Press Clippings: April 2009

Major Industry items you might have missed

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Comstar makes move for Synterra.

Source: TeleGeography.

Comstar United TeleSystems has made an offer to acquire long-distance operator Synterra in a deal worth US$850m. Comstar plans to pay US$250m. in cash, along with about 11.1% of its shares to fund the acquisition. The Moscow-based telco will also take on Synterra’s outstanding debts as part of the deal, which stood at around US$332m. at the start of 2009.

Posted by Judith — 4:01 AM


Deutsche Telekom to merge fixed, mobile units in Germany.

Source: Telecompaper.

Deutsche Telekom has announced plans to merge its fixed and mobile divisions in Germany into one business.
Subject to shareholder and regulatory approval, T-Mobile International will first be merged into Deutsche Telekom, making T-Mobile Deutschland a direct subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom. Following this, the two units T-Home and T-Mobile Deutschland will be combined into one company, which will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom.

Posted by Judith — 3:55 AM

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Council confirms fourth 3G licence plan despite Bouygues’ objections.

Source: TeleGeography.

France’s Council of State has reportedly rejected an appeal filed by Bouygues Telecom seeking to stop the allocation of frequencies for a fourth 3G operator on the grounds it would be detrimental to service quality. Under the plan the regulator, Arcep, would request the three incumbents - Bouygues Telecom, SFR and Orange France - to hand over an equal portion of their spectrum to allow the deployment of the fourth operator.

Posted by Judith — 3:42 AM


Microsoft, Verizon in talks to launch iPhone rival.

Source: Telecompaper.

Microsoft and Verizon Wireless are reported to be in talks to launch a touch-screen mobile phone on the US carrier’s network early next year. Verizon has also had discussions in recent months with Apple about partnering on devices other than the iPhone. Microsoft’s project, which is code-named Pink, aims to produce a phone that will extend the Windows Mobile operating system, adding new software capabilities.

Posted by Judith — 3:39 AM


China Mobile to buy stake in Taiwan’s Far EasTone.

Source: Telecompaper.

China Mobile has agreed to buy a 12% stake in Taiwan operator Far EasTone. The Chinese operator will buy 444.3m. new shares in FET for TW$ 17.77bn.

Posted by Judith — 3:04 AM


Nortel gets bankruptcy extension, reportedly nears asset sales.

Source: FierceTelecom.

Nortel Networks has received the three-month extension for its bankruptcy protection period it sought from the Ontario Superior Court.
Meanwhile, it is reported that Nortel is also looking to sell its half of a joint venture with LG. LG-Nortel last year aggressively moved into the technology arena of WDM-PON.

Posted by Judith — 3:01 AM

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Microsoft in UD$3bn. cloud deal with HP-EDS.

Source: InformationWeek.

In a sign that cloud computing isn’t just pie in the sky, Microsoft has announced that it has signed an agreement to deliver cloud computing services through Hewlett-Packard’s EDS outsourcing unit under an arrangement that could generate more than US$3bn. in revenue for the companies.
Under the plan, EDS will act as a primary reseller for Microsoft’s Business Productivity Online Suite.

Posted by Judith — 9:42 AM


IBM, Brocade boost ties as Cisco rivalry heats up.

Source: Reuters.

Network equipment maker Brocade Communications Systems is bolstering its partnership with IBM, in a sign it may be gaining market share from industry leader Cisco Systems.
IBM will rebrand ethernet switching and routing products made by Brocade as IBM products and sell them to mutual corporate customers.
The move to bolster this partnership comes amid increasing rivalry between IBM and Cisco, which recently announced that it will start selling computer servers.

Posted by Judith — 3:54 AM


Alcatel-Lucent wins US$1.7bn. of Chinese contracts.

Source: MarketWatch.

Alcatel-Lucent, the world’s largest maker of telecom-equipment,has announced that it has won US$1.7bn. worth of contracts to upgrade and maintain third-generation high-speed mobile networks in China.
The company won US$1bn. in orders from China Mobile and US$700m. from China Telecom.

Posted by Judith — 3:14 AM


Japan, China eye cooperation on mobile services.

Source: Reuters.

