Press Clippings: July 2010
Major Industry items you might have missed
Saturday, July 31, 2010
BlackBerry maker to launch tablet in November.
Source: Reuters.
RIM is reported to be about to introduce a tablet computer to compete with Apple iPad.
The maker of the BlackBerry smartphone will call the device the Blackpad, according to one of the sources.
Posted by Judith — 4:13 AM
Friday, July 30, 2010
Best Buy to use Clearwire network for Connect service.
Source: Telecompaper.
US retailer Best Buy has agreed to resell Clearwire’s Wimax service as part of its recently launched Best Buy Connect mobile internet service. This is Clearwire’s first wholesale agreement beyond those with its shareholders - Sprint, Bright House, Time Warner Cable and Comcast already sell the Wimax service under their own names.
Posted by Judith — 2:52 AM
Juniper Networks to acquire SMobile.
Source: InformationWeek.
Network infrastructure provider Juniper Networks has announced this week it will purchase SMobile Systems, which makes security software for smartphones and tablets, for US$70m. in cash.
Posted by Judith — 1:48 AM
Vodafone signs MVNO deal with UK landline operator.
Source: cellular-news.
The recently demerged UK domestic landline and internet services provider, TalkTalk Group has signed an MVNO agreement with Vodafone. This autumn, it will be adding contract mobile voice tariffs and mobile broadband to its range of services for its existing and new landline and broadband customers.
TalkTalk entered the home phone market in 2003 and the home broadband market in 2006.
Posted by Judith — 1:08 AM
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Iinet to buy AAPT’s retail business.
Source: Telecompaper.
Australian ISP iiNet is thought to be the preferred buyer of AAPT’s retail unit, after rival TPG Telecom failed to acquire the whole business. Telecom New Zealand has been hoping to sell the whole Australian unit in a AU$300million-plus deal, but has decided to split the business in a wholesale and retail unit instead.
Posted by Judith — 2:02 AM
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Mobile broadband spectrum auctions get green light.
Source: BBC.
The long-awaited sell-off of airwaves crucial for next-generation mobile services has finally moved a step closer.
The UK government has said auctions will take place late next year, after months of wrangling between the operators.
Posted by Judith — 10:34 AM
Hutchison brings fixed broadband, telephony under ‘3’ brand.
Source: TeleGeography.
Hutchison Whampoa’s domestic subsidiary Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings (HTHKH) has rebranded the group’s residential fixed broadband and telephony services under the ‘3’ umbrella made famous by its mobile voice/internet services.
Posted by Judith — 5:17 AM
Telefonica confirms PT’s Vivo stake acquisition.
Source: Telecompaper.
Telefonica has reached an agreement with Portugal Telecom to acquire its 50% stake in Brasilcel, the company that controls 60% of Brazilian mobile operator Vivo.
Posted by Judith — 3:29 AM
Telstra fined for blocking rivals.
Source: BBC.
Telecoms giant Telstra has been fined AUS$18.5m. (US$16.6m) for blocking rivals from accessing its infrastructure.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said the federal court fined the firm for denying access to broadband exchanges.
Posted by Judith — 2:47 AM
Pacnet, Pacific Fibre to jointly build undersea cable.
Source: Telecompaper.
Asian telecommunications service providers Pacnet and Pacific Fibre plan to jointly build the Pacific Fibre cable, a subsea fibre-optic cable that will boost connectivity between Australia, New Zealand and the US.
Posted by Judith — 1:31 AM
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Federal ruling allows smartphone users to alter software.
Source: Reuters.
The U.S. copyright office issued exemptions to a copyright law, giving legal protection for people who unlock their smartphones.
Changing operators’ fixed phone settings — a concept known as ‘jailbreaking’ — has become widely popular around the world since the 2007 introduction of Apple’s iPhone.
The move by the copyright office to give exemptions to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), will undermine handset makers like Apple’s ability to control the installation of software programs on their phones.
Posted by Judith — 5:13 AM
Everything Everywhere inks MVNO deal with Econet.
Source: TeleGeography.
The new joint venture between UK mobile network operators Orange UK and T-Mobile UK, Everything Everywhere, has signed its first MVNO agreement since the two cellcos partnered up. The JV has inked a virtual operator deal with South African-based telecoms group Econet Wireless Group, and under the terms of the agreement Econet will look to focus its attention on providing low-cost international calls to African communities in the UK.
