Press Clippings: February 2010
Major Industry items you might have missed
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Leap Wireless settles lawsuit for US$13.8m.
Source: cellular-news.
Leap Wireless has stated that it will pay US$13.8m. to settle a class-action lawsuit in Southern California over past accounting errors.
The company, which provides prepaid wireless service, said it has not admitted any wrongdoing and that it expects its insurance will cover the settlement.
Posted by Judith — 3:41 AM
Friday, February 26, 2010
BBC aims at iPhone market.
Source: BWCS.
The BBC’s commercial arm, BBC Worldwide, is preparing to enter the world of mobile phone applications. The broadcaster is reported to be keen to develop a series of iPhone applications featuring content from popular shows, past and present.
Posted by Judith — 3:19 AM
Samsung to unveil HDTVs with embedded Skype capability.
Source: Telecompaper.
Samsung is releasing a series models of high-definition televisions which will feature embedded Skype software allowing Skype users to make video and voice calls through the TVs.
Skype video calls and voice calls between Skype users will be free.
Posted by Judith — 2:37 AM
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Bell, Rogers and Telus complete testing inter-network video calling.
Source: TeleGeography.
Canada’s three largest mobile network operators - Rogers, Bell and Telus - have successfully completed trials of two-way mobile video calling between their respective networks. All three companies operate HSPA-based 3.5G networks but so far video calling has only been implemented commercially for on-net calls.
Posted by Judith — 8:53 AM
US broadband plan to recommend 500 MHz more mobile spectrum.
Source: Telecompaper.
FCC chairman Julius Genachowski has released more details of the upcoming National Broadband Plan, including plans to make at least 500 MHz of additional spectrum available over the next decade. To encourage broadcasters to give up some of their spectrum, the chairman proposed a “Mobile Future Auction”, where existing spectrum licensees can voluntarily relinquish spectrum in exchange for a share of auction proceeds.
Posted by Judith — 3:45 AM
Nortel accepts Genband offer with no auction for CVAS unit.
Source: Telecompaper.
Genband has won the bidding to acquire Nortel’s Carrier VoIP and Applications business (CVAS). Genband will pay a net price of US$182m. for the assets, and has partnered with One Equity Partners and other existing shareholders to finance the deal.
Posted by Judith — 3:08 AM
French operators sign 3G mobile network sharing agreement.
Source: Telecompaper.
French mobile network operators Orange, SFR and Bouygues Telecom have signed a framework agreement for sharing 3G network installations based on April 2009 guidelines set out by regulator Arcep applying the law on modernising the economy.
Posted by Judith — 2:51 AM
Telecom Italia delays results amid Sparkle tax probe.
Source: Telecompaper.
Telecom Italia has delayed the publication of its 2009 financial results as the operator deals with allegations of tax fraud at its carrier services unit Sparkle. The company announced that Italian authorities have seized around EUR300m. of Sparkle’s cash and borrowings.
Posted by Judith — 1:55 AM
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Google faces European competition inquiry.
Source: BBC.
The EC is looking into complaints about Google’s behaviour. The complaints were made by UK price comparison site Foundem, French legal search engine ejustice.fr, and Microsoft’s Ciao.
Posted by Judith — 3:58 AM
Yahoo! signs global contract with Twitter.
Source: Telecompaper.
Yahoo! has signed a global contract with Twitter to integrate Twitter’s real-time social experiences with people in Yahoo!’s global network. It will be possible to access personal Twitter feeds across Yahoo!’s many products and properties, including the homepage, Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! Sports.
Posted by Judith — 3:31 AM
ATC set to acquire Essar Telecom Infrastructure.
Source: TeleGeography.
US-based American Tower Corp (ATC) will purchase Essar Telecom Infrastructure (ETI) in an all-cash deal valued at US$450m. It is understood that alongside paying out US$350m. in equity ATC will also assume responsibility for ETI’s existing debts, which total around US$150m. ETI is one of India’s largest tower infrastructure firms, with around 4,500 towers in operation and a tenancy of 1.8 operators per tower.
Posted by Judith — 2:59 AM
Telekom Austria to merge landline and mobile division.
Source: cellular-news.
Telekom Austria Group has decided to merge its landline and mobile divisions in Austria - mobilkom austria and Telekom Austria. The Group said that the main objective of the merger will be to meet increasing customer demand for integrated telecommunications solutions and convergent products in Austria.
