Press Clippings: August 2011
Major Industry items you might have missed
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Italian bids for 4G frequencies total EUR 2.3bn.
Source: Telecompaper.
The initial bids for the use of 4G frequencies in Italy amounted to EUR2.3bn. The bids from the four major mobile operators - Telecom Italia, Vodafone Italia, Wind and 3 Italia will form the starting point for the auction on 31 August. The auction will allow participants to increase their bids, as well as bid on spectrum lots not covered in their initial offers.
Posted by Judith — 2:04 AM
NEC collaborating with Cisco to build commercial LTE networks.
Source: cellular-news.
NEC and Cisco have announced a relationship in the construction and sale of commercial LTE networks for service providers.
NEC and Cisco will jointly provide the end-to-end equipment for building LTE networks for service providers, including NEC’s wireless network equipment, NEC’s mobile backhaul solutions and Cisco’s Mobile Internet network equipment ASR5000.
Posted by Judith — 1:53 AM
Sunrise ends Alcatel-Lucent network contract early.
Source: Telecompaper.
Swiss operator Sunrise has terminated a contract with Alcatel-Lucent for the construction and maintenance of its entire telecommunications network. The contract was ended to give Sunrise more flexibility to provide services to its customers, especially in the Wholesale and Business segments, as well as due to ongoing developments in LTE and fibre-optic networks. No details about the financial consequences of ending the contract early were unveiled.
Posted by Judith — 12:23 AM
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
LightSquared and InterGlobe Communications ink wholesale LTE deal.
Source: TeleGeography.
LightSquared, the LTE open-access mobile network that will utilise satellite spectrum acquired by New York investment firm Harbinger Capital, has announced that it has entered into a multi-year wholesale agreement with InterGlobe Communications, a business integrated service provider primarily serving the New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania areas.
Posted by Judith — 3:25 AM
Australia regulator may delay Telstra separation plan.
Source: Reuters.
Australia’s competition regulator has voiced objections to the terms of the proposed split of dominant phone company Telstra, threatening to delay an historic reform designed to wire up the entire nation to high-speed broadband.
Telstra recently hammered out an agreement to hand over its fixed-line telecoms infrastructure, including cable ducts, to a state-run company for use in the government’s project to build a high-speed national broadband network.
But the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said Telstra’s separation plan could not go ahead in its current form and called for important changes.
Posted by Judith — 12:51 AM
Vodafone confirms Wind Hellas takeover approach.
Source: TeleGeography.
Vodafone Greece has confirmed that it has entered talks with smaller mobile rival Wind Hellas’ holding company Largo on a potential merger.
Posted by Judith — 12:00 AM
Monday, August 29, 2011
Mobile firm on rural net crusade.
Source: BBC.
Mobile operator Three is giving away 3G broadband to rural areas struggling to get fixed line services.
Initially it plans to give 11 communities in the UK free dongles and access for a year.
It claims the initiative is part of its commitment to government, which wants to ensure isolated communities have decent broadband services.
But some experts think it has more to do with a desire to lobby Westminster for valuable wireless spectrum.
Posted by Judith — 2:22 AM
Samsung to launch mobile instant messaging service.
Source: Telecompaper.
Samsung has announced plans to launch a new instant messaging service for its mobile devices. The service ChatOn will launch in October on smartphones running Android and Samsung’s own OS bada. Samsung said it will also make the software available for basic feature phones and PCs, as well as for use on other mobile OS such as iPhones and BlackBerries. The service will be available in more than 120 countries, in 67 languages.
Posted by Judith — 12:29 AM
SK Telecom to spend US$924m. for 4G sSpectrum in Korea.
Source: Businessweek.
SK Telecom, the largest mobile- phone carrier in South Korea, has won the rights to use a key frequency for fourth-generation phone service for 995bn. won (US$924m.) in the country’s first auction of spectrum.
Posted by Judith — 12:14 AM
Saturday, August 27, 2011
FCC clock resumes on AT&T/T-Mobile deal review.
Source: Reuters.
