Press Clippings: October 2007
Major Industry items you might have missed
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Cisco teams with Indian outsourcer.
Source: eWeek.
Cisco Systems and Wipro have launched a strategic initiative to combine Cisco’s networking technology with Wipro’s IT outsourcing and managed services.
Together the two companies will develop integrated services based on Cisco technology aimed initially at customers in Africa and the Middle East, although that will expand later to include Europe.
Posted by Judith — 6:37 PM
AT&T to sell rural assets to gain approval for Dobson deal.
Source: TeleGeography.
AT&T has agreed to sell assets in seven markets to win approval for its proposed acquisition of cellular operator Dobson Communications. In three of the markets AT&T and Dobson are the primary competitors, Dow Jones reports, and in two others AT&T has a substantial minority interest in one of Dobson’s rivals. In the final two markets AT&T competes with a licensee of Cellular One, Dobson’s retail brand.
Posted by Judith — 8:53 AM
Google in talks with Verizon Wireless.
Source: Reuters.
Google is reported to be in active talks with mobile carrier Verizon Wireless about putting Google applications on phones it offers.
So far talks between the Web search leader and Verizon Wireless, owned by Verizon Communications and Vodafone Group Plc, revolve around technology and potential business models such as advertising-sponsored services.
Posted by Judith — 4:07 AM
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Hutchison considering 3 Italia sale.
Source: TeleGeography.
The CEO of 3G mobile operator 3 Italia has confirmed that parent company Hutchison Whampoa is considering the sale of a ‘sizeable’ stake in the cellco, with a number of firms, most notably Deutsche Telekom of Germany, said to be interested.
Posted by Judith — 8:28 AM
Mobile operators to invest US$50bn. in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Source: Telecoms.com.
A group of mobile operators have announced a substantial investment drive in the continent’s sub-Saharan region. The GSM Association revealed that a group of carriers including MTN, Orange, Vodacom and Saudi carrier Zain are to plough more than US$50bn. into the region over the next five years in a bid to extend mobile coverage to more than 90% of the area’s population. The project will focus on pushing 2.5 and 3G services into the region, boosting internet access as well as voice and messaging coverage.
Posted by Judith — 5:37 AM
Nokia Siemens Networks to acquire Atrica for carrier ethernet.
Source: Converge.
Nokia Siemens Networks will acquire Atrica, a supplier of Carrier Ethernet solutions for Metropolitan Area Networks, for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition will allow Nokia Siemens Networks to offer end-to-end Carrier Ethernet Transport solutions that reduce the cost and complexity of data-optimized transport networks - from access to the core network.
Atrica has over 40 customers including Orange Business Services, KVH and Optimum LightPath.
Posted by Judith — 5:01 AM
Telecom NZ interconnects IP networks with PCCW.
Source: TeleGeography.
Telecom New Zealand International has signed an IP network interconnection agreement with Hong Kong-based PCCW Global, strengthening Asian IP network coverage for both firms. The deal will allow the two providers to interconnect their respective telecoms networks to supply services to each other.
Posted by Judith — 4:49 AM
Monday, October 29, 2007
Alltel acquisition approved.
Source: TeleGeography.
The FCC has approved the buyout of US cellular operator Alltel by two private equity groups, TPG Capital and GS Capital Partners. Alltel operates the most extensive wireless network in the US, though its rural focus means the company is well behind the country’s major players in terms of its customer base, with around 12.4m. subscribers and a 5% market share at the end of September.
Posted by Judith — 7:15 AM
AT&T scraps St. Louis Wi-Fi network.
Source: TeleGeography.
AT&T has announced that it is scrapping plans to roll out a municipal Wi-Fi network in the US city of St. Louis. AT&T and other firms such as EarthLink and MetroFi have recently pulled the plug on a number of high profile citywide Wi-Fi deployments, including those in Chicago, San Francisco and Houston.
Posted by Judith — 7:13 AM
BT expands Russian footprint with Golden alliance.
Source: Digital Media Europe.
Russian telco Golden Telecom has granted BT access to its backbone network.
BT says that it is expanding its presence in Russia in response to growing numbers of multinational companies taking interest in the region.
Under the agreement, BT will be able to use Golden’s network to extend the scope and reach of its advanced communications services in Russia, while Golden Telecom’s customers will obtain access to BT’s global 21 Century Network.
Posted by Judith — 6:13 AM
Vonage and Verizon settle.
Source: Light Reading.
Shares of Vonage soared nearly 50% this morning after the company wrapped up its second patent dispute in less than a month.
This time, Vonage settled with Verizon agreeing to pay the wireline service provider up to US$120m.
Under the terms of the settlement, the amount Vonage will pay depends on the outcome of an appeal pending in a case it lost against Verizon in March of this year.
Posted by Judith — 5:48 AM
3 launches new Skype mobile phone.
Source: BBC.
Mobile phone provider 3 has launched a new handset that will allow users to make free calls over the internet via telephony service Skype. Users will also be able to use Skype’s instant messaging service.
But while people using Skype on their computers are able to make cheap global calls to any phone number, this will not be possible via the new 3 handset.
Posted by Judith — 4:38 AM
Friday, October 26, 2007
Bell postpones launch of land-line TV service
Source: The Globe and Mail
A month into the new fall television season, there’s one player that’s not on the air. Bell Canada, expected by some to launch its land-line TV service this fall, has reportedly put the long-anticipated project on hold.
