To: elmatador who wrote (19171 ) 3/27/2002 11:12:24 AM From: Eric L Read Replies (1) | Respond to Telefonica/PT Telesp Celular GSM-1800 in Brazil Maneuvers Telefonica and Portugal Telecom (PT), which controls Telesp Celular ... declared their intention of bidding for the Bands D and E of personal communications service (PCS) spectrum remaining after previous auctions ... Bids will be delivered to ANATEL, Brazil's telecom regulator, on March 5 ... Telefonica and PT plan to acquire additional frequencies in the 1800 MHz band for a GSM overlay on top of existing networks. Both companies will use GSM to facilitate roaming in voice and data services throughout the area they plan to cover together. However, ANATEL will grant additional frequencies to these companies for roaming purposes only if they migrate conventional cellular operations to PCS. GSM equipment vendors have been anticipating this move and are expecting major gains from this development. They believe migration to GSM will guarantee investment in equipment to upgrade networks that currently have approximately 10.5 million users in major markets nationwide. Ericsson plans to launch a dual mode mobile phone in Brazil in the Q3. The handset will support global system for mobile communications (GSM), operating in the 1800 MHz frequency, and time division multiple access (TDMA) operating in the 850 MHz frequency. The phone is being developed specifically for existing TDMA operators who may opt to migrate to GSM as a way of building a customer base for data, as well as voice, services. The dual mode technology will also act as a failsafe for subscribers to new GSM services (Oi and TIM) when roaming in areas covered by TDMA operators. Due to compatibility with GSM networks in the United States and Europe, it further promotes global roaming.
