Mannesmann Arcor, Teligent launch joint venture

<%=company1%> (Vienna, VA) and Mannesmann Arcor AG & Co. (Frankfurt, Germany), the telecommunications subsidiary of Mannesmann AG, have formed ArcTel, a joint venture that will provide high-speed, low-cost voice, data, and Internet services to businesses throughout Germany. ArcTel intends to have broadband, fixed wireless links up and running in 44 major German markets by November.

Carrying both data and voice traffic, these links will be built in business markets near Munich, Frankfurt, Bonn, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, and more than 10 other major cities, using a total of 198 regional spectrum licenses already granted to the two companies. These licenses, in the 26 GHz and 3.5 GHz bands, cover approximately 40% of German businesses.

To further enhance its coverage, ArcTel applied to the German telecommunications regulatory authority for 52 additional fixed wireless spectrum licenses in the 26 GHz and 3.5 GHz spectrum bands. The new applications cover regions in eight of the 12 largest business centers in Germany including Berlin, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Essen, Duisburg, and Hanover. With Mannesmann Arcor's and Teligent's current spectrum, the new licenses, if awarded to ArcTel, would bring ArcTel's market coverage to nearly 70% of Germany's business markets.

The two companies named Dr. Jan B. Rittaler as CEO of ArcTel, which will be based in Frankfurt. Rittaler previously served as senior director of corporate strategy at Mannesmann Arcor. Arcor holds a 55% share in ArcTel, and Teligent holds the remaining 45% share.

Edited by Ellen Jensen