Posted by Penny — 1:45 PM
CTIA: Merger creates WAP, SMS local content service
Source: Telephony Online
Wireless local content providers Go2 and 80108 announced at the CTIA Wireless IT & Entertainment show that they will merge to create a unified local content and directory service powered by both mobile Web content and real-time messaging.
Posted by Penny — 1:43 PM
Interop Technologies Secures Deal with MetroPCS for OTA Device Management
Source: TMC Net
Interop Technologies, a provider of advanced wireless technology solutions, has entered into an agreement with MetroPCS to purchase the Interop Over-the-Air Device Management Solution 3.3 for commercial deployment in all of its operating U.S. markets in Q4 2007.
Posted by Penny — 1:40 PM
AT&T’s MediaFlo TV launched delayed
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
AT&T Inc. said Thursday its launch of broadcast television services with Qualcomm Inc. unit MediaFlo USA would be delayed until early 2008 instead of this year.
Posted by Penny — 1:36 PM
Avaya Says Deal To Close Shortly, Sees Faster Growth
Source: Information Week
CEO Louis D’Ambrosio said the company is likely to close its $8.2 billion acquisition by TPG Capital and Silver Lake in the next few days, as planned.
Communications equipment company Avaya (NYSE: AV) said Thursday that its acquisition by private equity funds, due to close shortly, would allow it to spend more on marketing and accelerate its business.
Posted by Penny — 10:24 AM
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Sprint, Alcatel-Lucent introduce security card
Source: Info World
SprintSecure Laptop Guardian is a mobile data card that doubles as a laptop security mechanism
Posted by Penny — 12:43 PM
Skype Goes Mobile
Source: Business Week
Skype’s new cell phone will deliver mobile access to its service. The beleaguered carrier hopes to jump-start revenues overseas.Bit by bit, big names in the computing world are barging into the cell-phone business.
Posted by Penny — 12:38 PM
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Cisco to buy Navini for US$330m.
Source: Globe and Mail.
Cisco Systems Inc. is buying privately held Navini Networks Inc. for US$330m., extending the networking equipment maker’s acquisition streak and providing the latest validation forWiMax.
Cisco, the maker of routers and switches to direct traffic over the Internet, stated that Navini’s technology will help it build high-speed Internet networks deep in emerging markets where traditional Internet infrastructure doesn’t exist or is spotty.
Posted by Judith — 4:45 AM
Microsoft plans to pass wireless auction.
Source: Reuters.
Microsoft Corp has announcedthat it will not participate in an upcoming U.S. mobile phone airwave auction despite speculation that Web rival Google will bid at least US$4.6bn. on the wireless spectrum.
Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer said the company was not interested in the auction for the 700-megahertz spectrum band because it would not advance the company’s strategy to sell mobile phone software to handset makers.
Posted by Judith — 4:37 AM
Verizon Wireless reaches settlement on Internet Plan Marketing.
Source: NYT.
Verizon Wireless has agreed to settle an investigation into the marketing of its Internet plans and reimburse US$1m. to customers for wrongful account termination, the New York attorney general announced yesterday.
The company, which is owned by Verizon Communications and the Vodafone Group, also agreed to pay US$150,000 in penalties and costs to New York State and to revise marketing of its wireless Internet access plans.
Posted by Judith — 4:33 AM
NSN, Deutsche Telekom ink managed services contract.
Source: Digital Media Europe.
Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) and DT have signed a partnership agreement under which NSN will assume control of DT’s personnel service unit and provide managed services for the German telco.
The companies have agreed to make Nokia Siemens Networks a preferred services partner for DT for upcoming outsourcing and managed services projects.
Under the terms of the agreement, NSN will assume control of Vivento Technical Services (VTS) - a division of Vivento, DT’s personnel service provider.
Posted by Judith — 3:52 AM
US panel supports China net laws.
Source: BBC.
A US Congress panel has backed legislation which would prevent internet companies from co-operating with authorities in China.
Laws stopping firms such as Yahoo from revealing personal data to Beijing and other governments were supported by the Foreign Relations Committee.
Under the legislation, companies would also have to reveal terms and phrases they filtered in certain countries.
The bill now needs approval from the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Posted by Judith — 3:16 AM
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Citizens gets approval for Global Valley buy.
Source: TeleGeography.
The US wireline operator Citizens Communications has had its proposed acquisition of Global Valley Networks approved by the Public Utilities Commission in California. The US$62m. deal will add around 15,000 access lines to Citizens’ customer base; it currently claims around 2.6m. fixed access lines in service and 388,000 broadband internet subscribers.
Posted by Judith — 5:56 AM
MobiTV wins long-term agreement to TV on Sprint.
Source: Converge.
MobiTV has announced a multi-year agreement to offer its mobile television and video experience to Sprint customers. Under the deal, Sprint and MobiTV will continue to work together to advance and extend the Sprint TV, Sprint TV Xtra, and Sprint TV en Vivo services to customers throughout the U.S.
Posted by Judith — 4:43 AM
ADC acquires LGC Wireless.
Source: Light Reading.
ADC Telecommunications Inc. is boosting its push into the wireless market with the proposed acquisition of LGC Wireless.
The US$169m. deal would include a US$148.5m. cash offer for all shares of privately held LGC and US$20.5m. to cover LGC’s employee bonuses, LGC’s debts, and some transaction expenses. ADC expects to close the deal in 30 to 90 days.
Posted by Judith — 3:29 AM
Hitachi exits personal computers.
Source: BBC.
Hitachi is pulling out of the sale of personal computers, saying it wants to focus on larger network systems for businesses instead.
