The Orbitel Ltd joint venture between Racal Electronics and Plessey Co, teamed with L M Ericsson – and likely GEC Plc and Siemens as well – and the Alcatel-led consortium with Nokia of Finland and AEG of West Germany, will face a third force in the battle to develop and sell equipment for the proposed pan European digital cellular telephone system. Three West German based groups, the Telenorma arm of Robert Bosch, the ANT news agency and electronics firm, and the West German subsidiary of Philips NV have decided to join forces to create a third consortium – and are likely to seek other partners. Motorola Inc, a major player in the pre-sent analogue generation of cellular equipment, is still without a home but may decide to go it alone.