Archive for February, 2009
Six operators to launch LiMo handsets this year
Six operators will launch mobile phones based on the LiMo operating system this year, announced the LiMo Foundation, an industry group promoting Linux software for mobile services. The operators planning LiMo devices include NTT Docomo, Orange, SK Telecom, Telefonica, Verizon Wireless and Vodafone. Further active operator participants in the LiMo Foundation include KTF, SFR, Softbank Mobile, Swisscom and Telecom Italia. To date 33 commercial handset models have been certified as LiMo Compliant, of which 10 will be on display at the Mobile World Congress by NEC and Panasonic. LG and Samsung will also show new prototype models at MWC in Barcelona.
The LiMo Foundation also announced that all technologies specified for the R2 release of the LiMo Platform have been contributed on time, and LiMo members are currently introducing reference implementations for devices. The LiMo Reference Implementations will include code specified within both LiMo Platform R1 and LiMo Platform R2. This code includes source code contributions from members as well as components originating from open source communities. LiMo Reference Implementation contributors include Access, Azingo, LG Electronics, Purple Labs and Samsung Electronics. The latest technologies in the LiMo Platform include support for features such as advanced multimedia, location-based services, device management and enhanced security. The LiMo Foundation also announced its endorsement of the OMTP Bondi specification, which future LiMo handsets using a web runtime will support for widgets.
Add comment February 11, 2009
One in three iPhone users use LBS in Q4
Users of Apple’s iPhone are more than twice as likely as non-iPhone users to browse the mobile web and more than three times as likely to use LBS or a location-based social network, according to a mobile advertising report by Limbo. The report suggests that advertisers can reach iPhone users with mobile campaigns more easily than with other platforms, with more than 80 percent of iPhone users taking advantage of non-voice mobile data services, compared to just over 60 percent of non-iPhone users. One in ten mobile phone users in the US used a location-based service such as a map, friend or restaurant finder in the fourth quarter. The 25-34 age group saw the highest levels of interest in this type of offering, with 22 percent penetration. In contrast, iPhone users are four times as likely to recall LBS ads as non-iPhone users. While 33 percent of mobile consumers recall seeing mobile advertisements, 41 percent of iPhone users recall seeing mobile ads, according to the survey. The vast majority of these ads were seen in SMS text messages, twice as much as mobile web ads, which are the second most common mobile ad viewed. Significantly fewer consumers see other forms of mobile advertising unless they have an iPhone.
Add comment February 11, 2009
Alltel continues with services until buyer found
US cellular operator Alltel has confirmed that it is continuing to provide services to the 2.2 million customers in 22 states which Verizon Wireless has agreed to divest under the terms of its USD28.1 billion acquisition of Alltel. Alltel says these subscribers will have no change to their services while a buyer for the networks is sought. Verizon leapfrogged AT&T to take the number one spot in the US wireless market when it bought out Alltel; AT&T is hoping to close the gap by acquiring the operations in the markets now being divested. These have been valued at around USD3 billion.
Add comment February 11, 2009
Ghana to push on with MNP; GT to install SIM phones in 250 communities
Ghana’s Minister-Nominee for Communications Haruna Iddrisu said yesterday he would forge ahead quickly with plans to usher in mobile number portability (MNP) to improve consumer choice and drive down prices. Iddrisu reportedly made the promise when he was being vetted by the Parliamentary Appointments Committee for the position of Minister of Communications. ‘It is time for the regulation regime to make it possible for mobile phone users to be able to migrate from one network to the other with the whole of the phone numbers, including the network code and I think that it is about time the National Communications Authority (NCA) brought MNP on,’ he said.
In a separate story, Ghana Telecom (GT) says its mobile arm GT-OneTouch will install SIM phones in 250 rural communities across the country by July 2009. GT says its new majority shareholder Vodafone has spent the last six months investing heavily in its networks, services and staff to improve telecoms services in the country.
