Press Clippings: November 2010
Major Industry items you might have missed
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
EU launches antitrust probe into alleged Google abuses.
Source: BBC.
The EC has launched an investigation into Google after other search engines complained that the firm had abused its dominant position.
The EC will examine whether the world’s largest search engine penalised competing services in its results.
The probe follows complaints by firms including price comparison site Foundem and legal search engine ejustice.fr.
Posted by Judith — 3:05 AM
Clearwire launches mobile WiMAX in LA, Miami and Ohio.
Source: TeleGeography.
US WiMAX specialist Clearwire has announced that it has rolled out its mobile WiMAX service - branded CLEAR - in Los Angeles, Miami and Ohio. These new additions mean that the CLEAR 4G network is now available in 68 markets across the United States; Denver and San Francisco Bay Area are scheduled for rollout before the end of the year.
Posted by Judith — 2:10 AM
Monday, November 29, 2010
O3b to launch in 2013.
Source: TeleGeography.
O3b Networks, the Jersey-based satellite venture seeking to provide internet access to people in developing countries, is planning to launch services in 2013 after securing US$1.2bn. of funding. The satellites will provide backhaul connections between mobile operators’ base stations in emerging markets and the worldwide web.
Posted by Judith — 2:41 AM
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Global fixed broadband connections to hit 720m. by 2015.
Source: Telecompaper.
The total number of fixed broadband connections worldwide will pass 500m. by the end of this year and will continue to grow to 720m. by the end of 2015. Fixed broadband will account for 62% of the 1.16bn. broadband connections available worldwide by the end of 2015.
Posted by Judith — 3:00 AM
Friday, November 26, 2010
AT&T and Sprint seek FCC consent to swap spectrum.
Source: TeleGeography.
According to the FCC, US cellcos AT&T Mobility and Sprint Nextel have filed documents seeking permission to exchange an assortment of 1.9GHz spectrum licences in a number of different markets. The move is designed to help each carrier enhance their existing services.
Posted by Judith — 3:39 AM
Hylas 1 goes into orbit.
Source: TeleGeography.
Hylas 1, a satellite dedicated to plugging some of the holes in Europe’s broadband coverage, will go into orbit today, almost a whole year later than originally expected. Services will begin rolling out in early 2011, with 60 service providers in place across Europe.
Hylas 1 is the first of three spacecraft from Avanti due to be sent into orbit with the sole purpose of offering internet coverage to rural areas.
Posted by Judith — 2:36 AM
Ofcom faces opposition from operators to reduce MTR.
Source: Telecompaper.
UK communications regulator Ofcom faces tough opposition from mobile operators in the battle to reduce termination rates due to the negative impact on revenues. The rates for mobile are currently higher than fixed line charges and vary across different operators.
Posted by Judith — 1:53 AM
Thursday, November 25, 2010
KPN and Telefonica to offer combined services for large corporate clients.
Source: cellular-news.
KPN and Telefonica have signed a partnership agreement for multinational customers. The partnership spans more than 20 countries, although Germany, where both companies have competing mobile operations, is excluded from the agreement.
Posted by Judith — 3:49 AM
NBN Co business plan details expected costs.
Source: TeleGeography.
Australian fixed line incumbent Telstra will receive around AU$14bn. (US$13.7bn.) over the next 30 years from the public-private company set up to oversee the country’s National Broadband Network project, NBN Co, in decommissioning and leasing payments.
Posted by Judith — 2:01 AM
Dutch regulator rejects BT request over KPN leased lines.
Source: Telecompaper.
Dutch regulator Opta has rejected an enforcement request over leased lines from BT. The lines are used to build corporate networks for internal telephony and data communication. According to BT, KPN has not complied with its cost orientation and non-discrimination obligations since May 2003. Opta investigated the matter and concluded that there was no breach of the Telecommunications Act.
Posted by Judith — 1:51 AM
Skype counts 25m. concurrent users.
Source: Telecompaper.
Skype has declared that on 22 November the company reached a milestone for peak concurrent users with 25m. people online at the same time on Skype.
Posted by Judith — 1:15 AM
Telstra starts high-speed mobile service in Hong Kong.
