Press Clippings: April 2007
Major Industry items you might have missed
Monday, April 30, 2007
FIPB approves Vodafone takeover of Hutchison Essar.
Source: TeleGeography.
India’s Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) has given the all clear to Vodafone’s planned acquisition of 67% of cellco Hutchison Essar. The key regulatory approval will give Vodafone the much-awaited entry into the expanding telecommunications market with a customer base topping 26m. and growing fast in a country with over 150m. wireless subscribers.
Posted by Judith — 4:55 AM
Telefonica wins battle for control of Telecom Italia.
Source: Independent.
Telefonica, Europe’s second-largest telecoms company, has won the protracted and bitter race for control of Telecom Italia. The Spanish company has teamed up with a consortium of Italian banks, agreeing to pay EUR4.1bn. (GBP2.8bn.) for an 18% controlling stake in Telecom Italia.
Posted by Judith — 4:48 AM
BT/Microsoft pitch to small business.
Source: Scotsman.
BT has unveiled the latest stage in its growing collaboration with software giant Microsoft with a roll-out of products aimed at small firms.
A television and online advertising campaign will push products including new ‘plug and play’ VoIP applications, web and video conferencing, and what BT describes as total broadband products.
Posted by Judith — 4:33 AM
Cheaper calls for China’s mobile phone users.
Source: BWCS.
China’s consumers may soon have their desire for mobile phones boosted further if operators push ahead with plans to remove charges for incoming calls, currently levied on their customers. The plan would come into effect in two years time and would force mobile companies to change their business model in the world’s largest mobile market.
Posted by Judith — 4:32 AM
Google & China Telecom form online advertising alliance.
Source: TeleGeography.
Google has signed an agreement with China Telecom to sell online advertising on 400 of its websites. The deal gives Google access to China Telecom’s network of websites that provide local business directories and other services. This is the third partnership Google has formed with a Chinese carrier over the past year as it seeks to boost its presence in the People’s Republic.
Posted by Judith — 4:19 AM
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Telefonica loses Swiss 3G licence.
Source: TeleGeography.
Nordic Wireless Watch is reporting that Spanish operator Telefonica has lost its Swiss UMTS licence, because it never used it. The company failed to invest in any infrastructure, as required by the terms of its concession issued by the Swiss Communications Commission. Telefonica’s subsidiary 3Q Mobile bought the licence in 2000 for CHF50m. (US$41m.).
Posted by Judith — 4:37 AM
Friday, April 27, 2007
StarHub joins consortium to build Asia-US submarine cable link.
Source: TeleGeography.
Singaporean telecoms firm StarHub has joined a consortium made up of 17 companies - including AT&T, India’s Bharti, BT Global Network Services, the Government of Brunei Darussalam, PT Indosat, Telstra, Telkom Indonesia and Telekom Malaysia - to build a high-bandwidth optical fibre submarine cable system linking the Southeast Asia region directly to the US. It is estimated the project, called the Asia-America Gateway (AAG), will cost about US$500m. and will be operational by the fourth quarter of 2008.
Posted by Judith — 5:16 AM
Mobile phone giants accused of ‘crippling’ free voice start-up.
Source: Independent.
A telecoms row has broken out after a fledgling start-up provider of free voice calls over the internet accused mobile phone giants of crippling its service.
Truphone, which was launched in September, is claiming that Vodafone and Orange have released a version of the Nokia N95 mobile phone handset with its VoIP capability disabled.
Posted by Judith — 4:14 AM
Maroc Telecom’s new Morocco-France link completed.
Source: TeleGeography.
French infrastructure provider Alcatel-Lucent has completed the rollout of Maroc Telecom’s new submarine cable network linking Asilah in northwest Morocco with Marseille, France. The Atlas Offshore cable was built under a US$34m. turnkey contract awarded to Alcatel-Lucent in July 2006.
Posted by Judith — 4:11 AM
Thursday, April 26, 2007
FCC seeks more comment on airwaves auction.
Source: Reuters.
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has decided to seek more public comment on how the sale of valuable wireless airwaves will work, a move that could delay the start of the auction.
The airwaves are considered so valuable that they are seen as the last opportunity for new players to enter the wireless market.
Posted by Judith — 4:40 AM
India to let foreign companies bid for 3G licenses.
Source: Reuters.
It has been reported that India plans to allow new international players to bid in auctions for 3G mobile licenses.
