Vodafone, Tata given more time for CWW bid

UK-based Vodafone Group and India’s Tata Communications have been awarded an extra three weeks to decide whether they want to bid for Cable & Wireless Worldwide (CWW), Reuters reports. The Panel on Takeovers and Mergers has consented to an extension of the deadline from 29 March 2012 to 5pm on 19 April 2012, to enable Vodafone and Tata to ‘establish whether or not their preliminary discussions with CWW might result in a formal offer for the company, which the board of CWW would be willing to recommend.’ Vodafone first declared an interest in acquiring CWW in mid-February, prompting India’s Tata Communications to say on 1 March that it too was considering making a bid

Excerpt from:

OVETEL Vodafone, Tata given more time for CWW bid

Nepal’s regulator considers plan for national roaming regulation

The mountain Kingdom’s industry regulator the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) is preparing to establish a new set of regulations for national roaming, the Himalayan News Service reports.

Taken from:

OVETEL Nepal’s regulator considers plan for national roaming regulation

Parliament fears illegal networks are ‘mushrooming’

India’s telecoms watchdog, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has been criticised by a parliamentary committee for its attitude towards illegal network operations, amidst fears that the practice is ‘mushrooming’.

See original article:
OVETEL Parliament fears illegal networks are ‘mushrooming’

STC remains interested in Lebanon

The CEO of international operations at Saudi Telecom Company (STC), Ghassan Hasbani, said yesterday that his company still had a keen interest in bidding for a mobile licence in Lebanon, if the country ever gets around to privatising the cellular sector, currently a duopoly of two state-run firms managed by foreign operators. Hasbani, speaking to the Daily Star on the sidelines of the ArabNet Digital Summit in Beirut, said that Lebanon’s telecoms sector is ‘ripe for investments’, and ‘a very attractive market with a great potential’, but he noted that allowing a new foreign entrant rests on a decision by the Lebanese government

Read more here:

OVETEL STC remains interested in Lebanon

National fibre upgrade to be finished ‘within months’

Lebanon’s Ministry of Telecommunications (MoT) promised yesterday that a project to upgrade state-owned PSTN operator Ogero’s domestic telecoms backbone with a new national fibre-optic network would be completed ‘within months’.

Continue Reading:
OVETEL National fibre upgrade to be finished ‘within months’

SSTL looks to raise INR60bn; leaders expect amicable resolution

Russian-backed cellco Sistema Shyam Teleservices Ltd (SSTL) is looking to raise INR60 billion (USD1.147 billion) through a preferential share issue. The company said that the shares were ‘non-convertible and redeemable’ adding that there would be no change to the equity structure of the company.

Read More:
OVETEL SSTL looks to raise INR60bn; leaders expect amicable resolution

Sprocket Wireless taps Alca-Lu for Oklahoma LTE rollout

Cross Wireless, doing business under the ‘Sprocket Wireless’ brand, has announced that it has enlisted French-US equipment vendor Alcatel-Lucent to roll out a network based on Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology. Headquartered in Warner, Oklahoma, and operated by long-time regional Cross Telephone, Cross Wireless intends to deploy the network in the counties of Muskogee, Pittsburg, Choctaw, McCurtain and McIntosh during the first half of 2012

Read the original post:
OVETEL Sprocket Wireless taps Alca-Lu for Oklahoma LTE rollout

Mixed messages as MTN reveals it is not opposed to SPTC entering mobile market

According to the Times of Swaziland, MTN Swaziland has said that it is not opposed to the Swaziland Post and Telecommunication Corporation (SPTC) entering the country’s mobile market, despite this week’s decision by the International Court of Arbitration in Geneva, Switzerland to ‘terminate forthwith the mobile component of any telephony network and service’ operated by the SPTC, which occupies the dual role of market regulator and fixed line incumbent. In a statement issued following the ruling, MTN said that the company and its stakeholders are not opposed to SPTC competing with them, but stressed that the regulator cannot do so while it is still an MTN shareholder. The precise status of the SPTC’s stake in MTN is shrouded in mystery; in 1Q11 the regulator claimed that it had transferred its 51% shareholding in MTN Swaziland to the Ministry of Finance (41%) and King Mswati III (10%), in order to pave the way for its own independent entry into the wireless sector.

See the original article here:
OVETEL Mixed messages as MTN reveals it is not opposed to SPTC entering mobile market

MetroPCS delays VoLTE launch until 2H12

MetroPCS has pushed back its planned launch of voice-over-Long Term Evolution (VoLTE) services to the second half of 2012, Ed Chao, senior vice president of engineering and network operations told FierceBroadbandWireless. Chao confirmed reports that MetroPCS is continuing to test VoLTE on an ongoing basis in an unidentified market

More here:

OVETEL MetroPCS delays VoLTE launch until 2H12

PVT launches LTE in New Mexico, Texas under ‘Fuego’ banner

New Mexico-based Penasco Valley Telecommunications (PVT) has announced that it is poised to launch Long Term Evolution (LTE) services in its home state and in selected parts of Texas. Operating under the ‘Fuego Wireless’ banner, PVT claims that its footprint will include ‘expansive diverse terrain, rural agricultural communities, and metropolitan areas such as Santa Fe and Las Cruces’.