Source: Businessweek.
Telstra’s Hong Kong mobile- phone unit started a fourth-generation network in the city to meet demand for high-speed wireless services and lift revenue.
The network, based on LTE technology, now covers 50% of the city’s population.
Posted by Judith — 1:00 AM
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Qype secures EUR3.5m. from Vodafone Ventures.
Source: Telecompaper.
European local search and recommendation site Qype has raised EUR 3.5 million from Vodafone Ventures and a further EUR 3 million from its existing three investors, Advent Venture Partners, Partech International and Wellington Partners. The additional funds will be used to develop Qype’s mobile business.
Posted by Judith — 2:14 AM
Verizon asks Congress for telecom rewrite.
Source: internetnews.
Verizon, one of the leading opponents of new telecom regulations, is asking the Congress to rewrite the communications statute to clarify the extent of federal authority over the fast-moving Internet sector. Verizon’s pitch comes amid high anxiety among critics and advocates of net neutrality rules alike, as the FCC mulls its next steps.
Posted by Judith — 1:31 AM
JiWire acquires NearbyNow for location-based media platform.
Source: Telecompaper.
Location-based media company JiWire has acquired mobile shopping applications provider NearbyNow. JiWire plans to combine its existing location-based advertising platform that runs across Wi-Fi and mobile for devices such as iPads, smartphones and laptops with NearbyNow’s ad platform to increase ways in which advertisers can reach local customers.
Posted by Judith — 1:08 AM
Interbank scheme set up for mobile money transfers in India.
Source: Converge.
An interbank system has been set up in India enabling instant money transfers between bank accounts via mobile phones. NPCI’s Interbank Mobile Payment Services (IMPS) is India’s first instant fund transfer facility in the retail payment sector.
Posted by Judith — 1:00 AM
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Orange, T-Mobile to subsidize Apple iPad in Europe.
Source: Reuters.
Orange and T-Mobile plan to subsidize Apple’s iPad in Britain and France, hoping to tie more customers into service contracts by making the expensive gadgets seem more affordable.
Posted by Judith — 2:11 AM
Ofcom examining TalkTalk fixed voice mis-selling claims.
Source: TeleGeography.
The UK’s telecoms regulator has initiated a new investigation into the alleged mis-selling of fixed line voice services by the country’s largest alternative broadband operator by subscribers, TalkTalk.
This is the second inquiry aimed at TalkTalk launched by Ofcom in the last few months, with the watchdog having recently revealed that it had given the operator one month to comply with regulations after it was found that it had wrongly issued customers with bills for services that had been cancelled.
Posted by Judith — 1:44 AM
China Unicom restricts resale of Apple IPhone4.
Source: Businessweek.
China United Network Communications Group, parent of the nation’s only mobile operator offering Apple’s iPhone, has issued new rules restricting the resale of the smartphone for use on other networks.
Customers may have their deposits frozen if the iPhone is separated from its bundled subscriber identity module card, or SIM card. The iPhone4 is in short supply in China because some buyers have purchased the handsets for resale.
Posted by Judith — 1:27 AM
Broadcom buys Gigle Networks.
Source: Telecompaper.
Chipmaker Broadcom has acquired Gigle Networks, a privately-held company that develops system-on-a-chip (SoC) systems for home networking over power lines, for around US$75m. in cash.
Posted by Judith — 1:03 AM
Monday, November 22, 2010
Lycamobile lands in Oz as it launches its tenth international MVNO.
Source: TeleGeography.
International mobile telecoms provider Lycamobile has announced the launch of its tenth MVNO, after partnering with Australia’s Telstra Wholesale. Having already signed up more than 8m. customers in the European markets that it operates in, the Australian launch is part of Lycamobile’s wider-ranging efforts to reach its self-imposed target of 20m. subscribers worldwide by 2012.
Posted by Judith — 3:49 AM
Telkom SA to exit struggling Nigerian business.
Source: WSJ.
Telkom SA, South Africa’s dominant fixed-line phone company, has announced that it will exit its struggling mobile operation in Nigeria and refocus its African Internet services unit on business customers as it continues to look for ways to recover growth.
