Foreign companies invited to market CAT mobile network
The board of CAT Telecom has begun courting foreign firms to market the state agency's mobile-phone service in 51 provinces, which is a change from its original decision to have the company market the service on its own.
A board source said it had set up a committee to invite foreign firms to make proposals to market CAT's Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) 2000 1-X cellular service in 51 provinces.CDMA 2000 1-x cellular technology, which enables high-speed wireless data transmission between compatible devices, is the global rival of the predominant GSM cellular technology. "The board believes CAT is inexperienced in marketing telecom services, especially in the current highly competitive market, and it therefore needs the assistance of established firms to get the job done," the source said. He said the board had made no specific requirement in its proposals to any interested foreign firm. A CAT management source said the board had yet to inform CAT managers about such a move. The board source said that so far about four companies from the United States, South Korea, Japan and China - along with Hong Kong telecoms giant Hutchison Telecom - had submitted CDMA marketing proposals to the panel. Hutchison Telecom is the majority partner in Hutchison-CAT, while CAT holds the remaining stake. Hutchison-CAT has been marketing the CDMA service in 25 provinces by leasing the network from BFKT, which is part of Hutchison Telecom. CAT has its own CDMA network in 51 provinces and is currently in talks with Hutchison Telecom on the possibility of a joint operation to provide the cellular service using their two separate networks. Telecom Reporters The Nation
|
