Internet, Polar Regions: Iridium is now providing the satellite data links for an e-mail solution serving the passengers and crew of MV Polar Star, an expedition cruise ship that specialises in excursions from Antarctica to the Arctic.

GSM, India: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL; www.bsnl.in) has awarded Nokia (www.nokia.com) a comprehensive GSM/EDGE and GPRS network expansion project in Northern India.

Billing Systems, Cayman Islands: Convergent billing specialist Cerillion Technologies (www.cerillion.com) will be supplying Caymanone with a complete CRM and billing solution for its local telecoms network in the Cayman Islands.

Networks, Bulgaria: Huawei (www.Huawei.com) is set to provide end-to-end Next Generation Network (NGN) and Multi-service Access Network (MSAN) solutions for the upgrading of Bulgarian Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) nationwide fixed-line network.

Mobiles, Brazil:  Vivo (www.vivo.com.br), South America’s largest mobile telephone carrier, has commissioned Motorola to expand its CDMA network, including additional Motorola SoftSwitches, and expansion of its CDMA 3G EV-DO high-speed mobile service.

Satellite, Latin America, Caribbean:  E-Link Americas, a not-for-profit corporation established to promote connectivity for social and economic development in Latin America and the Caribbean, has selected Nera to supply broadband satellite equipment.

Multimedia, Asia, Vietnam:  Vietnam’s largest mobile operator, GPC (VinaPhone), has selected Comverse’s Multimedia Messaging Service Centre (MMSC) and Mobile Data Gateway (MDG) to provide expanded multimedia and video messaging services.

WAP/multimedia, Eastern Europe, Ukraine: Ukraine’s latest mobile network operator life:) has launched Mobile Internet access over WAP and Multimedia Messaging Services. Jataayu Software's WAP Gateway and Telenity's Canvas family of IP based products and applications are the power behind this commercial development.

Environment, Asia, China: Five major China water resource utilities are establishing critical, real-time flood control monitoring and drought relief systems to protect against the loss of life from the catastrophic floods that hit China each year during the annual rainy season.

Billing, Russia, Kazakhstan:  Vimpelcom has signed a multi-million dollar agreement with Intec Telecom Systems for state of the art online and offline mediation across its mobile network.

Billing, Africa, Nigeria:  Medallion Communications, a newly launched interconnect clearing house for all telecommunications service providers in Nigeria, has commissioned Intec Telecom Systems to provide a combined interconnect transiting switch and interconnect settlement scheme under one platform.