Sign in Subscribe
Diversified companies

Asia-Pacific Telecommunications Industry Update: Key Developments and Growth

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Asia-Pacific region is experiencing significant developments in the telecommunications industry, driven by the growth of mobile phone subscribers, expansion of international services, and advancements in technology. This update highlights key events and trends shaping the industry in the late 1990s.

Key Takeaways:

  • Mobicom Corp. will begin providing stationary local and international telephone services in Ulan Bator, Mongolia, in January 1999, with plans to expand to handle 20,000 subscribers in five years.
  • Korea Telecom was scheduled to be listed on the Korea Stock Exchange on December 23, with the government holding 71.2% of shares.
  • Vietnam Mobile Telecom Services Company (VMS) has added 50,000 more subscribers, bringing its total to over 150,000, and is a joint venture between Sweden's Kinnevik Group and the Vietnam Post and Telecommunications.
  • Hitachi, NEC, Furukawa Electric, and Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd. are collaborating on the development of advanced Internet technologies to create a backbone router and protocol capable of transmitting large-volume video images and other data at speeds 100 to 1,000 times faster than existing technologies.
  • Japan's DDI Corp. announced a 30% reduction in weekday daytime phone call charges to the U.S., and AT&T Japan reduced its flat charge for such calls over its Internet phone service by 21%.
  • The Australian government selected ABN AMRO Rothschild, Credit Suisse First Boston, and JB Were as joint global coordinators for the sale of another 16% of Telstra, and Goldman Sachs as business adviser.
  • The Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) is working on its 1999 capital expenditure program, which could amount to P20 billion (US$507.2 million).
  • Cable & Wireless Optus and Telstra reached an agreement over interconnection access to Telstra's network.

Statistics:

  • Mobicom Corp. plans to expand its system to handle 20,000 subscribers in five years.
  • Vietnam Mobile Telecom Services Company (VMS) has added 50,000 subscribers, bringing its total to over 150,000.
  • DDI Corp. reduced weekday daytime phone call charges to the U.S. by 30% to 168 yen.
  • AT&T Japan reduced its flat charge for such calls over its Internet phone service by 21% to 78 yen per three minutes.
  • The Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) is planning a capital expenditure program of P20 billion (US$507.2 million).

Sources:

  • Asia Pulse via COMTEX
  • Mobicom Corp.
  • Korea Stock Exchange
  • Vietnam Mobile Telecom Services Company (VMS)
  • Hitachi Ltd.
  • NEC Corp.
  • Furukawa Electric Co.
  • Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd.
  • DDI Corp.
  • AT&T Japan
  • Australian Government
  • ABN AMRO Rothschild
  • Credit Suisse First Boston
  • JB Were
  • Goldman Sachs
  • Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT)
  • Cable & Wireless Optus
  • Telstra Corp.

Read more