Posted by Judith — 2:38 AM
FCC Survey: 93m. Americans without broadband.
Source: Converge.
A total of 93m. Americans — one-third of the country — are not connected to high-speed Internet at home, according to the FCC’s newly-published National Broadband Plan Consumer Survey. This includes approximately 80m. adults and 13m. children over the age of five.
Posted by Judith — 2:07 AM
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
3G sale gets green light in India.
Source: BWCS.
The Indian government has announced that there are no longer any obstacles to its planned auction of 3G licences. In fact, barring any last minute mishaps, the process of selling off the spectrum set aside in India for 3G and broadband wireless services should start this week.
Posted by Judith — 3:07 AM
Mobile operators to fix own termination rates in NZ.
Source: BWCS.
The New Zealand Commerce Commission has decided not to recommend the regulation of mobile termination access rates in the country. In its final report delivered to the Communications Minister yesterday, the Commission recommended that he accept the undertakings offered by the two main mobile players Vodafone and Telecom New Zealand and that these should stand as an alternative to regulations.
Posted by Judith — 2:57 AM
China Unicom backtracks on NITEL bid involvement.
Source: TeleGeography.
After denying any involvement in a consortium which became the preferred buyer for Nigerian Telecommunications (NITEL), it is reported that China Unicom has now stated it would be interested in joining New Generation Telecommunications. In a bid to clarify confusion, Unicom said that its UK-based division Unicom Europe had been in contact with bidders taking part in the privatisation process and indicated an interest in providing technical and managerial support for the bid.
Posted by Judith — 2:40 AM
Microsoft, Amazon sign patent deal.
Source: Reuters.
Microsoft has announced that it has signed a patent agreement with Amazon that allows the two companies to share technology in several areas including Amazon’s Kindle electronic book reader and Amazon’s use of Linux-based servers.
Posted by Judith — 2:06 AM
Monday, February 22, 2010
Cisco to not renew system integrator contract with HP.
Source: Telecompaper.
Cisco will not renew its system integrator contract with HP when it expires on 30 April. Thus HP will no longer be a Cisco Certified Channel or Global Service Alliance partner. Cisco has also rolled out discussions with HP around a new agreement to ensure business continuity for existing customers and better reflect the current state of their relationship.
Posted by Judith — 3:34 AM
Friday, February 19, 2010
Alcatel to pay US$137m. to avoid U.S. prosecution.
Source: BusinessWeek.
Alcatel-Lucent has agreed to pay US$137.4m. and change internal procedures to avoid U.S. prosecution for alleged bribes paid in Costa Rica, Taiwan and Kenya.
Under an agreement in principle, the Justice Department would defer prosecution of Alcatel on charges it violated the internal controls and books and records provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Alcatel will enter into a three-year probationary period and agree to a French anti-corruption monitor.
Posted by Judith — 6:09 AM
Yahoo!, Microsoft start to implement search alliance.
Source: Telecompaper.
Microsoft and Yahoo! have received clearance for their search agreement, without restrictions, from both the US Department of Justice and the EC. Implementation of the deal will involve transitioning Yahoo!’s algorithmic and paid search platforms to Microsoft with Yahoo! becoming the exclusive relationship sales force for both companies’ premium search advertisers globally.
Posted by Judith — 4:01 AM
Google buys reMail.
Source: InformationWeek.
Google has acquired reMail, a company started by a former employee, which makes an e-mail search application for the iPhone.
Posted by Judith — 3:34 AM
Telefonica concludes HanseNet purchase.
Source: TeleGeography.
European telecoms company Telefonica has announced the completion of its acquisition of Telecom Italia’s German broadband unit HanseNet via its regional unit Telefonica O2 Deutschland. Telefonica has said it now expects to start offering HanseNet services, which are offered under the ‘Alice’ banner, in O2 stores from March 2010.
Posted by Judith — 3:18 AM
Thursday, February 18, 2010
US agency to investigate Blackberry and iPhone makers.
Source: BBC.
The US International Trade Commission has said it will investigate the makers of the iPhone and Blackberry over technology used in their handsets.
The case was prompted by a complaint by camera firm Kodak against Apple and RIM, the makers of the smartphones.
