>> Swisscom (VOD) Testing 3G
11/12/2001
BWCS Staff
Switzerland’s dominant cellular operator, Swisscom Mobile, has made the country’s first 3G call over its pilot network in Bern. The company, which is trialling UMTS equipment in co-operation with its 3G supplier, Swedish manufacturer Ericsson, says the tests were trouble free. The pilot network currently consists of eight base stations, although this will be extended as the trials continue. Swisscom Mobile says that its 3G infrastructure will provide coverage to 20% of the population by the end of 2002 as required under the terms of its licence, by which time commercial services will have been launched.
Swisscom Mobile, which is owned by Swisscom (75%) and Vodafone (25%), had 3.51 million customers and a 68% market share at the end of September. It competes in the Swiss mobile market with Tele Danmark-backed Sunrise and Orange Communications, which is 85% owned by France Telecom’s Orange unit. These three companies, plus the Team 3G consortium led by Telefonica of Spain, were awarded UMTS concessions by the Swiss government in December 2000, paying a total of CHF205 million (US$120 million). <<
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