Tel Aviv, Israel-based Geotek Communications Inc has announced plans to create a telecommunications equipment company, which will be based in Montvale, New Jersey to develop, manufacture and market systems and products based on its FHMA Frequency Hopping Multiple Access digital wireless technology. The company plans to sell Frequency Hopping-based infrastructure, terminals and software applications to mobile radio network operators worldwide. Geotek estimates that the Frequency Hopping equipment business will generate about $400m of business over the next five years. The new equipment company, formerly a division of Geotek, will employ over 200 people in Israel, Canada and the US. The company claims that the demand for integrated digital telecommunications products and services will grow rapidly over the next decade. Analysts estimate the world market for land mobile radio equipment will grow to $6,000m by the year 2000 from $3,500m in 1996, Geotek said. In the months ahead we intend to explore alliances with other leading equipment providers for production, distribution and support, said Michael McVoy, Geotek chief financial officer. Geotek’s Frequency Hopping Multiple Access technology, like many of the hardware and software offerings from young Israeli companies, was originally developed for, and used by, the Israeli military.
