Monday, December 11, 2000		Lens on IT

Focus on ITU Telecom Asia 2000

A China Mobile Ltd attendant greets Delsey Manyaka, a delegate from South Africa's Department of Communications, at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Telecom Asia 2000 (Dec 4 to 9) in Hong Kong . China's telecommunications industry will grow by 20 per cent every year till 2005, the head of China's Ministry of Information Industry Wu Jichuan said.

A representative from Ericsson introduces mobile Internet service at the ITU Telecom Asia 2000. Telecoms executives and regulators from Asia and elsewhere converged in the territory for a massive industry gathering at a time when the sector that once promised limitless opportunity is in a state of shell-shock.

A Chinese delegate looks at mobile phones displayed by Motorola at the ITU Telecom Asia 2000.

Intel Corp president and chief executive Craig Barrett speaks at a news conference following his keynote speech at Telecom Asia 2000 in Hong Kong on December 5, 2000. Chipmaker Intel Corp said it was expanding its investments in startup technology companies, even as most stock market investors are running the other way.

Models from Japanese company Sanyo distribute souveniers at Telecom Asia 2000 on December 5.

A Singapore Telecommunications Ltd (SingTel) representative browses a Web page of Lycos Asia, part of SingTel's investments, at Telecom Asia 2000 on December 5, 2000. SingTel said it would be interested in any of British Telecommunications Plc's Asian assets that it puts up for sale, including its 20 per cent interest in Hong Kong's SmarTone Telecommunications Holdings.

— Reuters photos