Posted by Judith — 4:51 AM
HTC signs smartphone deal with China Mobile.
Source: cellular-news.
Taiwan based smartphone manufacturer, HTC has launched its brand and first HTC-branded devices in China. As part of its mobile operator focus, HTC also announced a partnership with China Mobile to bring future HTC phones to market and announced a new distribution partnership with China’s largest electronics distributor, GOME Electrical Appliances.
Posted by Judith — 4:39 AM
Imagine confirms purchase of Clearwire Ireland.
Source: Telecompaper.
Irish WiMAX phone and broadband provider Imagine Communications Group has confirmed the acquisition of Clearwire’s Irish business. Following this deal, Imagine now has almost 400 high sites nationwide to facilitate the roll-out of its WiMAX network.
Posted by Judith — 3:19 AM
EU opens anti-trust probe of IBM mainframe business.
Source: Reuters.
European Union competition regulators launched two anti-trust investigations against IBM, suspecting it of abusing its dominant position in the mainframe computer market.
One investigation followed complaints by emulator software vendors T3 and TurboHercules against IBM’s practices.
The second probe, opened on the European Commission’s own initiative, concerns alleged discriminatory behavior toward competing suppliers of mainframe maintenance services.
Posted by Judith — 2:43 AM
UK ‘misled’ on broadband speeds.
Source: BBC.
Britons are not getting the broadband services they are being sold, research by the regulator Ofcom suggests.
Its analysis of broadband speeds in the UK shows that, for some services, 97% of consumers do not get the advertised speed.
It also shows a growing gap between the claims ISPs make for broadband and the speed being delivered.
To fix the problem, Ofcom is revamping the code of conduct for ISPs and asking for changes to how broadband is sold.
Posted by Judith — 2:06 AM
Monday, July 26, 2010
Pace to acquire 2Wire for US$475m.
Source: Telecompaper.
Digital TV technologies developer Pace announced the proposed acquisition of broadband services provider 2Wire for US$475m. cash. 2Wire is currently owned by a consortium including Alcatel-Lucent, AT&T, Telmex, and Oak Investment Partners.
Posted by Judith — 3:51 AM
Yahoo Japan to use Google search.
Source: BBC.
Yahoo Japan has said that it will adopt Google’s search engine technology, rather than Microsoft’s which is used by its strategic partner Yahoo Inc.
The company said the deal would not affect the position of Yahoo Inc as its strategic partner.
Posted by Judith — 1:16 AM
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Apple postpones white IPhone 4 to later this year.
Source: BusinessWeek.
Apple Inc. has delayed the release of the white iPhone 4 for the second time, saying the model is still harder to manufacture than expected.
Posted by Judith — 4:35 AM
Friday, July 23, 2010
Sprint completes US$75m. ‘spectrum clearing’ project.
Source: TeleGeography.
Wireless provider Sprint Nextel has announced that it has completed its five-year, US$750m. project to clear wireless spectrum for the government’s national broadband internet plan. The work was completed across the US and Puerto Rico, culminating in Anchorage, Alaska, which was the last of the 213 markets affected.
Posted by Judith — 3:22 AM
BSkyB divests business to business unit.
Source: TeleGeography.
British broadband provider BSkyB has confirmed that it is selling business to business telecoms unit Easynet to Lloyds Development Capital (LDC), a private equity house backing Easynet’s current management. The deal is reported to be worth approximately GBP100m. (US$152m.), less than half of the GBP211m. BSkyB spent on acquiring the company back in 2005.
Posted by Judith — 2:57 AM
Cablevision buying Bresnan Communications.
Source: Forbes.
Cable TV and Internet provider Cablevision Systems has announced that it will buy fellow cable operator Bresnan Communications in a deal valued at US$1.365bn.
Bresnan currently serves more than 630,000 homes in Colorado, Montana, Wyoming and Utah.
Posted by Judith — 1:27 AM
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Motorola sues Huawei for trade secret theft.
Source: Reuters.
U.S. mobile phone maker Motorola has sued China’s Huawei Technologies for alleged theft of trade secrets, highlighting the fast-growing Chinese firm’s difficulty in shaking the nation’s reputation for piracy.
Posted by Judith — 2:25 AM
Nigeria telecoms firms sign up to new broadband cable.