3G mobile telephone services are likely to be launched in India in the second half of 2007.
Posted by Judith — 4:34 AM
Weather Investments completes TIM Hellas takeover.
Source: TeleGeography.
Greek mobile operator TIM Hellas Telecommunications has announced the completion of the 100% takeover of its parent holding company Hellas Telecommunications (Luxembourg) by Weather Investments, the telecoms holding vehicle of Egyptian tycoon Naguib Sawiris.
Posted by Judith — 4:06 AM
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Vonage wins court stay in Verizon patent battle.
Source: Reuters.
Internet phone company Vonage won a legal victory that sent its shares sharply higher when a U.S. appeals court ruled that the company can continue signing up new customers while it appeals a patent infringement ruling.
Posted by Judith — 4:26 AM
Mobile banking interest waning.
Source: Telecoms.com.
Consumer interest in mobile banking remains limited in the US, despite renewed efforts on the part of financial institutions to drive awareness.
research shows that just 8% of online consumers who own a cell phone are interested in using mobile browsing to check account balances.
Posted by Judith — 4:23 AM
O2 offers cash instead of phone upgrades.
Source: Telecoms.com.
UK carrier O2 has announced that it will offer customers up to GBP100 if they opt to hang onto their old handset instead of upgrading when their contract is up for renewal.
The move is being billed as an environmental initiative aimed at reducing individuals’ carbon footprints.
But if successful, it is unlikely the idea will be such a winner with the handset manufacturing community.
Posted by Judith — 4:09 AM
BT shake-up puts Green in pole position as successor to Verwaayen.
Source: Independent.
BT has reorganised its management and structure in a move that sparked speculation over who may succeed Ben Verwaayen at the top.
The company is to create two new divisions, moving some 20,000 staff into BT Design and BT Operate, which will be headed by Andy Green, now chief executive of BT Global Services. He will take on the title CEO group strategy and operations.
Posted by Judith — 4:03 AM
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Time Warner broadband deal to allow users to share access.
Source: NYT.
In a victory for a small Wi-Fi start-up called Fon, Time Warner will let its home broadband customers turn their connections into public wireless access spots, a practice shunned by most Internet service providers in the US.
For Fon, which has forged similar agreements with service producers across Europe, the deal will bolster its credibility with American consumers..
Posted by Judith — 4:34 AM
Big three win Russian 3G licences.
Source: Telecoms.com.
Russia’s top three mobile operators, Mobile TeleSystems (MTS), VimpelCom and MegaFon, won licences to operate 3G services in the country on Friday.
In accordance with the licensing conditions, the winning companies are required to begin commercial 3G services within two years of receiving the licence.
Posted by Judith — 4:29 AM
Carphone Warehouse launches in the US.
Source: BWCS.
UK high street mobile retail group Carphone Warehouse has today officially launched its assault on the US market. The company, which has partnered with US electronics retailer Best Buy, said it would take on the American market with a “rapid roll-out” of shops.
The two companies first agreed to the partnership back in September 2006, since then they have operated a trial in selected stores stateside.
Posted by Judith — 4:13 AM
Cloud opens over City.
Source: BWCS.
UK WiFi enabler The Cloud has launched its “blanket coverage” of the City of London financial district. The Cloud says it is targeting consumers, business users and local municipal staff with a WiFi service that relies on mesh wireless technology embedded in lampposts, signs and other “street furniture”.
Posted by Judith — 4:11 AM
Monday, April 23, 2007
Vodafone happy with US position.
Source: TeleGeography.
Vodafone Group has re-affirmed its commitment to the US market, where it holds a 45% stake in the second largest cellular operator in terms of customers, Verizon Wireless. There has been growing speculation that Vodafone is considering exiting the US market.
Posted by Judith — 5:28 AM
Three wireline winners.
Source: TeleGeography.
The Saudi government has selected three firms to run national fixed line operators in competition with incumbent telco STC. Consortia led by Batelco of Bahrain, Verizon Communications of the US and Hong Kong’s PCCW have won initial approval from the country’s telecoms regulator, the Communications and Information Technology Commission. Their applications must now pass to the Council of Ministers for final approval.
Posted by Judith — 4:48 AM
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Mobile phone shipments slow.
Source: Scotsman.
Growth in global mobile phone shipments slowed in the first three months of 2007.
