Telfort Aims To Launch Higher-Speed Mobile Internet 2nd Half 06

AMSTERDAM -(Dow Jones)- Dutch mobile operator Telfort BV aims to launch products based on HSDPA technology, which offers mobile Internet access many times faster than current networks, in the second half of 2006, Chief Technology Officer Theo van de Wiel told Dow Jones Newswires Wednesday.

Chinese telecommunications equipment maker Huawei Technologies Co. (HWI.YY) is upgrading Telfort's network to work with the high-speed downlink packet access, or HSDPA, technology.

Telfort, which is in the process of being bought by Royal KPN NV (KPN), will first introduce an HSDPA based PC-card, followed by an HSDPA-enabled phone. Van de Wiel declined to say when it will launch the phone.

Telfort recently finished an enhanced data rates for global evolution, or EDGE, network upgrade, which was done by Sweden's Telefon AB LM Ericsson (ERICY).

In June, Dutch incumbent KPN agreed to pay up to EUR1.12 billion for Telfort, one of the smaller operators in the highly competitive Dutch market.

Van de Wiel declined to comment on how its network will be integrated into KPN's, once the takeover is completed, because the deal is still being probed by the Dutch competition authorities.

-By Stefan Simons, Dow Jones Newswires; 31 20 6260770; stefan.simons@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires"

Posted to the site on 24th August 2005