Motorola acquires new GSM markets in China

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill /PRNewswire/ -- Motorola Inc.'s Global Telecom Solutions Sector (GTSS), one of the world's major suppliers of GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) systems, has won a larger share of China's GSM market with the award of two new digital wireless infrastructure contracts from China Mobile Communication Corporation (China Mobile).

According to the terms of the two contracts, which have a combined value of nearly US $13 million, Motorola will expand its presence in China beginning with construction its first GSM1800 network in Heilongjiang Province for Heilongjiang Mobile Communication Corporation (Heilongjiang Mobile), a China Mobile subsidiary. Motorola will deploy a GSM 1800 system overlay to an existing GSM900 network in two major cities in Heilongjiang Province. The GSM900/1800 dual band system is expected to greatly enhance the call quality for an estimated 80,000 mobile communication subscribers in the province's two cities. Project completion is expected during the third quarter of this year.

The second project, the expansion of an existing GSM900 network in Yunnan Province for China Mobile's Yunnan Mobile Communication Corporation (Yunnan Mobile) subsidiary, Motorola will supply its Horizonmacro infrastructure solution across three major cities in the province. The expansion work, expected to be completed in the second quarter of this year, is being designed to increase the network's capacity by more than 78,000 subscribers.

"Motorola is committed to China Mobile and we are extremely pleased to be chosen once again to provide it with our best-in-class systems and services,'' said Ruey Bin Kao, vice president and general manager of Motorola's China Telecom Carrier Solutions Group. "These expansions will enhance the quality of communications for subscribers in the two provinces by increasing the availability and capacity of the network,'' Kao said. "With the increasing demand for not only voice, but data capability over GSM, we are delighted that China Mobile is continuing its relationship with us to take its network forward into the new millennium,'' Kao added.

Both GSM contracts were awarded to Motorola through China Eastern Communications Company Limited (Eastcom). Eastcom has licensing and joint venture agreements with Motorola GTSS to manufacture, distribute and provide service for Motorola GTSS's GSM and CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) cellular infrastructure products within China. Eastcom has been supplying Motorola GTSS digital cellular equipment in China since 1995.