Add comment February 11, 2009
Pre-paid users required to register from April (Mexico)
A requirement for pre-paid mobile phone users in Mexico to register their details with network operators has become law this week, coming into effect from April. Last September the Senate passed a bill saying that service providers have one year to register their existing customer base and collect proof of identity for all new sales. The move, largely an anti-crime measure, has been implemented in many other countries, often resulting in as much as a 10% fall in the overall subscriber base.
Add comment February 11, 2009
MagtiCom launches mobile WiMAX service (Georgia)
Georgian cellco MagtiCom has launched a mobile WiMAX service for residential and business customers, according to a press release by Cisco. MagtiCom, which is 50.1% owned by US-based Metromedia International Group, is deploying an internet protocol next-generation network (IP NGN) supplied by Cisco, that integrates mobile voice and WiMAX services into a single network. MagtiCom currently offers broadband internet via WiMAX in ten cities across the country including the capital, Tbilisi. By the end of 2009 it plans to cover all major cities and regional areas of Georgia with WiMAX broadband services. Kaan Terzioglu, vice president of Cisco for Eastern Europe, said: ‘WiMAX is an ideal technology for providing vast territories with mobile internet access. Citizens and companies across Georgia can now enjoy the benefits of connectivity, be it for business, education, health care or new online services.’
Add comment February 10, 2009
AsiaBell launches Kazakh WiMAX
The Kazakh ISP AsiaBell has launched its mobile WiMAX network in the Karaganda region of central Kazakhstan using equipment supplied by Cisco. The service, which is branded AERO, is being targeted at business and residential users in a region which is home to approximately one million people. AsiaBell chose Cisco’s end-to-end Broadband Wireless Solution, including an Internet Protocol IP Multiprotocol Label Switching (IP/MPLS) network core, which was integrated with the public switched telephone network (PSTN). AsiaBell also offers subscribers Cisco modems for use with desktop and portable computers. Stepan Vadyunin, CEO of AsiaBell, commented: ‘In 2009, we plan to expand AERO further across several regions of Kazakhstan and add video to our offering.’
Add comment February 10, 2009
MVNOs to enter Bosnia
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s assistant minister for communication, Zeljko Knezevic, has announced that mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) will ‘soon’ be allowed to enter the country’s telecoms market, according to local news source Nezavisne Novine. A new telecoms policy (‘2008–2012’), which comes into force today, stipulates that the regulator must define licence conditions for MVNOs by the end of 2010.
Add comment February 10, 2009
NSN completes 3G project for Telefonica
Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) has announced in a press release that it has completed the implementation of a 3G network expansion for Telefonica that increases coverage, improves service quality, and reduces costs of the operator’s Spanish network. Via the project, coverage has been improved by ‘more than 25%’ in dense urban areas, whilst other improvements have been made to energy efficiency and environmental impact. With the implementation of NSN’s 3G Flexi Base Station, Telefonica expects to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 9,500 tonnes per year. NSN also provided network and services managing, monitoring and analysing.
Add comment February 10, 2009
Econet Wireless pushes ahead
Zimbabwean GSM operator Econet Wireless is aiming to increase its network capacity beyond its previously announced target of 1.2 million subscriber lines by the end of this year, reports IT News Africa. Econet’s corporate communications manager, Rangarirai Mberi, said that the company is working closely with its technical partners including Ericsson and ZTE to complete the current phase of expansion, whilst ‘work is already under way for further expansion to drive capacity beyond this level.’
Add comment February 10, 2009
ETECSA records 60% increase in wireless subscribers (Cuba)
Cuba’s state-owned telecoms monopoly, Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba (ETECSA), announced its wireless subscriber base has increased by 60% to 480,000, up from 300,000 since the government opened up the service to the public in April 2008. Until President Raul Castro lifted a ban, mobile phones were only available to tourists and government officials. Nearly 8,000 subscribers were registered in the first ten days after the restrictions were relaxed. The government recently lowered the activation charge from USD120 to USD64, though this remains higher than most Cubans can afford, representing three months wages for the average worker.