A total 252m. handsets were shipped in the first quarter, 12% up on a year earlier. This was the first quarter in two years in which the annual rate of growth has been below 20%.
Posted by Judith — 5:08 AM
AT&T zaps Cingular for business.
Source: Telecoms.com.
AT&T’s separate mobile and fixed brands are at an end, at least as far as businesses are concerned. Since the merger late last year, it has been the company’s policy to mash its assorted logos into the AT&T name, with the Cingular Wireless mobile brand being first on the list.
Now, the first steps have been taken. For enterprise customers, all the company’s products will now be marketed as AT&T.
In a related step, AT&T’s enterprise VPN service will now be available over WLAN or Cingular mobile radio links - until now, it was a fixed-only product.
Posted by Judith — 5:02 AM
Friday, April 20, 2007
BT to acquire Comsat International.
Source: BTplc.
BT has announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Comsat International, a leading provider of data communication services for corporations and public sector organisations in Latin America.
Posted by Judith — 4:51 AM
Blackberry reveals failure cause.
Source: BBC.
The maker of the Blackberry wireless e-mail device says an insufficiently tested software upgrade was the cause of this week’s network failure.
Blackberry’s US and North American users lost their service on Tuesday and Wednesday as a result of the problem.
RIM said it was now looking to improve its testing and recovery processes to prevent such an outage happening again.
There are about eight million Blackberry users around the world.
Posted by Judith — 4:49 AM
Ericsson Supplies IMS to China Netcom.
Source: Converge.
China Netcom’s Beijing division (Beijing Netcom) has selected Ericsson to supply an IMS-based multimedia network in Beijing. Under the deal, Ericsson will be the sole supplier of the IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) system for Beijing Netcom.
Beijing Netcom is planning to use the IMS solution to introduce a host of new multimedia services that combine voice, data, audio and video in time for the Olympic Games in 2008.
Posted by Judith — 4:27 AM
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Motorola settles Telsim lawsuit.
Source: TeleGeography.
Motorola, the world’s second largest mobile handset manufacturer, has agreed a settlement of US$190m. in a class action lawsuit related to investments in Turkish mobile operator Telsim between February 2000 and May 2001. Shareholders of the US vendor alleged that it misled them about its business dealings with Telsim (which is now owned by the UK’s Vodafone Group).
Posted by Judith — 3:08 PM
Spain sells off UK emergency network
Source: BWCS.
As expected Spanish-based telecoms giant Telefonica has sold its UK emergency services mobile data network, known as O2 Airwave, to Australian investment bank Macquarie. The Spaniards were happy to accept EUR2.98bn. (GBP2.02bn.) for the network which has some 150,000 users and transmits signals via a system of 30,000 masts covering 99% of the UK.
Posted by Judith — 3:02 PM
AT&T touts success in internet TV service.
Source: FT.com.
AT&T, the largest US telecommunications group, trumpeted its success signing up an additional 15,000 video subscribers to its IPTV service so far this year.
US telecommunications companies, like their European counterparts, view the video market as a potentially strong growth area that will help them offset the decline in their traditional voice business and counter the attack from cable TV companies which have begun to offer cut-price Internet telephony services.
Posted by Judith — 2:29 AM
Blackberry says system restored.
Source: BBC.
The maker of the Blackberry wireless e-mail device says it has restored the service to “most” of its North American users following a network failure.
Some US and Canadian users will still experience delays until the backlog of undelivered e-mails clears.
But with eight million global users, some analysts have questioned whether the network has reached capacity.
Posted by Judith — 2:23 AM
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Motorola drops lawsuit against BSNL: Ericsson and Nokia celebrate.
Source: TeleGeography.
It is reported that Motorola has withdrawn the lawsuit it had filed against BSNL, which challenged its disqualification in a 45.5m. lines tender issued by BSNL. Motorola’s petition had resulted in BSNL being unable to place any orders pursuant to its tender, until such time as the case had been heard in court. Motorola added that it considered BSNL a valued customer and looks forward to continued partnerships with the company.
The end of litigation is good news for Ericsson and Nokia, which are the principal beneficiaries of the US$5bn.contract.
Posted by Judith — 5:30 AM
BT to launch as MVNO in Italy.
Source: BWCS.
Following its recent decision to become an MVNO in Spain, BT has announced plans to do the same in Italy. The UK fixed line operator has signed a deal with Vodafone which will supply the network backbone and airtime for BT Italia to resell.