Kodak alleges the iPhone and Blackberry use technology for previewing pictures that infringe Kodak patents.
Posted by Judith — 3:34 AM
Daisy begins 2010 with another acquisition.
Source: TeleGeography.
In line with its previous claims that it would look to make further acquisitions in 2010, UK telco Daisy Group has offered around GBP10.45m. for the entire stake of local operator BNS Telecom Group.
BNS is a VoIP carrier and reseller of fixed and mobile lines, minutes, data and hardware and other value-added services, and in the twelve months to end July 2009 it had a turnover of GBP36.9m.
Posted by Judith — 3:00 AM
Willcom files for bankruptcy.
Source: Telecompaper.
Japanese PHS service provider Willcom has filed for bankruptcy protection, initiating a re-building process which has been in the works for some time. Willcom’s rehabilitation will be supported by Softbank and investment fund Advantage Partners.
Posted by Judith — 2:35 AM
Telecom N.Z. joins Unicom in denying involvement in Nigeria bid.
Source: BusinessWeek.
Telecom NZ has stated that it isn’t part of any group that bid for Nigerian Telecommunications, joining China Unicom (Hong Kong) in contradicting a Nigerian government statement.
Posted by Judith — 2:12 AM
Qtel signs strategic alliance with Microsoft.
Source: TeleGeography.
Microsoft and Qatar Telecom have signed a broad strategic alliance to develop integrated cloud-based services, software applications, mobile services and devices over Qtel’s converged networks. The partnership aims to expand Qtel’s service portfolio including corporate and consumer-focused applications, with the first resultant products planned to be on the market by mid-2010.
Posted by Judith — 2:07 AM
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Skype strikes first major mobile deal.
Source: Reuters.
Internet telephony firm Skype has made its first major leap into cellphones, striking a deal with the largest U.S. mobile carrier Verizon Wireless.
While operators such as AT&T Inc tolerate customers using Skype applications on cellphones, Verizon is the first U.S. operator to actively push the service, which will work on phones such as Research In Motion’s BlackBerry.
Posted by Judith — 4:31 AM
IBM acquires Intelliden.
Source: InformationWeek.
IBM has announced that it has bought out Intelliden, a provider of network automation software for telecom companies and other service providers.
IBM said it plans to integrate Intelliden’s offerings into its Tivoli line of middleware.
Posted by Judith — 4:03 AM
BBC to offer iPhone apps for news and sport.
Source: BBC.
The BBC has announced it will offer iPhone applications for its news and sport content starting in April.
The free apps will be followed by versions for BlackBerry and phones running Google’s Android software.
Posted by Judith — 4:01 AM
FCC to propose faster broadband speeds.
Source: Reuters.
The U.S. FCC has unveiled a plan that would require Internet providers to offer minimum home connection speeds by 2020, a proposal that some telecommunications companies panned as unrealistic.
The FCC wants service providers to offer home Internet data transmission speeds of 100Mbps to 100 million homes by a decade from now. Industry estimates generally put average U.S. Internet speeds at below 4Mbps.
Posted by Judith — 3:49 AM
China Unicom consortium emerges as preferred buyer for ailing NITEL.
Source: TeleGeography.
Nigeria’s Bureau of Public Enterprises has announced that New Generation Telecommunications, a consortium involving China Unicom, has become the preferred buyer for indebted incumbent fixed line operator Nigerian Telecommunications (NITEL), after beating four other firms with a bid of US$2.5bn.
Posted by Judith — 2:41 AM
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Alca-Lu, Orange complete first phase of LTE tests.
Source: TeleGeography.
French-US telecoms equipment manufacturer Alcatel-Lucent and France Telecom (Orange) yesterday announced the successful completion of the initial phase of Long Term Evolution technology trials over a live network in France.
Posted by Judith — 4:25 AM
Televisa buys 30% in Nextel Mexico for US$1.44bn.
Source: Telecompaper.
Mexican pay-TV provider and media group Televisa has agreed to buy a stake in NII Holdings’ local unit, the mobile operator Nextel Mexico. Televisa will pay US$1.44bn. cash for an initial 30% equity stake in Nextel Mexico. Televisa will also receive an option to acquire an additional 7.5% stake in Nextel Mexico from the third or fourth anniversary of the completion of the initial transaction.
