless cable in all 13 markets. For instance, the Moscow cellular license was previously allocated to U S West and Bell Atlantic (MPN, March 14, p. 5).

ITGLP includes: Comsat Video Enterprises Inc.; Met Telcell Inc., which is owned by Metromedia partners John Kluge and Stuart Subotnick; TC Associates, a firm owned by John Stanton and Wayne Perry, both vice chairmen of McCaw; Moran & Associates, an investment banking and securities research firm; Integrated Communications International Inc., owned by Robert Schmidt, president of the Wireless Cable Association; and H. Brian Thompson, former senior vice president of MCI Communications.

Total investment capital in the partnership will be 50-$70 million, however, the partnership is not disclosing the distribution of shares. British Aerospace Joins Iridium Project

British Aerospace (BA) Space Systems Ltd. has announced a partnership with Schaumburg, Ill.-based Motorola Inc. to assist in the development of the company's Iridium project, a planned global communications system composed of 77 low-earth-orbit satellite (MPN, April 11, p. 3). Following Lockheed, BA has become the second largest defense-aerospace company to join the project. Neither BA nor Lockheed, however, yet have made a financial commitment to Motorola.

BA Space Systems plans to act as a subcontractor to Lockheed, which became Motorola's-space segment partner in April, according to BA. Space Systems previously has served as a contractor on more than 20 satellites for international organizations such as Eutelsat, Inmarsat and NATO. Nokia Supplies NMT-450 to Czechoslovakia

Nokia Telecommunications, Cellular Systems has signed an agreement with Eurotel Prague Ltd. and Eurotel Bratislava Ltd. to supply equipment for Czechoslovakials first cellular network. Eurotel Prague and Eurotel Bratislava are joint ventures with Bell Atlantic, U S West, Czech Public Telephone & Telegraph (PTT) and Slovak PTT. The NMT-450 network will be delivered during this year with Nokia having total turnkey responsibility for its first phase. The system includes 2 Nokia DX 200 MXT exchanges, radio base stations and transmission equipment. (Nokia Telecomm, PO Box 33, SF-02601 ESPOO, Finland, (011) 358 0 51 151.)

Sistecal o.a. de a.v. Opens Nev Data Center in Nexico

Sistecel s.a. de c.v. officially opened its new data center in Mexico City. The center houses Link, a new cellular billing system. The Link billing system is a state-of-the-art billing application which features a comprehensive on-line customer service system. The system, originally developed by Bell Cellular, the largest wire-line operator in Canada, was provided to Sistecel by Bell Canada International (BCI). In Mexico City, Link provides an on-line information management capability to Iusacell employees in 4 different locations connected via a cellular network. (Bell Canada International, 613/563-1811.)

Bell Atlantic Turns on 200th Cell

Bell Atlantic Mobile Systems has activated its 200th cell. The company, which has invested more than $250 million in its network, provides cellular coverage to more than 20,000 square miles in New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Delaware and Pennsylvania. The company has recently begun servicing rural areas in addition to metropolitan regions. These areas include; the eastern shore of Maryland, Frederick, Md., Fredericksburg, Va., Ocean County, N.J., and downstate Delaware. (Bell Atlantic Mobile, 908/306-7552.)

Pitch Lowers Centells Senior Debt Rating to BBB

Centel Corp.'s first mortgage bonds have been downgraded to 'BBB' from BBB+ notes and sinking fund debentures have been affirmed. Approximately $275 million in Centells debt will be affected. Centel's credit trend is improving and all issues have been removed from general review. The BBB' rating reflects the company's increased use of debt and weakened financial performance resulting from a restructuring of its business, said Fitch. (Fitch, 212/908-0587.)

BellSouth Unifies Management in U.S. Operations

BellSouth Enterprises' domestic cellular operations will be managed as one unit in a newly created company, BellSouth Cellular, said Earle Mauldin, president of BellSouth Enterprises' Mobile Systems Group. Stan Hamm has been named President of BellSouth Cellular. Management will be centralized under Hamm and supported by a single, unified staff. Marketing and operations will continue under the current company names. BellSouth Enterprises, 404/2494135.)