Source: Reuters.
Three telecoms firms have subscribed to a new undersea cable linking Nigeria and West Africa to Europe, paving the way for a transformation in internet access in Africa’s fastest-growing telecoms market.
The operator Main One Cable Company stated that The Nigerian arm of Etisalat, South Africa’s MTN and Nigeria’s Starcomms are among the first to sign up for broadband services from the cable.
Posted by Judith — 1:51 AM
KDDI, Docomo pitch mobile TV proposals.
Source: Telecompaper.
Japanese operators KDDI and NTT Docomo have pitched their plans for new mobile broadcasting services to the communications ministry. The government is planning to issue one licence for a new mobile broadcasting service, which is scheduled to launch in spring 2012.
Posted by Judith — 1:05 AM
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Nokia Siemens wins US$7bn. deal.
Source: Reuters.
Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) has won an eight-year contract worth more than US$7bn. with an upstart U.S. operator looking to build a high-speed wireless network to offer wholesale services in the fiercely competitive market.
Under the agreement, which analysts say may be the largest order ever placed in the mobile telecoms gear industry, NSN will build and operate a network for LightSquared, a new venture backed by Harbinger Capital Partners.
Posted by Judith — 4:13 AM
FCC reports finds operators failing in broadband roll-out.
Source: Telecompaper.
The US FCC has issued a report on the availability of broadband in the country, saying operators are failing to reach the entire population. The report shows 14-24 million Americans lack access to broadband. The report concludes that the goal of universal availability is not being met in a timely way.
Posted by Judith — 1:51 AM
Verizon: 4G launch set for 15 November.
Source: TeleGeography.
Verizon Wireless will launch its LTE network on 15 November, although initially only data cards and USB dongles are expected to be available. Smartphones for the 4G network are expected to begin arriving in early 2011. The launch is likely to take place in some 30 cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Philadelphia, as well as ten airport locations.
Posted by Judith — 1:51 AM
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Nokia Siemens buys Motorola networks unit for US$1.2 bn.
Source: Telecompaper.
NSN has agreed to buy most of Motorola’s mobile network equipment business for US$1.2bn. in cash, strengthening its position as the number-two global network equipment provider. NSN said the deal will give it access to more than 50 new operator customers and strengthen its relationship with big operators such as Verizon Wireless, KDDI, China Mobile, Sprint and Vodafone. The deal is expected to make it the number three wireless network equipment provider in the US.
Posted by Judith — 4:35 AM
Broadband provider Orcon enters NZ wireless market.
Source: TeleGeography.
NZ internet provider Orcon has launched a new mobile service this week, promising to ‘shake up the market’ by scrapping fixed-term contracts. The broadband operator, which is itself owned by State-owned telco Kordia, will be operating as an MVNO, re-selling minutes that it has ‘bulk-bought’ from Vodafone.
Posted by Judith — 3:32 AM
Google stops selling Nexus One phone.
Source: CNN.
With the eyes of the technology world squarely on Apple’s iPhone 4, Google has quietly announced it will stop selling the Nexus One, its first and possibly only foray into the smartphone world.
Posted by Judith — 1:20 AM
Monday, July 19, 2010
Ericsson signs major managed services contract in China.
Source: BWCS.
Ericsson has signed a major managed services agreement with a provincial wing of China Mobile, known as China Mobile Hebei. Under the terms of the deal, the Swedish vendor will look after all 22,000 mobile stations in the province of Hebei, in a three year maintenance agreement. Hebei is home to 70 million people, 35 million of whom are subscribers to China Mobile Hebei’s services.
Posted by Judith — 3:36 AM
Telefonica turns back on PT Vivo stake bid.
Source: TeleGeography.
Telefonica of Spain has dropped its bid for Portugal Telecom’s stake in their Brazilian mobile joint venture Vivo Participacoes, declining an application for more time to consider the offer from its Portuguese partner. This latest development now sets the stage for a legal battle over Vivo’s future.
Posted by Judith — 3:13 AM
Cable Companies bid for mobile spectrum in Spain.
Source: BWCS.
Four regional cable operators have joined forces to jointly bid for mobile spectrum in the promised sale of Spanish radio frequencies. The quartet: Euskaltel, Telecable, ONO and R, plan to use the spectrum to offer voice and mobile broadband services. The sale will cover radio spectrum in the 800MHz and 900MHz and 2.1GHz and 2.6GHz bands and is due to take place next year.