In what the pair describe as a “long-term deal”, BT Italia says it will be the first mobile operator in Italy to solely target business customers.
Posted by Judith — 5:04 AM
Bell Canada considers privatization.
Source: Converge.
BCE, the holding company that includes Bell Canada, Telesat Canada and an interest in Bell Globemedia, is reviewing its strategic alternatives with a view to further enhancing shareholder value.
Specifically, BCE is holding discussions with a group of leading Canadian pension funds to explore the possibility of taking the publicly-traded company private.
Posted by Judith — 4:20 AM
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
AT&T drops offer to invest in Italian phone company.
Source: NYT.
AT&T on Monday withdrew its offer to buy a stake in the company that controls Telecom Italia, the largest Italian telecommunications company, for about EUR2bn.(US$2.7bn.)
In a terse statement, AT&T did not give any reason for the decision to pull back its offer to buy a third of the controlling company, Olimpia.
Posted by Judith — 4:39 AM
Vonage future in doubt.
Source: Telecoms.
The VoIP firm Vonage, this weekend confirmed that it has no workaround to deal with the recent Verizon patent spat.
The company said in a file, submitted to the courts on Friday, that the Verizon patents cover such a breadth of technology, it is not sure a workaround is feasible.
Posted by Judith — 4:26 AM
Deutsche Telekom looking for T-Systems partner.
Source: TeleGeography.
DT is hoping to find a partner for its IT services unit T-Systems. In particular, Deutsche Telekom is looking for a partner for T-Systems’ enterprise services division, which provides IT services to multi-national companies and public sector clients. In the past, French groups Atos Origin and CapGemini and US-based EDS have all been mooted as possible partners for T-Systems.
Posted by Judith — 4:23 AM
Big Two to work together on mobile TV.
Source: BWCS.
Samsung and Nokia have announced a scheme that will see them work together on greater interoperability for their mobile TV devices. Both companies today announced the deal which will see them co-operate on DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcast - Handheld) enabled mobile devices and the open standards based Nokia network services system.
Posted by Judith — 4:16 AM
China Netcom enters Japan.
Source: TeleGeography.
China Network Communications Group Corp (China Netcom) has opened a Japanese subsidiary which will sell bandwidth on its infrastructure between the two countries to internet providers and telcos. China’s second-largest fixed line telco also plans to offer data communications services to Japanese firms that operate in China. The move makes China Netcom the first major Chinese carrier to enter the Japanese telecommunications market.
Posted by Judith — 4:06 AM
Australian operator kills NZ network.
Source: BWCS.
The chances of third mobile network being constructed in New Zealand tumbled yesterday after TelstraClear said it was canceling its planned US$50m. high-speed backbone. The Australian operator claimed the project - which it had dubbed “Unplugged” - would no longer have been viable after its rival Vodafone made a last-minute change to the roaming agreement drawn up between the two.
Posted by Judith — 3:54 AM
Monday, April 16, 2007
Google, Clear Channel in U.S. radio ads deal.
Source: Telecoms.com.
Web search leader Google Inc. has broken into radio with a multi-year advertising sales agreement with the largest U.S. broadcaster, Clear Channel Radio, the companies have announced.
The deal, long anticipated by the radio industry, marks the progress Google is making as it expands into offline media, not just in radio, but also television and newspapers.
Posted by Judith — 4:15 AM
Broadband challenge faces Britain.
Source: BBC.
Time is running out to get the UK in shape to cope with the next wave of net use.
Tough decisions on how to encourage telecoms firms to build faster networks must be made within two years, warns the Broadband Stakeholder Group.
Posted by Judith — 4:09 AM
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Google to pay US$3.1 bn. for DoubleClick ad business.
Source: Reuters.
Google Inc. has announced it would pay US$3.1bn. for Web ad supplier DoubleClick Inc., its biggest acquisition, accelerating a push into the graphic ad market led by Yahoo Inc.
The juggernaut of Web search-based advertising beat suitors Microsoft Corp. and Yahoo in the final stages. Time Warner Inc.’s AOL online unit had earlier considered a bid.
Posted by Judith — 4:38 AM
Sun finally sets on SavaJe.
Source: Telecoms.com.
Sun Microsystems has announced an agreement to acquire the intellectual property assets of SavaJe, the Java-based mobile operating system developer.
