Hutchison Whampoa investing into China Unicom - AWJ today ...
The Hongkong based Telecom / Infrastructure conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa, owned by billionaire Mr. Li Ka-Shing is investing into China United Telecommunications Corp.
interactive.wsj.com
I believe that Hutchison will be able to give China Unicom needed guidance and expertise to setup a 3G CDMA network in China.
In the WSJ article below, "Network planning" is the magic word, which involves system decisions.
My bet is that Hutchison as usual will go for state-of-the-art technology and not less. Once the Unicom IPO is through the picture will become clearer and things will go really quick.
As early as 1995 Hutchison introduced Qualcomm CDMA in Hongkong.
Soon we will see Hutchison operated, i-mode inspired but multimedia 3G networks in China, Australia, Europe and elsewhere.
TallMonkey
PS. i am long both QCOM and HUWHY (Hutchison)
getting some more QCOM now
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Hutchison Whampoa Will Invest
$400 Million in China Unicom IPO
By PETER WONACOTT and VERNA YU
Staff Reporters of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
HONG KONG -- Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. has agreed to invest $400 million in the initial public stock offering of China Unicom Ltd., setting the stage for the Hong Kong-based conglomerate's expansion into the mainland's telecommunications market.
The share agreement represents the key part of a strategic alliance between Hutchison and Unicom's parent, China United Telecommunications Corp. In a joint statement, the two said they plan to set up a new joint venture to provide telecom-related consulting and training in areas of marketing and sales, customer service and network planning. As China lifts market barriers, the tie-up will also target mobile phones, long distance and data networks, according to Laura Cheung, general manager for group corporate affairs at Hutchison. "This is a broad business partnership," she said.
Hutchison Whampoa Sees Record Profit, Announces Plans to Expand Overseas (March 24)
For Hutchison, the deal is part of an explosive global expansion of its telecom operations, which has been fueled by last year's $15.1 billion sale of its stake in Vodafone AirTouch's Orange PLC, a British mobile-phone brand. Controlled by Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing, Hutchison has embarked on an effort to build a network for third-generation mobile phones. In April, it bid 4.4 billion pounds ($6.57 billion or 7.06 billion euros) for a 3G license that analysts say is the first part of a pan-European network that the company may eventually link with operations in the U.S. and Asia.
For Unicom, the investment represents a vote of confidence in its stock offering, which was launched just Monday. The company aims to raise about $4 billion, which would give Hutchison a 10% stake in the company. The Unicom issue, underwritten by Morgan Stanley Dean Witter and China International Capital Corp., is seen as critical for the growth of China's telecom industry.
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Some other relevant links:
First CDMA network in HK and NTT DoCoMo investment in Hutchison:
hutchison-whampoa.com
Forbes Global (5-31-99) Telecosmic Race George Gilder's wireless winners -
Hutchison one of them:
forbes.com
Asiaweek: Most powerful people in Asia 2000:
cnn.com |