The FCC has announced that it has restarted the clock on its review of AT&T’s proposed US$39bn. purchase of smaller rival T-Mobile USA.
The FCC, which had started examining the deal in late April, had paused what is typically a 180-day review on July 20 after AT&T said it would submit new arguments to support its application.
The regulator said it restarted the process on Friday, day 83 of the review, after it received answers to questions it had asked AT&T.
Posted by Judith — 4:21 AM
Friday, August 26, 2011
Verizon acquires cloud software developer CloudSwitch.
Source: Telecompaper.
Verizon has acquired cloud software technology provider CloudSwitch. Verizon plans to combine CloudSwitch with its Terremark IT services subsidiary, to accelerate the company’s global cloud strategy by enhancing Verizon’s hybrid-cloud and cloud-to-cloud capabilities.
Posted by Judith — 2:43 AM
Softbank to offload most of its Yahoo stake to repay loan.
Source: TeleGeography.
Japanese telecoms operator Softbank has decided to sell off most of its 4% stake in Yahoo to Citibank, as a means of repaying around US$1.135bn. worth of loans it has with the US banking group.
Posted by Judith — 1:17 AM
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Apple boss Steve Jobs to be replaced by Tim Cook.
Source: BBC.
Apple co-founder Steve Jobs has resigned as chief executive of the technology giant and will be replaced by chief operating officer Tim Cook. He will become chairman of the firm.
Posted by Judith — 3:09 AM
Deutsche Telekom plans separate FTTH subsidiary.
Source: Telecompaper.
Deutsche Telekom is reported to be planning to create a new subsidiary that will focus on FTTH deployment and is looking for 1,500 employees for the subsidiary. The new company should ensure a more rapid roll-out of FTTH networks within Germany.
Posted by Judith — 1:49 AM
BT South Africa launches network traffic routing facility.
Source: TeleGeography.
BT South Africa has announced that it has opened an international network traffic routing facility in Melkbosstrand, the landing point of the SAT-3 submarine cable in South Africa. The move is expected to strengthen BT’s position as a provider of networked IT services to multinational companies, both in South Africa and internationally.
Posted by Judith — 12:27 AM
Satellite TV provider Dish Network eyes LTE network.
Source: TeleGeography.
US satellite TV provider Dish Network has set its sights on rolling out a cellular network using LTE technology. Dish has requested permission from telecoms regulator the FCC to allow it to transfer the frequencies attached to bankrupt satellite mobile operator TerreStar to a Dish subsidiary, therefore enabling it to build out a standalone wireless network of its own.
Posted by Judith — 12:00 AM
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Apple readies cheaper iPhone for growth markets.
Source: Reuters.
Apple will release a cheaper iPhone 4 within weeks, jeopardizing profit margins to win lower-end customers from rivals such as Nokia in China and other emerging markets.
Asian suppliers have begun making a lower-cost version of the smartphone with a smaller 8-gigabyte flash drive that will arrive around the same time Apple unveils its much-anticipated iPhone 5.
Posted by Judith — 1:56 AM
3G mobile data network crowd-sourcing survey by BBC.
Source: BBC.
A BBC crowd-sourcing survey into the state of mobile Britain suggests that 3G has some way to go before it offers comprehensive coverage across the UK.
Despite operator claims of 90% or more 3G coverage, there are still many notspots, including in major towns and cities, according to the map.
Those testers able to receive a data connection only got a 3G signal 75% of the time.
Posted by Judith — 1:36 AM
Motorola sells wireless networks business to Vector Capital.
Source: Telecompaper.
Motorola Solutions has agreed to sell its point-to-point (Orthogon) and point-to-multipoint (Canopy) wireless broadband networks businesses to private equity firm Vector Capital for an undisclosed amount. The Motorola PTP and PMP businesses offer extensive portfolios of equipment for unlicensed and licensed bands, targeting key industry verticals.
Posted by Judith — 1:05 AM
Dish Networks plans own LTE network in the USA.
Source: cellular-news.