Japan and China are looking at cooperating on next-generation cellphone services, which would help China develop its wireless technology and Japanese makers expand in China.
Japan’s mobile services use third-generation networks, which allow higher-speed data transmission than the second-generation services that still dominate in China.
The two countries will also jointly conduct research applications and develop content such as video and music.

Posted by Judith — 3:08 AM


Finland awards new spectrum.

Source: BWCS.

The Finnish government has awarded additional spectrum in the 1800MHz band to three mobile operators. The successful applicants: TeliaSonera, Elisa and DNA will use the new spectrum to provide 4G mobile services and say they will be the first companies in Europe to use LTE technology at such low frequencies.

Posted by Judith — 2:55 AM

Monday, April 27, 2009

Clearwire finds allies in Taiwan.

Source: TeleGeography.

Clearwire has signed cooperation agreements with Taiwanese WiMAX licensees Global Mobile and Vee Telecom. The wireless broadband providers will join Clearwire’s global alliance partners scheme, agreeing to cooperate on roaming, technology and digital content with the US-based company.

Posted by Judith — 5:04 AM


Qualcomm to pay Broadcom US$891m. to settle litigation.

Source: Reuters.

Wireless chip supplier Qualcomm has agreed to pay smaller rival Broadcom Corp US$891m. over four years to settle long-standing and increasingly bitter legal battles over technology patents.
Qualcomm, which has lost several key battles in patent infringement cases with Broadcom in the last few years, has announced that it would make its first payment of US$200m. to Broadcom in the current quarter.

Posted by Judith — 4:29 AM


China Mobile to launch TD-SCDMA devices in May.

Source: Telecompaper.

China Mobile has decided to procure the first batch of TD-SCDMA mobile phones from three manufacturers. The telecommunication operator has selected LG Electronics, ZTE and Yulong Computer Telecommunication Scientific (Shenzhen) as the suppliers.

Posted by Judith — 4:06 AM


NZ Telecom to launch new mobile broadband network early.

Source: BWCS.

Telecom New Zealand says it will launch its XT 3G mobile network earlier than expected on the 13th of next month. The NZ operator will provide overseas roaming service with international roaming to more than 206 destinations for voice calling and SMS to at least 110 destinations for mobile data.

Posted by Judith — 3:09 AM

Saturday, April 25, 2009

ACT re-examining Telstra wholesale exemptions.

Source: TeleGeography.

The Australian Competition Tribunal (ACT) has been investigating the Australian Competition Consumer Commission’s decision to grant incumbent Telstra exemption from wholesale voice services. The exemption, originally granted in October 2008, freed Telstra from obligations to provide public switched telephone network originating access in 248 exchanges. The ACT overturned the decision however in December 2008, but Telstra appealed in the Federal Court and won; the ruling was announced last month. The ACT will now reconsider the matter, having overturned it last time on the grounds that the reasoning for the ACCC’s decision had not ‘been sound’.

Posted by Judith — 4:10 AM

Friday, April 24, 2009

Alcatel-Lucent signs global frame deal with T-Systems.

Source: Telecompaper.

Deutsche Telekom’s business division T-Systems and Alcatel-Lucent have concluded a global framework agreement under which Alcatel-Lucent is providing T-Systems and DT with convergent IP communications services from its enterprise portfolio.

Posted by Judith — 5:39 AM


Yahoo pulls the plug on GeoCities.

Source: BBC.

Yahoo is to close its personal web hosting site GeoCities later this year. In a statement, the firm says it will no longer be accepting new customers and will focus on helping “customers build new relationships online”.
Yahoo bought GeoCities for US$3.57bn. at the height of the dotcom boom in 1999.

Posted by Judith — 5:07 AM


Smart Telecom up for sale.

Source: TeleGeography.

The controller of the investment group which owns Smart Telecom, has appointed advisers to find a buyer or strategic partner for the telco. A number of companies are reported to have expressed an interest, including Magnet Networks, Digiweb, UPC Ireland and Sky Television.

Posted by Judith — 4:16 AM

Thursday, April 23, 2009

UK Government backs 2Mbps broadband.

Source: BBC.

The UK government has signalled its commitment to ensuring everyone in the country has access to broadband speeds of 2Mbps by 2012.
Earlier this year Lord Carter set out his interim recommendations for Digital Britain, in which he proposed a Universal Service for broadband.

