4.30 We reviewed the progress achieved by the joint venture in commercially exploiting the Agency's expertise, although the short period of time the international division has been operating is too short to make firm judgements about its success.
4.31 Expressions of interest in the services offered by the joint venture company have been greater than the Agency expected and Radio Spectrum International have tendered for over 40 projects. Many of these come from developing countries and the provision of funding is often difficult, delaying the securing of contracts. The demand for services offered has been helped by the growth in mobile telephone usage world-wide and the need for more effective management of the radio spectrum to ensure that network providers can deliver a proper service.
4.32 By March 2000 Radio Spectrum International had won four consultancy contracts with overseas organisations. Two projects, in Russia and Greece, have been completed and work is in progress on projects in Egypt and India. Three detailed proposals have been submitted for work in the Gulf States. The marketing and sales efforts mean that losses are still being made (see Figure 15). The business case assumed that six contracts would be obtained for the supply of consultancy services by March 2000 but also that a contract would be won for the supply of IT systems, the most likely element to generate significant profits.