Excerpt from:

OVETEL PVT launches LTE in New Mexico, Texas under ‘Fuego’ banner

Eircom Group submits application for examinership

Dublin-based telecoms firms Eircom Group has announced that three of its subsidiaries – Eircom Limited, Meteor Mobile Communications Limited and Irish Telecommunications Investments Limited – yesterday submitted an application to the High Court in Dublin to be placed in Irish examinership. In a statement the group confirmed that Mr Justice Peter Kelly has confirmed Court protection for the three firms and will give his decision on the appointment of an interim examiner today.

View post:
OVETEL Eircom Group submits application for examinership

T-Mobile taps TAP to sell towers

T-Mobile USA has hired New York bank TAP Advisors to help sell off wireless towers and raise cash for parent company Deutsche Telekom (DT), Bloomberg reports, citing people familiar with the matter. DT halted its plan to sell off some of its US assets last year after agreeing to AT&T Inc’s USD39 billion bid for T-Mobile, only for the deal to collapse in December because of insurmountable regulatory hurdles. A press statement issued by the operator acknowledged the plan, but stopped short of confirming the details: ‘T-Mobile USA continues to evaluate a tower sale as part of its self-funding strategy, but have no specific plans to detail at this time’.

Read the original post:

OVETEL T-Mobile taps TAP to sell towers

ACCC launches discussion on creation of Independent Telecommunications Adjudicator

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has announced the release of a discussion paper in which it invites comments and submissions on the draft documents relating to the proposed establishment of an Independent Telecommunications Adjudicator (ITA). The development comes on the back of the recent approval of fixed line incumbent Telstra’s Structural Separation Undertaking (SSU); that undertaking requires Telstra to implement a number of dispute resolution processes, including an ITA scheme. In its discussion paper the ACCC is seeking feedback on the draft versions of an ITA constitution, as well as a charter of independence, and interested parties have until 20 April 2012 to make their submissions

Read More:

OVETEL ACCC launches discussion on creation of Independent Telecommunications Adjudicator

3 Group’s EBITDA up 21%; Hutch Asia narrows EBIT loss by 56%

Hong Kong-based conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa has reported its telecoms segment results for the year ended 31 December 2012.

See original article:
OVETEL 3 Group’s EBITDA up 21%; Hutch Asia narrows EBIT loss by 56%

Taiwanese cellcos to drop calling rates from 1 April

Taiwan’s five largest mobile network operators are set to reduce rates for domestic calls from 1 April 2012, Focus Taiwan reports, citing an official of the National Communications Commission (NCC). Customers signed up to services offered by Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile Company, Far EasTone, Asia Pacific Telecom and Vibo Telecom are all expected to benefit from the lower rates. All five are expected to drop calling charges and text messaging fees by between 3.58% and 6.25% in compliance with NCC policy, with the new rates to remain valid until March 2013.

Read More:

OVETEL Taiwanese cellcos to drop calling rates from 1 April

Vivendi’s SFR prepares ‘urgent’ review to tackle Iliad threat

French media and telecoms group Vivendi is to implement an ‘urgent’ cost-cutting plan at its domestic mobile subsidiary SFR, as it looks to formulate a long-term strategy to counter the threat of cutthroat sector competition following the launch of fourth entrant, Iliad’s Free Mobile, at the start of this year. Reuters claims to have seen internal documents which highlight the parent’s concerns for France’s second largest cellco by subscribers, including a series of measures to be taken immediately, which were presented to labour union officials earlier this week. The meeting was reportedly chaired by Vivendi CEO Jean-Bernard Levy, who took over the helm of SFR on Monday after replacing its long-time chief executive.

View original post here:

OVETEL Vivendi’s SFR prepares ‘urgent’ review to tackle Iliad threat

No plans for third operator, regulator says

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has issued a statement saying that it does not, at this time, have any intention to license a third operator in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) telecoms market. The announcement comes in response to reports that the regulator was considering opening up the sector to new players in 2015, and in its statement the TRA has reaffirmed that the market’s two operators, Etisalat and Du, are currently meeting the needs of the UAE market

See more here:
OVETEL No plans for third operator, regulator says

Telefonica’s appeal against antitrust fine slapped down

Spanish telecoms giant Telefonica has lost its appeal against a EUR152 million (USD202 million) antitrust fine which was handed down to its domestic fixed line unit by European Union (EU) regulators back in 2007, Bloomberg reports.

Visit link:

OVETEL Telefonica’s appeal against antitrust fine slapped down

BT unveils Deddington as location for first fibre-only exchange

British fixed line incumbent BT has revealed that Deddington in Oxfordshire will be the first pilot location for its fibre-only exchange programme. The project, the operator says, is aimed at exploring ‘the opportunities arising from a future fibre-only world in which services over copper are replaced entirely with next generation voice and broadband services running over fibre-optic cables’. Work on the new infrastructure will get underway in Spring 2012, via BT’s local network division Openreach, with superfast broadband speeds expected to be made to residents and businesses in Deddington from 2013 onwards.

Original post:
OVETEL BT unveils Deddington as location for first fibre-only exchange

Triatel begins EV-DO Rev B2 upgrade project

The Latvian CDMA cellular operator Triatel has begun a USD4 million network upgrade programme in the Riga area under which it will install EV-DO Rev B2 technology to increase data speeds by up to ten times.