USA based satellite TV broadcaster, Dish Networks has outlined preliminary plans to build its own wireless broadband network as it seeks to compete with its cable and phone network rivals.
Another company, LightSquared has also been attempting to achieve the same effect, but has been dogged by complaints that its network could interfere with some GPS devices.
Posted by Judith — 12:14 AM
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Microsoft partners with China firm on cloud-computing.
Source: Reuters.
Microsoft will develop and market cloud-computing products in China with a Chinese partner, a pattern that the software giant could use as a model in other emerging markets.
Microsoft and China Standard Software, a provider of operating systems and office products, will develop and sell cloud-computing solutions primarily to large enterprise clients.
Posted by Judith — 1:36 AM
RIM updates BlackBerry Curve with latest OS.
Source: Telecompaper.
Research In Motion announced three new versions of its BlackBerry Curve smartphone with the new operating system BlackBerry 7.
Posted by Judith — 1:20 AM
Migration of DSL users to LTE to save Vodafone Germany millions.
Source: TeleGeography.
Vodafone Germany, the local unit of UK-based telecoms operator Vodafone Group, is looking to make savings by switching its roughly four million DSL customers to its LTE cellular network. Incumbent operator Telekom Deutschland currently charges Vodafone around EUR500m. (US$719m.) for using its fixed line network. Customers who do not wish to transfer to Vodafone’s LTE network could possibly be sold to another fixed broadband provider.
Posted by Judith — 12:22 AM
Monday, August 22, 2011
Verizon strike to end but talks to continue.
Source: Reuters
About 45,000 Verizon Communications employees are set to end a two-week strike and return to work by Tuesday after the telephone company and unions said they reached an agreement to resume bargaining. Almost half of the workers in Verizon’s wireline business went on strike on August 7 after talks for a new labor pact failed when their contract expired. Under the latest agreement, reached early on Saturday morning, Verizon promised to extend the terms of the old contract indefinitely while it continues bargaining for a new one with unions representing technicians and customer service workers.
Posted by Sarah — 11:53 AM
Skype Buys GroupMe, a Mobile Messaging Start-Up.
Source: The New York Times
Skype, the Internet calling service, said on Sunday that it was buying GroupMe, a year-old start-up in New York that offers a group-messaging service for cellphones. GroupMe, which has raised about USD12m from investors, is among a new wave of mobile services and start-ups that let multiple people participate in discussions, similar to a group chat room or e-mail.
Posted by Sarah — 11:50 AM
Pacific Fibre adds Voda NZ as anchor tenant.
Source: The Register
Vodafone New Zealand has announced that it will be an anchor tenant of the Pacific Fibre cable planned for construction in 2013 and launch in 2014. The ten-year, multi-million-dollar agreement will make Vodafone NZ the fledgling fibre company’s largest customer to date. Other organisations already signed on with Pacific Fibre include Australian ISP iiNet and New Zealand’s academic network, REANNZ.
Posted by Sarah — 11:49 AM
Setback for Sprint in motion against TerreStar.
Source: Reuters
A bankruptcy court has denied Sprint Nextel Corp’s motion for a partial summary judgment in a proceeding against bankrupt mobile satellite network operator TerreStar Networks Inc and others. Sprint, in its motion, had filed a claim of USD104m against TerreStar, saying the amount was the network operator’s share of the cost that Sprint incurred in acquiring bandwidth that TerreStar now uses. Judge Sean Lane, in his opinion stated that the it is the role of the bankruptcy judge and not any other body to determine the priority of Sprint’s claim versus other parties’ claims.
Posted by Sarah — 11:45 AM
CBOE Speeds up Network With Arista, Solarflare and 10-Gig Ethernet.
Source: Forbes
The Chicago Board Options Exchange has chosen technology from Solarflare and Arista on 10 Gigabit Ethernet for high frequency trading across CBOE Holdings. It chose Ethernet over Infiniband for reliablity and operational reasons.
“We are in competition with seven other options exchanges, and we do compete on low latency,” said Gerald O’Connell, EVP/CIO at CBOE. “The network is one of the components we use to achieve low latency, and we think we are the lowest latency options exchange.”