Posted by Judith — 4:33 AM
Friday, April 13, 2007
Nickelodeon, Kajeet buddy up to offer mobile content for kids.
Source: TeleGeography.
US content company Nickelodeon has signed a deal with tween-dedicated US pay-as-you-go mobile service provider Kajeet to deliver ringtones, wallpaper and games based on Nickelodeon shows, including The Rugrats, The Fairly OddParents and SpongeBob SquarePants. Kajeet plans to roll out the nationwide service next month using its own brand handsets.
Posted by Judith — 5:49 AM
Bell and TELUS apply for local deregulation across the country.
Source: TeleGeography.
Bell Canada, Bell Aliant and TELUS Communications have all applied to the telecoms regulator, the CRTC, for the right to offer deregulated local telephony services in key cities across Canada, ahead of the introduction of new rules on 18 April allowing local incumbents to set their own tariffs
Posted by Judith — 5:46 AM
Virgin Media hauls BSkyB into court.
Source: TeleGeography.
Virgin Media has begun legal action against BSkyB for alleged anti-competitive behaviour. Virgin Media, formed by the three-way merger of Virgin Mobile and cable operators ntl and Telewest, is reported to have filed proceedings in the High Court under the UK’s Competition Act and the European Commission treaty, which prohibit a company from abusing its dominant position. The company said it was resorting to legal action after Sky rejected an offer to solve the dispute through arbitration by an independent expert.
Posted by Judith — 5:03 AM
EU votes in favour of roaming cap.
Source: Telecoms.com.
A committee of the European Parliament has backed proposals to cap roaming charges for mobile calls made abroad, voting in favour of a Eur40 cents (US$.54) per minute ceiling for an outgoing call and Eur15 cents (US$.20) per minute for an incoming call.
With Thursday’s vote over, the proposal will be put in front of the full EU assembly in May which will decide whether a cap on roaming charges should be automatic, or require customers to request it from their operators.
Posted by Judith — 4:53 AM
NZ to re-auction ‘some’ mobile spectrum in sector shake-up.
Source: TeleGeography.
The government of New Zealand says it plans to re-auction some under-used spectrum rights in the 800MHz and 900MHz bands to third-party entrants, in a bid to loosen the de facto duopoly of Vodafone and Telecom in the country’s mobile market.
Posted by Judith — 4:50 AM
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Carphone walks away from Pipex, leaving BT as sole suitor?
Source: TeleGeography.
The auction for Pipex, the UK’s sixth-largest broadband provider, has been left hanging in the balance after Carphone Warehouse, the mobile phone and broadband retailer, was understood to have dropped out of the bidding. Carphone’s withdrawal appears to leave rival BT as the sole interested party for Pipex, after earlier interest from potential bidders including BSkyB and Virgin Media.
Posted by Judith — 5:35 AM
Big banks confirm TI interest.
Source: Telecoms.com.
Two of Italy’s largest banks, Intesa Sanpaolo and merchant bank Mediobanca, have confirmed reports they were in talks with other investors regarding the acquisition of a stake in Olimpia, Telecom Italia’s largest shareholder.
The appearance of the banks is seen as a move to counter interest by US operator AT&T and Mexican partner, America Movil.
Posted by Judith — 5:30 AM
US Starcom inks telecom agreement with AT&T (Guatemala).
Source: TeleGeography.
US Starcom today announced that it has signed a carrier agreement with AT&T (Guatemala) for service to several countries in Central and South America.
Posted by Judith — 5:29 AM
Nortel to supply RFF with telecoms equipment.
Source: Digital Media Europe.
Réseau Ferré de France (RFF), owner and operator of the French rail network, has selected Nortel as the exclusive supplier of telecommunications equipment for its national railway network under a public-private partnership.
Posted by Judith — 5:11 AM
Mobile application specialist Tanla launches Irish operation.
Source: TeleGeography.
Mobile applications developer Tanla Mobile has expanded its activities to the Irish telecoms market via revenue sharing agreements for mobile payments and messaging with the country’s four incumbent operators 3 (Hutchison 3G), O2, Meteor and Vodafone.
Posted by Judith — 5:00 AM
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Vonage continues adding customers under emergency stay of injunction.
Source: Converge.
A U.S. District Court in Virginia has issued an injunction against Vonage effective April 12 that bars Vonage from acquiring new customers during its appeal in its VoIP patent dispute with Verizon.