In a separate story, government officials have stated that Cuba will continue to limit internet access after the completion of a 1,550km fibre-optic cable linking the island to Venezuela. The country currently connects to the internet via satellite as a result of the US trade embargo. Boris Moreno, deputy minister of computer science and communication, said that Cuba, with a population of around 11.4 million, has 1.4 million internet users, and that by the end of 2008 there were 630,000 computers, a 23% increase compared to end-2007.
Add comment February 10, 2009
Mobile Handset sales in Turkey hit by economic crisis
Mobile phone sales in Turkey are being hit by the global economic downturn, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reports. Recep Uzelli, chairman of the executive board of Teleses, a solution partner of GSM operator Turkcell, is quoted as saying: ‘In 2007, 11,488,000 mobile phones were sold in Turkey. An average of 957,000 mobile phones were sold every month. But in January this year, only 700,000 mobile phones were sold.’ He added: ‘In the past two months, imports of mobile phones dropped by 40% in Turkey.’
Add comment February 10, 2009
Romania- WiMAX sale fails
Romania’s telecoms regulator ANC has revealed that it received no final bids for the two 3.6GHz licences that are on offer, despite receiving preliminary applications from six firms. ‘Signals from the market indicate that the main problem with these frequencies is their price, which the operators find too high. We will propose the Government a lower licence fee and then re-launch the granting process, as soon as possible’, ANC President Liviu Nistoran said in a statement. The licences will be used to provide WiMAX wireless broadband services; a third concession has already been handed to SNR in return for it agreeing to hand back the spectrum it already held in the 3.6GHz-3.8GHz band. The six companies that bought Terms of Reference for the tender were: Asesoft International, Comcore Management, Cosmote Romanian Mobile Telecommunications, Media Sat, RCS&RDS and Vodafone Romania.
Add comment February 10, 2009
Time Warner WiMAX (USA)
Time Warner Cable says it hopes to launch WiMAX wireless broadband services to customers in at least one US city later this year. The firm is one of three US cablecos to be partnering WiMAX operator Clearwire, which is aiming to deploy high speed wireless networks in cities across the US. Time Warner plans to offer its customers packages of cable broadband, TV and phone services coupled with WiMAX-based wireless internet access.
Add comment February 10, 2009
Vodafone, Hutchison Whampoa to Merge Australian Networks
Vodafone and Hutchison Whampoa have announced plans to merge their Australian networks to form a single mobile operator. Both companies will own 50% of the joint venture – which will retain the Vodafone brand name, although they retain the rights to the “three” brand as well. To equalise the value difference between the respective businesses, Vodafone will receive a deferred payment of A$500 million (US$337 million) from the joint venture company, VHA (Vodafone Hutchison Australia).
Utilising existing network arrangements and planned network build, VHA will operate a mobile network with at least 95% population coverage, of which 63% will have access to 3G services. Upon completion of additional network roll outs, VHA’s 3G population coverage is planned to increase to 95%.Based on figures from the Mobile World subscriber tracker, the merged firm would ended last September with a shade over 6 million customers – representing 26.3% of the market. It will still be the smallest of (now) three operators in the country – close behind Optus’ 7.4 million and Telstra’s 9.5 million customers.
Add comment February 10, 2009
France’s fourth mobile licence to cost EUR 206 million
French state secretary for industry Luc Chatel told the National Assembly that the first 5 MHz lot to be allocated to the fourth mobile network operator would cost EUR 206 million. This is one third of the EUR 619 million paid by the country’s existing mobile operators for their 15 MHz of spectrum. Free, the triple-play operator likely to become the country’s fourth mobile network operator, was prepared to pay EUR 210 million, CEO Xavier Niel told Le Figaro. Free may also bid for the remaining two lots of 5 MHz of spectrum alongside its competitors in a second tender. The first 5 MHz are due to be tendered at the end of February or early March, according to regulatory chairman Jean-Claude Mallet. Separately, France’s recently appointed secretary for the development of the digital economy, Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, suggested to the National Assembly setting up a conference to respond to consumers’ increasing concerns about the possible dangers of exposure to radio waves. The round table would bring together legislators, operators and scientists, she said.
