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=DJ Hutchison/Nokia/Source-2: Installed Equipment Unused>NOK

By Gren Manuel
Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

LONDON (Dow Jones)--A Hutchison Whampoa Ltd.-controlled (H.HUW) telecommunications operator installed Nokia Corp. (NOK) base stations across Hong Kong, then made the Finnish telecom-equipment company remove them, a person familiar with the situation said.
The person, who declined to be named, told Dow Jones Newswires that Nokia had to remove more than 700 base stations installed on Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories, before the service was even launched.
Replacement equipment is being supplied by NEC Corp. (NIPNY) and Siemens AG (SI), who are working together on third-generation mobile technology, the person said.
Thomas Joensson, a spokesman for Nokia's network arm, said the company doesn't comment on the specifics of contracts that haven't been disclosed publicly.

(MORE) Dow Jones Newswires
06-05-03 0722ET