Posted by Judith — 2:41 AM
Bharti rebrands African subsidiaries.
Source: TeleGeography.
India’s Bharti Airtel has announced the rebranding of its African subsidiaries, with all of the former Zain units now taking on the Airtel moniker.
Posted by Judith — 2:00 AM
Ultra-fast broadband requires smarter marketing in Europe and the USA.
Source: cellular-news.
Many European and US consumers do not think that access to ultra-fast broadband would make a difference their online activities. This places extra pressure on service providers to articulate the consumer benefits of such services in order to stimulate take-up.
Posted by Judith — 1:51 AM
QTel, Princesse to buy Orascom’s Tunisiana stake.
Source: BusinessWeek.
Qatar Telecom, the country’s largest company by revenue, and Princesse Holding of Tunisia will buy 50% of Telecom Tunisie for US$1.2bn. from Orascom Telecom Holding as the Egyptian company sells assets.
Posted by Judith — 1:24 AM
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Aircel launches Blyk services in India.
Source: Telecompaper.
Indian operator Aircel with mobile media company Blyk has launched ‘Blyk on Aircel’ in India. Aimed at young people, Blyk on Aircel offers users a range of personalised content and associated advertising.
Posted by Judith — 3:41 AM
Friday, November 19, 2010
Cable company Cox launches cell service.
Source: cellular-news.
Cox Communications, the country’s third-largest cable company, is launching its long-planned cellular network in three scattered areas, taking on cell phone companies on its home turf.
It will only be available in Orange County, Calif., Omaha, Neb., and Hampton Roads, Va. — all areas where Cox is the local cable company. They have about 1.5m. residents.
The company has spent $550m. to buy rights to use wireless spectrum in and around Atlanta, New Orleans, San Diego, and Las Vegas as well as much of Kansas and southern New Mexico.
Posted by Judith — 1:59 AM
Brazil passes 100% mobile penetration.
Source: Telecompaper.
Brazil has passed 100% mobile penetration. There are currently 194.4m. mobile lines for a population of 193.6m. people. This equals 1,004 phones per 1,000 inhabitants, the eighth highest density for mobile telephony in the world.
Posted by Judith — 1:31 AM
Thursday, November 18, 2010
China Unicom to launch own-brand smartphone by year-end.
Source: Reuters.
China Unicom, the country’s No.2 mobile operator, said it will launch an own-brand smartphone series by the end of this year to draw more business to its 3G data network.
The Uphone would be manufactured by Huawei Technologies and ZTE Corp, but pricing details and production numbers had not yet been set.
China Unicom is the only mobile operator authorized to sell Apple Inc’s iPhone in China. Bigger rival China Mobile Ltd also sells a self-branded smartphone, which it calls the Ophone.
Posted by Judith — 3:09 AM
Apple confirms iAd launch in Europe for December.
Source: Telecompaper.
Apple has confirmed that its iAd service will launch in Europe in December. The mobile advertising network will start in the UK and France this December, with Germany to follow in January.
Posted by Judith — 2:29 AM
MTS to buy Sistema Telecom assets for RUB13.4bn.
Source: TeleGeography.
Mobile TeleSystems (MTS), a leading telecommunications provider in Russia and the CIS, has offered Russian financial group Sistema RUB13.39bn. (US$427m.) for a 100% stake in Sistema Telecom, the group’s telecoms division.
Posted by Judith — 1:30 AM
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Telco payment venture targets Visa and MasterCard.
Source: Reuters.
Three of the top four U.S. mobile service providers — Verizon Wireless, AT&T and T-Mobile USA — are working together to build a network that would let consumers pay for goods with their phones.
Their Isis joint venture plans to take market share from dominant payment networks Visa and MasterCard, which currently process most U.S. credit and debit card payments.
Posted by Judith — 4:10 AM
Vendors, carriers form Asia Cloud Computing Association.
Source: Telecompaper.
Alcatel-Lucent, Cisco Systems, EMC, Microsoft, NetApp, NSN, PLDT/Smart, Rackspace, Reach, Telenor and Verizon have formed Asia Cloud Computing Association (Asia Cloud), an open collaboration forum based in the Asia Pacific region. The non-profit, vendor-neutral organisation will address regional issues and challenges to the adoption of cloud computing in Asia.