Add comment February 10, 2009
Vodafone prepares USUSD2B loan in India
Vodafone Essar, the UK-based group’s Indian subsidiary, is in the process of a raising a INR100 billion (USD2 billion) bridge loan to finance its participation in India’s forthcoming 3G spectrum auctions. According to banking sources, Vodafone has appointed SBI Capital Markets to arrange the loan from a range of banks. “Canara Bank has approved INR7.5 billion for Vodafone, and the rest of the money will come from other banks,” a source said. An unnamed Vodafone source added that the financing would also be used for network expansion. However, Vodafone Essar declined to offcially comment on the story.
According to the report, there is still no official date for the start of India’s long-awaited 3G auctions, which are now thought unlikely to happen prior to India’s general elections, which need to take place before May. A Mumbai-based telecom analyst added that Vodafone would have little trouble raising the INR100 billion, suggesting that the operator should be able to secure an interest rate of around 8.5 percent. India is a key market for Vodafone, accounting for around 65 percent of the 9.7 million net new customers it added in its most recent.
Add comment February 10, 2009
NSN launches combined 2G/3G/LTE base station
Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) has launched a new base station that will support GSM/EDGE, WCDMA/HSPA and LTE in a single unit. The vendor said the new multi-radio base station – part of its ‘Flexi’ range – is targeted at existing 2G and 3G operators that are looking for a simple software upgrade to next generation mobile technologies; it is also aimed at CDMA operators planning to migrate to WCDMA/HSPA or LTE. NSN claimed that running multiple radio technologies in a single base station would cut costs as it maximises the re-use of existing infrastructure, and requires fewer site visits and maintenance.
NSN also talked up the new product’s green credentials, claiming the base station has the lowest energy consumption in the market. It said that an average three sector base station site running GSM/EDGE and WCDMA/HSPA simultaneously would consume as little as 790W. The new base stations will start being deployed at the beginning of 2010.
Add comment February 10, 2009
Google brings e-books to mobiles
Google is making its vast online library of books available for mobile phones. We are excited to announce the launch of a mobile version of Google Book Search, opening up over 1.5 million mobile public domain books in the US (and over half a million outside the US) for you to browse, the company said.The Internet search giant, in a post on Thursday on the Google Book Search blog, said mobile versions of the books could be read on devices such as the Apple iPhone or T-Mobile G1, which is powered by Google’s Android software.
These new mobile editions are optimized to be read on a small screen, Google said. With this launch, we believe that we’ve taken an important step toward more universal access to books.
Add comment February 10, 2009
Vodafone strategy will put Yes Telecom at its core
Vodafone is developing a distribution strategy that will see Yes Telecom at its core, according to head of Vodafone UK distribution and new Yes Telecom chief, Tanny Price. Price informed distributors in a letter that the company had been working on an ‘exciting strategy’ for 2009/10 to ‘generate additional opportunities for our indirect channels in the converging areas of the market’.Price said: ‘Building on the expertise and skills in Manchester, we are looking to invigorate the channel and invest in value by working more closely together with our partners, maximizing the opportunities that lie ahead.
This drive to raise the bar is testament to Vodafone’s commitment to the indirect channel. It is a fundamental part of the Enterprise business and we have strong plans for its growth through selecting the best channels, of which Yes Telecom is key. The Vodafone business will transform in this rapidly evolving market, moving from pure voice and data to a unified communications environment.
Add comment February 10, 2009
Sprint given a year to close some Nextel iDEN networks
The US cellular operator Sprint Nextel has been given twelve months to shut down its Nextel iDEN networks in territories served by affiliate operator iPCS. Sprint and iPCS have been arguing for years over the future of the iDEN mobile data networks; iPCS says the systems contravene the affiliate agreement it has with Sprint which says the larger firm cannot compete with iPCS in its exclusive service areas. iPCS has won a number of court decisions over the past two years, but the latest final order by an Illinois Circuit Court means Sprint has no choice but to close down or sell the offending systems. Sprint and iPCS are also arguing over Sprint’s WiMAX wireless broadband networks, which the affiliate claims also breaks their exclusivity agreement.
