InterDigital Inc (IDCC)

[nieves]

Hi3G says no decision to enter Norway's telecom market


STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Feb 07, 2003 (AP WorldStream via COMTEX) --
Hutchison-Whampoa Ltd.'s Nordic telecom operator, which has said it may enter
the Norwegian market, reacted coolly Friday to the Norwegian government's
decision to relax the rollout requirements for 3G networks.

"We'll continue to keep our ear to the ground in Norway," said Niclas Lilja, a
spokesman for Hi3G Access AB, the Hutchison-controlled startup operator. "It's
not like the change created any 'Whoo-hoo! let's go and look."'

Hi3G, which has 3G licenses in Sweden and Denmark, said previously that license
conditions would need to be eased before it would consider entering Norway. One
concern was that the coverage requirements were too extensive, given Norway's
mountainous terrain and fjords.

Lilja said Hi3G executives met with Norwegian officials three or four times to
talk about their concerns.

Earlier Friday, the Norwegian government said it would now require operators to
provide coverage to 30 percent of its 4.5 million residents within six years of
being granted a license. The original terms required 40 percent coverage within
five years.

The government also said it will attempt to auction off the two licenses that
have been returned by Tele2 AB and Broadband Mobile, a joint venture of Sonera
and Enitel ASA that's been disbanded. TeliaSonera AB and Telenor ASA own the
other two licenses.

Hi3G has also bid on a 3G license and assets that TeliaSonera AB is selling in
Finland.

Lilja said Hi3G still plans a gradual launch of commercial services in Sweden
this spring. It will operate under the '3' brand, as will other Hutchison-backed
operators in Europe.

---

On the Net:

http://www.hi3gaccess.com



Copyright 2003 Associated Press, All rights reserved

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