Posted by Sarah — 11:43 AM
Friday, August 19, 2011
Customers Feel Some Ripples From the Verizon Strike.
Source: The New York Times
As a strike by 45,000 Verizon workers approaches the two-week mark, the company’s customers are beginning to feel the impact — and are complaining about it.
Bay Area union workers in San Francisco marched in solidarity with striking Verizon workers on the East Coast.
Verizon acknowledges “minor” disruptions since the strike began on Aug. 7. 2011. But some customers of its landline telephone, Internet and cable television service are reporting significant delays getting current lines repaired and new ones installed.
Posted by Sarah — 12:38 PM
HP plots new course in software and business services .
Source: The Globe and Mail
Hewlett-Packard Co. has begun a stunning transformation that will see one of the world’s largest technology companies reinvent itself.
On Thursday, the company offered USD10.3-bn (GBP 6.2bn) in a takeover bid for a British software company, revised its 2011 earnings targets downward, and announced it was planning to spin off or sell its personal computer division - the world’s largest - to ensure future growth.
The dramatic move is symbolic of the industry’s shift from low-margin computer-making toward more lucrative business services, software, and data storage and analysis.
Posted by Sarah — 11:40 AM
LG Uplus takes 2.1GHz frequencies.
Source: TeleGeography.
South Korea’s third mobile operator by subscribers, LG Uplus, has won 20MHz of spectrum in the 2.1GHz band. The two leading wireless operators SK Telecom and KT were excluded from the auction by the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) in order to ensure sufficient market competition. LG will pay the minimum bid price of KRW445.5 billion (USD414.5 million/GBP250.5 million) for the spectrum holding and has said that it will use the frequencies to support its Long Term Evolution (LTE) services.
Posted by Sarah — 10:42 AM
Free BT Pub Wi-Fi Behind London Heineken Hubs.
Source: BT plc
Drinkers at nearly 100 London pubs and bars are to get fast Wi-Fi, following a new BT and Heineken partnership with plans to extend the wireless internet service to a further 200 pubs across the UK by the end of 2012.
Through Wi-Fi, customers can access a special area of the internet, the Heineken Hub, for which the UK’s newest newspaper, i, the quality daily and sister paper to The Independent, is supplying exclusive content.
Posted by Sarah — 9:47 AM
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Telefonica loses appeal over US$12bn. 3G license refund.
Source: cellular-news.
Telefonica has lost a lawsuit in Germany over its demand for a refund of the EUR8.4bn. (US$12bn.) fee paid for a 3G license in the license auctions of 2000.
Telefonica set up a 57:43 joint venture with Finland’s Sonera, called Group 3G to bid for the 3G license. The company, trading by then as Quam, launched an initial service in November 2001, but the following year announced that it would not be building a 3G network after all as part of a general retrenchment of its European operations.
The company was later ordered to surrender its 3G license after it was deemed to have missed the rollout deadlines imposed as a condition of the license. The company has since sued to seek a refund of the license fees.
Posted by Judith — 4:50 AM
Apple faces South Korean lawsuit.
Source: BBC.
Apple is facing a lawsuit brought by 27,000 South Koreans, angry over the collection of location data on iPhones and iPads.
Each is seeking GBP565m. in compensation for privacy violations.
Earlier this month the South Korean communications regulator Korea Communications Commission ordered Apple’s local operation to pay GBP1.6m. fine for violating the country’s location information laws.
Posted by Judith — 3:35 AM
TalkTalk and Tiscali UK fined GBP3m. by Ofcom.
Source: BBC.
TalkTalk and its Tiscali UK subsidiary have been fined GBP3m. for incorrectly billing more than 65,000 customers for services they had not received.
The largest fine regulator Ofcom has given to a telecoms firm, it follows an investigation into the two businesses that started in July 2010 as a result of more than 1,000 complaints.
Posted by Judith — 2:26 AM
TRAI to investigate operators for breaching MNP regulations.
