US West's cellular venture defies odds; executives with contracts, savvy succeed in Hungary

Article Abstract:

US West Inc's Hungarian cellular telephone subsidiary, Westel Radiotelefon Kft, is bringing mobile phone service to Eastern Europe at a profit. Since its startup in 1990, Westel has 17,000 subscribers and is adding 1,000 monthly. Company executives believe that Westel will earn $50 million during 1992. US West credits its success in the Hungarian market to engineering director Jozsef Pete, whose political connections provided US West with an entrance into the market, and general manager Andras Sugar. Maintaining Westel's success will be a challenge as the Hungarian government invites other foreign investors to bid on cellular telephone systems. While conventional wisdom indicates that it would take time to build a successful cellular phone enterprise, standard telephones are difficult to get in Hungary. Additionally, Hungarians have more disposable income than was previously thought.

Cellular telephone services industry, Cellular telephone services, Investments, Hungary, International trade, USW, Growth (Physiology), Growth, Cellular Radio, Subsidiary Company, WesTel Radiotelefon Ltd.

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BT faces a line of potential international competitors

Article Abstract:

British Telecommunications PLC's lucrative international-dialing business faces fresh competition. Giants such as AT and T and tiny firms such as eight-employee Nationwide Linkline Europe Ltd are among the 18 companies that have applied for UK telephone-service licenses. Most are expected to win governmental approval. One London analyst predicts that BT's share of the UK telecommunications service market will fall from today's level of about 93 percent to 83 percent by 1998. BT posts 1.79 pounds sterling ($2.82 billion) in annual international-calling revenue. Currently, BT's only rival is Mercury Communications Ltd. Falling UK prices for international calling will pressure telephone companies on the Continent to cut their own rates.

Forecasts and trends, Long distance telephone services, British Telecommunications PLC, Long-distance telephone service, International communication, Outlook, Competition, International Communications

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First PCS network faces static in Britain; pocket-phone system seen as too limited for price

Article Abstract:

US West Inc and Cable and Wireless PLC are planning to jointly offer the Mercury One-2-One personal communications service, but the partners are already questioning the 600 million pounds sterling service's chances for success. One main concern of the partners is pricing; they fear that they may charge too much for the service and turn away potential customers. Mercury One-2-One will be the first commercially available service of its kind and will initially be available only in the London area. Competitors such as Vodafone and British Telecommunications affiliate, Cellnet, will be launching counterattacks by offering their own digital communications services later in 1993.

Product development, Telecommunications equipment industry, Personal communications services, Cable & Wireless PLC

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