EADS Secure Networks, a unit of the European aerospace and
defense giant EADS, sees the upcoming 2008 Olympics in Beijing as a
major opportunity to expand its professional mobile radio (PMR)
business in China.
PMR provides communications services, such as surveillance and
security applications, to government bodies, including security
forces.
Jean-Marc Nasr, chief executive officer of EADS Secure Networks,
said the firm has been in talks with the Beijing authorities and
the firm's Chinese partners about the deployment of PMR products
for the Olympics.
"Communications are key to guaranteeing security" at big events
such as the Olympic Games, he said.
"We must ensure all people involved, including organizers, fire
workers and policemen, are able to work together and communicate
with each other in a timely manner."
EADS Secure Networks has provided PMR products at other big
events, such as the Torino Winter Olympic Games 2006 and the F1
motor racing Grand Prix in Bahrain, also this year.
Early this month, EADS and Siemens were chosen as preferred
bidders for a nationwide PMR public security network in Germany.
This will be based on a standard called TETRA (terrestrial trunked
radio).
Nasr said the deal could be worth hundreds of millions of
euros.
He added that EADS Secure Networks is positioned to win big
orders for the Beijing Olympics, after EADS acquired Nokia's PMR
business last year.
Nokia was strong in the TETRA technology field and a partner of
Beijing JustTop Network Communications Co Ltd, a PMR service
provider in Beijing.
JustTop is a unit of fixed-line telephone carrier China Netcom,
one of the communications partners for the Beijing Olympics.
Nasr expects the Olympics could create business opportunities
worth 3 billion euros for communications companies.
JustTop is already deploying PMR networks in areas neighboring
Olympic venues in Beijing.
And the firm is awaiting the government's approval to complete
indoor network coverage.
EADS, after buying the Nokia unit, will be able to improve its
competitiveness in the Chinese PMR market, Nasr said. As part of
the acquisition, EADS has access to Nokia's technologies.
Currently EADS holds a 50 percent share of the PMR market in
China.
"Our objective is to become a major player in Asia, especially
in China," Nasr said.
"We are seeing growing needs for PMR in China, both in the
public service and commercial sectors."
A PMR network built by JustTop for Beijing municipal government
had more than 30,000 users by the end of last year, according to
statistics provided by EADS.
EADS' customers in China include Shenzhen Metro, Jinan Airport
and Tianjin Water.
Its major rival is US communications giant Motorola.
Motorola provided equipment for two TETRA networks at the Athens
Olympics in 2004.
It has been calling for the building of two TETRA networks for
the Beijing event.
(China Daily March 24, 2006)