The electronics group had been Japan’s eighth-largest PC maker, with its main PC brand being Prius.
Posted by Judith — 3:08 AM
Profits leap forwards for largest mobile operator.
Source: BWCS.
The world’s largest operator, China Mobile, has cheered the mobile industry by announcing soaring profit figures for the three months to the end of September. Third quarter profit at the mobile company grew by 38% compared to the same period last year, meanwhile its fixed line counterpart, China Telecom could only increase its profits by 4%.
Posted by Judith — 3:01 AM
FT offers to open ducts to competitors to speed up fibre-optic rollout.
Source: TeleGeography.
France Telecom (FT) has submitted an official proposal to the country’s telecoms regulator Arcep, in which it has offered to open its ducts to competitors ‘to ensure efficient and fair deployment of new optical fibre networks’. FT has also requested Arcep to ‘apply the same principle of fair competition for other owners of infrastructure needed to deploy optical fibre’.
Posted by Judith — 3:00 AM
Monday, October 22, 2007
Microsoft to carry out EU ruling.
Source: BBC.
Microsoft has finally agreed to start complying with the European Commission’s 2004 anti-monopoly ruling against it.
The commission said the US firm would now “comply with its obligations”.
The software giant had been accused of shutting out rivals from its Windows operating system to gain a larger share of the market for web servers.
Microsoft will now take steps to give third party program developers access to Windows’ internal workings. It will also substantially cut the fees it charges for such data.
Posted by Judith — 6:55 AM
KPN International launches Business Partner Programme .
Source: Converge.
KPN International is launching a Business Partner Programme in the UK, providing access to its wholly-owned fibre network across Europe which, complemented with global reach, covers 85% of the world economy and services over 26m. customers.
Posted by Judith — 5:11 AM
DT confirms 3 Italia interest.
Source: TeleGeography.
German incumbent Deutsche Telekom is said to be considering a purchase of Hutchison Whampoa’s 3G networks within Europe for a reported EUR15bn. (US$21.5bn.). The Hong Kong-based company’s subsidiaries being eyed are those in the UK, Italy, Ireland and Austria.
Posted by Judith — 5:05 AM
F.T.C. chief balks at Intel inquiry.
Source: NYT.
The head of the Federal Trade Commission has rejected requests by lawmakers, other commissioners and a small rival company to open a formal antitrust investigation of Intel for anticompetitive conduct.
In recent weeks, regulators in Korea and the European Commission have separately accused Intel of antitrust violations by offering large discounts to computer makers in exchange for their not using products by the rival company, Advanced Micro Devices, which has struggled to compete and has waged a global antitrust campaign against Intel. Japanese officials made similar accusations in 2005.
Posted by Judith — 4:11 AM
Saturday, October 20, 2007
WiMax becomes wireless standard.
Source: The Globe and Mail.
The broadband technology WiMax has been added to a global standard for mobile devices, boosting its chances of becoming the preferred system for the next generation of high-speed wireless Internet access.
The decision by the U.N. telecommunications agency means that airwaves designated for other technologies in the standard known as IMT-2000 can now be used for networks based on WiMax. That’s likely to spur development of the wireless technology, attract new investors and eventually drive down hardware costs.
Posted by Judith — 9:02 AM
AT&T is latest to sue Vonage over patent.
Source: NYT.
The Internet telephone company Vonage Holdings Corporation disclosed yesterday that it was the target of yet another patent lawsuit from a telephone company, in this case AT&T.
That makes AT&T the third major phone company to sue Vonage, which until recently was a leader in selling phone service that rides the customer’s broadband connection.
Posted by Judith — 8:54 AM
Phone-tapping scandal in Greece costs Vodafone new EUR19m fine.
Source: TimesOnline.
Vodafone’s Greek unit has been fined EUR19.1m. (GBP13.3m.) for its alleged part in a wire-tapping scandal that involved more than 100 victims, including the country’s Prime Minister. The fine is the second imposed over the eavesdropping scandal.
The mobile group was ordered to pay EUR76m. in fines by a Greek privacy watchdog last December for its alleged role in the scandal.
The mobile giant paid the fine but an appeal against the decision is scheduled for April. The latest fine was issued by EETT, the national telecommunications regulator, for alleged breach of privacy rules.
Posted by Judith — 8:05 AM
Friday, October 19, 2007
France ordered to recover illegal state aid from FT.
Source: TeleGeography.
The European Court of Justice yesterday ordered the French government to recover up to EUR1.1bn. (US$1.56bn.) in illegal state aid it provided to the country’s incumbent fixed line operator FT. The Court has ruled against the French authorities and sided with the European Commission which now wants the money repaid within months following the three-year legal battle.
Posted by Judith — 4:35 AM
Media groups challenge Google on copyright.
Source: FT.com.
Some of the world’s largest media companies have agreed on a set of principles to govern the way that copyright law and anti-piracy measures should be applied to video and music on the internet - a move that could push them into conflict with Google.
The group includes Disney, News Corp, NBC Universal, CBS, Viacom and Microsoft.
Posted by Judith — 4:12 AM
Charter Communications strikes deal with Wal-Mart.
Source: TeleGeography.
Charter Communications has signed a deal to make its products and services available to consumers in more than 700 Wal-Mart stores. Under the agreement, Wal-Mart customers can sign up for a Charter triple-play offer of digital cable TV, high speed internet, and voice telephony.
Posted by Judith — 4:04 AM
BT announces major wind power plans.
Source: BTplc.