Source: TeleGeography.
The Telecoms Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has censured a number of leading mobile network operators for violating rules on mobile number portability by overcharging and/or barring end users from changing their service provider. The cellcos served with the warnings are understood to be Bharti Airtel, Idea Cellular, Loop, Reliance Communications and Vodafone.
Posted by Judith — 12:39 AM
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Verizon Wireless expands LTE network to 50% of the US population.
Source: cellular-news.
USA based Verizon Wireless says that its LTE based 4G network now covers over 50% of the US population. When customers travel outside of a 4G LTE coverage area, the devices automatically fall-back to the 3G network.
Posted by Judith — 6:54 AM
HTC sues Apple over patent infringement allegations.
Source: cellular-news.
The patent lawsuit battle between HTC and Apple was increased another notch, as HTC launched another lawsuit against Apple in both the US International Trade Commission and the U.S. District Court of Delaware for alleged patent infringement by Apple’s Mac computer product lines as well Apple’s iPhone, iPad and iPod product lines.
Posted by Judith — 12:58 AM
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Google makes bold bid for Motorola Mobility.
Source: Reuters.
Google biggest deal ever, acquiring Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc for US$12.5bn., is an attempt to buy insurance against increasingly aggressive legal attacks from rivals such as Apple Inc.
Posted by Judith — 4:00 AM
Time Warner Cable buys Insight Communications for US$3bn.
Source: Telecompaper.
Time Warner Cable and Insight Communications have signed a definitive merger agreement under which Time Warner Cable will buy Insight for US$3bn. Cable operator Insight has over 750,000 customers across Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio, including around 537,000 high-speed internet, 679,000 video and 297,000 telephony subscribers.
Posted by Judith — 2:45 AM
German Networks working towards mobile payments launch.
Source: cellular-news.
Germany’s three largest mobile networks, Telefonica Germany, Telekom and Vodafone are pushing ahead with their joint activities in mobile payments. The three networks intend to register their payment service mpass as an independent company, and have signed a letter of understanding to this effect. The new company is due to begin operating as early as this year.
Posted by Judith — 1:05 AM
Rural broadband funding ready for England and Scotland.
Source: BBC.
Rural areas in England and Scotland have been allocated nearly GBP363m. to improve their broadband connections.
Wales and Northern Ireland have already been given their share of the GBP530m. broadband fund which was set aside from the TV licence fee.
Posted by Judith — 12:33 AM
Monday, August 15, 2011
Telecom Italia sells voice-technology subsidiary to Nuance,
Source: cellular-news.
Telecom Italia has announced the sale of its 99.98% stake in Loquendo to USA based speech software vendor, Nuance Communications for an enterprise value of EUR53m. (US$75.5m.).
The sale of Loquendo is part of a process of rationalization of the Group’s shareholdings and a shift of focus toward its core business.
Posted by Judith — 2:39 AM
China Mobile launches financial arm.
Source: TeleGeography.
China Mobile has set up a financial unit to manage the group’s funds more efficiently. The new department, named China Mobile Finance, will cost the company CNY5bn. (US$780m.) to initiate; China Mobile’s subsidiary Beijing Mobile will provide CNY4.6bn., whilst the rest will come from the parent company China Mobile Communications Corporation.
Posted by Judith — 1:45 AM
CWA files unfair labour practice charges against Verizon.
Source: Telecompaper.
The Communications Workers of America union has filed unfair labour practice charges against Verizon Communications for labour law violations in contract contract negotiations covering Verizon, Verizon Wireless and VCSI workers.
Posted by Judith — 12:02 AM
Friday, August 12, 2011
AT&T preparing to sell assets to secure T-Mobile USA takeover approval.
Source: cellular-news.
USA based AT&T has asked Bank of America to start seeking buyers for the assets it expects to be asked to sell off to secure approval for its US$39bn. takeover of T-Mobile USA.
Posted by Judith — 4:28 AM
Huawei plans U.K. handset debut to take on Android phone makers.