Posted by Judith — 4:57 AM


Orange teams up with Wikimedia Foundation to forge mobile and internet partnership.

Source: TeleGeography.

France Telecom (Orange) and the Wikimedia Foundation have announced a wide-ranging strategic partnership designed to ‘mutually benefit each organisation’s users by extending the way people can access free knowledge’. Under the deal the two parties hope to expand the reach of Wikimedia content through co-branded channels on Orange’s mobile and web portals.

Posted by Judith — 4:41 AM


Nokia sells mobile TV unit.

Source: InfomationWeek.

In a cost-cutting measure, Nokia sold its mobile television unit to Wipro Technologies for an undisclosed amount.
The Mobile Broadcast Solutions unit was an enterprise-focused group that focused on creating software and hardware that enables handsets to view broadcast networks. The division, which employed about 40 people, was not in Nokia’s long-term strategy.

Posted by Judith — 4:01 AM


Electricity meters to transmit usage data over T-Mobile network.

Source: cellular-news.

Echelon and T-Mobile USA have announced an alliance to accelerate the adoption of the smart grid in the North American market by reducing the communications cost of smart meters through the deployment of Echelon’s Networked Energy Services system over T-Mobile’s GSM network.

Posted by Judith — 3:59 AM


Ikanos to acquire Conexant’s broadband access business.

Source: Converge.

Ikanos Communications has agreed to acquire he Broadband Access product line from Conexant Systems for US$54m. in cash and the assumption of certain employee and facility related liabilities.
Ikanos and Conexant account for a cumulative 330m. broadband access ports shipped to date. Conexant’s Broadband Access product line has traditionally been strong in North America and China while Ikanos has led in Japan, Korea and Europe.

Posted by Judith — 3:37 AM

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Telefonica, United Internet place HanseNet offer.

Source: TeleGeography.

Spanish telecoms giant Telefonica and German ISP United Internet are reported tohave placed first round non-binding offers for German broadband operator HanseNet. UK-based Vodafone, which was also looking to make a play for the Telecom Italia unit, has not yet made an offer and is apparently still deciding whether to move forward in the process.

Posted by Judith — 5:39 AM


Carphone Warehouse confirms split plans.

Source: TeleGeography.

Britain’s Carphone Warehouse has confirmed that it plans to split its retail and telecommunications business, creating two separate, fully-listed companies. The company has claimed that the move will allow it to increase value for shareholders.

Posted by Judith — 5:06 AM


India adds record 15.6m. mobile users in March.

Source: Reuters.

Indian mobile operators added a record 15.64m. customers in March, helped by the expansion of networks to smaller towns and rural areas.
The mobile subscriber base in the world’s fastest-growing wireless market rose by 50%, or more than 130m., to 391.8m. in the 12 months ended March.

Posted by Judith — 3:53 AM


MEPs reach compromise on telecoms reform package.

Source: Telecompaper.

The Industry Committee agreed with the EU Council on proposals to reform radio spectrum planning and set up a new EU telecoms regulatory agency called BEREC. However, the MEPs continued to oppose proposals for allowing ISPs to block a user’s internet access.

Posted by Judith — 2:32 AM

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

HTIL to spin off, list Hong Kong, Macau businesses.

Source: TeleGeography.

Hutchison Telecommunications International Ltd has announced that it will spin off and list its Hong Kong and Macau operations on 8 May 2009. The plan is aimed at providing HTIL’s parent Hutchison Whampoa with a new platform for capital-raising. The group offers mobile services in Hong Kong under the 3 brand name via Hutchison Telephone Company, and operates fixed line and broadband services through another subsidiary, Hutchison Global Communications.

Posted by Judith — 4:13 AM


Nokia, HCL form JV for retail sales in India.

Source: Telecompaper.

Nokia has entered into a contract with HCL Infosystems subsidiary HCL Infocomm to set up exclusive retail outlets to sell handsets and services directly to consumers in India. Nokia will hold a 51% stake in the joint venture with HCL.

Posted by Judith — 3:52 AM

Monday, April 20, 2009

Oracle in $7.4bn. deal to buy Sun.

Source: BBC.