Posted by Judith — 2:38 AM
MTS acquires broadband provider Multiregion.
Source: TeleGeography.
Mobile TeleSystems (MTS), the leading cellco in Russia by subscribers, has announced that it has acquired a 100% stake in Multiregion - a broadband and cable TV provider with a strong customer base in the Russian regions - from Cyprus-based Cavolo Trading Limited. The purchase price amounts to RUB3.67bn. (US$123.5m.).
Posted by Judith — 2:04 AM
China to merge Datang, Potevio.
Source: Telecompaper.
The Chinese government will merge two state-owned telecommunications equipment makers, Datang and Potevio, before the end of this year. The merged entity is expected to become the third-biggest telecommunications equipment maker in China, after Huawei Technologies and ZTE.
Posted by Judith — 1:46 AM
Clearwire buys Imagine stake.
Source: TeleGeography.
US-based broadband services provider Clearwire has acquired a minority equity stake in Imagine Communications, the Irish alternative telecoms operator. It is understood the US firm has purchased a 7% stake in Imagine. Clearwire is paying EUR5m. in cash as part of the deal and will also hand over a large portion of its Irish business and customer base to Imagine.
Posted by Judith — 1:08 AM
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Apple offers free cases for iPhone 4 reception problem.
Source: CNN.
After a presentation saying the iPhone 4’s reception problems have been “blown way out of proportion,” Apple CEO Steve Jobs has announced that all owners will receive free cases to fix the issue. People who already paid for a case, which reduces interference, will get a refund.
Posted by Judith — 4:17 AM
Friday, July 16, 2010
Indian government blacklists foreign equipment vendors.
Source: TeleGeography.
New 3G and 4G licensees could face difficulties in contracting equipment suppliers to deploy their networks as the government in India has reportedly banned imports of telecoms equipment from 26 foreign companies. The government’s move is thought to be motivated by fears that foreign companies could use spyware in any equipment shipped to the country.
Posted by Judith — 4:20 AM
Phase 1 of Exemplar fibre-optic network launched in Ireland.
Source: Telecompaper.
The Irish government has confirmed the launch of the Exemplar Network, a high-speed, fibre-optic communications network using patented Irish technology which allows for the high-speed and high-quality transfer of electronic data. Over 30 companies and institutions have signed up to use the Exemplar network to test their products and services and conduct research. These include: BT, Imagine, EMC, Celtix Connect, IBM, Smart Telecom, e|Net, Opennet, ESBTelecom and Firecomms.
Posted by Judith — 4:07 AM
Mobinil, Vodafone-led groups win Egyptian fixed licences.
Source: Telecompaper.
Egyptian telecommunications regulator NTRA has approved two consortia to provide cable, telephone and internet services to residential compounds in Cairo’s rapidly expanding suburbs and other parts of the country. One group was led by Mobinil subsidiary LinkDotNet and included affiliates of Orascom Telecom, and the other included Vodafone, which runs one of Egypt’s three mobile networks.
Posted by Judith — 3:11 AM
Telkom to pay US$80m. to settle nine-year dispute.
Source: TeleGeography.
Telkom, South Africa’s largest fixed line operator by subscribers, has announced that it will pay US$80m. to settle a nine-year old legal dispute with US firm Telcordia Technologies. The 2001 warngle involves the supply and installation of a customer management system, which Telkom insisted did not match up to specifications - claiming breach of contract.
Posted by Judith — 2:18 AM
Russia’s MTS buys internet provider Multiregion.
Source: Reuters.
MTS, Russia’s biggest mobile phone operator,has announced that it has acquired broadband and cable TV provider Multiregion in a move to boost exposure to the fast-growing market segments.
Posted by Judith — 1:31 AM
Telecom Italia sells BBNed to Tele2.
Source: TeleGeography.
Tele2 of Sweden has announced that it is acquiring Dutch alternative operator BBNed from Telecom Italia (TI) for around SEK475m. (US$64.8m.) on a cash and debt free basis. BBNed provides fixed telephony and broadband internet to the Dutch retail, business and wholesale segments.
Posted by Judith — 1:22 AM
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Broadband Britain rollout delayed by three years.
Source: BBC.