In response, Vonage filed for and received an emergency stay of the injunction from the Federal Circuit. Vonage said the stay enables it to continue to sign up new customers until the Appellate court can hear Vonage’s request for a permanent stay. The Court’s ruling also allows Vonage to continue to provide phone service to existing customers.
Posted by Judith — 5:14 AM
Viacom enters search deal with Yahoo.
Source: The Globe and Mail.
Media conglomerate Viacom Inc. has announced that it has chosen Yahoo Inc. to provide search advertising for 33 of its Internet sites in a high-profile boost to Yahoo’s new Web ad system.
The system, dubbed Project Panama, is seen as a key test of Yahoo’s ability to offer advertisers a competing technology to that of Web search leader Google Inc.
Posted by Judith — 4:40 AM
VSNL partners with Microsoft for messaging/collaboration service for mobile operators .
Source: Converge.
VSNL, the international arm of Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited, has introduced a global, white label “ReadyAccess” messaging solution for Mobile Network Operators.
VSNL is using a custom-designed, hosted Microsoft Exchange solution to enable MNOs with the ability to offer business messaging and collaboration solution with push-email connectivity in a cost effective manner.
Posted by Judith — 4:29 AM
Datang and Alcatel-Lucent to supply TD-SCDMA for China mobile .
Source: Converge.
Datang Mobile and Alcatel Shanghai Bell have been selected to provide TD-SCDMA network solutions to China Mobile as part of China Mobile’s TD-SCDMA trial network expansion program.
Posted by Judith — 4:27 AM
Ericsson to supply Vodafone with all spares.
Source: BWCS.
UK-based global mobile operator Vodafone has signed up Swedish equipment vendor Ericsson in a spare parts deal for its European networks. Under the terms of the new accord, the Stockholm-based supplier will be responsible for the management and distribution of spares for all of Vodafone’s major European systems, including those in Portugal, Spain and Germany.
Posted by Judith — 4:19 AM
Virgin stations in console tie-up.
Source: BBC.
Virgin Radio and its digital networks have launched on the Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 3 games consoles, and claim to be the first UK stations to do so.
Users of the hardware will be able to access a customised Virgin “player” on their console’s web browser.
As well as linking to radio output, the system also offers videos and exclusive session recordings, as well as concert tickets, CDs and tracks for download.
Posted by Judith — 4:16 AM
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
ZTE wins 3G contract.
Source: TeleGeography.
It is reported that China’s largest telecoms equipment vendor ZTE has won an order from China Mobile to roll out a TD-SCDMA-based 3G network. ZTE is reported to have gained orders worth about CNY3.2bn. (US$414m.).
China Mobile’s contracts are a sign that China is finally inching towards the introduction of 3G wireless services. ZTE is widely expected to be the largest supplier of the equipment, with Huawei predicted to be a close second. Nokia, Ericsson, Alcatel-Lucent, Shanghai Bell, Datang Telecom Technology & Industry Group and TD Tech, a venture between Siemens Communications Group and Huawei, are also reported to have submitted bids to supply equipment.
Posted by Judith — 4:28 AM
Italian Minister wants network separation.
Source: TeleGeography.
Italy’s communications minister says he is proposing a new law which will require Telecom Italia (TI) to separate its retail and networks operations. Paolo Gentiloni says the move would give the country’s telecoms watchdog Agcom more scope to regulate the fixed network, while TI’s retail division will be freed to introduce a wider range of wireline products without fear of being blocked on competition grounds.
Posted by Judith — 3:38 AM
Monday, April 9, 2007
NextWave Buys TD-CDMA Vendor - IPWIreless
Source: Cellular News
NextWave Wireless has announced that it is paying $100 million to buy privately-held, IPWireless, which is widely recognized as a foremost supplier of TD-CDMA network equipment and subscriber terminals
Posted by Penny — 12:19 PM
SKorea’s SK Telecom sees free cash flow at US ops turning positive by 2009
Source: Forbes
SK Telecom Co said it expects free cash flow at Helio, a joint venture with EarthLink Inc of the US, to turn positive by 2009.
Posted by Penny — 12:16 PM
Silicon Valley moneymen make a play for airwaves.
Source: NYT.
Some of Silicon Valley’s most powerful venture capitalists and technology investors have joined an investment group that is preparing to challenge cellphone carriers, cable and satellite companies for valuable radio spectrum that will be freed when television broadcasters convert to digital signals.
