Telecom Networks Mr. Fearn To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the organisations which have applied to operate the Telecom networks following the end of the BT and Mercury duopoly. Mr. Redwood A list of applications for Telecommunications Act licences currently under consideration is kept at the Office of Telecommunications and updated weekly. The list is open to public inspection. It currently contains the following details: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Cognito Group Ltd. |Provision of radio packet data links to fixed terminals via its existing network. | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |lonica L3 Ltd. |Provision of a national telephone service offering PSTN facilities based on fixed wireless communication. | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Meteor Communications (Europe) Ltd.|Provision of telemetry and telecontrol systems to fixed and mobile apparatus throughout the United Kingdom, and Western Europe, by means of a meteor burst radio network. No connection to other telecommunication system is sought.| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |National Transcommunications Ltd. |Provision of broadband network services in the United Kingdom for the transmission of vision, sound and data. | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Paknet Ltd. |Provision of fixed and mobile data services using the company's existing fixed network. | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |RAM Mobile Data Ltd. |Provision of packet switched data services to fixed terminals via its existing radio network. | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Satellite Information Services |Provision of two-way satellite circuits connected to the public switched telephone network for engineering and programme control purposes in connection with outside broadcasting activities. | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Sound Broadcast Services |Provision of point-to-point radio and wire systems for radio broadcasters to allow transmission of programme material, communications and data to and from studios and transmitter sites on a permanent basis. | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Racal Vodafone Ltd. |Provision of fixed links in its own network or to others. Provision of telecommunications services of every type on its network. Direct connections to overseas mobile and fixed networks. | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In addition, over 20 other companies have expressed a strong interest in running new networks but they have yet to make a formal application.