Anglo-Australian consortium wins mobile phone license

Mobile Phone News, Jan 25, 1993

The Anglo-Australian Arena GSM consortium won Australia's third mobile telephone license. Agreement terms specify Arena will pay $96 million for the license. Arena GSM includes British-based Vodaphone and local equity partners AAP Telecommunications and Exicom. AAP Telecommunications is a joint venture between U.S.-based MCI Communications and New Zealand-based Todd Corp.; both companies are long-distance telephone service operators. Arena will initiate service in July 1994. Services in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra will begin in September 1994.

Arena beat three other bidders, including Singapore-backed SinTel. SinTel's consortium partners included U.S.-based Pacific Telesis and Australia-based Stanilite Pacific, with U.S.-based AT&T supplying equipment.