But together, along with other recent telecom failures and those still likely to occur, they represent one of the most spectacular investment debacles ever.
And while recent telecom consolidation has shrunk the number of major nationwide wireless carriers–such as Sprint's merger last year with Nextel today's phone buyers have myriad new choices for service, and there's something for everyone, from gamers to seniors.
Mr Jackson at first withheld support for several huge recent telecoms and media mergers, including SBC-Ameritech, CBS-Viacom, TCI-AT&T and GTE-Bell Atlantic, demanding that they do more for minorities.
Recent purchases: telecom-switch vendor CopperCom, bankrupt steelmaker Ivaco.
In recent weeks France Telecom has written off euro10.2 billion ($9 billion), KPN of the Netherlands euro12.4 billion, and Deutsche Telekom euro15.2 billion.
Now Mr Obermann is under even greater pressure to expand abroad after Telefónica's recent investment in Telecom Italia, and he may try to buy France Télécom's mobile subsidiary in the Netherlands.Bring it onBut Mr Obermann's handling of the strike will be the greatest test of his leadership.
Back in Nepal, Chaudhary's recent investments include telecom and hydropower.
In the wake of the recent Global Crossing bankruptcy, telecom investors have grown fearful that aggressive accounting practices may have led to overstated results for some firms.
In fact it shouldn't seem all that unlikely: these things are already happening.In recent years the telecoms business has demonstrated that when deregulation and innovation, strong forces in their own right, come together, the results can be startling.
He was by far the most radical of Mexico's recent rulers privatising banks, telecoms and other industries, institutionalising open trade with the United States through NAFTA, ending land reform, decentralising power, loosening controls on the media.
In recent months the telecoms company, which operates landlines, has halved its workforce.In a rare press conference during Mr Harper's visit, Mr Préval likened his country to a "small sailboat" which is "likely to be damaged by a wind that is not too strong".