Read the original:
OVETEL Triatel begins EV-DO Rev B2 upgrade project

NZ MNP approaches fifth birthday; half a million mark looms

The New Zealand Telecommunication Forum (TCF) has announced that the country’s mobile number portability (MNP) initiative will be five years old on 1 April, with the total number of mobile numbers ported expected to reach 500,000 that month.

View the original here:
OVETEL NZ MNP approaches fifth birthday; half a million mark looms

Federal Competition Authority says No! 3, Orange merger derailed by concerns over divestment of MVNO Yesss!

The takeover of Orange Austria by Hutchison Whampoa’s H3G Austria unit has reportedly fallen foul of the country’s Federal Competition Authority.

More:
OVETEL Federal Competition Authority says No! 3, Orange merger derailed by concerns over divestment of MVNO Yesss!

NBN Co outlines rollout plans for next three-year period

Construction of the fibre-optic component of Australia’s National Broadband Network (NBN) will be underway or completed in around a third of the country over the next three years, it has been announced. NBN Co, the public-private company overseeing the rollout and management of the superfast broadband network, has released its first three-year rollout schedule for the project, in which it has confirmed that areas covering approximately 3.5 million premises across 1,500 communities in every state and territory in Australia will be included in the first phase.

Read More:
OVETEL NBN Co outlines rollout plans for next three-year period

NetAmerica Alliance expects second LTE network to go live this week

NetAmerica Alliance, the association of rural operators which formed last year to give smaller companies the economies of scale needed to roll out Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks within their respective operational footprints, has announced that its second company is expected to go live this week.

Read More:

OVETEL NetAmerica Alliance expects second LTE network to go live this week

The sound of the underground

Passengers on Tokyo’s underground subway system will be able to access cellular services for the first time from this week.

View article:
OVETEL The sound of the underground

Timor Telecom’s monopoly set to end

The government of Timor-Leste has reached an agreement with Timor Telecom (TT) to end the monopoly held by the Portugal Telecom subsidiary on the telecoms sector, Macauhub reports. Under the terms of TT’s operating licence, which was awarded in 2002, the company was granted exclusivity in the market until 2017, but last year the government revealed plans to bring forward liberalisation and subsequently entered into negotiations with TT to end its monopoly earlier than planned.

Visit site:
OVETEL Timor Telecom’s monopoly set to end

Sprint contemplates rural LTE tie-ups; RCA attracts more major players

Sprint is considering partnering with as-yet-unidentified regional wireless providers to extend the reach of its in-deployment Long Term Evolution (LTE) network.

Read more here:

OVETEL Sprint contemplates rural LTE tie-ups; RCA attracts more major players

StarHub once again reaches out to help OpenNet

The Straits Times reports that Singaporean telco StarHub has reached out to offer help to OpenNet, the company responsible for the building of Singapore’s Next Generation National Broadband Network (NGNBN). The telco is proposing to act as a sub-contractor to help OpenNet speed up the rollout of fibre services to homes and businesses in the wake of complaints over delays in connecting users. The move reportedly follows StarHub finding out that network builder OpenNet’s current contract with SingTel is not exclusive

See more here:
OVETEL StarHub once again reaches out to help OpenNet

MTN Zambia to invest USD3 million on connection to EASSy

MTN Zambia has reportedly said it plans to invest around USD3 million connecting to the Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System (EASSy) with a view to enhancing its mobile internet services, a move it sees as key to ensuring it achieves its aim of becoming the country’s largest cellco by 2015. According to Zambia’s Daily Mail, the revelation came during an interview with MTN Zambia’s chief marketing officer Ernst Fonternel, with the executive also highlighting recent customer growth and the operator’s increasing market share. MTN Zambia, Mr Fonternel claims, has seen its market share increase by around 16% over the last three years, having added around 800,000 new subscribers last year alone

Read the article:
OVETEL MTN Zambia to invest USD3 million on connection to EASSy

Vodacom could lose control of Congolese unit as dispute rumbles on

South Africa’s Vodacom Group may lose control of its wireless unit in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bloomberg reports, after a local court ordered its shares be confiscated to settle a long-running financial dispute with a consultant. Earlier this month Vodacom was ordered to pay former consultant Moto Mabanga USD21 million after losing a court appeal over a so-called ‘success fee’ dating back to 2008.

Visit link:
OVETEL Vodacom could lose control of Congolese unit as dispute rumbles on

EU reaches preliminary deal on European mobile roaming charges

The European Parliament and representatives of the Council and the European Commission (EC) have reached a preliminary agreement on new EU roaming rules in the wake of the Commission’s proposal in 2011. The EU parliament is expected to approve the new charges in May this year, followed by the Council in June.

See original article:
OVETEL EU reaches preliminary deal on European mobile roaming charges

Vimpelcom’s Algerian unit Djezzy hit with USD1.3bn fine

The Russian telecoms group Vimpelcom says its subsidiary in Algeria, Orascom Telecom Algeria (OTA), which offers mobile services under the brand name Djezzy, will appeal fines totalling DZD99 billion (USD1.3 billion) which have been imposed for alleged breaches of foreign exchange regulations. A senior executive at Djezzy is also facing a criminal sentence as part of the same court judgement.