The British government has blamed a lack of funds for the government’s decision to delay the roll out of 2 megabits per second broadband in the UK.
BT also warned that it will cost billions to get fast broadband to every part of Britain.
Posted by Judith — 10:39 AM
DoT rejects BSNL plea for lower spectrum, licence charges.
Source: TeleGeography.
India’s Department of Telecommunications has rejected a request from state-owned operator BSNL that it pay licence fees and spectrum charges equivalent to those paid by private operators.
Posted by Judith — 4:04 AM
NTT agrees to buy Dimension for US$3.2bn.
Source: Businessweek.
NTT, Japan’s largest phone company, has agreed to buy South Africa’s Dimension Data for US$3.2 bn. in cash.
The purchase builds on NTT’s plans to expand through acquisitions and reverse three years of declining sales amid a slowing market in Japan.
Posted by Judith — 3:04 AM
Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile merger resurrected?
Source: TeleGeography.
Troubled US cellco Sprint Nextel is considering shifting its 4G focus towards LTE with a view to resurrecting a proposed merger with fellow cellco T-Mobile USA. Dan Hesse, Sprint’s chief executive, has said that the company was planning to sideline its interest with WiMAX and adopt LTE instead, increasing the feasibility of a merger with T-Mobile USA, which plans to introduce the same LTE technology.
Posted by Judith — 3:01 AM
Apple to hold iPhone press conference on Friday.
Source: Reuters.
Apple has called a surprise press conference for Friday to talk about the iPhone 4, as the company continues to deal with fallout from reported reception problems on its popular smartphone.
Apple has faced mounting criticism from analysts and consumers over its handling of complaints about the reception issues on the newest iPhone, which was launched last month.
Posted by Judith — 2:09 AM
O2 Germany launches Jajah-based IP calling service.
Source: Telecompaper.
Telefonica Europe has launched a Jajah IP communications-based offer for customers of its O2 Germany subsidiary and said it planned to roll the service out across its European footprint in the coming months. O2 Global Friends allows mobile phone customers to save money by dialling a local number to make international calls. The service launch, billed as the first mobile VoIP offer by a major operator, comes only six months after Telefonica acquired Jajah.
Posted by Judith — 1:31 AM
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Nokia Siemens reported to be in talks to buy Motorola network arm.
Source: Telecompaper.
Nokia Siemens Networks is reported to be in talks to buy the telecom-equipment arm of Motorola. The two companies are discussing terms, and a deal could be worth US$1.1-1.3bn.
Posted by Judith — 6:38 AM
NBN Co to invest AU$1bn. on satellites for rural coverage.
Source: TeleGeography.
NBN Co, the public-private entity created to oversee the construction of Australia’s National Broadband Network (NBN), has announced that it will spend up to AU$1bn. (US$876.5m.) on two KA band satellites to deliver services to those premises unable to connect to the under-construction fibre network.
Posted by Judith — 3:31 AM
Tyco Electronics to buy ADC for US$1.25bn.
Source: Telecompaper.
yco Electronics has agreed to buy ADC for US$1.25bn. The deal gives Tyco’s Network Solutions division expanded geographic coverage and a boost to its wireless portfolio with ADC’s distributed antenna systems.
Posted by Judith — 2:12 AM
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Microsoft introduces Windows Azure cloud services platform.
Source: BBC.
Microsoft has introduced the Windows Azure platform appliance, the turnkey cloud services platform for deployment in customer and service provider data centres. Dell, eBay, Fujitsu and HP are early adopters of a limited production release of the appliance.
Posted by Judith — 3:03 AM
Android launches amateur app-maker.
Source: BWCS.
Mobile OS Android has opened up a new front in the battle to beat Apple. The Google-backed operating system is to allow amateur application developers to write their own apps - without the encumbrance of any prior knowledge of programming. Once built, the new app can be downloaded straight to the phone.
Posted by Judith — 2:08 AM
Monday, July 12, 2010
KPN snaps up Yes Telecom.
Source: TeleGeography.
The Netherlands’ largest telecoms operator KPN has acquired local MVNO Yes Telecom. Yes Telecom uses KPN’s mobile phone network to provide services to SMEs in the Netherlands and the buy-out is designed to strengthen KPN’s position in the SME segment.
Posted by Judith — 4:27 AM
Apple opens Shanghai store to spur sales in China.