Posted by Judith — 2:57 AM
Juniper Networks buys Trapeze for US$152m.
Source: Telecompaper.
Juniper Networks has agreed to buy Trapeze Networks from Belden for US$152m. The takeover sees Juniper expanding in WLAN infrastucture and the business market, allowing it to add enhanced mobility to its current range.
Posted by Judith — 1:59 AM
Ofcom head unveils LTE timetable.
Source: TeleGeography.
The head of UK telecoms regulator Ofcom, has revealed details of the country’s proposed timetable for the introduction of LTE services. The watchdog does not expect to complete the process of releasing LTE-suitable spectrum until the end of 2013, raising the prospect that commercial 4G services would be not be inaugurated until 2014 at the earliest.
Posted by Judith — 1:29 AM
AM and Alca-Lu sign mobile backhaul deal.
Source: TeleGeography.
America Movil (AM) has inked a deal with French-US vendor Alcatel-Lucent under which the latter will provide an IP/MPLS-based mobile backhaul solution to support next-generation mobile broadband services, including superior high-speed mobile internet access, in eleven of AM’s countries of operation. Alca-Lu will transform AM’s transport networks in Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Jamaica, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay as the telco looks to prepare its infrastructure to cope with expected rise in demand for data services in the coming years.
Posted by Judith — 1:07 AM
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Panasonic to begin smartphone sales in Japan in 2011.
Source: Reuters.
Panasonic has announced that it will begin sales of its own smartphones in Japan early next year and overseas in 2012, in a late but ambitious attempt to grab share of the booming market.
Based on Google’s Android operating system, the new phones will compete against Apple’s iPhone, which dominates the Japanese smartphone market, as well as with Samsung’s Galaxy S.
Posted by Judith — 3:59 AM
Aircel plumps for Ericsson.
Source: BWCS.
Swedish mobile equipment maker Ericsson has won the contract to roll out a 3G network for Indian operator Aircel. The deal covers the provision and installation of a 3G/HSPA system six of Aircel’s 13 telecom circles - which currently boast a total of 100m. mobile users.
Posted by Judith — 3:05 AM
Monday, November 15, 2010
Facebook expected to launch ‘Gmail rival’
Source: BBC.
Facebook is expected to launch a new messaging system seen as a challenge to Google’s Gmail, Yahoo and Hotmail.
Google-Facebook rivalry has increased recently amid a series of disputes.
Posted by Judith — 6:59 AM
Vodafone told to pay US$550m. deposit in Indian tax case.
Source: Telecompaper.
India’s Supreme Court has ordered Vodafone to pay a deposit on the INR112bn. tax claim against the mobile operator, while the company pursues an appeal against the claim. The Supreme Court directed Vodafone to deposit INR25bn. (US$550m.) and provide a bank guarantee of INR85bn.to the governmen
Posted by Judith — 5:07 AM
BT eyes TV licence funds to help boost fibre rollout.
Source: TeleGeography.
The UK’s fixed line incumbent, BT, has said that it could extend the reach of its superfast fibre-based broadband network to around 90% of the country’s homes if it is able to access funds expected to be made available by the government. The incumbent will likely face stiff competition with cableco Virgin Media also expected to bid for the funds if they are made available.
Posted by Judith — 4:51 AM
US Cellular to trial LTE in 2011.
Source: TeleGeography.
US Cellular has confirmed that it plans to launch an LTE network in 2012, with a test market trial mooted for late 2011. Further, the company is keen to secure additional spectrum on which to run its services, but has not ruled out striking an agreement with a 4G operator such as Clearwire or LightSquared - which would give it additional capacity and reach.
Posted by Judith — 4:37 AM
AMD joins Intel-led MeeGo smartphone project.
Source: Reuters.
Advanced Micro Devices has announced that it has joined open source MeeGo project, led by rival Intel and Nokia, aiming to tap potential growth in demand for devices using the new platform.
Earlier this year, Intel and Nokia unveiled a plan to create MeeGo, a merger of Nokia’s Linux Maemo software platform with Intel’s Moblin, which is also based on Linux open-source software.