Posted by Judith — 3:49 AM
NEC to construct femtocell network for Network Norway.
Source: TeleGeography.
Japan’s NEC has revealed that it will roll out what it claims will be Norway’s first femtocell network for local mobile operator Network Norway. Under the deal between the two companies, Network Norway’s enterprise customers will be able to utilise NEC’s femtocell access points with their broadband routers, while the Japanese vendor will also provide Network Norway with the NEC femto gateway and access point management systems.
Posted by Judith — 3:03 AM
Monday, February 15, 2010
Mobile operators form Wholesale Applications Community .
Source: Telecompaper.
Twenty-four telecommunications operators have formed the Wholesale Applications Community, an alliance to build an open platform that delivers applications to all mobile phone users. America Movil, AT&T, Bharti Airtel, China Mobile, China Unicom, Deutsche Telekom, KT, Mobilkom Austria group, MTN Group, NTT DoCoMo, Orange, Orascom Telecom, Softbank Mobile, Telecom Italia, Telefonica, Telenor Group, TeliaSonera, SingTel, SK Telecom, Sprint, Verizon Wireless, VimpelCom, Vodafone and Wind will create an ecosystem for the development and distribution of mobile and internet applications irrespective of device or technology. The GSMA and LG Electronics, Samsung and Sony Ericsson also support this initiative.
Posted by Judith — 4:55 AM
Nokia and Intel merge high-end software.
Source: Reuters.
Nokia and Intel will merge their top-end smartphone software as they face increasing pressure from cellphone industry newcomers Google and Apple.
Nokia has announced that it will merge its Linux Maemo software platform, used in its flagship N900 phone, with Intel’s Moblin, also a version of Linux.
The deal is set to boost Intel’s chances to get its chips into the cellphones of the Finnish company, which controls around 40% of the global phone market.
Posted by Judith — 3:26 AM
Orange expands mobile HD voice rollout plans in Europe.
Source: Telecompaper.
Orange is ramping up its planned rollout of mobile HD voice services in Europe with the addition of France, Spain and Luxembourg to its 2010 roadmap.
Posted by Judith — 3:00 AM
Vodafone launch ‘world’s cheapest phone’.
Source: BBC.
Mobile phone operator Vodafone has launched what it says is the “lowest-cost mobile phone on Earth”.
The Vodafone 150, unveiled at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, will sell for “below US$15” (GBP10) and is aimed at the developing world.
It will initially be launched in India, Turkey and eight African countries including Lesotho, Kenya and Ghana.
Posted by Judith — 2:22 AM
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Europe approves H.P.’s takeover of 3Com.
Source: NYT.
Hewlett-Packard has won approval from competition regulators in the European Union for its takeover of the 3Com Corporation, reinforcing its presence in the network equipment market.
H.P. agreed in November to pay US$3bn. for the network equipment maker 3Com, aiming to expand its product portfolio, increase sales in the fast-growing Chinese market and better compete with Cisco Systems.
Posted by Judith — 5:19 AM
Friday, February 12, 2010
Motorola to split business into two in 2011.
Source: Reuters.
Motorola has announced that it aims to split into two companies in the first quarter of 2011, one to focus on cellphones and television set-top boxes, and the other on enterprise networking.
Posted by Judith — 4:07 AM
Google to buy search engine Aardvark.
Source: CNN.
Google is reported to have signed an agreement to acquire social search engine Aardvark.
Aardvark is a relatively new startup from former Googlers that uses social distribution channels to get immediate answers to your questions.
Posted by Judith — 3:34 AM
Eircom announces restructuring plan and shift in focus.
Source: TeleGeography.
Eircom plans to implement a major reorganisation of the company, including a shift in business focus towards the open embrace of wholesale broadband opportunities and fibre upgrades for its mobile base stations.
Posted by Judith — 3:09 AM
Thursday, February 11, 2010
JDS Uniphase buys Agilent network testing unit.
Source: Telecompaper.
JDSU has agreed to acquire the Network Solutions communications test business of Agilent, including the unit’s LTE network verification and deployment products, for US$165m. in cash.
The Agilent unit has approximately 700 employees with business operations located in Colorado, the UK, Singapore and Beijing.
Posted by Judith — 3:01 AM
Orange France to invest EUR2bn. in fibre network by 2015.