Source: BusinessWeek.
Apple opened its second China store today as the maker of iPhones and iMacs seeks to catch rivals including Nokia Oyj and Lenovo Group in the fastest-growing major economy.
Posted by Judith — 3:25 AM
China confirms renewal of Google’s China license.
Source: Reuters.
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has announced that it has renewed the Chinese operating license of Google, confirming an announcement made by the company on Friday.
Guxiang, a company that operates Google’s websites in China, was included in a list of more than 200 companies that had their licenses renewed, which was posted on the ministry’s website.
Posted by Judith — 2:36 AM
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Smartphone firms face patent row.
Source: BBC.
A firm that won more than US$600m. (GBP398m.) from the maker of the Blackberry after accusing it of breaching patents has now sued six other smartphone firms including Apple, Google and Nokia.
NTP says that the firms, along with HTC, Motorola and LG Electronics had infringed patents on wireless email technology.
The same patents were at the heart of the case against Blackberry maker RIM.
Posted by Judith — 4:46 AM
Friday, July 9, 2010
Google expects new China licence.
Source: BBC.
Google boss Eric Schmidt has said he expects the internet giant to be granted a new licence to operate in China.
There had been speculation China would revoke the licence after Google began redirecting Chinese users to its unfiltered search site in Hong Kong.
But last month, Google said it would no longer automatically redirect users in a conciliatory move towards Beijing.
Instead, Chinese users would be sent to a “landing page”, which would send them to the Hong Kong site.
Posted by Judith — 3:07 AM
Orange, Cisco trial free telepresence until April 2011.
Source: Telecompaper.
Orange Business Services has signed an agreement with Cisco to offer free trials of Telepresence Community, a service providing direct access to Cisco’s 800 private and public telepresence rooms and 27 companies already connected via Cisco worldwide.
Posted by Judith — 1:46 AM
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Portuguese ruling revives Vivo bid.
Source: BBC.
A bid by Spanish telecom firm Telefonica to control Brazilian mobile company Vivo moved a step closer after the European Court of Justice ruled a key obstacle to the deal was illegal.
Telefonica wanted to buy the stake in Vivo owned by Portugal Telecom. But despite shareholders backing the deal, Portugal’s government, which holds a “golden share” in PT, vetoed the sale.
The ECJ ruled Portugal’s action broke rules on the free movement of capital.
Posted by Judith — 3:08 AM
SFR commits to EUR1.5bn. annual spend on networks.
Source: TeleGeography.
French fixed line and mobile operator SFR, a subsidiary of media conglomerate Vivendi SA, today announced that it will continue to invest EUR1.5bn. (US$1.9bn.) per annum in expanding and improving the quality of its mobile and broadband internet networks.
Posted by Judith — 3:02 AM
BT and TalkTalk challenge Digital Economy Act.
Source: BBC.
BT and TalkTalk are seeking a judicial review of the controversial Digital Economy Act.
The two internet service providers want the High Court to clarify the legality of the act before it is implemented.
The act was “rushed through” parliament before the general election, they say.
Both think it had “insufficient scrutiny” and question whether its proposals to curb illegal file-sharing harm “basic rights and freedoms”.
Posted by Judith — 2:17 AM
Foxtel scraps plan to provide television over Telstra’s broadband network.
Source: TeleGeography.
Australian pay-TV company Foxtel has withdrawn its submission to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission seeking to provide internet television (IPTV) over Telstra’s infrastructure. Foxtel’s decision is likely to be welcomed by Telstra’s rivals, which had described the proposal as an anti-competitive attempt to grow Telstra’s share of the broadband market.
Posted by Judith — 2:15 AM
Synchronoss buys FusionOne.
Source: connected planet
Synchronoss Technologies has acquired fellow mobile technology vendor FusionOne, expanding its ability to help mobile operators manage and optimize customer mobile activation processes.
Synchronoss is perhaps best known for helping AT&T with its iPhone activations, but it has positioned its ConvergenceNow platform to help not only mobile operators but device manufacturers and e-retailers get new customers up and working with their mobile phones.
Posted by Judith — 1:48 AM
UK to speed up mobile number portability.
Source: cellular-news.
British consumers will next year be able to transfer their mobile number to a new provider in just one working day rather than the current two days, the telecoms regulator Ofcom has confirmed.
