Wireless giant Motorola hopes to plug in to the radio communications network business brought on by Beijing's run-up to the 2008 Olympics.

Chew Guan Sing, general manager in charge of Motorola's systems solutions at its Government and Enterprise Mobile Solutions in North Asia, said more than one radio communications network should be built to better address emergencies at the 2008 Olympics.

"Beijing should not rely on a sole network," Chew said in a recent interview with China Business Weekly.

He hopes Motorola can join, or even replace, its rival Nokia as the builder of the Tetra digital trunking networks which could be used by agencies such as those responsible for public safety for the 2008 Olympics.

Nokia has joined Beijing JustTop Network Communication Co Ltd, which is controlled by China Netcom, in the deployment of the Tetra networks in Beijing.

China Netcom and China Mobile are the communications service partners for the Beijing Olympics.

Tetra is one of two digital trunking systems approved by China's Ministry of Information Industry (MII).

Motorola since 1972 has provided essential communications network equipment for the Olympics.

During the Athens Olympics last summer, there were two Tetra systems networks in operation. They were based on equipment supplied by Motorola.

Motorola's contracts were estimated at more than US$25 million.

In addition, there will be a 10-year provision for the supply of services and support.

The Greek Government has indicated it will continue using the system for its public safety organizations. More of the government's agencies will adopt the system.

That will result in more business opportunities for Motorola.

Deployment of the Tetra system, for the Athens Olympics, was a success.

The public safety command, control, communications, computer and intelligence (C4I) system used during the Athens Games averaged more than 200,000 calls per day and passed the 3-million-call mark by the end of the games, media reported at the time.

The number of subscribers reached 17,000.

Chew said Motorola still has a big chance of winning Tetra contracts from organizers of the Beijing Olympics.

"We have extensive experience, knowledge and a proven track record, from prior Olympic Games, in providing Tetra systems," he said.

"That makes a big difference."

Events such as the Olympics need professional radio communications networks.

Besides public safety agencies, which need so-called "mission-critical," transport organizations and Olympic committee volunteers need such communications.

Chew said Motorola is negotiating with Beijing Olympic Committee authorities about the Tetra contracts.

Besides the possible Olympic boon, Motorola is also expecting a major uptick in its digital-trunking business in China.

Jason Gan, a project manager at Motorola China, said China's major cities are adopting the digital-trunking technologies.

Beijing's light rail operator and Shanghai's container terminal have deployed Motorola's solutions in their Tetra networks.

The firm is also bidding on some Tetra projects involving Shanghai's light rail and subway lines, Gan said.

Motorola, he added, holds more than 85 percent of the Tetra market outside China.

In China, Motorola has been involved in more than 50 percent of the Tetra projects.

Motorola earlier this month formed a strategic alliance with Beijing Vigor Communication New Technology Co Ltd to continue tapping the commercial trunked-radio-system market.

The firm is seeking more local partners to cash in on China's radio communications market.

(China Business Weekly March 20, 2005)