See the article here:

OVETEL Vimpelcom’s Algerian unit Djezzy hit with USD1.3bn fine

Goodbye, Hallo MVNO? Would-be virtual operator calls on MoC to enforce contract

International calls carrier 015 Hallo has reportedly called on Israel’s Ministry of Communications (MoC) to order Pelephone to honour a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) agreement that it claims has been cancelled by the cellco. According to Globes Online, Hallo acquired Cellran Cellular Communications, which it is understood had signed a virtual operator deal with Bezeq-subsidiary Pelephone prior to its purchase by Hallo. With the network operator claiming, however, that this contract was voided a week ago – Pelephone has contended the contract was terminated after Cellran failed to meet its commitments – Hallo has argued that unilateral cancellation should not be allowed

View the original here:

OVETEL Goodbye, Hallo MVNO? Would-be virtual operator calls on MoC to enforce contract

Five 3G licences to be awarded (not four); September auction targets USD1.5bn

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) yesterday submitted its final draft 3G licensing guidelines to the Ministry of Posts & Telecommunications (MoPT), under which it aims to earn around USD1.5 billion in spectrum fees via an open auction on 3 September 2012 for four 2100MHz licences alongside a fifth concession award to state-owned cellco Teletalk. As reported by the Financial Express, the Cellular Mobile Phone Service (3G/4G/LTE) Regulatory Licensing Guideline 2012 says that Bangladesh will issue five technology-neutral concessions for 10MHz each in the 2100MHz band to Teletalk, one new foreign entrant and three privately owned Bangladeshi mobile operators. It had previously been reported that there would be only four licence recipients including just two of the country's private sector operators, but the document confirms the number as five

Taken from:

OVETEL Five 3G licences to be awarded (not four); September auction targets USD1.5bn

CTU to force incumbent cellcos to allow MVNOs, report says

The Czech Telecommunication Office (CTU) could force the country’s incumbent mobile operators – Telefonica O2 CR, T-Mobile Czech Republic and Vodafone CR – to open up their networks to new mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), possibly as early as this summer, Reuters quotes a spokesman as saying.

Excerpt from:

OVETEL CTU to force incumbent cellcos to allow MVNOs, report says

India may relax VoIP laws

India’s Telecom Commission has reportedly approved measures that will allow the provision of voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) under the National Telecom Policy (NTP) 2012 when it comes into effect in April. According to the Wall Street Journal, which cited an internal note from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), the regulations governing the provision of VoIP services will be relaxed to allow calls to mobiles, and international calls. The move aims to ‘enhance affordability to customers’, the DoT note said.

See more here:
OVETEL India may relax VoIP laws

Telecoms act faces review

Switzerland’s cabinet, the Federal Council, has announced plans to partially review the current Telecommunication Act (TCA) in order to prevent legislation falling behind technological developments. The Federal Council said that the TCA was established for copper networks and was no longer fully effective. In order to remedy this, the Council will draft a consultation paper during the current legislature, with the aim of making the legislation more flexible

Continued here:
OVETEL Telecoms act faces review

Huawei, DT conduct LTE 4x4 MIMO field trials

Huawei has carried out what it claims to be the world’s first Long Term Evolution (LTE) 4x4 MIMO (multiple-input multiple-output) field trial using the network of German telecoms company Deutsche Telekom (DT). The trials untilised the Chinese vendor’s SingleRAN LTE solution and demonstrated maximum download rates of up to 250Mbps.

See the article here:

OVETEL Huawei, DT conduct LTE 4x4 MIMO field trials

Unitech shares frozen; Telenor presses for compensation

India’s Income Tax department has frozen the shares owned by Unitech in its joint venture Uninor, reports the Economic Times. The tax office froze shares held through Simpson Wireless, Cestos Wireless and Acrous Wireless, Unitech’s investment vehicles through which it holds a 32.75% stake in Uninor due to alleged outstanding tax dues amounting to INR7.01 billion (USD134.31 million)

Read More:

OVETEL Unitech shares frozen; Telenor presses for compensation

Fifth US operator introduces LTE; US Cellular 4G launch proceeds as planned

Chicago-based mobile operator US Cellular reportedly launched its long-rumoured Long Term Evolution (LTE) network last Thursday, in association with wholly-owned subsidiary King Street Wireless. From launch the mobile operator is offering LTE in select cities in Iowa, Maine, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin, whilst the second half of the year will see coverage extended to select cities in Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, Oregon, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia. US Cellular claims to be the first wireless carrier to offer LTE in several of these markets

Read more here:
OVETEL Fifth US operator introduces LTE; US Cellular 4G launch proceeds as planned

Two Verizon rural LTE partners nearing launch; scheme gains two new operators

Two regional mobile operators participating in Verizon Wireless' ‘Long Term Evolution (LTE) in Rural America’ programme are reportedly close to launching commercial services, as the initiative continues to expand its reach with the addition of new participants.

Visit link:
OVETEL Two Verizon rural LTE partners nearing launch; scheme gains two new operators

MetroPCS claims half a million LTE subscribers; eyes additional spectrum purchase

US mobile operator MetroPCS has notched up around 500,000 Long Term Evolution (LTE) subscribers, Fierce Wireless reports. The figure was disclosed by Keith Terreri, the cellco’s vice president for finance, speaking at the Barclays Capital 2012 High Yield Bond and Syndicated Loan Conference. Terreri indicated that most 4G customers have gravitated towards the company's USD50 and USD60 per month LTE plans, since its USD40 plan is capped at 100MB of data.