Posted by Judith — 1:45 AM
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Blackstone buys eMobile stake.
Source: TeleGeography.
US-based asset management firm The Blackstone Group has acquired a 6% stake in Tokyo-listed mobile services provider eMobile for JPY16bn. (US$182m.). The purchase is understood to be part of a larger US$500m. financing deal that will see Goldman Sachs also taking a role in eMobile, as part of its merger with its fixed line broadband and telephony business eAccess.
Posted by Judith — 3:57 AM
Docomo to offer handsets Sim-lock free from April.
Source: Telecompaper.
Japanese mobile operator NTT Docomo will make all of its handsets Sim-lock free from April 2011. The company will provide software that will unlock the Sim cards. In June this year, the communications ministry issued guidelines for unlocking Sim cards and encouraged all mobile operators to allow all handsets on their networks. Rival Softbank has previously said it will unlock only certain handsets which would not include phones for which the company has exclusive sales deals, such as the Apple iPhone.
Posted by Judith — 3:07 AM
Vodacom to launch consumer ADSL service.
Source: TeleGeography.
South African mobile operator Vodacom has confirmed that it will be launching a consumer based ADSL service to complement its current wireless and business offerings. Vodacom, which is South Africa’s largest cellco, has been actively working towards entering the fixed broadband market since 2007 - initially as a reseller - but also with the intention of providing services using its own bandwidth.
Posted by Judith — 2:30 AM
Final section of GMS-IS fibre-optic cable begins operation.
Source: TeleGeography.
The final length of the GMS Information Superhighway - a US$17.6m. fibre-optic telecoms network linking Cambodia with China, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand - has begun operation. Work on the latest line, which has a network capacity of 2.5Gbps, was commenced at the end of 2007 by Chinese equipment supplier Huawei Technologies.
Posted by Judith — 1:04 AM
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
HTC phone sales beat expectations.
Source: BBC.
The Taiwanese smartphone maker HTC has reported a 41% sales increase for the first six months of 2010.
HTC previously specialised in making phones branded for specific mobile networks, such as O2’s XDA smartphone.
It is also the manufacturer behind Google’s Nexus One phone.
Many of the firm’s smartphones rely on the Google Android operating system, which rivals the Apple iOS, used in Apple iPhones.
Posted by Judith — 12:59 PM
BT partners with ECI for broadband infrastructure upgrades.
Source: TeleGeography.
Israel-based network solutions provider ECI Telecom has been selected by BT Openreach, the infrastructure arm of UK fixed line incumbent BT, to act as a strategic partner in the upgrade of the latter’s broadband infrastructure. Under the agreement between the two companies, ECI will deliver a next-generation access solution, based on architecture for wholesale offerings of FTTP and FTTC.
Posted by Judith — 5:18 AM
RCOM to become Asia’s largest triple-play provider via Digicable purchase.
Source: TeleGeography.
India’s second largest mobile network operator by subscribers, Reliance Communications, has announced that it has agreed to acquire cable television distribution firm Digicable in an all-stock deal. Following the purchase RCOM will merge its retail broadband, IPTV and satellite direct-to-home services with Digicable, which is one of India’s largest cable television providers, with the combined entity to be renamed as Reliance DigiCom.
Posted by Judith — 4:16 AM
Nokia sells its modem division for US$200m.
Source: mocoNews.
Nokia is getting a US$200m. windfall by selling its wireless modem hardware operations to semicon firm Renesas.
The deal gives over Nokia’s GSM, HSPA and LTE modem technology, some patents and 1,100 R&D staff from Finland, India, the UK and Denmark.
Posted by Judith — 2:48 AM
LG to expand Optimus smartphone range, launch Android tablet.
Source: Telecompaper.
LG Electronics announced plans to release ten devices under the Optimus brand in the second half of this year. This new range of ‘smart devices’ will range from entry-level phones to premium handsets and also include a tablet PC based on the Android OS.
Posted by Judith — 1:53 AM
Monday, July 5, 2010
Obama announces broadband grants to spur jobs.
Source: Reuters.
President Barack Obama has announced nearly US$800m. in loans and grants for the build-out of broadband networks to reach homes, schools and hospitals.
The grants and loans, which will be matched by another US$200m. in private investment, is part of Obama’s roughly US$800bn. federal stimulus package, which includes US$7.2bn. for broadband expansion projects.