BT today unveiled plans to develop wind farms aimed at generating up to 25 per cent of its existing UK electricity requirements by 2016. The wind farm scheme represents the UK’s biggest corporate wind power project outside of the energy sector.
Posted by Judith — 4:01 AM
Wind Hellas deal wrapped up.
Source: TeleGeography.
The 100% takeover of Greek fixed line and broadband operator Tellas by Egyptian-owned Weather Investments was sealed yesterday when Greece’s Public Power Corp signed a deal to sell its 50%-minus-one-share in the telco to its partner in the venture, Weather subsidiary Wind.
Posted by Judith — 3:24 AM
Verizon Business expands global Ethernet capabilities .
Source: Converge.
Verizon Business announced the expansion of Ethernet service worldwide. Verizon Business Ethernet access is now available in almost 40 countries worldwide — nearly double the availability since the start of 2007.
Posted by Judith — 2:45 AM
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Technology giants spark innovation free-for-all.
Source: TimesOnline.
Apple, MySpace, and Nokia, three of the biggest technology firms offering internet or internet-related services, have announced they would allow other companies to provide products which would work on their web platforms.
The ‘open door’ policy will free them from each having to develop every type of service under their own brand.
The decision by three giants to ‘open up their platforms’ - meaning that other companies can provide services via, say, an iPhone - signals a shift in thinking away from the so-called ‘walled garden’ approach - where devices and content were not compatible - to a more collaborative environment, where significant amounts of information are shared.
Posted by Judith — 4:42 AM
Mobile phone use backed on planes.
Source: BBC.
Passengers could soon be using their mobile phones on planes flying through European airspace.
Plans have been developed across EU countries to introduce technology which permits mobile calls without risk of interference with aircraft systems.
Regulators around Europe are calling for consultation on the potential introduction of the technology.
Posted by Judith — 4:30 AM
No-one to be excluded in Indian 3G auction.
Source: TeleGeography.
It is reported that the Indian Department of Telecommunications has decided to allow overseas wireless companies to bid for forthcoming 3G concessions, essentially making the licences new authorisations rather than extensions of existing 2G licences. Under the proposed new rules, any company, be it local or foreign, would be allowed to participate in the tender.
Posted by Judith — 4:16 AM
Motorola buys into UIQ.
Source: Telecoms.com.
US vendor Motorola has bought half of mobile user interface company UIQ, going into joint ownership of the firm with Sony Ericsson.
Sony Ericsson bought the Swedish software firm UIQ Technology from Symbian, for an undisclosed sum in November last year.
Under the agreement, Motorola and Sony Ericsson will work together and jointly invest in the development of the UIQ open user interface platform.
Posted by Judith — 3:04 AM
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Apple finally signs Orange France in iPhone deal.
Source: Telecoms.com.
The speculation over the future of the Apple iPhone in France is finally over, as local mobile operator Orange signs an exclusive deal to deliver the device.
Posted by Judith — 8:15 AM
Police raid Cisco in US$800m. Brazilian tax probe.
Source: TimesOnline.
Brazillian police and tax authorities have raided Cisco Systems, following a two-year investigation into alleged tax avoidance on products shipped from offshore havens.
The authorities have seized a commercial jet, US$10m. of merchandise, 18 vehicles and the equivalent of nearly US$400,000 in Brazilian and US currency.
Posted by Judith — 4:48 AM
MySpace starts Skype call service.
Source: BBC.
Social network website MySpace has joined forces with internet phone firm Skype to allow MySpace users to make calls to each other.
With the service, which starts from the end of November, the two firms say they are creating the world’s largest online, voice-connected community.
Posted by Judith — 4:31 AM
O2 Ireland to outsource 450 jobs to cut costs.
Source: TeleGeography.
Irish mobile operator O2 Ireland is to outsource 450 jobs within its IT services and network management departments in a bid to cut costs. 230 IT jobs will be transferred to IBM by Q2 2008, while a further 220 posts at its networks unit look set to be outsourced to Ericsson once negotiations with the Swedish firm are concluded.
Posted by Judith — 3:53 AM
BBC makes content free over wifi.
Source: Telecoms.com.
UK broadcaster the BBC has announced that it is to make all of its online content available for free across 7,500 wifi hotspots.
A deal with wifi network operator The Cloud will allow the public to access all bbc.co.uk content through the provider’s UK hotspot network.
The 7,500 hotspots are located at UK locations including BAA airports at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted as well as a number of outdoor locations including Canary Wharf and the City of London.
Posted by Judith — 3:38 AM
Rogers expands HSPA coverage.
Source: TeleGeography.
Canada’s only GSM mobile operator Rogers has announced the expansion of its 3.5G HSPA mobile network in 22 markets across the country, taking its population coverage to 60%.
Posted by Judith — 3:36 AM
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
FT fined EUR45m. for abusing dominant position.
Source: TeleGeography.
French incumbent FT has been fined EUR45m. (US$63.8m.) by the country’s competition authority for pursuing anti-competitive practices in the xDSL market in 2001/02. The fine relates to complaints brought by T-Online and Liberty Surf (now part of Telecom Italia France), and brings to an end a raft of preliminary judgements against FT.
Posted by Judith — 8:04 AM
Nortel settles SEC fraud case for US$35m.
Source: Telephony.
The same day that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed a lawsuit alleging accounting fraud at Nortel Networks, the SEC announced that the equipment vendor agreed to settle the case for US$35m.
