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Document 2 of 11.

July 31, 1998, Friday

LENGTH: 1035 words

HEADLINE: Newsbytes Asia Week In Review

DATELINE: TOKYO, JAPAN

BODY:
(NB) -- By Martyn Williams, Newsbytes. This is a roundup of the top telecommunications, computer and technology news of the week from around Asia. Newsbytes subscribers can access the full text of each story using the URLs provided.

China - Internet User Charged With Subversion

China arrested and charged a software engineer with subversion after he supplied e-mail addresses to an American-based pro-reform magazine, said two Hong Kong-based human rights groups, The Information Center of Human Rights, and Democratic Movement in China. Lin Hai, 30, was arrested in April after providing a list of 30,000 Chinese e-mail addresses to a US-based pro-democracy magazine and Web site. Full Story: http://www.newsbytes.com/asia/115801.html

Japan / UK - BT Japanese Venture Awarded Type-1 License

More evidence that the Japanese communications landscape is changing. BT's Japan joint venture, BT Communications Services Ltd. (BTCS), received a type-1 carrier license from Japan's Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MPT). The license allows the company to install and operate its own network rather than be restricted to leasing space from other carriers. It plans to build a fiber optic ring in central Tokyo next year and directly connect into corporations. Full Story: http://www.newsbytes.com/asia/115713.html

Hong Kong - Hongkong Telecom To Layoff 270 Staff

Hongkong Telecom admitted rationalization finally knocked on its door. In a short statement, the carrier announced plans to lay off 270 workers "under a current reshaping exercise." It added, "This exercise is part of an overall program to reshape the business and enhance productivity." Full Story: http://www.newsbytes.com/asia/115709.html

Australia - Cisco Looking For Australian Acquisition Targets

After missing out on a bid for JNA, a team at Cisco is understood to be looking for a new acquisition target in Australia. The group, said to be headed by former Cisco Australia MD Richard Freemantle, is scouting for a new target, with some rumors naming Scitec as that target. Full Story: http://www.newsbytes.com/asia/115705.html

Japan - KDD, Teleway Ink Merger Agreement

Japan's largest international telecommunications company, Kokusai Denshin Denwa Co., Ltd., (KDD) and long distance carrier Teleway Japan Corp., have signed a merger agreement. The two companies announced the merger deal, which will take place on December 1, will see 3.33 Teleway shares exchanged for 1 KDD share. Full Story: http://www.newsbytes.com/asia/115739.html

Japan - DDI Says PHS Business Adding Customers

Just when you thought it was faltering... DDI told Newsbytes it was seeing subscriber numbers on its service rise each month, despite a recent downturn in the total number of PHS users. What's more, the executive told us his company expects to turn a profit this year, as NTT Personal and Astel Tokyo continue to lose money. Full Story: http://www.newsbytes.com/asia/115856.html

China - Benhamou Visit To China A Great Success

3Com Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Eric Benhamou's series of high level meetings in China this week were a great success, reported the company. He met with Vice Premier Wu Bangguo to discuss ways to develop the mainland's technology infrastructure, and also met with Zhou Deqiang, the deputy minister of the Ministry of Information Industry. Full Story: http://www.newsbytes.com/asia/115854.html

Japan / US - NEC Reins In Packard Bell NEC With Majority Stake

It had been rumored even since the high profile departure of Packard Bell NEC founder Beny Alagem a month ago and NEC made it official Friday. NEC will take its shareholding from 49.0 percent to 52.81 percent, taking control of the company but committing itself to the company's "independent management." Full Story: http://www.newsbytes.com/asia/115858.html

Indonesia - Telkom Says Y2K Problem Affects Many Systems

A special Y2K team delivered bad news to Telkom Indonesia. After an analysis of all the company's systems, the team reported a substantial portion of the firm's operating system and equipment are affected by the Year 2000 problem and will require upgrades. Almost all types of systems at the telco are affected, although the firm remains confident problems will be ironed out by the end of next year. Full Story: http://www.newsbytes.com/asia/115848.html

Japan - New Telecom Minister Appointed

Newly elected Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi has appointed his new cabinet, naming Seiko Noda as Posts and Telecommunications minister. At 37, Noda is the youngest member of the new cabinet and one of the few women members. She was previously the Parliamentary vice minister for Posts and Telecommunications. Full Story: http://www.newsbytes.com/asia/115802.html

Japan - Microsoft Launches Japanese Windows 98

It was a month after the US launch but that didn't stop die-hard PC users from queuing at midnight to get their hands on the localized Windows 98. Microsoft arranged for around 200 stores across Japan to open their doors at midnight on Friday evening and IDC later reported the company managed sales of 250,000 copies in the first two days on sale. Full Story: http://www.newsbytes.com/asia/115583.html Full Story: http://www.newsbytes.com/asia/115798.html

Thailand - The SDH Controversy Rumbles On

This week's installment in the Thai SDH soap opera saw the Telephone Organisation of Thailand (TOT) announce it will try to convince the six bid winners of the controversial SDH project to forfeit their right so that the size of the project can be reduced and a new bidding can take place. A government committee said it would clear Communications Minister Suthep Thaugsuban of collusion allegations, blaming the TOT board, and the TOT called for yet another investigation, this time by the Counter Corruption Commission. Full Story: http://www.newsbytes.com/asia/115699.html Full Story: http://www.newsbytes.com/asia/115789.html Full Story: http://www.newsbytes.com/asia/115852.html

Reported By Newsbytes News Network: http://www.newsbytes.com

11:11 CST

(19980731/WIRES ASIA, TELECOM, BUSINESS, LEGAL, GOVT, ONLINE, PC/)

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

TYPE: NEWS

LOAD-DATE: August 3, 1998