Source: Telecompaper.
Orange France plans to invest approximately EUR2bn. between now and 2015 in deploying fibre in France’s big cities. The company said conditions were now in place for a resumption of investment following the recent clarification of the regulatory framework for very high-speed broadband deployment.
Posted by Judith — 2:41 AM
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Google to offer ‘ultra high-speed’ broadband in US.
Source: BBC.
Google is spreading its wings in yet another direction - this time as a network provider, offering super-fast broadband to thousands of US homes.
It plans to build a fibre-optic network offering speeds of up to 1Gbps to up to 500,000 homes.
Posted by Judith — 11:34 AM
AT&T awards LTE contracts to Ericsson, Alcatel-Lucent.
Source: Telecompaper.
AT&T announced plans to start trials of LTE services later this year and awarded contracts to Ericsson and Alcatel-Lucent for the network equipment. The commercial launch of services on the new network is scheduled for 2011, when LTE devices should be widely available.
Posted by Judith — 6:27 AM
Google takes on Facebook and Twitter with network site.
Source: BBC.
Google has taken the wraps off its latest social network known as Buzz.
The service - integrated directly with its e-mail service Gmail - allows users to post status updates, share content and read and comment on friends’ posts.
Buzz will try to capitalise on the number of regular Gmail users, which is currently around 170m. people.
Posted by Judith — 3:17 AM
China Unicom, Telefonica plan joint projects in Asia, Africa.
Source: Telecompaper.
China Unicom and Telefonica seek to launch future joint investments on markets where they are not curently present. The companies will initially explore opportunities in Asia and Africa.
China Unicom and Telefonica together serve over 550m. customers, with operations in Europe, Asia and Latin America. Telefonica owns around 8% of China Unicom, which in turn holds 0.87% of the Spanish operator.
Posted by Judith — 2:36 AM
Windstream closes NuVox deal, gets big SMB base.
Source: xchange.
Windstream has closed the acquisition of privately held CLEC NuVox in a deal that gives the rural ILEC a much-needed business focus.
The value of the takeover - announced Nov. 3, 2009 - rose from an initial US$643m. to US$647m.
The Arkansas-based Windstream added about 90,000 business customers in 16 states with the NuVox takeover
Posted by Judith — 2:04 AM
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Sutel postpones publication of bidding rules for mobile.
Source: TeleGeography.
Costa Rica’s telecoms regulator Sutel is reported to have postponed the publication of bidding rules for an auction of mobile spectrum planned for 5 February because of ‘logistical’ issues.
Costa Rica is due to be one of the last countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to liberalise its mobile telephony market as part of the Central America and Dominican Republic free trade agreement with the US. Digicel, Cable & Wireless, Millicom, America Movil and Telefonica have all expressed interest in entering the market.
Posted by Judith — 5:04 AM
BT to launch fixed telephony in Brazil in March.
Source: TeleGeography.
UK-based telecoms operator BT Group plans to launch a commercial fixed telephony service in Brazil next month. The new services, which are said to be ‘completely tested’ and ready for launch, will be provided through BT Global Services.
Posted by Judith — 4:50 AM
Vodafone Enterprise signs 4-year Oracle deal.
Source: Reuters.
Vodafone Group has secured a four-year deal to provide Oracle with voice, data and management services to employees in the EMEA region.
Vodafone said its Global Enterprise unit would supply services to over 16,000 Oracle employees in the European, Middle East and Africa region on a fixed-fee, per-user basis.
Posted by Judith — 3:46 AM
BT’s 24Mbps wholesale service available to 50% of the UK.
Source: TeleGeography.
BT has claimed that it has enabled more than half of the UK’s exchanges with its 21CN-based Wholesale Broadband Connect product, offering downlink speeds of up to 24Mbps. The service is now reported to be available in more than 730 local exchanges across the country, with the telco noting that it is currently ahead of its rollout schedule.
Posted by Judith — 3:40 AM
GrameenPhone agrees to share infrastructure with AKTEL.
Source: TeleGeography.
Hot on the heels of its infrastructure sharing agreement with its nearest rival Banglalink, Bangladeshi mobile market leader GrameenPhone has signed a similar deal with AKTEL. The deal is expected to cut GP’s operational costs whilst AKTEL users will get better coverage via GP’s nationwide infrastructure.