View article:

OVETEL MetroPCS claims half a million LTE subscribers; eyes additional spectrum purchase

Deadline for consultation on Everything Everywhere’s 1800MHz 4G plans extended

UK telecoms regulator Ofcom has announced an extension to the consultation period regarding mobile network operator Everything Everywhere’s request to re-farm spectrum in the 1800MHz band for use with Long Term Evolution (LTE) and WiMAX technologies. The watchdog has confirmed that the deadline for submissions on the matter has now been pushed back from the original closing date of 17 April 2012 to 8 May 2012. In revealing the decision, Ofcom noted that it had opted to ‘extend this period following requests from stakeholders for more time to respond’.

Follow this link:
OVETEL Deadline for consultation on Everything Everywhere’s 1800MHz 4G plans extended

Congress grants Enatrel approval to expand fibre-optic network

According to BNAmericas, Nicaragua's Congress has authorised state-owned electricity transmission company Enatrel to partner with private, state or foreign companies to expand its 1,000km national fibre-optic network. The resolution entitles Enatrel to ‘commercially develop the installed capacity of the communications system, its infrastructure, media and equipment’ to create companies that provide ‘all types of telecommunications services’ on a national and international level. TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database writes that in August 2010 Enatrel announced its intention to install more than 1,000km of fibre-optic cable across the country, promising improved bandwidth for internet services.

Follow this link:
OVETEL Congress grants Enatrel approval to expand fibre-optic network

ZTE limits its business with Iran

The Chinese equipment manufacturer ZTE has said it is halting its expansion in Iran, following similar moves by rival vendors including Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN), Ericsson and Huawei.

Continue reading here:
OVETEL ZTE limits its business with Iran

Tigo targets corporate clients with new business unit

Tigo Guatemala, the country's largest mobile operator by subscribers, has launched a new business division focusing on corporate customers, PrensaLibre reports. The new unit, simply called ‘Tigo Business’, offers voice telephony, broadband internet and data transmission services to corporate clients across the country

Read the original post:

OVETEL Tigo targets corporate clients with new business unit

Sierra Leone gets Thuraya satellite service with Africell

The Sierra Leone mobile operator Africell has announced the launch of Thuraya satellite-based services in the country.

Continue reading here:

OVETEL Sierra Leone gets Thuraya satellite service with Africell

Digicel to build Haiti submarine cable link; leaving BTC treading water?

Jamaica-based Digicel Group yesterday announced a plan to deploy an undersea fibre-optic cable connecting Haiti to an existing route from Jamaica to the US, which it says could be ready to carry voice and data traffic by July this year. The 200km cable will cost around USD16 million and will be built in partnership with Columbus Networks and Alcatel-Lucent, using IT International Telecom as marine services subcontractor, the Jamaica Gleaner reports. Alcatel-Lucent originally deployed the FibraLink system owned by Columbus Networks, which connects Kingston to Florida, and Columbus Networks will own, operate and manage the new Fibralink Extension to Haiti after it is completed, providing high speed connections to 21 countries.

Taken from:

OVETEL Digicel to build Haiti submarine cable link; leaving BTC treading water?

Tunisia scoops 3G and fixed line licence

Tunisia’s largest cellco by subscribers, Tunisiana has been issued a new telecommunications licence by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies (MinCom), allowing it to launch fixed line and 3G services.

Read More:
OVETEL Tunisia scoops 3G and fixed line licence

Bulgarian cellcos have installed 593 illegal base stations

Bulgaria’s Minister of Regional Development, Lilyana Pavlova, has criticised the country’s mobile operators for deploying almost 600 illegal base stations. Speaking at a presentation regarding the work of Bulgaria's construction regulatory agency, the Directorate for National Construction Control, Pavlova said: ‘For 593 base stations the Directorate has found that they do not have a construction permit and a permit for use.’ According to a report from Novinite.com, the Minister has ordered cellcos to stop operations via the illegal base stations and to dismantle the antennae until the relevant construction permits have been applied for and awarded.

See more here:

OVETEL Bulgarian cellcos have installed 593 illegal base stations

Russian diplomats might swing case for SSTL

Following talks between Indian and Russian government officials yesterday, the revocation of licences held by Sistema Shyam Teleservices Ltd (SSTL, the Russian government holds a stake in SSTL through majority owner Sistema) may be reconsidered, or treated separately from the other withdrawn licences, reports the Hindu Business Line, citing ‘official sources’. SSTL had its licence cancelled when the Supreme Court annulled 122 concessions in February this year, on the grounds that the licences issued in 2008 had been allocated illegally, as the ‘first come, first served’ policy had not been enforced.

View post:
OVETEL Russian diplomats might swing case for SSTL

TRA clarifies LTE plan, government yet to decide on new foreign entrants

Mohamed Mahmood, technical director at Bahrain’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), has clarified details of the regulator’s recently announced 4G mobile licensing plans, telling reporters at a Dubai conference that the TRA will begin the tender for licence bids in September 2012 and accept offers by January 2013, with concessions to be awarded in March that year.