Source: BusinessWeek
Huawei Technologies plans to sell its first own-branded mobile phone in the U.K., taking on manufacturers using Google’s Android software in one of Europe’s most competitive handset markets.
Posted by Judith — 3:41 AM
Iraqi mobile operators asked to pay US$2.85bn. in licence fees, fines.
Source: TeleGeography.
Iraq’s parliament has ruled that the country’s three largest mobile operators - Zain Iraq, Asiacell and Korek Telecom - must pay US$2.85bn.n licence fees and fines within a month. The ruling overturns a deal struck with the previous government that allowed the cellcos to pay the amount over a five-year period.
Posted by Judith — 1:23 AM
Telecom Egypt’s North Cable System goes live.
Source: Telecompaper.
Telecom Egypt (TE) and Alcatel-Lucen have announced that the TE-North Cable System, provisioned with 40 Gbps wavelengths across the Mediterranean, is in service. The cable is the first Mediterranean cable network to provide commercial service using the latest 40G technology.
Posted by Judith — 12:02 AM
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
FCC links review of AT&T deals with T-Mobile, Qualcomm.
Source: Telecompaper.
The FCC has decided to combine its investigations of AT&T’s proposed takeover of T-Mobile USA and the operator’s spectrum deal with Qualcomm. The FCC confirmed the move in a letter to AT&T and Qualcomm posted on its website. Consumer and public interest groups had been pushing for the FCC to combine the investigations, as both deals will substantially increase AT&T’s spectrum holdings.
Posted by Judith — 2:04 AM
Apple blocks Samsung from selling Galaxy tablet in EU.
Source: Reuters.
Apple has scored a victory in its patent infringement battle against Samsung Electronics after a German court temporarily barred the Korean firm from selling its flagship Galaxy tablet in the European Union except the Netherlands.
The court order comes a week after Samsung was forced to delay the Australian launch of its latest Galaxy tablet because of a similar lawsuit.
Posted by Judith — 12:09 AM
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
BSNL and ZTE ink broadband project partnership agreement.
Source: TeleGeography.
State-owned Indian telco BSNL has reportedly entered into a strategic partnership with Chinese vendor ZTE in which the duo will seek to enhance broadband services across India. Under the terms of the partnership agreement between the two companies, ZTE will deploy ADSL2+ and VDSL2+ technology across BSNL’s infrastructure in 15 of India’s telecoms circles. This project marks the third time that the Chinese vendor has been selected as a partner by BSNL.
Posted by Judith — 3:21 AM
NBN Co confirms it will subsidise access and service charges.
Source: TeleGeography.
NBN Co, the public-private partnership set up to oversee the construction and management of Australia’s National Broadband Network, has revealed that it will now subsidise upfront access and service charges for operators until enough customers are connected to cover any respective operating costs.
Posted by Judith — 2:23 AM
Elephant Talk and MECO to roll out MVNE/MVNO services in 10 countries.
Source: cellular-news.
MVNO software service provider, Elephant Talk Communications has announced a joint venture with MECO Holding to launch MVNE platforms in the Europe and Canada.
The Elephant Talk-MECO venture will initially focus on up to ten countries, starting with MVNE platforms in Italy, Germany and the UK. Within the next years, they intend to complete MVNE platforms in Switzerland, Portugal, France, Greece, Ireland, Austria, and Canada.
Posted by Judith — 1:18 AM
Monday, August 8, 2011
China Mobile invests US$2bn. in Shanghai.
Source: TeleGeography.
China Mobile has announced that it will invest CHY13bn. (US$2.01bn.) in multiple developments in Shanghai by 2013. The cellco plans to trial 4G services, expand the capacity of its 2G network and increase the footprint of its Wi-Fi hotspots.
Posted by Judith — 4:23 AM
Verizon unions strike as talks falter.
Source: Telecompaper.
More than 45,000 workers went on strike on 7 August at Verizon Communications after talks faltered between two unions representing the company’s wireline employees in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states faltered.
Posted by Judith — 2:39 AM
HTC acquires mobile-web connected services provider Dashwire.