The plan is being put forth by Frontline Wireless, formed earlier this year by Reed E. Hundt, the former Federal Communications Commission chairman.
Posted by Judith — 4:58 AM
Japan’s KDDI to provide cellphone service in U.S.
Source: Reuters.
Japan’s KDDI Corp. has announced that it aims to offer a cellphone service in the United States using a network operated by Sprint Nextel Corp.
KDDI, the second-biggest mobile phone operator in Japan after NTT DoCoMo Inc., aims to cater to mainly Japanese customers in the United States.
Japanese operators have been eyeing new sources of revenue abroad as they expect slower subscriber growth in the saturated home market.
Posted by Judith — 4:54 AM
Friday, April 6, 2007
Sony inks content deal with China.
Source: Telecoms.com.
Sony BMG Music Entertainment has signed a deal with content aggregator, GMI, which allows the firm to use Sony’s library of content in China.
GMI will be allowed to licence Sony’s music, videos and other audio content, including ring tones.
Posted by Judith — 5:21 AM
DT must allow NGN access.
Source: Telecoms.com.
The German communications regulator has ruled that DT must allow rival operators access to its next generation network infrastructure.
This week, Bundesnetzagentur, said that rival companies would be able to use Telekom’s new cabling ducts to lay fibre for their own customers.
Posted by Judith — 4:27 AM
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Nokia Siemens Networks wins Pipex WiMAX deal.
Source: TeleGeography.
Pipex Wireless and Nokia Siemens Networks have agreed to co-operate on WiMAX infrastructure and service development to expand the availability of commercial WiMAX services in the UK. Pipex Wireless will use Nokia Siemens Networks’ equipment, services and networking expertise to widen its roll-out of WiMAX powered broadband wireless services nationwide.
Posted by Judith — 5:23 AM
WiFi for US air travellers.
Source: BWCS.
Following the failure of Boeing’s Connexion idea, it appears that US air travellers will soon have access to in-flight WiFi connections. According to reports, airlines across America will start offering in-flight Internet connections within the next 12 months.
An in-cabin Internet service is expected to be launched by AirCell Inc, which won the rights to offer in-the-sky services in last July’s US radio spectrum auctions.
Posted by Judith — 4:38 AM
Vodafone admits snag in Hutch Essar purchase.
Source: TeleGeography.
Vodafone has admitted that Indian law prevents it from owning all of the 67% in Hutchison Essar that it said in February it was planning to acquire in a controversial US$11.1bn. deal. In a letter to the Indian finance ministry, Vodafone acknowledges that it would be breaching the 74% ceiling on foreign direct investment if it attempted to take direct ownership of all of the stake in the mobile operator.
Posted by Judith — 4:30 AM
Telephone deregulation announced for Canada.
Source: NYT.
Overruling a Parliamentary committee and the national regulator, Canada’s Conservative government has announced that it is largely deregulating the country’s telephone market.
The industry minister said that local markets served by at least three operators with their own networks ‘including existing telephone companies, cable system operators and cellphone service providers’ would be eligible for deregulation after April 18.
Unlike those in the United States, Canada’s telephone companies were never broken into separate local and long-distance operations to alleviate antitrust concerns.
Posted by Judith — 4:27 AM
DT steps in to buy Telecom Italia.
Source: Telecoms.com.
The emerging drama surrounding the sale of Telecom Italia (TI) has intensified as Deutsche Telecom (DT) stepped in with two allies, to rival an existing bid from AT&T and America Movil.
It is reported that the existing deal from the North American duo could value TI, Europe’s fifth-ranked telecoms firm at Eur 4.5bn. (US$6.0bn.)
According to reports, DT has teamed up with banking group Mediobanca and financial and insurance firm,Generali.
Posted by Judith — 4:21 AM
Blyk turns to Orange.
Source: Telecoms.com.
Europe’s first ad-funded mobile service provider, Blyk, has announced that it has signed up Orange as its MVNO partner.
The move is interesting as it is the first MVNO deal for Orange in the UK.
The company has already signed up a handful of major brands, including Buena Vista, Coca-Cola, I-play Mobile Gaming, L’Oreal Paris, StepStone and Yell.com, prior to when the operation launches in the UK this summer.
Posted by Judith — 4:13 AM
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Russia Challenges the U.S. monopoly on satellite navigation
Source: NYT.