Add comment February 9, 2009
Virgin has no plans to open up down under (New Zealand)
The UK-based Virgin Mobile group has denied reports that it is looking to team up with New Zealand wireless licensee NZ Communications to help launch that country’s third cellular network. Virgin Mobile marketing manager Nikki Lambert told New Zealand newspaper The Dominion Post; ‘I can confirm that Virgin does not have any current plans regarding New Zealand and is not in any discussions with any operators out there.’ As a reseller Virgin Mobile has launched pre-paid mobile services in markets such as the UK, the US, India, Australia, Canada and South Africa.
1 comment February 9, 2009
Turkcell survives MNP
Turkcell, Turkey’s largest mobile operator in terms of subscribers, has reported that it attracted 650,000 net new customers in the final three months of 2008, taking its total user base to 37 million. Rival operator Avea said on Friday that it had gained 244,000 net new subscribers since the implementation of mobile number portability (MNP) in mid-November, meaning that the country’s other cellco, Vodafone, has been the big loser since MNP was introduced; it saw customer numbers fall from 17.36 million at end-September to 16.72 million three months later.
Add comment February 9, 2009
Mobile lines reach 11.5 million, says regulator (Ecuador)
Ecuadorian telecoms authority Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones (Suptel) has reported that, at the end of 2008, cellular connections in the country reached a total of 11.5 million, with market leader Conecel (Porta) recording 8.1 million users, followed by Movistar Ecuador with 3.1 million subscribers and Telecsa (Alegro) trailing with 303,000 active mobile SIMs. The operators reported that the majority of their mobile phone users remain on pre-paid tariffs: 88.57% at Porta, 84.88% of Movistar’s total base and 85.56% of Alegro customers.
Add comment February 9, 2009
VIPnet tests DVB-H TV, HSPA+, HSUPA 5.7 (Croatia)
Croatian cellco VIPnet, a subsidiary of Telekom Austria, has begun a test phase of Digital Video Broadcast-Handheld (DVB-H) mobile TV broadcasting services, offering free access to Eurosport, NovaTV, CNN and the Croatian Music Channel for handset users in the centre of Zagreb as well as in the eastern part of the city and in the Novi Zagreb area. DVB-H services will add to VIPnet’s existing range of TV-on-demand (video- on-demand) and live streaming.
VIPnet has also successfully tested HSPA+ mobile technology, and has reached a top speed of 21Mbps for data downloads from the internet, in cooperation with Croatia-based equipment provider Ericsson Nikola Tesla. Commercial HSPA+ could be switched on in major cities from as early as spring this year, according to the operator’s press release. Manufacturers are expected to begin delivering commercial HSPA+ devices in the second quarter. VIPnet also announced that it has begun to roll out ‘HSUPA 5.7’ technology, which enables maximum data upload speeds around four times higher than the existing peak upstream transfer rate. The operator’s HSDPA/HSUPA network currently has a peak performance of 7.2Mbps/1.4Mbps (download/upload).
Add comment February 9, 2009
TDC and NEC ink femtocell agreement (Denmark)
TDC Mobil, Denmark’s largest wireless network operator by subscribers, has announced plans to roll out a femtocell platform supplied by NEC before end-2009. Chief technical officer of TDC Mobile, Flemming Hynkemejer, said: ‘We look forward to evaluating the results of the femtocell trial. Femtocell technology promises to provide our customers with a number of advantages, primarily improved 3G coverage and capacity indoors. This will give them an even better experience and access to more services.’ He explained that the company will soon be able to offer customers femtocell access points; small plug-and-play consumer devices, to enable localised 3G coverage in their home while using their broadband connection as a backhaul. TDC Mobil had a subscriber base of over 3 million at end-September 2008, including half a million 3G subscribers.