Business software manufacturer Oracle has said it is to acquire computer hardware maker Sun Microsystems in a deal worth US$7.4bn. (GBP5.1bn.). Oracle is to pay US$9.50 in cash for each Sun share.
The deal comes a month after IBM abandoned its bid to buy Sun.

Posted by Judith — 8:26 AM


Free mobile TV to debut in Washington .

Source: BWCS.

Washington DC is to be the first US city to receive free digital TV broadcasts to mobile phones. The service is expected to go live in the Federal capital by late summer and will take content from five local TV companies and local affiliates of national stations.

Posted by Judith — 4:18 AM


Vodacom takeover delayed by union.

Source: TeleGeography.

Vodafone’s plan to raise its stake in Vodacom has met an unexpected delay as the Communications Workers Union has announced its intentions to block any further sale of shares through the high court. The union is concerned that the UK-based group will use the global economic crisis as an excuse to cut jobs. Vodafone currently holds a 50% stake in Vodacom, with the other half held by incumbent fixed line operator Telkom South Africa.

Posted by Judith — 4:07 AM


Tesco steps up telecoms push.

Source: MarketWatch.

U.K. supermarket giant Tesco Plc is stepping up its push in the mobile and Internet business, doubling the number of its in-store phone shops, in a direct challenge to Carphone Warehouse.

Posted by Judith — 4:04 AM

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Sprint wins stimulus funding for fuel cell technology.

Source: eWeek.

The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded Sprint US$7.3m. in funding for fuel cell technology. The grant funding will be used to expand the number of Sprint cell sites that rely on hydrogen fuel cells for backup power.

Posted by Judith — 5:17 AM


TaemasBridge makes EUR95m. bid for Eircom owner BCM.

Source: Telecompaper.

TaemasBridge, an Australian-based group of former Babcock Brown executives, has made an AU$175m. (EUR 95m.) cash offer for the entity that owns Eircom and warned that the Irish telecoms business might default on its debts

Posted by Judith — 4:45 AM

Friday, April 17, 2009

Telefonica merges German business activities, fixed line and mobile divisions.

Source: TeleGeography.

Broadband service provider Telefonica Deutschland and cellco O2 Germany, both owned by Telefonica of Spain, have announced plans to bundle their business-to-business activities, including wholesale operations, and combine their mobile and fixed line operations under the Telefonica O2 Germany banner.

Posted by Judith — 6:18 AM


Telkom SA and AT&T sign strategic agreement.

Source: TeleGeography.

Telkom South Africa, the country’s incumbent fixed line and broadband operator, has agreed to collaborate with US-based AT&T, connecting its South African infrastructure with AT&T’s global network. The two companies have signed an MoU which will allow companies based in Sub-Saharan Africa to connect to other global markets more effectively.

Posted by Judith — 6:11 AM


Three main Irish cellcos agree on mobile interconnection glide path.

Source: TeleGeography.

Ireland’s three largest mobile phone operators, Vodafone, O2 and Meteor, have agreed to reduce mobile termination rates by 47% over three years.

Posted by Judith — 5:12 AM


Orange, Nokia strike mobile email partnership.

Source: Telecompaper.

Orange and Nokia have extended their multi-country partnership agreement. Under the terms of the deal, the two partners will deliver and launch a co-branded email service called Nokia Messaging by Orange, on a range of Orange Signature devices.

Posted by Judith — 4:21 AM


Sony Ericsson to cut more jobs as losses widen.

Source: Telecompaper.

Sony Ericsson announced plans to cut another 2,000 jobs as its mobile phone sales continued to suffer from the economic slowdown. The new round of job cuts comes on top of 2,000 lay-offs just completed.

Posted by Judith — 3:59 AM

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Verizon plans app mart for Hub Web phone

Source: Reuters

The Verizon Hub, a new kind of home phone with some Web add-ons like weather and traffic reports, will soon come with an applications market, following a trend among cellphone makers such as Apple to open up to third-party apps.

Posted by Penny — 1:11 PM


Italian telcos fined over unfair trade practices.

Source: TeleGeography.