Posted by Judith — 2:38 AM
Monday, February 8, 2010
BT to share cable duct network with rivals.
Source: FT.com.
BT is preparing to open up its underground cable ducts so that rivals can run their own high-speed broadband networks through the telecoms company’s infrastructure.
BT’s willingness to open up its ducts marks an important policy shift by the company, and emphasises the intensifying political and business pressure that it faces.
Posted by Judith — 4:06 AM
Vodafone Qatar agrees to provide landing station for GBI cable.
Source: TeleGeography.
Vodafone Qatar has formally agreed to provide a landing station for Gulf Bridge International’s (GBI’s) submarine fibre-optic cable in Qatar. The GBI Cable System will connect all the countries of the Gulf region to each other and provide onward connectivity to Europe and Asia.
Posted by Judith — 3:11 AM
TelstraClear launches 3G over Vodafone’s network.
Source: TeleGeography.
MVNO TelstraClear has launched a 3G service over Vodafone’s network for business customers following the success of a two month pilot scheme.
The cellco used to provide services over Vodafone’s network but switched to Telecom in 2007 following a dispute. It decided to move back to Vodafone after Telecom decided in May 2009 not to allow the MVNO to piggyback on its 3G network.
Posted by Judith — 2:13 AM
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Facebook removes Microsoft banner ads from site.
Source: Reuters.
Facebook is taking full control of display ads on the world’s No. 1 social networking website, cutting short an exclusive deal that had allowed Microsoft Corp to manage part of that business.
Posted by Judith — 6:54 AM
Vodafone Ireland to invest heavily in 3.5G.
Source: TeleGeography.
Vodafone’s Irish subsidiary is to spend tens of million of euros in the upgrade of its national mobile network to so-called ‘3.5G’ technology.
Despite a difficult economic climate in the Republic, Vodafone Ireland added 26,000 net new mobile subscribers during three months to 31 December 2009, raising its total to just under 2.15 million - the highest among the country’s mobile operators.
Posted by Judith — 5:32 AM
Friday, February 5, 2010
FT’s new CEO targets joint ventures, but rules out major purchases.
Source: TeleGeography.
France Telecom’s incoming chief executive officer Stephane Richard, who will replace Didier Lombard from 1 March 2010, has ruled out the possibility of making any major acquisitions in the short term, but will instead seek out opportunities to grow in Europe through joint ventures.
Posted by Judith — 4:24 AM
Abu Dhabi Group to sell Warid Telecom stake.
Source: Telecompaper.
The Abu Dhabi Group is in talks with several Pakistani telecommunications groups to sell a controlling stake in Warid Telecom in a deal that would create the largest mobile operator in the country.
Posted by Judith — 3:21 AM
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Leap hires advisors for possible sale.
Source: TeleGeography.
US cellco Leap Wireless is reported to have hired Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to advise the operator on a sale as it looks for potential suitors. Leap has reportedly approached a number of potential buyers in recent days, including rival cellcos such as MetroPCS, Verizon, and AT&T.
Posted by Judith — 4:40 AM
Broadcom to acquire Teknovus.
Source: Converge.
Broadcom will acquire Teknovus, a leading supplier of Ethernet Passive Optical Network chipsets and software for approximately US$123m. in cash.
The companies note that EPON represents approximately 94% of the FTTx (e.g. Fiber-to-the-Home) connections in the Asia Pacific region.
Posted by Judith — 4:05 AM
Symbian phone operating system goes open source.
Source: BBC.
The group behind the world’s most popular smartphone operating system - Symbian - is giving away “billions of dollars” worth of code for free.
The Symbian Foundation’s announced that it would make its code open source in 2008 and has now completed the move.
Posted by Judith — 2:28 AM
Monster buys Yahoo job site.
Source: NYT.
Monster Worldwide has announced that it has agreed to buy Yahoo’s HotJobs site for US$225m., citing an improving job market.
The deal would take Yahoo out of online recruitment, leaving Monster with only one major competitor, careerbuilder.com.
Posted by Judith — 2:12 AM
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Comcast to acquire New Global Telecom.
Source: Light Reading.
Comcast has confirmed a report that it has agreed to buy VoIP service provider New Global Telecom. The deal will help the MSO further accelerate its pursuit of small and mid-sized business customers.