Add comment February 9, 2009
Movilnet bolsters regional GSM, CDMA networks
Venezuelan cellco Movilnet has reported that in 2008 it strengthened its coverage in western central areas of the country, by deploying 109 GSM and 14 CDMA2000 1x base stations covering Lara, Yaracuy and Portuguesa, to take its total in those cities to 232 base stations. Asdrubal Pire, head of operations and systems for Movilnet in the central region, explained, ‘We had already covered most of the major roads and major towns, and additionally, there were increases in capacity in urban areas.’ Movilnet, a wholly owned subsidiary of state-owned telco CANTV, launched commercial GSM services with limited coverage in December 2008. At that date the GSM network spanned 1,000 base stations (up from 760 in September 2008). Commercial GSM coverage was initially only available in the Portuguesa and Nueva Esparta areas.
Add comment February 9, 2009
China Telecom to buy 50m CDMA handsets in 2009
Interfax China reports that China Telecom plans to purchase 50 million CDMA handsets in 2009, of which around 20 million will be CDMA2000 1xEV-DO capable. Quoting an employee of the cellco’s handset division, Ma Daojie, Telecom opened bidding for the first CDMA2000 1x EV-DO contract at the end of 2008 and has since finished selecting terminals, including handsets and wireless data cards. The results of the tender will be released ‘soon’. Ma said according to his company’s calculations, the operator will sell an average of 50,000 CDMA handsets per day in 2009.
Add comment February 9, 2009
RCOM completes nationwide GSM rollout (India)
Following a string of recent GSM-based service launch announcements, Indian mobile operator Reliance Communications (RCOM) has said it has now completed its nationwide GSM footprint, the Business Standard reports. As RCOM announced its most recently launched GSM infrastructure, adding coverage of more than 50 towns and 5,000 villages in the Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) circle, RCOM President SP Shukla, said, ‘The launch of Reliance Mobile’s GSM services in J&K marks the completion of the company’s nationwide footprint, which already covers over one billion Indians in other states of the country.’ January 2009 saw the cellco announce GSM launches in Mumbai, Rajasthan and Punjab, while earlier this month Delhi was added to the list of regions in which RCOM offered its GSM-based services.
Add comment February 9, 2009
Armed forces 3G spectrum release faces delay (India)
In another blow to the much-delayed 3G auction process in India, the Economic Times is reporting that the Indian army is now claiming that it cannot release spectrum needed for commercial 3G services in a phased manner as had previously been agreed. The armed forces are in possession of spectrum which is expected to be vacated and then reallocated to successful 3G licencees. However, the defence forces now say that they will only release the frequencies after Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) completes the rollout of all three alternative networks for them. BSNL is due to complete new infrastructure for the Army, Air Force and Navy in 2011. The original agreement between the communications and defence ministries called for a phased vacation of the spectrum by the armed forces; with BSNL expecting to complete the Air Force Network (AFNET) by June this year the communications ministry called for the Air Force spectrum to be vacated by that date. It is understood that a group of ministers (GoM) will now consider the fate of the spectrum, ruling on whether the original phased release will be enforced. Additionally, the GoM will examine the case for funding the INR146 billion (USD3.02 billion) alternative networks, with the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) expected to clear the project’s funding only after it is endorsed by the ministers.
Add comment February 9, 2009
Mobile base reaches 106.1 million users at end-January
According to data published by the Telecommunications Carrier Association (TCA), Japan was home to 106.1 million mobile subscribers by 31 January 2008, thanks to the net addition of 269,000 new connections in the month. The country’s third largest operator by subscribers, Softbank Mobile, once again led the pack in terms of net sign-ups, adding 120,400 new customers to close January with more than 20.12 million subscribers. It was followed by number one operator NTT DoCoMo, which added a net 64,300 new users to reach a total of 54.22 million, while KDDI gained just 12,600 mobile users to end the month with 30.56 million. Fourth placed eMobile signed up an impressive 71,700 net new subscribers to lift its total to 1.19 million and PHS operator Willcom shipped 20,800 customers for a total of 4.55 million.