The SEC claimed in court that Nortel used fraudulent accounting between 2000 and 2003 to close the gap between its financial results and Wall Street’s expectations. In settling the case, Nortel neither confirmed nor denied the SEC’s accusations.
Posted by Judith — 4:17 AM
Spain’s top 3 cell phone companies probed for collusion.
Source: Reuters.
Spain’s competition watchdog has opened a probe of the country’s three largest mobile phone operators for possible collusion.
The National Competition Commission is investigating whether Telefonica’s Movistar, Vodafone and France Telecom’s Orange coordinated a rise in their tariffs in March.
All three raised tariffs to compensate for the banning of a system whereby the three dominant operators rounded prices up to the nearest minute.
Posted by Judith — 4:13 AM
Phone carriers quiet on U.S. surveillance program.
Source: Reuters.
Major U.S. telephone carriers refused to answer questions from the Democratic-led Congress about their possible participation in President George W. Bush’s warrantless domestic spying program.
At issue are reports that some telephone companies allowed the U.S. government access to millions of telephone records for Bush’s anti-terror efforts following the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.
Officials from AT&T, Verizon Communications and Qwest Communications International told the House Energy and Commerce Committee they could not discuss specifics about their companies’ roles in any such effort.
Posted by Judith — 4:03 AM
Monday, October 15, 2007
Four to bid for two licences in Japanese WiMax offer.
Source: BWCS.
Four companies are set to bid for the two WiMax licences on offer in Japan. According to local news reports, the quartet of bidders comprises mobile operators KDDI, NTT DoCoMo, Softbank, and the Carlyle Group-owned Willcom. The four will bid for the right to offer national WiMax services on the 2.5GHz frequency.
Posted by Judith — 4:36 AM
Orange and Vodafone Spain make 3G network sharing pact.
Source: TeleGeography.
Orange and Vodafone Spain have announced that they have forged an agreement to share 3G infrastructure in towns with fewer than 25,000 people in 19 provinces across the country. The agreement, which currently covers 1,000 base stations, will allow both operators to increase coverage by around 25%, while reducing the estimated total number of sites needed by around 40%.
Posted by Judith — 4:09 AM
SingTel interested in GT stake.
Source: TeleGeography.
Southeast Asian telecoms operator SingTel is reported to be planning a bid for a 51% stake in Ghana Telecom (GT). GT has confirmed on its website that investors are conducting due diligence on the company with a view to participating in the auction for the majority stake. A move into the African market is consistent with SingTel’s strategy of expanding into markets beyond its traditional Asia-Pacific region where it has spent upwards of SG$18bn. (US$12.2bn.) in recent years acquiring telecoms assets in high growth markets such as Thailand, the Philippines and Australia.
Posted by Judith — 4:07 AM
Magnet calls for USF to improve broadband access.
Source: TeleGeography.
Magnet Networks is calling on the Irish government to set up a Universal Service Fund (USF) through which money can be raised to improve broadband access - particularly in rural or less economically viable regions. The alternative operator is calling for a fund in which every telco would contribute between EUR3 and EUR4 from every telephone bill to make it easier for companies to roll out high speed networks in more remote parts of the Republic. Such a strategy has been used to good effect in the US and other countries and had resulted in increased broadband rollout in regional areas.
Posted by Judith — 3:37 AM
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Spectrum fight escalates in India.
Source: Light Reading.
India’s Department of Telecom is making its way through a mountain of applications for mobile licenses and navigating a growing tussle among operators over the limited availability of spectrum.
The Department was deluged with several hundred applications for licenses in India’s 23 telecom “circles,” or regions, after the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India recommended that there should not be an auction for 2G licenses and that there should be no cap on the number of carriers in each circle.
At the final count, 46 companies have filed 575 applications — 15 companies applied for all 23 regions, four requested 20 or 21 licenses, while others applied for just one or two.
Posted by Judith — 5:31 AM
Oracle offers BEA US$6.7bn.
Source: Telephony.
Oracle has revealed that it has made an offer to BEA Systems, proposing to buy the company for approximately US$6.7bn.
The offer was made through a letter Oracle delivered to BEA’s Board of Directors offering US$17 per share in cash. The offered price is a 25% premium over yesterday’s closing price of US$13.62.
Posted by Judith — 4:51 AM
Friday, October 12, 2007
US 700MHz auction delayed.
Source: Telecoms.com.
The FCC has delayed the forthcoming auction of 700MHz spectrum to give interested parties more time to pull a plan together.
Auction 73 will now take place on January 24, 2008, eight days later than originally planned. Bidders must apply for the auctions between November 19 and December 3.
The FCC has set a US$10.4bn. reserve on the auction and much to the chagrin of Verizon, the regulator has maintained open access rules for the so called ‘C block’ of spectrum.
Posted by Judith — 4:42 AM
Alltel Wireless launches new Wi-Fi service.
Source: TeleGeography.
Alltel Wireless has launched a new Wi-Fi service in partnership with hotspot provider Boingo Wireless, through which its customers will be able to access the internet via thousands of hotspots located throughout North and South America.
Posted by Judith — 4:13 AM
Ofcom calls for ‘try before you buy’ broadband.
Source: TimesOnline.
Ofcom has called on the major ISPs to allow customers to try out broadband connections before they sign up, in an attempt to address the problem of customers experiencing speeds slower than those advertised.
‘Try before you buy’ broadband was one of a range of options proposed by the regulator to address “widespread concern” among consumers, who typically sign up to deals offering speeds of ‘up to’ a certain amount, but in fact experience far slower connections.