Italy’s competition authority has meted out fines totalling EUR900,000 (US$1.19m.) to domestic broadband operators Telecom Italia and Wind. The country’s dominant wireline and broadband operator, Telecom Italia, was fined EUR735,000 as a result of three investigations. Wind meanwhile, has been penalised EUR165,000 for improper commercial practices regarding subscribers to its Infostrada subsidiary.

Posted by Judith — 4:52 AM


French given 3G sharing ultimatum.

Source: BWCS.

Arcep, the French telecoms regulator, has asked the country’s trio of 3G operators to sort out a network sharing agreement between themselves, or it will step in.
Arcep is keen that Bouygues, Vodafone and Orange should share 3G mobile base stations, towers and masts as much as possible in order to reduce the environmental impact of these constructions. However, the regulator also wants the three to share electronic equipment wherever possible.

Posted by Judith — 4:32 AM


Ebay buys Gmarket in Korea for US$1.2bn.

Source: Telecompaper.

Ebay has agreed to buy Korea’s retail e-commerce marketplace Gmarket. Ebay will combine Gmarket’s operations with its existing Korean marketplace business, Internet Auction Company, while maintaining separate sites for the two services.

Posted by Judith — 4:19 AM


Westcon signs global distribution agreement with Cisco.

Source: Telecompaper.

Networking products distributor Westcon Group has signed a multi-year global distribution agreement with Cisco. The agreement will enable both companies to conduct cross-border transactions while allowing companies to expand in regions such as Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia.

Posted by Judith — 3:53 AM

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

EBay plans public offering for Skype.

Source: NYT.

EBay has announced plans to spin off Skype, its Internet calling division, in an initial public offering aimed at the first half of 2010.
EBay has been looking to sell Skype since the beginning of the year. But it could not find a bidder willing to pay a high enough price, despite interest from Skype’s founders, Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis, who led a group of private equity firms in making an offer for the rapidly growing calling service.

Posted by Judith — 4:12 AM


Verizon outlines LTE plan.

Source: TeleGeography.

Verizon Wireless, the second largest wireless provider by subscribers in the US, plans to have rolled out LTE technology across its network by 2014.
Alcatel-Lucent and Ericsson have been named as equipment suppliers for the network rollout.

Posted by Judith — 3:20 AM


Telus earmarks CA$700m. for Alberta, despite slowing mobile growth.

Source: TeleGeography.

Vancouver-based full-service telco Telus has earmarked investment of CA$700m. (US$575m.) to expand and upgrade wireless and wireline networks in Alberta province, including the planned rollout of a 3.5G HSPA mobile network.

Posted by Judith — 3:07 AM

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Cisco to acquire Tidal Software for US$105m.

Source: Converge.

Cisco agreed to acquire privately held Tidal Software for approximately US$105m. in cash and retention-based incentives.
Tidal Software’s mission is to automate many of the complex and routine tasks associated with day-to-day application management: job scheduling and performance monitoring.

Posted by Judith — 4:08 AM


US to boost telecommunications links with Cuba.

Source: Telecompaper.

The US has adopted a series of changes in its telecoms policy towards Cuba. The new policy authorizes US telecommunications network providers to enter into agreements to establish fibre-optic cable and satellite telecommunications facilities linking the US and Cuba, and enter into roaming service agreements with Cuba’s telecommunications service providers.

Posted by Judith — 2:48 AM


EC starts legal action on Phorm.

Source: BBC.

The EC has started legal action against Britain over the online advertising technology Phorm.
It follows complaints to the EC over how the behavioural advertising service was tested on BT’s broadband network without the consent of users.
Last year Britain had said it was happy Phorm conformed to European data laws, but the EC has said Phorm “intercepted” user data without consent and failed to keep people’s online details confidential.

Posted by Judith — 2:40 AM


Tele2 and Telenor in Swedish 4G joint venture.

Source: TeleGeography.

Stockholm-based Tele2 and the Swedish branch of Nordic rival Telenor have announced that they will form an equal joint venture to build a fourth-generation mobile network. Rollout is expected to start this year, with a planned 4G launch by the end of 2010, whilst the partnership will also include upgrading GSM infrastructure.

Posted by Judith — 2:33 AM

Monday, April 13, 2009

Ziggy backs $43b broadband network

Source: Australian IT

FORMER Telstra boss Ziggy Switkowski has thrown his support behind the Government’s proposed $43 billion national broadband network, describing it as “strategically elegant and appealingly breathtaking in its ambition”.

