Hanaro signs MOU with Motorola for IMT-2000
To give it a better chance of wining an IMT-2000 (third generation telecom service)
license, the Korea IMT-2000 consortium, led by Hanaro Telecom, is working to broaden
its tie-ups with global telecom firms.
Although it is the single applicant for a cdma2000 service license, Korea IMT-2000
could be dropped should it fail to meet the basic requirements laid down by the
government.
Hanaro officials said that Korea IMT-2000 yesterday signed a memorandum of
understanding (MOU) with U.S. Motorola to jointly develop IMT-2000 systems, mobile
Internet and applications and work closely in various ways to ensure IMT-2000 services
would be commercialized by 2002.
Hanaro's move comes on the heels of a similar MOU with Ericsson last week in which
the two agreed to cooperate in developing cdma2000 technology.
Motorola is a world leading systems and handset manufacturer with production facilities
in 21 countries, including Korea. Motorola currently has IMT-2000 equipment research
centers in the U.S., U.K., Hong Kong, and Tokyo. Since 1998, Motorola has been
developing digital CDMA technology, PCS phones and IMT-2000 handsets at its two
Korean establishments, Korea Design Center and Motorola Korea Technology Center.
"By signing an MOU with Motorola, Korea IMT-2000 has laid the foundation for the early
commercialization of cdma2000 service," an official of IMT-2000. "We are going to
continue to work to gain technological competitiveness by forming partnerships with
both domestic and overseas cdma2000 operators and equipment makers," the official
said.
The company announced last Friday that it wished to broaden its consortium to some
500 firms, choosing half from companies that apply before Dec.2 and the remainder
from participants of whichever consortium fails to win a W-CDMA license.
Telecom companies currently vying for the licenses are busy demonstrating their
success in improving technology and broadening business tie-ups as the government
review to select winners nears its conclusion. The government will announce three
winners in late December.
By Kim Min-hee Staff reporter
2000.11.29
koreaherald.co.kr |
