Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Qualcomm Incorporated (QCOM) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Jon Koplik who wrote (66833)	2/14/2000 9:17:00 PM
From: 16yearcycle	Respond to of 152472

Monday February 14, 6:13 pm Eastern Time AAPT says Lucent to build CDMA SYDNEY, Feb 15 (Reuters) - Australian telecommunications group AAPT Ltd said on Tuesday it has contracted U.S.-based Lucent Technologies to build and support its A$450-A$500 million CDMA mobile phone network. Lucent has been appointed to build the CDMA (code division multiple access) network for both AAPT and its parent Telecom New Zealand Ltd (Australia:TEL.AX - news). AAPT chief executive Larry Williams said the decision to appoint the same supplier would lead to operational and cost benefits, including share application development, greater purchasing power and access to equipment and network support. ''For AAPT the capital expenditure saving is estimated at about A$90 million, and there will be ongoing savings of approximately 20 percent of operational and maintenance costs,'' he said. AAPT said it was also considering a number of financing options to built the network, including an offer by Lucent to provide 100 percent vendor finance. AAPT said on Monday, when it released its half year results, that it was likely to debt finance the initial stages of the project and would consider the possibility of a float late in the year. Williams said the group expected to put in place a debt raising facility of up to A$300 million by the end of March once the group received a credit rating. AAPT is one of a number of companies building new mobile networks to challenge the three existing GSM networks. Australia's biggest telecommunications group has also launched its CDMA network, while Hutchison Telecommunications (Australia) Ltd (Australia:HTA.AX - news) also plans a CDMA network. AAP's CDMA spectrum covers about 55 percent of the population, missing out the on the main cities of Sydney and Melbourne. Williams said on Monday the group was still on track to launch its CDMA network in the fourth quarter of 2000 after customers trials in the third quarter.