Posted by Penny — 1:21 PM


Tech Mahindra Likely Buyer Of Satyam

Source: CRN

Scandal-plagued Satyam has likely found a buyer: Tech Mahindra. Stocks of both tech companies rose on the news, with Tech Mahindra increasing 12.3 percent and Satyam rising 3.6 percent.

Posted by Penny — 12:05 PM


T-Mobile hints at April 21 launch event

Source: Fierce Wireless

T-Mobile USA will hold a launch event in New York April 21, and speculation has been building that the carrier will launch a new phone based on Google’s Android platform.

Posted by Penny — 12:02 PM


Skype’s Founders May Seek Firm From eBay

Source: The founders of Voice over IP (VoIP) service Skype, currently owned by eBay, are interested in bidding for the company they sold some four years ago, according to a media report….

The founders of Voice over IP (VoIP) service Skype, currently owned by eBay, are interested in bidding for the company they sold some four years ago, according to a media report.

Posted by Penny — 11:59 AM

Friday, April 10, 2009

Virgin Mobile jumps into pricing war with new $50 unlimited plan

Source: Virgin Mobile USA cut the price for its unlimited calling plan to $50 from $80, putting it into direct competition with second-tier operators including MetroPCS and Boost Mobile. The MVNO’s $50 calling plan will be available April 15, and customers…

Virgin Mobile USA cut the price for its unlimited calling plan to $50 from $80, putting it into direct competition with second-tier operators including MetroPCS and Boost Mobile. The MVNO’s $50 calling plan will be available April 15, and customers who currently are on the $80 plan will have to call Virgin Mobile to switch over.

Posted by Penny — 10:00 AM


IBM Develops ‘World’s Fastest Financial Analysis’ System

Source: IBM developed a prototype of what it calls the world’s fastest automated options trading system using its Blue Gene supercomputer and new software technology called InfoSphere Streams….

IBM developed a prototype of what it calls the world’s fastest automated options trading system using its Blue Gene supercomputer and new software technology called InfoSphere Streams.

Posted by Penny — 9:52 AM

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Nokia Siemens offers to buy Nortel’s businesses.

Source: FierceWireless.

Nokia Siemens Networks is reported to have offered to buy large chunks of Nortel Networks’ businesses, including most of its carrier networks unit and a research unit developing future wireless technologies.
Additionally, an auction last week of Nortel’s enterprise telecom business attracted bids from Avaya and Siemens Enterprise Communications. The moves show Nortel may indeed break itself up rather than trying to emerge from bankruptcy protection as a single entity. Nortel has until May to restructure.

Posted by Judith — 4:40 AM


Blackstone makes bid for Verizon’s divested assets.

Source: FierceWireless.

The Blackstone Group, Kohlberg Kravis & Roberts & Co., and the Carlyle Group made bids for the roughly US$3bn. in assets that Verizon Wireless agreed to divest as a condition in its US$28.1bn. acquisition of Alltel. The FCC mandated that Verizon divest from the territory to ease antitrust issues. AT&T Mobility and U.S. Cellular are also bidding on the assets.

Posted by Judith — 4:18 AM


Alcatel-Lucent seals WACS deal.

Source: TeleGeography.

Alcatel-Lucent has signed a turn-key contract with an international consortium of telecoms companies to deploy the West African Cable System (WACS). The 14,000km submarine cable will run from Cape Town to the UK with landings in Namibia, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Nigeria, Togo, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Cape Verde, the Canary Islands and Portugal.

Posted by Judith — 3:59 AM


Visa pushes ahead with mobile payments .

Source: BWCS.

Credit card giant Visa has announced the launch of its first commercial mobile payments technology. The system uses stored credit card details on a mobile device which are read by point of sales terminals using Near Field Communications (NFC) technology.

Posted by Judith — 3:32 AM

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Huawei to deliver Android phone.

Source: BWCS.

Chinese telecoms equipment and mobile handset maker Huawei has confirmed that it will release an Android wireless device later this year. The phone, which will be sold exclusively by T-Mobile International, will only be available in Europe to begin with. The company would not comment on when or if the phones would go on sale in the US.