Posted by Judith — 4:24 AM
Ericsson reveals MBNL project has been completed.
Source: TeleGeography.
Swedish vendor Ericsson has announced that it has completed the consolidation of more than 12,000 3G base stations for UK-based Mobile Broadband Network Ltd., the joint venture originally formed between mobile network operators T-Mobile UK and Hutchison 3G UK.
Posted by Judith — 2:45 AM
Friday, November 12, 2010
Denmark’s TDC plans US$2.9bn. stock market listing.
Source: cellular-news.
The private equity owners of Denmark based TDC have confirmed long expected plans to float the company onto the Danish stock exchange in a move which is expected to raise around US$2.9 bn. TDC is currently owned by the holding company, NTC which is an entity controlled by Apax Partners, The Blackstone Group, KKR, Permira Advisers and Providence Equity.
Posted by Judith — 3:50 AM
IBM completes Netezza acquisition.
Source: InformationWeek.
IBM has announced that it has finalized its deal to acquire data warehousing specialist Netezza for about US$1.7bn. The company first announced it struck a deal for the company on Sept. 20.
IBM has now invested more than US$14bn. over the past four years to bolster its footprint in the data analytics market.
Posted by Judith — 2:27 AM
O2 to ramp up infrastructure investment next year.
Source: TeleGeography.
UK mobile network operator O2 UK is to boost investment in its infrastructure as it looks to cater to increased demand for data services spurred by higher sales of smartphones. The company will increase spending by around 25% in 2011.
Posted by Judith — 1:55 AM
New Zealand gets five bids for RBI.
Source: TeleGeography.
New Zealand’s Minister for Communications Steven Joyce has confirmed that the government has received five final proposals for its Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI), which seeks to extend broadband services to rural areas.
In a surprise move, it has been revealed that Telecom New Zealand and Vodafone have submitted a joint bid for the RBI, comprising a combination of fibre and mobile broadband technologies.
Posted by Judith — 1:33 AM
Government cutbacks rouse bleak forecasts from Cisco Systems.
Source: Washington Post.
Disappointing sales and profit forecasts from computer-networking-equipment giant Cisco Systems show that cutbacks in government spending pose risks for companies that rely on the public sector for growth.
Investors look to Cisco as a bellwether for the technology industry because the company dominates the market for routers and switches, products that direct the flow of Internet traffic.
Posted by Judith — 1:14 AM
UK joint venture reaches 12,000 shared 3G base stations.
Source: cellular-news.
A UK based network infrastructure joint venture says that it has now delivered more than 12,000 consolidated 3G sites for T-Mobile UK and Hutchison 3G UK (Three). The company, Mobile Broadband Network Limited (MBNL) is a network joint-venture between Three and Everything Everywhere - itself the merged UK arms of Orange and T-Mobile.
Posted by Judith — 1:00 AM
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Seven Italian telcos ink MoU regarding national fibre network.
Source: TeleGeography.
Seven leading Italian telecoms operators have agreed to join forces in order to form a new company charged with overseeing the infrastructure rollout for the country’s long-rumoured national high speed fibre-optic broadband network. The companies in question are Telecom Italia, FastWeb, Wind, Vodafone Italia, Tiscali, BT Italia and 3 Italia.
Posted by Judith — 3:18 AM
Ericsson expands managed services contract with TeliaSonera.
Source: TeleGeography.
Swedish network equipment vendor Ericsson has signed a three-year managed services contract with Stockholm-based telecoms group TeliaSonera covering 29 countries. The deal, of undisclosed value, renews and expands an earlier contract between the companies. Under the contract, Ericsson will perform field operations for TeliaSonera’s networks in 29 countries including Russia, the UK and the United States.
Posted by Judith — 2:58 AM
Motorola Mobility sues Microsoft over patents.
Source: Reuters.
Motorola has intensified a legal battle over intellectual property with Microsoft, accusing the software company of infringing 16 of its patents.
The unit, Motorola Mobility, said the infringements relate to a wide range of functions in Microsoft’s PC and server software, Windows mobile software and its Xbox game console.
