$50 billion for German wireless licenses; next-generation technology rights sold in richest global auction

Article Abstract:

Germany's telecommunications agency conducted the largest auction of wireless communications licenses, with companies and consortiums bidding close to $50 billion to secure the rights to 12 permits. Companies in Great Britain, Spain, France, Finland, Netherlands, Japan and Hong Kong all had stakes in the bidding wars, backing four of the license winners MobilCom AG, Viag Interkom, Group 3G and E-Plus Hutchison. The remaining two winners, German communications giant Deutsche Telekom AG and Britain's Vodafone AirTouch, had bid the licenses up by $15 billion in the hopes of locking in positions as Europe's primary providers of third-generation mobile service providers. Investors and stockholders have expressed concern for the billions of dollars spent not only for European licenses, but sums expected to be spent on acquiring competitors and building the infrastructure needed to carry cellular services.

Germany, Radiotelephone communications, Cellular and Other Wireless Telecommunications, Mobile Radio Services, Statistical Data Included, Telecommunications services industry, Telecommunications industry, Cellular telephone services industry, Cellular technology, Cellular telephone services, Telecommunications systems, Wireless communications services, Vodafone AirTouch PLC, Deutsche Telekom AG, Licensing agreements, MobilCom AG, Germany. Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, Viag Interkom AG, Group 3G, E-Plus Hutchison

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Sensing the presence of potential problems

Article Abstract:

Embedded fiber optic sensors can provide an accurate means of determining the condition of structure such as bridges, pipelines and airplanes. Optical sensors offer an advantage over electronic sensors in that they are far more sensitive and are not subject to electromagnetic interference. The technology is still emerging and prototypes for aircraft monitoring will not be available until 1995 to 2000. Utility and gas companies are only beginning to show interest in optical sensors, and computers and software have yet to be developed that could receive and convert optical signals into meaningful information.

Pressed and blown glass, not elsewhere classified, Research, Forecasts and trends, Technological innovations, Fiber optics, Detection equipment, Optoelectronic devices, Control systems, Optical detectors, Trends, Sensor, Self-Test Capability, Failure Analysis, Bionics, Detectors

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