BellSouth Corp has finally confirmed that its Mobile Data Inc unit has joined forces with France Telecom Mobiles International SA to build and operate a mobile data network in Belgium: the partnership, RAM Mobile Data Belgium SCS, will invest over $50m to build the network and service is scheduled to start in Brussels early next year; the Belgian venture is the first non-government agency to win a nationwide licence to provide telecommunications services and will use Mobitex mobile data technology developed by L M Ericsson Telefon AB and Telia AB an intelligent network technology that uses land-based packet-switched radio systems.