Posted by Judith — 3:57 AM
Thursday, October 11, 2007
FCC chief rebuffs wireless auction rule changes.
Source: Reuters.
The head of theFCC haas brushed aside proposals by Verizon Wireless to modify open-platform rules that the agency plans to impose in a January auction of key wireless spectrum.
The FC C Chairman said the agency would not alter an auction requirement that the winner of the new spectrum must allow consumers to connect using any device or software.
Posted by Judith — 5:26 AM
BCE takeover slowed by bondholders’ objections,
Source: TeleGeography.
Two groups of bondholding investors in BCE and its subsidiary Bell Canada have filed documents in the Quebec Superior Court contesting the pending takeover of BCE by a consortium led by the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan. BCE had expected to get court approval for the CA$51.7bn. (US$48.5bn.) cash and debt deal on or soon after 10 October, but the timeline has now been extended to January.
The bondholders have until 19 October to file their legal documents, and a judge will hear all proceedings between the parties starting 3 December, with final legal arguments scheduled for 8 January.
Posted by Judith — 5:08 AM
Telecom NZ to take stake in Hutchison Australia.
Source: TeleGeography.
Telecom New Zealand has agreed to buy a 10% stake in Hutchison Telecommunications Australia (HTA) from Hutchison Whampoa for AU$330.6m. (US$297.3m.). Telecom also has an option to increase its stake to 19.9%. As a result of the deal Hutchison Whampoa’s stake in HTA will be reduced to 52% from 57.8%.
Posted by Judith — 5:02 AM
Huge growth in Asian mobile.
Source: BWCS.
The emerging mobile markets of Asia, chiefly Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Vietnam, are now worth over US$3bn. The four main markets displayed an astonishing average annual growth of 72.9% with the total number of customers growing by 118.5%.
Posted by Judith — 4:33 AM
Virgin Mobile USA IPO chalks up US$412.5m.
Source: TeleGeography.
MVNO Virgin Mobile USA announced that its IPO raised US$412.5m. yesterday, after the offering was priced at the low end of expectations. Virgin Mobile, a joint venture between Sprint Nextel and the Virgin Group, had set a target range of between US$15 to US$17 per share in the IPO. In the event it sold 27.5m. shares for US$15 per share.
Posted by Judith — 4:15 AM
Iliad (Free) says quest for fourth 3G licence not over yet.
Source: TeleGeography.
French internet service provider Free, part of the Iliad Group, says it is still interested in obtaining the country’s fourth 3G licence, despite having its bid turned down by the telecoms regulator Arcep. Arcep turned down the company’s application saying it had not met the required financial conditions. It is understood the bid stumbled as a result of Free’s insistence it would not pay the EUR619m. (US$874m.) licence fee in one upfront payment, proposing instead to make payment through deferred annual instalments.
Posted by Judith — 4:01 AM
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
AT&T to pay US$2.5bn. for wireless spectrum.
Source: NYT.
AT&T has agreed to pay US$2.5bn. for licenses that will allow it to expand wireless services or provide video broadcasts in much of its coverage area.
The deal to acquire all the licenses held by Aloha Partners in the 700-megahertz range will give AT&T access to 196 million people in 281 markets. It will make AT&T the largest owner of licenses in the 700- to 800-megahertz range of the spectrum.
Posted by Judith — 4:03 AM
Google buys phone software firm.
Source: NYT.
Google has announced that it has bought the Finnish start-up Jaiku, which makes a mobile phone application people can use to send short messages about where they are and what they are doing.
It has made no formal announcement, but Google is reportedly working on an operating platform for mobile devices to make it easier for people to get access to Google when they are away from their personal computers.
Posted by Judith — 3:50 AM
Carphone broadband signal weakening.
Source: TimesOnline.
There are signals that Carphone Warehouse’s plunge into the broadband market risks stalling after the mobile phone retailer unveiled a sharp slowdown in the take-up of its “free” fast internet service amid fierce competition.
Posted by Judith — 3:31 AM
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
EU approves KPN’s Getronics purchase.
Source: TeleGeography.
European Union regulators yesterday approved KPN of the Netherlands’ EUR766m. (US$1.08bn.) acquisition of IT services company Getronics, deciding the takeover would not violate EU competition rules. Fixed line and broadband internet access provider KPN sought the deal to position itself as a market leader in the Dutch ‘workspace management’ sector. Getronics provides IT services in 25 countries and works with companies to ascertain what IT and communications equipment could improve their operations and then helps them install and manage it.
Posted by Judith — 5:36 AM
A settlement by Vonage over patents.
Source: NYT.
Vonage has settled its patent dispute with Sprint Nextel for US$80m. and agreed to license Sprint’s Internet-calling technology.
The news buoyed the price of Vonage’s stock amid optimism that the settlement would eliminate one of several clouds hanging over the company.
Posted by Judith — 4:43 AM
Pipex brings WiMAX under Freedom4 brand.
Source: Telecoms.com.
UK wireless broadband operator Pipex Wireless is rebranding its services as Freedom4 ahead of a expansion into Manchester.
The operator provides WiMAX-based internet services with symmetrical upload and download speeds of up to 8Mbps.
In partnership with National Grid Wireless and Intel, the service provider has been trialling leased line replacement, VoIP and dedicated broadband
Posted by Judith — 4:08 AM
Monday, October 8, 2007
BT plans wi-fi world-beater
Source: FT.com
BT Group is attempting to create the world’s largest wi-fi network by persuading millions of UK customers to turn their home wireless “hubs” into public hotspots
Posted by Penny — 9:14 AM
Samsung shipping new phones with Broadcom chips.
