News In Brief: Eurotunnel, Swype, ST Telemedia, SK Telecom, ST-Ericsson, TelstraClear, Airtel, DoCoMo

Staff writer | December 16, 2009

telecomseurope.net

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UK-French rail operator Eurotunnel has awarded Alcatel-Lucent a €21.5 million contract to modernize Channel Tunnel communications infrastructure. Alcatel-Lucent will deploy its GSM-R solution across the entire Eurotunnel network, improving voice and data communications for operations staff by the end of 2012.

Swype, a company that has developed a faster way to type text on a touchscreen, says that it has secured $5.6 million in series B financing from Nokia Growth Partners, Samsung Ventures, and returning investor Benaroya Capital. Swype's patented technology was recently launched on its first consumer device, the Samsung Omnia II.

ST Telemedia has received legal, regulatory and shareholder approval to acquire Irish telecommunications carrier Eircom Holdings. The transaction is expected to close in early January, 2010.

SK Telecom has contracted Alcatel-Lucent to deploy a mobile backhaul network and upgrade the operator's Packet Transport System (PTS) network.

ST-Ericsson and Ericsson have achieved the first digital handover on a dual-mode LTE/HSPA device.

China has defended its controversial new IT procurement policy, which requires all products for government contracts to include locally-developed intellectual property. A government spokesperson told a regular press briefing Tuesday that the process accorded with international practice.

NTT DoCoMo has become the second-largest shareholder in Korea's KT, with a 5.46% stake, after swapping exchangeable bonds for shares.

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Staff writer