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Orange on track for 3G launch in UK next year


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Guest darren22
Posted

Just found this

LONDON, June 24 (Reuters) - Orange , the mobile phone group controlled by France Telecom (Paris: 13330.PA - news) , said on Tuesday it was on track to launch high-speed, third-generation (3G) mobile phone services in Britain in mid-2004.

Chief Executive Solomon Trujillo told a London strategy presentation that Orange had acquired 4,500 3G sites in Britain and that its new high-speed network would cover 40 percent of the population when it launched services commercially next year.

In its other core market of France, Trujillo said Orange planned to cover 60 percent of the population by 2006, adding that new services, such as video calls, would be "ready to go" in 2004 or 2005.

France is one of Europe's least competitive markets, so there is less pressure to launch costly 3G services while Europe's top cellphone groups and equipment makers struggle to iron out bugs and software glitches in the high-tech new phones.

But in Britain, Hong Kong conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa in March launched 3G services via its 3 UK start-up. 3 UK, which has only around 25,000 customers, has slashed voice prices, undercutting rivals by up to 50 percent, to boost market share

Guest kingdom master
Posted

ORANGE ARE sceduled to launch 3g in october this year and will be releasing a noke,sony eric, and possible motorola handsets

and they will release with full internet access available at around 300kprs constant connection.

yippeee!!!!

Posted

Now correct me if I'm wrong, but Orange are/were part of, or owned by, Huchinson Telecom, the peeps behind the 3 network?

Always puzzled me that one. Cos if they're no longer owned by them, I can imagine that they're kicking themselves now that 3 has got the 1st 3g network running. Even if the coverage is a wee bit patchy at present.

Guest martin
Posted
Now correct me if I'm wrong, but Orange are/were part of, or owned by, Huchinson Telecom, the peeps behind the 3 network?
Originally Orange was owned by Hutchison Wampoa (Japan) then Mannesmann (German) and now France Telecom (French). It's like pass the parcel :lol:

Always puzzled me that one. Cos if they're no longer owned by them, I can imagine that they're kicking themselves now that 3 has got the 1st 3g network running. Even if the coverage is a wee bit patchy at present.

I don't think any of the other networks were looking to be first. I even doubt they will release their 3G networks until they believe the technology is ready. A lot of software is still to be completed.

Guest morpheus2702
Posted

Just caught the Orange guy on BBC News 24 - saying that they would have 3G network established for 2004 but useage wouldn't become mainsteam until 2005-6.

Guest awarner [MVP]
Posted

And by that time everyone will want 4G :lol:

Posted
And by that time everyone will want 4G :lol:

Either that or mobile phones will be soooo 'yesterday', we'll have all moved on to radio transceiver implants :D

Guest Firaas
Posted
Just caught the Orange guy on BBC News 24 - saying that they would have 3G network established for 2004 but useage wouldn't become mainsteam until 2005-6.

Yeah, I was listening to the broadcast, I believe they're testing sites in London and France during this year, and will go on to release 3G next year in the UK, and either next year or the year after for France.

Slides attached...

3G Slide2.jpg

3G Slide1.jpg

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