Posted by Judith — 4:27 AM


FTTH now passes 15m. US homes.

Source: TelephonyOnline.

FTTH now passes 15m. US homes, or 13% of all US homes. That’s an increase of about 28% from a year ago.
The number of homes connected to FTTH is now about 4.4m., or 4% of all homes, almost a 52% increase from a year earlier and a 17% increase in the last six months.

Posted by Judith — 2:23 AM


New GSM network to launch in Vietnam.

Source: cellular-news.

Hutchison Telecom has announced that its Vietnamese operation, Vietnamobile will launch its GSM services tomorrow. Vietnamobile, the partnership between Hutchison Telecom and Hanoi Telecom Joint Stock Company, will launch its service over its GSM network with footprint present at 64 provinces in Vietnam.

Posted by Judith — 2:01 AM

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Australia to get faster broadband.

Source: BBC.

The Australian government has announced a massive project to extend broadband internet systems across the country.
Plans have been dropped for a private tender, in favour of a government investment of about A$43bn. (US$30bn., GBP20.9bn.).

Posted by Judith — 3:39 AM


Avea signs three 3G suppliers.

Source: BWCS.

Turk Telecom mobile subsidiary, Avea, has signed up with three partners to produce its new 3G network. The company, which has over 12 million mobile customers, said it has signed contracts with Ericsson to install 3G base stations in western Turkey. It has also signed up with Huawei and ZTE to provide it with network infrastructure.

Posted by Judith — 2:46 AM

Monday, April 6, 2009

IBM talks to buy Sun Microsystems break down.

Source: TimesOnline.

IBM’s talks to acquire its computer rival Sun Microsystems for US$7bn. have broken down.
IBM reportedlywithdrew its offer after Sun terminated IBM’s status as its exclusive negotiating partner.
The collapse of negotiations is likely to hurt Sun’s shares as a purchase was regarded as a positive move for the once-feted Silicon Valley company. A deal would also have helped IBM compete more effectively against rivals such as Hewlett-Packard.

Posted by Judith — 6:22 AM


Internet calling companies ask EU to ensure free access.

Source: Reuters.

Internet calling companies such as eBay unit Skype have called on European policymakers to adopt policies that let consumers access their services through smart phones on any public network.
The Voice on the Net (VON) coalition Europe, which also includes Google Inc, Microsoft Corp and Intel Corp, argues carriers are blocking their applications on their cellular or 3G networks, which limits consumer choice.
The appeal was sparked by news that German mobile operator T-Mobile, the wireless unit of Deutsche Telekom, did not allow customers to use the Skype application on the iPhone.

Posted by Judith — 5:19 AM


DoCoMo buys direct marketing company.

Source: BWCS.

Japanese mobile operator NTT DoCoMo is to take control of a popular, privately held, direct marketing company in Japan for Yen31bn. (US$308m.). The move is said to be aimed at growing the mobile giant’s m-commerce business as it bids to boost mobile data revenue in a near saturated market. The company is also reportedly strengthening its financial business, including electronic money payment and credit cards.

Posted by Judith — 3:15 AM


Starhub wins Singapore national broadband contract.

Source: Telecompaper.

StarHub has won the contract to operate Singapore’s next-generation broadband network. StarHub will establish the Next Gen NBN OpCo, called Nucleus Connect, to design, build and operate the active infrastructure. The government will provide a grant of up to SG$250m. to Nucleus Connect to support the infrastructure deployment.

Posted by Judith — 2:51 AM

Friday, April 3, 2009

KPN extends MPLS network.

Source: TeleGeography.

KPN International has announced that it has activated seven new PoPs in the US and the UK. In parallel the Dutch telco has quadrupled its transatlantic submarine cable capacity. The US PoPs are located in Chicago, Dallas, San Jose, New York, Miami and Ashburn (Virginia) with the UK PoP in Manchester. The development adds 12,000km to the KPN International network, raising the total to over 120,000km.

Posted by Judith — 4:45 AM


T-Mobile Germany blocks Skype access from iPhones.

Source: TeleGeography.