Source: Reuters.
Broadcom has announced that number-two cell phone maker Samsung Electronics was shipping next-generation handsets that use its chips to cellular operators.
The 3G phones, which can surf the Web and download data from the Internet faster than previous generations of phones, are on their way to operators in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia.
Posted by Judith — 6:05 AM
MegaFon invites submissions from five 3G vendors.
Source: TeleGeography.
Russia’s third largest cellular operator, MegaFon, has narrowed its choice of 3G supplier down to five firms. Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, NEC, Nokia-Siemens and Huawei Technologies are being invited to participate in a tender for the supply of a US$1bn. UMTS mobile network, with applications to close on 10 December 2007.
Posted by Judith — 5:25 AM
Vodafone adds Spanish and Italian broadband.
Source: Scotsman.com.
Vodafone has expanded its presence in the broadband market with the GBP537m. acquisition of firms in Spain and Italy.
The group has paid Swedish company Tele2 for its operations in Spain and Italy, which provide nationwide fixed-line telephone and broadband services.
The deal continues the group’s strategy of increasing its non-mobile services, offering customers broadband and landline services alongside mobile phones.
Posted by Judith — 5:08 AM
Cost of roaming calls down 60%.
Source: Scotsman.com.
THE cost of making and receiving mobile phone calls abroad has dropped by an average 60% since new rules capped prices three months ago.
Posted by Judith — 5:01 AM
Friday, October 5, 2007
Accenture to acquire Corliant for IP consulting.
Source: Converge.
Accenture agreed to acquire Corliant, a privately held technology consulting firm that specializes in helping enterprises and communications service providers deploy and support IP services.
Corliant, a certified channel partner with Cisco Systems, has a large number of Cisco-certified employees with expertise in Cisco-based network technologies and solutions.
Posted by Judith — 4:42 AM
eircom seeks government approval to split retail, wholesale operations.
Source: TeleGeography.
Irish former fixed line monopoly eircom has submitted a written request to the government and the telecoms watchdog ComReg, detailing its plans to split its wholesale and retail operations into separate businesses. The move being proposed by eircom is reportedly the first part of a plan under which its owners, Babcock & Brown Capital will sell off the firm’s retail business while retaining its lucrative wholesale arm.
Posted by Judith — 4:26 AM
O2 lights up fixed broadband service.
Source: Telecoms.com.
UK mobile operator O2 has confirmed the details of its forthcoming fixed line broadband package, citing a launch date of October 15.
O2 intends to target the large proportion of UK consumers that are dissatisfied with their existing broadband service.
Posted by Judith — 4:21 AM
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Alltel to shut down analogue network.
Source: TeleGeography.
Alltel Wireless has announced it is shutting down its analogue wireless network next year. The company will no longer provide the service after 31 March. The company’s move could trigger similar moves by rivals, given that the regulator, the FCC, will no longer require cell phone companies to provide analogue services from midnight 18 February. AT&T and Verizon Wireless both plan to shut down their analogue services, although neither has as yet set a date. Shutting down the signal will also allow operators to free up spectrum for digital service.
Posted by Judith — 5:29 AM
BT and FON launch the world’s largest Wi-Fi community.
Source: BTplc.
BT and FON today promised to transform the UK’s market for wireless broadband by launching BT FON, the world’s largest Wi-Fi community.
BT’s more than 3m. consumer Total Broadband customers will be invited to join the global community of people sharing their broadband.
BT has invested in FON as part of the tie-in, joining the company’s other investors, which include Google. BT will also have a seat on the board of FON.
Posted by Judith — 5:14 AM
O2 UK digs deep for iPhone advertising splash.
Source: Reuters.
Spanish-owned O2 UK and U.S. consumer electronics group Apple plan to launch a multi-million pound joint advertising campaign later this month as they get ready to bring iPhone mobile phones to Britain.
O2 UK, which has declined to divulge customer targets, is banking on iPhones helping to fuel customer demand for non-text mobile data services such as music and video, which currently account for only 5%t of annual group revenues.
Posted by Judith — 3:42 AM
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Frontline wants Verizon out of 700MHz sale.
Source: TeleGeography.
With three months to go before the US government’s 700MHz wireless spectrum auction, start-up operator Frontline Wireless has called for the FCC to bar the country’s second largest cellular services provider, Verizon Wireless, from the auction. According to a report, Frontline claims Verizon has violated the FCC’s rules on lobbying after failing to disclose the full substance of a conversation that the cellco’s representatives had with FCC chairman on 17 September.
Posted by Judith — 6:17 AM
AT&T and others asked about government access.
Source: Reuters.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee has asked AT&T, Verizon Communications and Qwest Communications International to describe how U.S. government agencies sought to obtain information about customer telephone and Internet use.
Last year, it was widely reported that some big telephone companies allowed the U.S. government access to millions of telephone records for an anti-terrorism program.
Posted by Judith — 4:03 AM
Apax and Blackstone amongst favourites for Weather stake
Source: TeleGeography.
Naguib Sawiris, controller of Egypt-based telecoms holding company Weather Investments, has confirmed that he is negotiating the sale of a 10%-12% stake in the company to one of a number of interested private equity firms, which include Apax and Blackstone. Sawiris told the paper that he hopes to raise as much as EUR1.2bn. (US£1.7bn.) to reduce debt or to pursue potential acquisitions in France or Indonesia. Weather controls fixed line, broadband and mobile operations in Italy and Greece under the Wind brand, and is also the majority owner of Egypt-based international mobile group Orascom Telecom.
