Montvale, New Jersey-based Geotek Communications Inc, specialising in radio communications for small and medium-sized companies using spread spectrum Frequency Hopping Multiple Access technology, has retained IBM Corp to build its integrated speech and data network under a $40m multi-year contract. IBM will provide turnkey site construction and project management services for about 200 Geotek base stations across the US. Geotek will find and lease sites, and will then turn them over to IBM, which will manage the construction and installation of base stations at multiple sites concurrently. Over the next three years, Geotek plans to bring its frequency hopping network to 36 major urban markets in the US. The technology is claimed to minimise the n umber of base stations needed for given coverage. Separately, Vanguard Cellular Systems Inc and the Toronto Dominion Investments subsidiary of Toronto Dominion Bank agreed in principle to invest $10m in Geotek, buying 7.5% convertible preferred stock.