Add comment February 9, 2009
SingTel: regional mobile base tops 232m at end-December
Southeast Asia’s largest telecommunications group, Singapore Telecom (SingTel), today reported that its aggregate regional mobile subscriber base stood at 232 million as at 31 December 2008, up 7.3% on a quarterly basis, and a 35% increase year-on-year. Despite stiff competition and the deepening global economic gloom, SingTel reported that each of its six mobile associates in the region – Thailand’s Advanced Info Service (AIS), India’s Bharti Airtel, Globe Telecom in the Philippines, Indonesia’s Telkomsel, Pacific Bangladesh Telecom (PBTL) and Pakistan’s Warid Telecom – posted double-digit subscriber growth ranging from 13% to 55% when compared to the same time at end-2007. Of these, India’s Bharti posted the single biggest jump in subscriber numbers to 85.65 million, up from 55.16 million as at 31 December 2007, SingTel said. The group’s wholly owned Ozzie unit Optus posted a 0.9% rise in mobile users over the year to 7.63 million, while in its home market SingTel had 2.94 million cellular customers, up 26% y-o-y. The Singaporean business also reported sustained demand for the Apple iPhone 3G device which helped push its domestic 3G mobile base up to 1.14 million, and 2.33 million for Optus in Australia.
Add comment February 9, 2009
Vodafone Portugal HSPA+ trials
Vodafone is continuing to work towards the introduction of HSPA+ in its key European territories. It has previously carried out advanced trials in the UK and Italy, and this week has launched a test network in Lisbon using HSPA+ 64QAM technology. The technology has a theoretical maximum download speed of 21.6Mbps, although Vodafone and partner Ericsson achieved peaks of 16Mbps. Vodafone Portugal expects to launch commercial HSPA+ services in 2009, as soon as compatible data devices become readily available.
Add comment February 6, 2009
Vietnamobile to launch GSM services
HT Mobile successor, Vietnamobile, is set to launch wireless services in the first quarter of 2009, after it finishes converting its CDMA technology to GSM. Vietnamobile will be the country’s fourth GSM service provider to launch services, after MobiFone, Vinaphone and Viettel. HT Mobile, a joint venture between Hanoi Telecom and Hong Kong-based Hutchison Telecommunications, launched in 2007 and received a licence to convert to GSM in March 2008, as a result of its poor service provision. It purchased GSM equipment worth USD600 million from Ericsson and China’s Huawei in August 2008.
Add comment February 6, 2009
Viettel plans network expansion to North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela
Vietnamese military-owned telco Viettel has announced plans to expand its network to North Korea, Cuba and Venezuela, according to reports in local paper Thanh Nien Daily. Tran Phuoc Minh, deputy director of Viettel, said the company is hoping to hold negotiations with the three countries in order to gain a foothold in their still relatively underdeveloped wireless markets. The cellco expanded its network to Cambodia last year, where it signed up 100,000 wireless subscribers after two months of pilot operations, as well as Laos, where it hopes to attract 50,000 subscribers this year. Viettel had a subscriber base of 28 million at end-2008.
Add comment February 6, 2009
Official: 3G auction will go ahead (Thailand)
The board of Thailand’s National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has decided that it will award 3G mobile licences via an auction, scheduled for the third quarter of this year, reports The Nation. NTC secretary-general Suranan Wongvithayakamjorn said that a public auction is the most transparent method of frequency allocation, and one that has been adopted by many countries. The regulator must now conclude the auction terms and conditions, including minimum bid price, number of concessions, fee payment method and licence validity period, within the next two or three weeks, he said. Licensing terms of reference must be put to a public hearing. A pre-bidding conference will also be held to allow telecoms operators to learn more about the process. Suranan said the duration of the 3G permits should be at least ten years, and applicants should be Thai nationals. An NTC source recently said that four 2100MHz UMTS licences will be awarded, three with 10MHz of bandwidth and one 15MHz block. Some telecom operators have opposed using the auction method, because of the possibility of being outbid by cash-rich international firms. State-owned Thai Mobile is the only holder of 2100MHz spectrum in the country, but has failed to roll out services. Cellular market leader Advanced Info Service (AIS) launched a small scale commercial UMTS network in the 900MHz band in May 2008 and expanded the service to Bangkok in December. Second placed operator DTAC has proposed a limited launch of UMTS services using 850MHz frequencies, whilst third-ranked True Move plans to launch its first commercial 3G services in Bangkok this April, using 800MHz spectrum.
