AT&T awarded Indian cellular licenses -- company to provide wireless services to Maharashtra and Gujarat --.KIRKLAND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 19, 1995--AT&T and the Aditya V. Birla Group were awarded two licenses by the Indian government to provide cellular service in Gujarat and Maharashtra. The Gujarat license includes 43 million POPS (population/potential customers) and the Maharashtra license includes 74 million POPS. The two licenses are widely considered two of the most attractive circles among the eighteen potential service circles that were established for bidding by the Indian government last year. The companies bid for the licenses on June 7, 1995, and received confirmation of the award in early November in a Letter of Intent from the Indian Department of Telecommunications Communicating information, including data, text, pictures, voice and video over long distance. See communications. . Last week the companies signed a final licensing agreement and made a $90 million dollar, first year, licensing payment to the government. The license award was based on technical and economic evaluations, and consideration of AT&T's and the Aditya V. Birla Group's extensive experience in telecommunications management and cellular network design and construction. Service will be provided through Birla Communications Ltd., a joint venture formed by AT&T (49 percent) and the Aditya V. Birla Group (51 percent). Birla Communications intends to begin building its GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) A digital cellular phone technology based on TDMA that is the predominant system in Europe, but also used worldwide. Developed in the 1980s, GSM was first deployed in seven European countries in 1992. digital network during the first quarter of 1996, with commercial service by the end of 1996. "We are delighted at being awarded the license for Gujarat and Maharashtra. Customers in these areas can now look forward to world class cellular service that will be provided by the Aditya V. Birla Group - AT&T alliance," said Mr. Kumaramangalam Birla, chairman of the Aditya V. Birla Group of companies. "Together we are committed to building a cellular network which will deliver a superior level of service that in some cases will offer a first time access to telephone services for citizens in Gujarat and Maharashtra." "We are deeply honored hon·or n. 1. High respect, as that shown for special merit; esteem: the honor shown to a Nobel laureate. 2. a. Good name; reputation. b. to have been chosen by the Indian Government and see the opportunity to serve the Indian market as a very important milestone in AT&T's international wireless efforts," said Steven W. Hooper hoop·er n. A maker or repairer of barrels and tubs; a cooper. , chief executive officer for AT&T Wireless Services Inc. "AT&T, along with its Indian partners, has fulfilled ful·fill also ful·fil tr.v. ful·filled, ful·fill·ing, ful·fills also ful·fils 1. To bring into actuality; effect: fulfilled their promises. 2. its commitment by bidding and winning cellular licenses in Gujarat and Maharashtra. We now look forward to any early deployment of a world class cellular network and providing the finest cellular services to our customers in the two circles before the end of 1996," said John J. Legere, CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. AT&T, Asia/Pacific. "The next step is to quickly and efficiently build our network and begin offering high quality commercial service to customers in our licensed areas," said Mark Hamilton Mark Hamilton may refer to:
adj. 1. Serving to make ready or prepare; introductory. See Synonyms at preliminary. 2. Relating to or engaged in study or training that serves as preparation for advanced education: groundwork in India over the past months and today begin to implement an aggressive wireless build-out plan." Rajan S. Mathews has been named president for Birla Communications Ltd. Mathews is a veteran of the U.S. wireless industry having most recently served as chief financial officer of AT&T Wireless' California California (kăl'ĭfôr`nyə), most populous state in the United States, located in the Far West; bordered by Oregon (N), Nevada and, across the Colorado River, Arizona (E), Mexico (S), and the Pacific Ocean (W). , Hawaii, and Nevada region. Prior to this position he held major operating positions in the New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of market. AT&T's Wireless Services Inc. (formerly McCaw Cellular Communications Inc.) is the world's largest cellular company with more than five million customers. It provides cellular telephone, messaging, wireless data transmission, air-to-ground and satellite communications. Last year, the company increased its customer base more than 40 percent, and revenues by more than 35 percent. AT&T also has cellular interests in Mexico, Hong Kong Hong Kong (hŏng kŏng), Mandarin Xianggang, special administrative region of China, formerly a British crown colony (2005 est. pop. 6,899,000), land area 422 sq mi (1,092 sq km), adjacent to Guangdong prov. and Colombia, that serve more than 150,000 customers. AT&T is a global leader in telecommunications and has provided international long distance services through the Department of Telecommunications and VSNL VSNL Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (India) in India for over 25 years. AT&T's worldwide network handles 190 million voice, data and video calls every day. The Aditya V. Birla Group is one of India's largest industrial houses, with annual revenues of US $4.0 billion (Rs. 12,000 crores), and with extensive experience in implementing large projects in India and internationally. The group has several alliances and collaborations with many of the world's leading industrial corporations. CONTACT: AT&T Wireless Services Inc. Todd Wolfenbarger, 206/828-1851 or 206/979-2677 |
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