Source: Telecompaper.
HTC has acquired mobile-web connected services platform provider Dashwire, maker of the Dashworks platform. The Dashworks platform is designed to provide mobile and web applications, enabling people to setup and personalize their smartphones, and access their mobile content across multiple screens and services.
Posted by Judith — 12:41 AM
CAT rules in BT’s favour in non-geographic termination rate matter.
Source: TeleGeography.
The UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) has upheld an appeal by fixed line incumbent BT against a decision by the telecom regulator Ofcom that said the telco could not increase termination rates to mobile operators for non-geographic numbers.
Posted by Judith — 12:05 AM
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Nokia changes media buying agency.
Source: cellular-news.
Nokia has terminated its long-standing media agency account with Wieden & Kennedy following a review of how its advertising is carried out. The handset manufacturer has switched to roster agencies Inferno and Fallon to handle its marketing spend.
The news follows recent reports that Nokia is planning an GBP80m. (US$128m.) marketing spend as it prepares to launch its first Microsoft powered smartphones later this year.
Posted by Judith — 4:07 AM
Friday, August 5, 2011
NSN starts cutting 1,500 jobs.
Source: Reuters.
Nokia Siemens Networks has begun cutting 1,500 jobs from the 6,900 staff it acquired with its US$1.2bn. acquisition of Motorola’s telecoms network unit in April.
Posted by Judith — 2:10 AM
Consolidation in mobile advertising market.
Source: cellular-news.
Mobile advertising agency, Augme Technologies has announced that it is to buy the assets and the business of Hipcricket, another mobile ad agency for US$44.5m.
Augme expects to hire all of Hipcricket’s employees and the current Hipcricket team will continue to service Hipcricket’s business.
Posted by Judith — 1:11 AM
Worldwide smartphone market grows 65.4%.
Source: cellular-news.
The worldwide mobile phone market grew 65.4% year over year in the second quarter of 2011, marking the third consecutive quarter where total shipments exceeded 100 million units.
Posted by Judith — 12:17 AM
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Clearwire plans LTE roll-out.
Source: Telecompaper.
US Wimax operator Clearwire announced plans to roll out LTE Advanced in large cities. The company has already been testing LTE and achieved speeds of 120Mbps in its 2.5GHz band spectrum.
Posted by Judith — 3:49 AM
Google cries foul on Apple, Microsoft mobile gang-up.
Source: Reuters.
Google, fresh from losing a bid to buy thousands of patents from bankrupt Nortel, has lashed out at its biggest rivals accusing them of banding together to block the Internet giant in the red-hot smartphone arena.
In a rare public outburst, Google Chief Legal Officer David Drummond blasted Microsoft, Apple, Oracle and “other companies” for colluding to hamper the increasingly popular Android mobile software by buying up patents, effectively imposing a “tax” on Android cellphones.
Posted by Judith — 1:59 AM
Third of UK adults ‘use smartphone’ says Ofcom report.
Source: BBC.
One in three adults in the UK now uses a smartphone, according to a report by the telecoms regulator Ofcom.
Although Apple’s iPhone was a favourite device for 32% of adults, among teens its popularity was dwarfed by the Blackberry, which 37% of young people identified as their preferred brand.
Posted by Judith — 1:44 AM
USA reaches deals with Canada & Mexico on 700 MHz sharing along borders.
Source: Converge.
The FCC has announced deals with Industry Canada and Mexico’s Secretariat of Communications and Transportation for sharing commercial wireless broadband spectrum in the 700 MHz band along the U.S.-Canadian and U.S.- Mexican border areas. The arrangement with Industry Canada also calls for sharing spectrum in the 800 MHz band.
Posted by Judith — 1:05 AM
JUST Mobile closes doors just ten months after launch.
Source: TeleGeography.
Irish MVNO JUST Mobile is shutting down its operation in the Republic, just ten months after it launched commercial operations in October 2010.
The company, the trading arm of Irish Mobile MVNO Services Ltd and the only Irish-owned pre-paid mobile network operator in the market, intends to wind down its services over the next two weeks.