Add comment February 6, 2009
Bahrain- Pre-paid users given last chance to register
Bahrain’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has extended a deadline for pre-paid mobile phone users to register their details to 31 March, because there still remain a significant number of unregistered subscribers. TRA general director Alan Horne said that only around half of an estimated 700,000 pre-paid users had registered by the original deadline on 31 December, and that ‘it could have been massive shock to the economy and to the telecom system of the country by taking such a big number of mobiles off the network.’ The registration scheme was introduced in the interests of public safety, security and to combat the use of mobile networks for illicit purposes.
1 comment February 6, 2009
Turk Telekom ready and willing to buy, Avea gains from MNP
Turk Telekom announced, in a statement to the Istanbul Stock Exchange, that an investment mandate decision had been agreed at a board meeting earlier this week, reports Reuters. ‘The decision was reached for the extraordinary general meeting… to mandate the management board for any kind of company purchases for up to USD1 billion within 2009,’ the company said. The extraordinary general assembly is scheduled to meet on 25 February. Although the operator did not reveal any particular acquisition targets, the company did submit a preliminary, non-binding bid for the Macedonian wireless operator Cosmofon last month.
In other news, Turk Telekom’s wireless subsidiary Avea announced this week that it had gained a net 244,000 subscribers since number portability was introduced in Turkey. Science Technologies and Communication Council (BTK) President Tayfun Acarer announced that 1.3 million subscribers have attempted to take advantage of number portability, which requires cellcos to allow customers to keep their phone numbers when switching to a different service provider, since it was introduced on 10 November 2008.
Add comment February 6, 2009
America Movil surprises with 4Q net profit increase
Mexican telecoms giant America Movil (AM) has announced a surprise 14.5% year-on-year rise in net profit for the three months ended 31 December 2008, to MXN16.3 billion (USD1.13 billion), spurred by record subscriber growth. Full-year net profit rose 14.9% to MXN60.1 billion. AM added 10.1 million subscribers over the three-month period, the most ever for the group in a single quarter, with the fall in value of the peso contributed to higher sales. Columbia, Brazil and Ecuador had the highest net subscriber additions, revealing 87%, 36% and 34% y-o-y increases respectively. The group reported a total of 182.7 million wireless customers worldwide at the end of the 2008, an increase of 29.3 million, or 19.1%, over the year.
Total revenue for the fourth quarter increased 11.6% year-on-year to MXN94.4 billion. Service revenue for the three-month period increased 14.7% to MXN80.4 billion, whilst revenue from data services contributed strongly to the growth, rising 37% year-on-year. Full-year revenue meanwhile increased 13.6% to MXN346 billion. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) also rose, up 7.3% in the most recent quarter against 4Q 2007 at MXN34.9 billion, and up 11.8% for the twelve months ended 31 December 2008. CAPEX for 2008 reportedly exceeded MXN68 billion.
Add comment February 6, 2009
China Unicom turns to Spanish partner for 3G advice
China Unicom and Telefonica have signed a framework cooperation agreement on the development of 3G in the People’s Republic. The agreement aims at enhancing cooperation in the mobile communications, W-CDMA, broadband application, international business, marketing and corporate services arenas.
Telefonica’s interest in Unicom is by virtue of the Chinese company’s recent merger with China Netcom, in which the Spaniards had a 7.22% stake. In September 2008 Telefonica announced that it would boost its stake in China Netcom by 2.7% for EUR368 million, prior to Netcom merging with China Unicom. The Spanish firm subsequently purchased an additional 3.03% stake of the unified company for between EUR392 million and EUR434 million from AllianceBernstein. Telefonica now owns more than 5.5% of the combined China Unicom-China Netcom, and is the company’s single largest private investor.
Add comment February 6, 2009