Originally posted here:
OVETEL TRA clarifies LTE plan, government yet to decide on new foreign entrants

Customers continue to demand IP VPN connections under 10Mbps

While carriers continue to expand their offering of high capacity IP VPN ports, customer demand remains strongest for connections under 10Mbps. According to new data from TeleGeography’s Enterprise Network Pricing Service, 88% of ports sold by carriers between Q1 2011 and Q1 2012 were 10Mbps or less

More:
OVETEL Customers continue to demand IP VPN connections under 10Mbps

Somtel expands 3G network coverage

Somaliland-based telecoms operator Somtel has expanded its 3G network to Erigavo in the Sanag region and Las-Anod in Sool, SomalilandPress reports. The launch will enable subscribers to access a range of services, including video streaming, as well as surf the internet at increased data transmission rates. Somtel commercially launched operations in Somaliland in March 2010.

See more here:
OVETEL Somtel expands 3G network coverage

BellTel files request for extension to operating permit

The Business Mirror newspaper reports that Filipino telco Bell Telecommunication Philippines (BellTel), owned by local diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp (SMC), has filed a request with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to extend its provisional authority to construct, operate and maintain a digital Personal Communications Network (PCN) in the Philippines. The operator’s permit was due to expire on 17 April this year

Link:

OVETEL BellTel files request for extension to operating permit

Vodafone Hungary selects Tellabs for mobile backhaul solution

Vodafone’s Hungarian subsidiary has picked US-based Tellabs to modernise its current mobile backhaul network. Under the contract Vodafone Hungary is looking to migrate to an IP/Ethernet-based infrastructure and to expand its geographic coverage in Hungary. The cornerstone of the upgraded network is Tellabs’ high-capacity 8609 Access Switch, which can be deployed in various network locations enabling high speed packet access (HSPA) and Long Term Evolution (LTE)-enabled networks

Read the original:

OVETEL Vodafone Hungary selects Tellabs for mobile backhaul solution

Tanzanian communications minister updates on NICTBB rollout

Tanzania’s Minister for Communications, Science and Technology, Prof Makame Mbarawa Mnyaa, says that the build-out of Phase II of the country’s National Information Communications Technology Broadband Backbone infrastructure (NICTBB) will soon start delivering citizens with fast, efficient and affordable data traffic to support a range of industries, including e-education, telemedicine, e-agriculture, e-commerce, and e-governance – even in the remotest parts of the country. According to the minister, a total of 59 districts have already been connected to the new backbone, with that figure set to rise to 80 by the end of the current build phase. At the same date the NICTBB is expected to have hooked up all of the country’s 21 regional headquarters; the figure currently stands at 15 (end-Phase I)

Taken from:
OVETEL Tanzanian communications minister updates on NICTBB rollout

Telkom looking to build USD163m Manado-Papua fibre-optic project

Vivanews reports that Indonesia’s state-run operator PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom Indonesia) is looking to build a USD163.3 million fibre-optic network serving Manado-Papua, which it hopes will be completed by 2014. It is understood that the basic plans for the project are now complete and will see Telkom Indonesia working on the Sulawesi ring which connects Manado and Papua, spanning 5,693km. The firm’s head of corporate communications, Eddy Kurnia, is quoted as saying that work on the 1,490km Bali-Nusa Tenggara ring is already finished

See the article here:

OVETEL Telkom looking to build USD163m Manado-Papua fibre-optic project

TNM posts 24% rise in service revenue

Telekom Networks Malawi (TNM) has announced it generated service revenue of MWK12.26 billion (USD73.2 million) in the twelve months ended 31 December 2011, an increase of 24% year-on-year. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose 29% from MWK3.65 billion in 2010 to MWK4.69 billion twelve months later, while the EBITDA margin climbed from 34% to 37% over the same period

Read this article:

OVETEL TNM posts 24% rise in service revenue

Amdocs gets nod from TIM Brasil for new CES products

Brazilian telecoms operator TIM Brasil has selected Amdocs to supply it with its Customer Experience Systems (CES) product portfolio, as well as providing consulting, integration and implementation support for its new residential broadband service – branded ‘TIM Fiber’. Under the deal, the vender will provide TIM Brasil with the necessary business support systems (BSS) and operational support systems (OSS) required to deliver its new services. Amdocs will also support the telco in terms of the business-process consulting it needs to integrate the network assets of AES Atimus – the operation it acquired last year – as it looks to begin delivering broadband services within the next weeks/months.

Read More:

OVETEL Amdocs gets nod from TIM Brasil for new CES products

MTN finally issued with 3G licence

MTN Cote d’Ivoire has reportedly been granted a 3G licence by L'Agence des Telecommunications de Cote d'Ivoire (ATCI), making it the first operator in the country to receive such a concession. According to Agence Ivoirienne de Presse (AIP) the licence has been priced at XOF6 billion (USD11.9 million), with the fee payable within 30 days.

Read More:
OVETEL MTN finally issued with 3G licence

TM targets 400,000 UniFi subscribers by end-2012

Malaysian fixed line incumbent Telekom Malaysia (TM) is reportedly aiming to increase the number of subscribers signed up to services offered over its High Speed Broadband (HSBB) network to 400,000 by end-2012. According to The Star Online, TM has announced the target having revealed that HSBB accesses, which are offered under the ‘UniFi’ banner, had already surpassed 300,000, with the telco’s vice-president Imri Mokhtar saying: ‘This year marks the second birthday of UniFi, and we are excited that the service has reached more than 300,000 customers nationwide ... The coverage area for UniFi is steadily expanding and this is in line with TM’s position as Malaysia’s number one broadband provider and leading new generations communications provider.’ According to the executive, UniFi services are currently being taken up by more than 20% of the premises that the new network passes, well ahead of TM’s initial estimates of between 8% and 10%

View the original here:
OVETEL TM targets 400,000 UniFi subscribers by end-2012

New Cell C CEO seeks to ‘rewrite the rule book’ and double market share

Incoming Cell C CEO Alan Knott-Craig has indicated that he wants to double the cellco’s market share within the next three or four years, TechCentral reports.