T-Mobile Germany will not allow its customers to use a new Skype application designed specifically for the iPhone.
AT&T in the US is prepared to allow the use of Skype software on iPhones when calls are made via wireless internet hotspots, while O2 in the UK has also chosen to give its customers access to the new application. Furthermore, an agreement between Skype and Nokia made in February established plans to deliver future phones with Skype software already installed, and Skype software for BlackBerries should be available by May.

Posted by Judith — 4:16 AM


Microsoft accepts defeat to Wikipedia and kills off Encarta.

Source: TimesOnline.

Microsoft has announced it will kill off Encarta, its encyclopaedia software and website, later this year.
After nearly 15 years since it arrived on shelves, Microsoft announced on its website that Encarta will stop being available by the end of the year in most places worldwide.

Posted by Judith — 3:21 AM


Ofcom implements termination rate reductions.

Source: TeleGeography.

British telecoms regulator Ofcom has ruled that mobile termination rates (MTRs) will be reduced by up to 21% in real terms as of today.
The ruling comes as part of as part of the regulator’s implementation of price controls for the next two years; Ofcom aims to have MTRs equalised for all mobile operators by the end of March 2011, and a further reduction in the rates is expected next year.

Posted by Judith — 2:48 AM


Italian MSE to auction 3G frequencies.

Source: TeleGeography.

Italy’s Ministry of Economic Development has announced plans to sell three blocks of vacant UMTS spectrum. The sale could raise EUR266.1m. (US$351.9m.), with blocks valued at EUR88.7m. each. The sale will be open to existing operators as well as newcomers to the 3G wireless market, with existing cellcos being restricted to a maximum of two blocks.

Posted by Judith — 2:44 AM

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Securities regulator recommends PCCW buyout be rejected.

Source: TeleGeography.

Hong Kong financial markets regulator, the Securities and Futures Commission, has told a court reviewing the proposed takeover and delisting of telecoms group PCCW to disallow the deal. Evidencewas presented to back up allegations of irregularities including so-called ‘vote buying’ to gain the approval of all minority shareholders for the transaction.

Posted by Judith — 12:00 PM


Telefonica, Vodafone set to bid for HanseNet.

Source: TeleGeography.

UK-based Vodafone Group and Telefonica of Spain are preparing bids for Telecom Italia’s German broadband service provider HanseNet. The two companies are working on preliminary, non-binding offers for HanseNet and have been asked to submit bids by 24 April. Other potential bidders include German ISP United Internet (1&1) and unidentified private-equity companies.

Posted by Judith — 11:32 AM


Qwest may sell long-distance network.

Source: TelecomPaper.

Qwest is considering selling its long-distance network in order to pay off some of its debt. The sale could raise US$ 2-3bn. Potential bidders include companies with similar networks, such as AT&T and Verizon, and smaller players like Level 3 Communications and TW Telecom.

Posted by Judith — 9:13 AM

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

AT&T, Verizon Business, 57 other businesses land US$50bn. GSA federal agencies contract.

Source: FierceTelecom.

AT&T and Verizon Business are among 59 businesses that will provide IT and professional services to federal agencies for up to 10 years under a U.S. General Service Administration contract award that has a total value of as much as US$50bn.
The Alliant program authorizes winners to negotiate with government agencies to serve as a services and solutions integrator and to provide a variety of services, including business process consulting and application development, communications applications and application management, data-center services, communication integration and management, networking, and secure-application optimization.

Posted by Judith — 3:12 AM


Russia’s MTS buys handset retailer Eldorado.

Source: Reuters.

MTS, Russia’s largest mobile phone operator, has announced that it has acquired handset retailer Eldorado, the latest in a series of moves aimed to strengthen its place in the local mobile distribution market.
According to reports the deal is worth US$22.5m.

Posted by Judith — 2:56 AM


E.U. poised to establish Telecommunications Regulator.

Source: NYT.

Lawmakers are moving to create a Europe-wide telecommunications regulator with the power to reverse policies in European Union member countries, a potentially major redistribution of power that could improve competition and lower prices across the Continent.
Negotiators representing the European Commission, the European Parliament and the 27 national telecommunications regulators of the E.U. met in Brussels to approve the agency, called the Body of European Regulators of Electronic Communications.

Posted by Judith — 2:24 AM

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