Posted by Judith — 4:11 AM
Frontier completes acquisition.
Source: TeleGeography.
Frontier Communications has completed its US$8.6bn. acquisition of the wireline operations of Verizon Communications in 14 states. The sale, which was announced over a year ago, allowed Frontier to triple its footprint to 27 states to become the largest rural carrier in the country.
Posted by Judith — 3:23 AM
Kabel BW agrees mobile wholesale deal with O2.
Source: Telecompaper.
German cable operator Kabel BW has agreed wholesale capacity on the O2 Germany network in order to offer its own mobile services. Kabel BW said it will focus on offering its customers mobile voice and data services.
Posted by Judith — 2:18 AM
Friday, July 2, 2010
Motorola files with SEC for planned separation.
Source: Telecompaper.
Motorola has filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with its planned separation. The Mobile Devices and Home businesses will be separated from Motorola and will operate as Motorola Mobility. Motorola will also change its name from Motorola to Motorola Solutions in connection with the separation.
Posted by Judith — 3:57 AM
Indian govt gives RIM, Skype 15 days notice, warns Google.
Source: Telecompaper.
The Indian government plans to give BlackBerry maker RIM and Skype fifteen days to ensure that its e-mail and other data services comply with “formats that can be read by security and intelligence agencies” after intelligence services recently raised a red flag against the handset. The latest development indicates that security agencies are finding it difficult to intercept messages sent through BlackBerry phones, which use codes with a 256-bit encryption.
Google has also been asked to ensure that encryption for its Gmail services in India is in formats that can be monitored by Indian agencies.
Posted by Judith — 2:02 AM
Ericsson’s acquisition of Nortel’s stake of LG-Nortel completed.
Source: Converge.
Ericsson has completed its acquisition of Nortel’s majority shareholding (50%+1 share) in LG-Nortel, the joint venture of LG Electronics and Nortel Networks, for US$242m. in cash. The deal significantly expands Ericsson’s position in Korea, which is one of the 10 largest telecom markets in the world with advanced end-user demand for new services.
Posted by Judith — 1:28 AM
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Portuguese govt. blocks Vivo sale to Telefonica.
Source: Telecompaper.
The Portuguese government has used its golden shares in Portugal Telecom to block the proposed sale of the company’s stake in Brazilian mobile operator Vivo to Telefonica. While a majority of the other shareholders at the extraordinary meeting voted in favour of accepting Telefonica’s sweetened bid of EUR7.15bn., the state used its 500 class A shares with special voting rights to block the deal.
Posted by Judith — 3:39 AM
3 UK wins complaint over Orange 3G coverage claim.
Source: Telecompaper.
Mobile operator 3 UK has won a ruling from the Advertising Standards Agency after complaining about misleading advertising by Orange UK over its 3G network coverage.
Posted by Judith — 2:55 AM
Microsoft pulls plug on Kin phones.
Source: Reuters.
Microsoft Corp has pulled the plug on a new generation of smartphones less than three months after unveiling the devices that were part of its efforts to catch-up with Apple and Google in the fast-growing mobile market.
Microsoft stated that it had cancelled plans to sell its “Kin” phones in Europe this Fall. The company added the internal team working on the Kin phones would be combined with the group working on Microsoft’s forthcoming Windows Phone 7 software.
Posted by Judith — 2:14 AM
IBM buys stake in China’s Bright Oceans.
Source: Reuters.
IBM’s China unit has bought a 1% strategic stake in Bright Oceans Inter-Telecom Corp.
IBM bought the stake from Bright Oceans’ parent for 50m. yuan (US$7.37m.), according to a statement to the Shanghai Stock Exchange.
The share sale will boost Bright Oceans’ ability to develop products and promote its offerings in international markets.
Posted by Judith — 1:53 AM
TTSL presses for 3G spectrum allocation delay.
Source: TeleGeography.
Indian mobile network operator Tata Teleservices (TTSL) has called on the Department of Telecommunications to delay the allocation of third-generation spectrum until issues regarding the procurement of hardware from Chinese vendors is resolved. The cellco claims that those operators which order equipment from non-Chinese companies are having their deals achieve security clearance more speedily, which it claims could provide them a first mover advantage.
Posted by Judith — 1:21 AM
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