Read this article:
OVETEL New Cell C CEO seeks to ‘rewrite the rule book’ and double market share

Tunisiana in line for 3G concession

Tunisian wireless operator Tunisiana, which is majority owned by Qatar Telecom (Qtel) through Kuwait-based Wataniya, has announced plans to participate in the nation’s upcoming 3G licence auction. According to African Manager, the cellco is hoping to use the concession to augment its existing wireless internet offerings.

Visit link:
OVETEL Tunisiana in line for 3G concession

Telenor inks five year overhaul deal with ZTE

Telenor Pakistan has selected Chinese vendor ZTE to conduct a five-year network extension and upgrade programme. The deal will see ZTE install a total of 18,000 network base stations, broken down as follows: 1,500 GSM stations, and complete replacement of 7,500 existing stations, 7,000 HSPA and 2,000 Long Term Evolution (LTE) stations. Construction will begin later this year, and will last until 2017.

See the original article here:

OVETEL Telenor inks five year overhaul deal with ZTE

Medvedev orders Svyazinvest, Rostelecom merger to be completed within twelve months

Outgoing Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has this week ordered a merger between state-owned telecoms holding company Svyazinvest and national operator Rostelecom within twelve months, reigniting a plan first mooted in 2009. RIA Novosti reports that the order, which was published on a state legal website, also stipulates that the Russian government and the country's national development bank Vnesheconombank (VEB) will maintain a holding of over 50% to maintain control of the new company, which will function under the existing Rostelecom brand name.*The merger of the two firms represents the second phase of the telco's reorganisation; the first phase, completed in April 2011, saw the national operator stage a so-called ‘mega-regional merger’, which encompassed all seven regional subsidiaries previously controlled by Svyazinvest

Taken from:
OVETEL Medvedev orders Svyazinvest, Rostelecom merger to be completed within twelve months

H3G UK’s rumoured network upgrade to allow for legal action over 4G auction rules?

David Dyson, the CEO of Hutchison 3G UK (H3G UK), Britain’s smallest mobile network operator by subscribers, is expected to today reveal a network upgrade aimed at increasing capacity.

Read the article:

OVETEL H3G UK’s rumoured network upgrade to allow for legal action over 4G auction rules?

True Move H contract might be scrapped, hints ICT minister (but admits it could take years)

The 3G network contracts signed by True Corp and CAT Telecom in January 2011 are ‘tainted with irregularities’ and ‘intentionally made to avoid telecom-related laws’, a Ministry of ICT (MICT) panel has concluded after a 120-day investigation. However, although the ICT Minister Anudith Nakornthap hinted that the wholesale/resale deal could be terminated, he would only confirm that a final decision would be made in two days, the Bangkok Post reports.

More:
OVETEL True Move H contract might be scrapped, hints ICT minister (but admits it could take years)

Vandalism continues to plague GT

Guyana’s fixed line incumbent, the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) has appealed for the police to treat vandalism of its infrastructure more seriously, reports the Guyana Times.

Visit link:
OVETEL Vandalism continues to plague GT&T

URCA reverses decision on 700MHz band

The Bahamian telecoms watchdog, the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) has reversed its earlier decision to reserve spectrum in the 700MHz band for three wireless operators, on the grounds that demand for the frequencies from non-mobile telecoms operators was high. According to local daily The Tribune, URCA’s decision sparked concern that the regulator would not only permit the entrance of one new wireless player when the sector is liberalised from 2014 onwards.

More:

OVETEL URCA reverses decision on 700MHz band

DoT to issue notices over 3G roaming; TRAI recommends keeping operator’s cash

India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) reportedly plans to issue show-cause notices to wireless operators for attempting to circumvent regulations governing the provision of 3G services and the use of 3G spectrum. According to the Wall Street Journal, the DoT has found that operators issued with 3G concessions in 2010 have established de facto 3G roaming agreements, which are currently illegal in India.

Continue Reading:

OVETEL DoT to issue notices over 3G roaming; TRAI recommends keeping operator’s cash

Orange may block Free roaming traffic to ease peak-time congestion

Orange France is threatening to cut mobile network access for customers of roaming partner Free Mobile at peak times to avoid network congestion. Low-cost operator Free Mobile launched France’s fourth cellular network in January and has signed a wholesale roaming deal with Orange to allow it to offer nationwide coverage while it deploys its own infrastructure.

Follow this link:
OVETEL Orange may block Free roaming traffic to ease peak-time congestion

Maroc Telecom on the acquisition trail?

Maroc Telecom is to ask a shareholders’ assembly next month to vote on a plan to raise its capital by issuing up to 200 million new shares, Reuters reports.

More:

OVETEL Maroc Telecom on the acquisition trail?