Last month, Microsoft accused former ally Motorola of infringing nine of its patents in Android-based smartphones, which run on software built by Google.
Posted by Judith — 1:34 AM
MTN, Western Union sign mobile money tranfer deal.
Source: Telecompaper.
Middle East and African operator MTN Group and Western Union have announced a commercial agreement to introduce international mobile remittance services in the 21 countries where MTN operates.
Posted by Judith — 1:04 AM
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
No-brand vendors feeding cellphone boom.
Source: Reuters.
Nokia and other established handset makers are quickly losing global market share to a push by Chinese no-brand vendors into emerging markets.
No-brand manufacturers — mostly small Chinese firms using chipsets from Mediatek or Spectrum Solution — have this year quickly expanded their reach outside China into Africa, India, Latin America and Russia.
Posted by Judith — 3:08 AM
EC finds little appetite for net neutrality rules.
Source: Telecompaper.
The EC has published the results of its public consultation on net neutrality, which suggest legislation on the issue is unlikely to be forthcoming in the near term. The commission said there was a “near consensus” among respondents to the consultation on the importance of preserving the openness of the internet.
Posted by Judith — 2:43 AM
FT looking to champion rural access across Africa.
Source: TeleGeography.
French telecoms company France Telecom has set out an ambitious plan to become the ‘champion of rural Africa’, through the introduction of low-cost products and services aimed at doubling its sales there by 2015. FT is thought to be pinning its hopes on a dramatic expansion in key, fast-growing African and Middle Eastern markets to offset a gradual decline in its traditional cash cows - its domestic fixed line and mobile operations.
Posted by Judith — 1:56 AM
AT&T to offer GetJar on phones such as BlackBerry.
Source: Reuters.
AT&T is the second major carrier in the United States to promote the mobile applications store of GetJar, a privately held company that is trying to compete with companies like Google and RIM.
However the GetJar store will not work on AT&T’s highest profile phone, the Apple iPhone.
The inclusion of a new app store could be an effort by AT&T to begin to lessen its dependence on the iPhone, as it is widely expected to lose its exclusive U.S. right to sell the device next year.
Posted by Judith — 1:38 AM
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Nokia reabsorbs Symbian smartphone software.
Source: BBC.
Nokia has taken back control of the Symbian operating system, 18 months after it set up a non-profit foundation to oversee its development.
Nokia will control the future direction of the the smartphone software from April 2011.
Analysts said the move was inevitable as firms abandoned Symbian for rival software such as Google’s Android.
The Symbian Foundation - a consortium of firms that oversees the software - will become a licensing body.
Posted by Judith — 4:30 AM
Vodafone to sell Softbank interests for US$5bn.
Source: WSJ.
Mobile company Vodafone has announced that it will receiveGBP3.1bn. ($5 billion) from the sale of its interests in SoftBank of Japan, part of wider management efforts to exploit its operations in Europe, Africa and India.
Posted by Judith — 2:45 AM
UK outlines plans for white space radio spectrum.
Source: cellular-news.
The UK’s telecoms regulator, Ofrom has outlined how it expects the so-called “white space” radio spectrum will work in practice. The technology works by searching for unused radio waves called “white spaces” between TV channels to transmit and receive wireless signals.
Ofcom intends to make it possible for interested companies to host such databases in 2011.
Posted by Judith — 1:54 AM
BT tops the two million mark.
Source: BTplc.
BT has cemented its position as the UK’s largest WiFi provider by announcing a two million-strong hotspot network. The hotspots are available in homes, independent businesses, high street chains, major city centres and now the underground.
Posted by Judith — 1:41 AM
Monday, November 8, 2010
A-L at a turning point?
Source: BWCS.
Franco-US mobile equipment giant Alcatel-Lucent is reported to have signed a major development pact with America’s largest mobile operator, Verizon Wireless. The US$4bn. deal will see the pair collaborate in network development. One of the major parts of the agreement is said to be that Alcatel-Lucent will support the mobile company’s 3G network expansion as well as its roll out of so-called 4G, LTE networks.
Posted by Judith — 2:58 AM
TDC upgrades network to LTE with Ericsson.