The days of their cold war may have passed, but Russia and the United States are in the midst of another battle — this one a technological fight over the United States monopoly on satellite navigation.
By the end of the year the Russian space agency plans to launch eight navigation satellites that would nearly complete the country’s own system, called Glonass.
The system is expected to begin operating over Russian territory and parts of adjacent Europe and Asia, and then go global in 2009 to compete with the Global Positioning System of the United States.
Posted by Judith — 4:54 AM
FCC kills plan to examine use of phones on planes.
Source: Reuters.
The FCC has announced that it has terminated a proceeding that considered the use of cellular phones on airplanes.
The FCC had been examining an existing rule that requires cell phones to be turned off once an aircraft leaves the ground in order to avoid interfering with cellular networks on the ground.
However, after gathering comments from industry and the public, the FCC said there was insufficient technical information on whether cell phones would cause harmful interference.
Posted by Judith — 4:49 AM
EU probes Apple over iTunes prices.
Source: CNN.
The European Commission confirmed Tuesday it had opened an antitrust probe into Apple’s iTunes and the way it sells music online in coordination with major music companies.
The commission alleged distribution agreements Apple has signed with the record labels to sell their music on the iTunes online stores in EU countries “contain territorial sales restrictions which violate” EU competition rules.
Posted by Judith — 4:46 AM
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
MVNOs for All, Says Sonopia.
Source: BWCS.
Start-up mobile technology company Sonopia has started offering branded MVNO services to affiliate groups, clubs and sports teams across the US. The web-based company allows groups, large and small, to band together and launch their own MVNO service - at no cost - via a MySpace-like Web site created by Sonopia.
The company has brokered deals with Verizon Wireless and Vodafone for the airtime which it sells on to its affiliates. Sonopia also provides back-office services and sells the groups handsets.
Posted by Judith — 5:30 AM
FCC imposes rules to prevent pretexting.
Source: C|NET.
The FCC hopes to prevent data burglaries with a set of new regulations for phone companies aimed at preventing the fraudulent practice called “pretexting.”
Specifically, the FCC order prohibits carriers from releasing—either over the phone or online—sensitive personal data, such as call detail records, unless the customer provides a password. It also requires operators to notify customers immediately when changes are made to their accounts. And it requires providers to notify their customers in the event of a breach of confidentiality.
Posted by Judith — 5:26 AM
Broadband kills off consumer ISDN.
Source: BBC.
BT is to withdraw Integrated Digital Services Network (ISDN) services from consumer use later this year.
ISDN proved very popular with people working from home who needed access to data connections faster than available dial-up modem speeds.
Posted by Judith — 5:04 AM
Broadband Britain sees massive increase in users.
Source: Scotsman.
MORE than half of UK adults have broadband at home, according to the latest figures.
It follows a 39% upturn since 2006 and a seven-fold increase over the past four years, the telecoms regulator Ofcom said.
Posted by Judith — 4:40 AM
COOP plans Italy’s first MVNO.
Source: TeleGeography.
The Italian retail chain COOP is teaming up with Telecom Italia Mobile (TIM) to launch the country’s first MVNO. COOP will be reselling capacity on the TIM network under the name COOPVoce.
Posted by Judith — 4:33 AM
Monday, April 2, 2007
AT&T weighs bid in Italy.
Source: NYT.
AT&T has announced that it is in negotiations to buy a major stake in Italy’s largest telecommunications company, Telecom Italia.
The proposal, which expires at the end of April, would give AT&T a one-third stake in Telecom Italia’s holding company, Olimpia, but only if the Mexican wireless company America Movil buys an equal stake. AT&T, based in San Antonio, is an 8 percent owner of America Movil.
Posted by Judith — 4:07 AM
Carphone Warehouse bumps up broadband investment.
Source: TeleGeography.
Carphone Warehouse has announced that it will need to make a further investment of between GBP10-15m. (US$20-30m.) in its broadband division, following delays in switching subscribers over to its own network.
Posted by Judith — 3:38 AM
Optus (Australia) to turn away customers.
Source: TeleGeography.
From 25 June Optus will no longer sell fixed line telephony and broadband services to consumer customers outside the planned range of its own network. The SingTel subsidiary has resold Telstra’s fixed line and ADSL broadband services nationwide for years. However, Optus today said that strategy wasn’t profitable enough, and it preferred to focus on its own fixed networks.
Posted by Judith — 3:11 AM
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