Posted by Judith — 7:22 AM
Russian government clears Telenor-Alfa deal.
Source: Reuters.
Russia’s government has cleared a deal that will see Norway’s Telenor and Russia’s Alfa-Group pool their Russian and Ukrainian holdings in a new New-York listed firm, Vimpelcom Ltd.
Telenor and Alfa agreed to merge their holdings in Vimpelcom, Russia’s second-biggest mobile phone operator, and Ukraine’s Kyivstar in October 2009, ending one of Russia’s longest corporate wars.
Posted by Judith — 6:20 AM
DAVE to launch as ‘Mobilicity’ in Toronto this spring.
Source: TeleGeography.
Canadian start-up cellco DAVE has announced that it will launch commercial services this spring in Toronto under the name Mobilicity. The company plans to roll out ‘value and unlimited plans’ across its spectrum licence areas covering ten of Canada’s largest cities.
Posted by Judith — 4:20 AM
OFT requests UK review of Orange, T-Mobile merger.
Source: Telecompaper.
The UK’s Office of Fair Trading has confirmed it made a request to the EC to refer the UK aspects of the proposed joint venture between Orange UK and T-Mobile UK to the OFT. The OFT has formed an initial opinion that the proposed merger threatens to have a significant impact on competition in the UK mobile market.
Posted by Judith — 4:17 AM
GrameenPhone and Banglalink share rural infrastructure.
Source: TeleGeography.
Bangladesh’s first and second largest mobile operators by users, GrameenPhone (GP) and Banglalink, have agreed to share network infrastructure to cut the cost of providing services to rural areas. Foremost, the partnership will help Banglalink expand its coverage via larger rival GP’s network.
Posted by Judith — 3:22 AM
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
BT to consolidate mobile, fixed networks for O2 UK.
Source: Telecompaper.
O2 UK has signed a five-year multi-million pound managed services contract with BT Wholesale to consolidate its mobile and fixed core networks into a single, cost-effective network using the BT 21CN platform.
Posted by Judith — 3:43 AM
KDDI’s J:COM deal could be hit with US$884m. fine.
Source: TeleGeography.
KDDI of Japan’s bid to buy into fellow telco Jupiter Telecommunications has hit an obstacle with the news that financial regulators are investigating the legality of the plan and could slap an US$884m. fine on the telecom firm. Lawyers have raised a question that, as the purchase would give KDDI a one-third stake in J:COM and make it its biggest single shareholder, it needs to make a public tender offer for the shares and seek shareholder approval.
Posted by Judith — 2:45 AM
Etisalat raises stake in Atlantic Telecom to 100%.
Source: Telecompaper.
UAE-based operator Etisalat has acquired an additional 18% in Atlantique Telecom for US$75m., thus increasing its shareholding to 100%. Atlantique Telecom holds controlling stakes in telecom operators in Ivory Coast, Benin, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Niger, Togo and Central Africa Republic.
Posted by Judith — 2:41 AM
Monday, February 1, 2010
AT&T to invest US$2bn. in mobile network.
Source: CNN.
AT&T has announced that it will invest an additional US$2bn. in its network in 2010 to make sure it keeps up with the growing demand from new smartphones and other 3G data devices, such as the Apple iPad, on its network.
Posted by Judith — 4:49 AM
Vodafone in double German push.
Source: BWCS.
Vodafone, under pressure to beef up its European performance, has relaunched o.tel.o as its mobile discount brand in Germany.
Meanwhile, in a bid to boost its triple play customer base, Vodafone has announced plans to roll out a fibre-based VDSL network in 750 urban regions across Germany.
Posted by Judith — 3:31 AM
Qualcomm targets Korea.
Source: BWCS.
US chip-maker Qualcomm is to invest in a new Research and Development centre in Korea. The new venture will be linked directly to local high tech companies. The centre will be second such outpost established by Qualcomm in the last twelve months following a recent decision to construct an R&D centre in China.
Posted by Judith — 3:04 AM
EC gives go-ahead to Telefonica’s acquisition of HanseNet.
Source: TeleGeography.
The EC has cleared the proposed acquisition of Telecom Italia’s German broadband unit HanseNet by Telefonica O2 Deutschland. The EC concluded that the takeover would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area or any substantial part of it.
Posted by Judith — 2:28 AM
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