Source: Telecompaper.
Danish operator TDC has contracted Ericsson to upgrade its network to LTE. Under the terms of the deal, Ericsson will roll out a complete LTE network, including radio access and core network equipment, as well as managed services. This is Ericsson’s first full-scope managed service contract for an LTE/Evolved Packet Core network.
Posted by Judith — 2:11 AM
TTSL sees claim for first refusal on 2G spectrum rejected.
Source: TeleGeography.
India’s DoT has rejected a claim by mobile network operator Tata Teleservices that it should have the first right to any new 2G spectrum. TTSL has argued that proposed changes to the system of allocation for spectrum, which at present is supposed to work on a first-come-first-served basis, would constitute discrimination.
Posted by Judith — 1:32 AM
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Google bars data from Facebook as rivalry heats up.
Source: Reuters.
Google will begin blocking Facebook and other Web services from accessing its users’ information, highlighting an intensifying rivalry between the two Internet giants.
Google will no longer let other services automatically import its users’ email contact data for their own purposes, unless the information flows both ways. It accused Facebook in particular of siphoning up Google contact data, without allowing for the automatic import and export of Facebook users’ information.
Posted by Judith — 4:08 AM
Friday, November 5, 2010
Alca-Lu bags mega deals from big three.
Source: TeleGeography.
Alcatel-Lucent has announced that it will ink three framework agreements valued in total at EUR1.178bn. (US$1.67bn.) with China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom to provide network and application solutions, and integration and maintenance services.
Posted by Judith — 4:26 AM
Windstream to buy Hosted Solutions for US$130m.
Source: Telecompaper.
US fixed-line operator Windstream has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Hosted Solutions for US$130m. Hosted Solutions is a regional data centre and managed hosting provider focused on enterprise-class Infrastructure as a Service systems for SME customers as well as large enterprises.
Posted by Judith — 3:56 AM
Wind Hellas takeover by bondholders cleared by UK court.
Source: TeleGeography.
The group of senior bondholders selected to take over ownership of Greek telco Wind Hellas were yesterday given approval for the transaction by the High Court of Justice in London. The decision clears the creditor group to seek approval for their plan to invest EUR420m. (US$595m.) and write off debt in exchange for 100% control of the company. The deal will result in the struggling fixed line, broadband and wireless operator clearing EUR1.87bn. of third party debt.
Posted by Judith — 3:29 AM
American Tower buys South African tower network.
Source: cellular-news.
South African mobile network, Cell C has announced a deal to sell its tower assets to American Tower Corp for around US$430m. The deal covers up to 1,400 of Cell C’s existing towers, and up to 1,800 additional towers that are either under construction or will be constructed over the next two to three years.
Posted by Judith — 3:06 AM
Clearwire cuts 600 staff.
Source: mocoNews.
The company intends to cut 15% of its workforce, or roughly 600 employees, to an overall headcount of 3,600. It is also holding off on rolling out its own 4G smartphones, which were expected to come by year-end.
The company, which is facing increasing competition for high-speed networks from T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless, says it still plans to be competitive and cover up to 120 million people with its 4G network by year end, and that it continues to exceed its subscriber and operational goals.
Posted by Judith — 1:41 AM
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Indian GSM operators suggest MNP introduction be delayed to January 2011.
Source: TeleGeography.
Indian GSM operators have called on the DoT to further delay the introduction of mobile number portability. Cellcos including Vodafone Essar, Bharti Airtel and Idea Cellular have claimed that the coming months represent a peak usage period, and as such have argued that introducing MNP during the festival period could make for a troublesome introduction.
Posted by Judith — 3:21 AM
Facebook adds location, mobile services.
Source: Telecompaper.
Facebook has announced a number of new location-based and mobile services. The company has also announced updates to its Android and iPhone mobile apps. Facebook said it now has over 200 million mobile users for the social network, more than triple the number a year ago.
Posted by Judith — 1:51 AM
Telefonica signs M2M deal with Jasper Wireless.
Source: cellular-news.
