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To: risk-averse who wrote (11407)	6/6/1998 12:21:00 PM
From: Secret_Agent_Man	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 50264

APEC to Speed Telecom Imports By Laurinda Keys Associated Press Writer Friday, June 5, 1998; 11:40 a.m. EDT SINGAPORE (AP) -- Pacific Rim nations agreed Friday on a pact to speed imports of telecommunications equipment and cut costs by trimming testing requirements. The agreement, adopted by government ministers of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, is part of a plan to eliminate tariffs on all information technology products by 2000. A similar agreement between the United States and the European Union was signed May 18. The APEC agreement allows products that have already been tested and certified to be exported without required retesting in the import country. That will speed up marketing of technologies and products that are rapidly updated, while reducing testing and certification costs that are often passed on to consumers. Industry executives praised the agreement, but regretted that some countries will not implement it until 2006. The agreement will affect about $45 billion in current trade flows, or one-third of the global market, the U.S. Trade Representative office said in a statement from Washington. The arrangement sets up a framework for manufacturers and exporters to test telecom equipment according to the standards of the importing country. The APEC ministers set dates for 16 of the 18 member nations to implement the agreement. Chile and New Zealand said they will not participate because their regulations are already simple enough for imports. The agreement is part of a voluntary liberalization process that APEC leaders launched last November. Telecom is one of nine industries targeted for action in the first half of this year. APEC trade ministers will meet in Kuching, Malaysia, on June 22-23 to discuss the remaining eight: environmental goods and services, medical equipment and instruments, chemicals, energy sector, forest products, fish, gems and jewelry, and toys. APEC comprises Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and the United States. Candidate members are Russia, Vietnam and Peru. c Copyright 1998 The Associated Press

To: risk-averse who wrote (11407)	6/6/1998 12:29:00 PM
From: Secret_Agent_Man	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 50264

June 5, 1998 Telscape Gets Mexican Approval To Offer Long-Distance Service Dow Jones Newswires HOUSTON -- Telecommunications company Telscape International Inc., said Friday that it has won approval from the Mexican government to provide domestic and international long-distance services in the country. The approval clears the way for Telscape's entry into a multibillion dollar market with tremendous potential for growth, said Chief Financial Officer Todd M. Binet. "Mexico has a population of about 90 million people," he said. And "9% to 10% of the population has phone lines, as opposed to 70% in the U.S," he said. For many Mexican households, a $150 installation fee charged by Telefonos de Mexico S.A., or Telmex, the former state monopoly, was just too steep. But Mr. Binet says the Mexican market's potential was increased by recent government efforts to deregulate Mexico's telecommunications industry. "Up until a couple of years ago, there was only one player in town," he said, referring to Telmex. Telmex has responded to deregulation by investing about $10 billion in new equipment, and improving service. Rivals charge it has also taken advantage of the country's weak regulatory agencies to block a level playing field. Over the past 18 months, the company has lost about 28% of the long-distance market but has maintained profitability by raising its rates for local service. Mr. Binet said Telscape already operates primarily in Mexico, so the approval "has the potential of being a very significant part of our business." Telscape, which primarily provides systems integration and value-added services to corporate customers, initially will offer its long-distance services to businesses only. Mr. Binet didn't rule out, however, possibly extending the company's service to consumers at a later date. Mr. Binet said Telscape will enter the long-distance market by concluding resale agreements with existing carriers. The company then plans to build its own infrastructure and provide long-distance services independently by mid-1999. The long distance telephone market in Mexico has been valued at $68.5 billion. Telmex, Avantel SA and Alestra -- a joint venture between AT&T Corp., Alfa, a Mexican industrial group, and Bancomer Visa, the largest retail bank in Mexico -- control 95% of this market. Spanish telecommunications operator Telefonica Internacional SA has purchased 10% of Avantel for $250 million. Grupo Financiero Banamex, one of Mexico's largest banking groups owns a 55% share, and MCI Communications Corp. has 45%.