Posted by Judith — 12:00 AM
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
ZTE opens network testing centre in the UK.
Source: cellular-news.
ZTE has opened a network testing and development centre in the UK, at London Docklands, with links to all major UK networks and to the key Docklands’ Telehouses.
The UK Innovation Centre is the first of 10 international Innovation Centres ZTE is building in countries including Spain, France and Germany to enable it to carry out R&D programmes in cooperation with major operators.
Posted by Judith — 2:55 AM
US broadband closer to advertised speeds.
Source: NYT.
Broadband speeds on average are within 80% of what major Internet service providers advertise, a big improvement from two years ago, according to a government study.
The FCC studied cable, DSL and fiber-to-the-home services at 13 top U.S. broadband providers.
The agency found Verizon Communications Inc’s fiber network was best at meeting or exceeding advertised maximum download speeds, while Cablevision Systems Corp was the worst.
Posted by Judith — 1:52 AM
Mexico and Colombia ink telecoms cooperation deal.
Source: TeleGeography.
The governments of Mexico and Colombia have signed a deal establishing a framework for cooperation in the fields of telecommunications and information technology.
Mexico and Colombia have the second and fourth largest wireless markets in the region, with 93.2m.and 44.4m. mobile subscribers respectively at the end of March 2011.
Posted by Judith — 12:52 AM
Biggest-ever series of cyber attacks uncovered.
Source: Reuters.
Security experts have discovered the biggest series of cyber attacks to date, involving the infiltration of the networks of 72 organizations including the United Nations, governments and companies around the world.
Posted by Judith — 12:48 AM
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
America Movil takes final consolidation step.
Source: Reuters.
Carlos Slim has moved to bring his whole telecommunications empire under one roof when America Movil launched an offer to buy the rest of fixed-line phone subsidiary Telefonos de Mexico.
America Movil already owns almost 60% of Telmex after a consolidation last year, and is now seeking to take the remaining 40% in a deal worth about US$6.5bn. based on the current market capitalization of Telmex.
Posted by Judith — 2:56 AM
VelaTel says wireless broadband network is now ‘live’ in Peru.
Source: TeleGeography.
US-based VelaTel Global Communications (formerly known as ChinaTel Group) has launched a wireless broadband network in Peru. VelaTel claims its new GO MOVIL network provides the country’s first ‘true 4G broadband internet access’ service, covering around five million Peruvians in the targeted cities.
Posted by Judith — 1:27 AM
SSTL extends managed services contract with Ericsson.
Source: TeleGeography.
Indian mobile network operator Sistema Shyam TeleServices (SSTL), which offers its services under the MTS India banner, has announced that it has renewed its partnership with Sweden’s Ericsson, extending a managed services contract it already has with the vendor.
Posted by Judith — 12:30 AM
Monday, August 1, 2011
Windstream to buy Paetec for US$2.3bn.
Source: Telecompaper.
US fixed-line operator Windstream has agreed to acquire business CLEC Paetec in all-stock deal valuing the company at US$2.3bn., including US$1.4bn. in debt. The acquisition boosts Windstream’s position in the business market, helping to offset its declining residential business.
Posted by Judith — 5:04 AM
US operators propose broadband connectivity plan.
Source: Telecompaper.
Six US broadband providers including AT&T, CenturyLink, FairPoint, Frontier, Verizon and Windstream have submitted a proposal to the FCC to speed broadband deployment to more than 4 million Americans living in rural areas.
Posted by Judith — 3:05 AM
Spain raises EUR1.65 bn. in mobile spectrum tender.
Source: Telecompaper.
The Spanish Ministry of Industry has raised EUR1.65bn. (US$2.38bn.) from its mobile spectrum tender, below its initial expectations of nearly EUR2bn. Tender winners include Telefonica, Vodafone, Orange, as well as regional operators Ono, Jazztel, Euskaltel, R, Telecable and Telecom Castilla La Mancha.
Posted by Judith — 12:07 AM
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