Machine to machine service provider, Jasper Wireless and Telefonica have announced a partnership to wirelessly connect machine-to-machine (M2M) and consumer electronics devices. The Telefonica Control Center, powered by Jasper Wireless, enables M2M enterprise customers & device manufacturers to profitably connect and manage embedded mobile devices, advancing their design and market introduction.
Posted by Judith — 1:07 AM
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Dell reaches for the clouds with Boomi deal.
Source: BBC.
Computer giant Dell has announced a deal to buy cloud-computing company Boomi for an undisclosed price.
It recently lost a bidding war with Hewlett-Packard for cloud firm 3Par, despite being the preferred bidder.
Posted by Judith — 1:52 AM
Tata Docomo launches 3G services in India.
Source: Telecompaper.
Indian GSM operator Tata Docomo has launched its 3G services in India. Tata Teleservices shall simultaneously launch its 3G services this week in all the nine circles where it has 3G spectrum.
Posted by Judith — 1:39 AM
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Smart-Phone sales nearly double.
Source: BWCS.
Sales of smart-phones are soaring, with a 95% increase in numbers shipped over the last three months alone. According to figures, 80.9m. smart phones were shipped, compared almost half of that figure this time a year ago. Nokia still sold the most devices, though its share of the global smart phone market slipped to 33%, while Apple saw its share rise to 17%, just over-taking RIM, which managed a 15% share.
Posted by Judith — 3:31 AM
Ericsson opposes NSN request in BSNL tender.
Source: TeleGeography.
Ericsson is opposing NSN’s request that Indian state-owned telecommunications firm BSNL drop a certain clause of its tender. BSNL required bidders for the tender for 5.5m. GSM lines to share their code sources with the Indian government. NSN is asking BSNL not to enforce the clause, this has drawn the ire of Ericsson which dropped out of the tendering process over the clause.
Posted by Judith — 2:58 AM
Bell Canada, Aliant get permission for rural wireless broadband plan.
Source: TeleGeography.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission have announced that sister telcos Bell Canada and Bell Aliant have been given permission for a plan to use wireless instead of wireline technology for fulfilling broadband rollout obligations in rural areas of Quebec and Ontario.
Posted by Judith — 2:39 AM
TD-LTE for six cities, says China Mobile.
Source: TeleGeography.
China Mobile will invest US$225m. to establish trial networks of its self-developed version of 4G technology, Time Division-Long Term Evolution, covering a total of 3,060 base stations across six large cities. The company is reported to have invited equipment suppliers to participate in the plan, with the selected vendors including domestic firms Huawei Technologies, ZTE and Datang Mobile Communications Equipment, as well as Alcatel-Lucent Shanghai Bell, Ericsson, Nokia Siemens Networks and Motorola.
Posted by Judith — 1:24 AM
Monday, November 1, 2010
Trai to recommend penalty on new mobile operators.
Source: Telecompaper.
Indian telecommunication regulator Trai is planning to recommend to the government to either levy penalties on nine new telecommunication operators who were granted licences in January 2008 for not meeting their rollout obligations or cancel their licences if the case warrants.
Posted by Judith — 8:01 AM
Apple sues Motorola, further escalating cellphone wars.
Source: Reuters.
Apple has sued rival Motorola, claiming the Droid smartphone maker infringes on three iPhone patents.
The suit comes after Motorola sued Apple in Delaware court earlier this month, asking a judge to declare it is not infringing on certain Apple software patents.
Posted by Judith — 2:54 AM
Softbank proposes fiber broadband highway for Japan.
Source: Converge.
Softbank has outlined an initiative to create a far reaching fiber strategy for Japan under which NTT’s access network would be divested into a new company in which Softbank and other competitors would invest. The plan follows the model of Singapore, where a single network access provider deploys and operates a fiber access network while providing equal access to competing ISPs. Under the Softbank plan, FTTH would be deployed rapidly to 100% of Japanese homes using no public funds.
Posted by Judith — 2:12 AM
WiFi & going underground.
Source: BWCS.
WiFi access on the London Underground system has inched a step forward, after BT announced it will launch a new trial of wireless Internet Access services at Charing Cross tube station. The six month pilot scheme will cover access only on platforms and in the ticket halls at the central London station.
Posted by Judith — 1:04 AM
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