Posted by Judith — 3:27 AM
Apple sued for US$1m. over US$200 iPhone discount.
Source: TimesOnline.
An angry iPhone buyer is suing Apple for US$1m. (GBP490,000) after the company slashed the price of the device by US$200 only 68 days after its US launch.
Dongmei Li, of New York, is accusing Apple of “price discrimination, underselling, discrimination in rebates, deceptive actions and other wrongdoings.”
Posted by Judith — 3:15 AM
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
AT&T wades into India’s mobile phone fight.
Source: TimesOnline.
AT&T has revealed its ambitions to provide mobile phone services in India as companies scrambled to win a share of the world’s fastest growing market.
The US network provider partnered with Mahindra Telecommunications to apply for licences in all 22 zones that divide the Indian market. It will own 74% of the joint venture in keeping with foreign investment limits.
AT&T already holds licences for national long distance and international calls in India with Mahindra
Posted by Judith — 4:34 AM
Yahoo in 15-nation deal for search on cellphones.
Source: NYT.
Yahoo, trying to catch up with Google in the digital search and advertising businesses, has announced that it has reached an agreement to feature its search engine on mobile portals run by Telefonica, the Spanish telecommunications company.
Under the agreement, Yahoo will operate searches and sell advertising linked to them for Telefonica mobile services in 15 countries in Europe and Latin America.
Posted by Judith — 4:22 AM
EBay revises its ambitions for Skype.
Source: NYT.
EBay is finally acknowledging that it paid too much for the Internet phone company Skype two years ago.
EBay is taking a US$1.4bn. write-down for Skype, the Internet phone company; Niklas Zennstrom will no longer be its chief. EBay paid US$2.6bn. for the rapidly growing service in 2005.
Posted by Judith — 4:18 AM
Qualcomm faces competition probe.
Source: BBC.
The EC is to investigate US firm Qualcomm over claims it abused its dominant position in the mobile phone technology market.
The EU competition regulator said it was examining claims that the chipmaker licensed rights to third-generation cell phone technology on unfair terms.
Tech giants Ericsson, Nokia, NEC, Texas Instruments, Broadcom and Panasonic made the complaints to the Commission.
Posted by Judith — 4:14 AM
AT&T acquires IP firm Interwise.
Source: TeleGeography.
AT&T Inc is to pay US$121m. to acquire voice, web and video conferencing provider Interwise. The transaction, which is being carried out via one of AT&T’s subsidiaries, is expected to close by the end of the year. Interwise will be incorporated into AT&T’s Global Business Services unit.
Posted by Judith — 3:26 AM
Sony in memory chip joint venture.
Source: BBC.
Sony has agreed to form a joint venture to design memory chips with the German firm Qimonda.
Sony’s decision to agree a joint venture highlights the growing trend of chip makers sharing the large costs of design and manufacture.
Posted by Judith — 3:24 AM
Monday, October 1, 2007
Nokia maps US$7.6bn. takeover of US Navteq.
Source: TimesOnline.
Nokia is set to take its biggest step to date into providing services for mobile phones after entering talks with Navteq, the US navigation software group worth US$7.61bn. (GBP3.7bn.).
Posted by Judith — 5:54 AM
Emerson to acquire Motorola’s Embedded Communications Computing Business.
Source: Converge.
Emerson has agreed to acquire Motorola’s ECC business for US$350m.
Motorola’s ECC business supplies embedded computing products and services to communication infrastructure and equipment manufacturers in telecommunications, medical imaging, defense and aerospace and industrial automation.
Posted by Judith — 4:56 AM
BT buys Lynx Technology.
Source: BTplc.
BT announced today it has acquired Lynx Technology, one of the UK’s foremost suppliers of IT services.
The acquisition of Lynx Technology follows the purchase of Basilica Computing that BT announced in August and further enhances BT Business’ capability to create and deliver complete IT solutions for SMEs.
Posted by Judith — 4:37 AM
Orcon delays MVNO launch.
Source: TeleGeography.
New Zealand ISP Orcon says it is delaying the launch of its mobile resale service until February 2008. The firm, which has signed a wholesale mobile deal with the country’s largest cellular operator, Vodafone New Zealand, was set to launch before the end of this year but is now delaying its switch-on to give it time to implement a range of new services.
Posted by Judith — 4:04 AM
Alo & Clearwire fined for franchise breaches.
Source: TeleGeography.
The Court of First Instance in Madrid has ruled against the Alo Group and Clearwire Espana, ordering them to compensate Sisener Comunicaciones, an Alo franchisee until the start of 2006, with EUR125,584 (US$179,200) plus interest, for a serious breach of their franchise agreement. The ruling is the first of 26 claims brought by the franchisees of the Asociacion Canal AFA, whose claims total approximately EUR7m.(US$9.9m.).
Posted by Judith — 3:39 AM
AT&T attempts to limit criticism.
Source: TeleGeography.
AT&T Inc is facing criticism from consumers over a new clause in its terms of service, which aims to limit criticism from consumers. The firm has added a condition to its high speed internet contracts which reads: ‘AT&T may immediately terminate or suspend all or a portion of your Service, any Member ID, electronic mail address, IP address, Universal Resource Locator or domain name used by you, without notice, for conduct that AT&T believes … tends to damage the name or reputation of AT&T, or its parents, affiliates and subsidiaries.’
Posted by Judith — 3:36 AM
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