Network sharing expected by mid-year

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has said it is working on the establishment of a fair wholesale price for operators ahead of the commercial launch of network sharing between the United Arab Emirates’ two service providers, Etisalat and Du, which is expected to take place by mid-2012, Zawya Dow Jones Newswires reports. ‘Both Etisalat and Du are technically and operationally ready,’ Fintan Healy, executive director of regulatory affairs, told reporters on the sidelines of the Broadband MEA 2012 Conference in Dubai. ‘The other thing we have to work on is the commercial issue.

See original article:
OVETEL Network sharing expected by mid-year

MTN awards network upgrade contract to ZTE

Chinese equipment and network solutions provider ZTE Corporation has signed a contract with MTN Nigeria, a subsidiary of South Africa’s MTN Group, to expand and modernise the operator’s GSM/UMTS networks. As part of the agreement, ZTE will help MTN Nigeria upgrade and extend its mobile network in two of the country’s regions (including eight states) by providing its SDR-based Uni-RAN solution.

View post:
OVETEL MTN awards network upgrade contract to ZTE

Etisalat ‘eLife’ subscribers reach 400,000

Emirates Telecommunications Corporation (Etisalat) has announced that the number of subscribers to its fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) service, known as ‘eLife’, has crossed the 400,000 mark, Emirates 24/7 reports. Etisalat completed the deployment of its fibre-optic infrastructure in Abu Dhabi in April 2011, making the city the first capital in the world to be entirely connected to a FTTx network. ‘Reaching this key customer milestone is a validation of eLife’s status as the UAE’s favourite home solution for multi-play services,’ said Etisalat’s chief marketing officer Matthew Willsher at the Broadband MEA 2012 Conference, adding: ‘Since its inception over two years ago, eLife has enabled customers across the Emirates to optimise the benefits of FTTH through high value packages and high broadband speeds.

Excerpt from:
OVETEL Etisalat ‘eLife’ subscribers reach 400,000

Sercomtel and Copel Telecom ink deal to provide broadband services in Parana

Brazilian regional telecoms operator Sercomtel last Thursday signed an agreement with Copel Telecom to provide high speed internet access services to business users in Curitiba, Londrina and Foz de Iguacu. Copel Telecom, which is controlled by the government of Parana, hopes that the agreement will allow the two companies to offer services via fibre-optic networks with maximum speeds of 100Mbps to some 60,000 small, medium-sized and large businesses in the metropolitan region of Curitiba. Sercomtel is 55%-owned by the Londrina state prefecture, with Copel Telecom owning the remaining 45%.

Read this article:

OVETEL Sercomtel and Copel Telecom ink deal to provide broadband services in Parana

Eastlink does 200Mbps in Nova

Canadian triple-play cableco Eastlink has launched new ‘super-fast’ cable broadband internet service packages under the names ‘Internet 200’ (200Mbps download) and ‘Internet 80’ (80Mbps download) in the Atlantic Canada region, the company announced Friday.

Continue Reading:

OVETEL Eastlink does 200Mbps in Nova

O2 UK expresses concerns over Everything Everywhere’s 1800MHz refarming plans

UK mobile network operator O2 UK has reportedly echoed the displeasure voiced by a number of other operators regarding regulator Ofcom’s backing for Everything Everywhere’s proposed launch of Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology using the 1800MHz band. As reported by CommsUpdate earlier this month, Ofcom published its provisional conclusions to Everything Everywhere’s January 2012 frequency refarming request, in which the cellco requested permission to deploy LTE using 1800MHz spectrum it already holds

Read the original post:
OVETEL O2 UK expresses concerns over Everything Everywhere’s 1800MHz refarming plans

Digitel reports rising revenue in 2011

Filipino fixed and mobile operator, Digital Telecommunications Philippines (Digitel), which is now majority owned by Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), has reported a 15% increase in revenue for FY2011 to PHP22.0 billion (USD519.4 million), from PHP19.1 billion in FY2010.

Continue reading here:
OVETEL Digitel reports rising revenue in 2011

Expresso expects ACE cable landing soon

Expresso Ghana has confirmed that it is preparing to land a new international undersea cable in Accra. The CDMA operator says that the 1.92Tbps Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) fibre-optic cable system will be landed soon, although it did not give an exact date, Joy Online reports. Expresso will be the third Ghanaian operator to deploy an international cable link after Glo Mobile launched the Glo One connection and MTN landed the West Africa Cable System (WACS).

Excerpt from:
OVETEL Expresso expects ACE cable landing soon

UPC upgrades former Aster infrastructure

US-backed cableco UPC Poland has upgraded its broadband network in Zielona Gora, acquired as part of its takeover of Aster, to EuroDOCSIS 3.0, offering customers there theoretical download speeds of up to 150Mbps. UPC’s Fiber Power 150 plan offers speeds of up to 150Mbps (downlink) and 10Mbps (uplink) for PLN150 (USD46.98) with a PLN100 activation fee. In its press release, the Liberty Global subsidiary noted that approximately 90% of its networks had been upgraded to the EuroDOCSIS 3.0 standard

Read More:

OVETEL UPC upgrades former Aster infrastructure

NBN Co inks deal for completion of rollout in Tasmania

NBN Co, the public-private operator overseeing the construction and management of the National Broadband Network (NBN), has announced that it has finalised the construction contract that will see Tasmania become the first state where the new fibre infrastructure has been rolled out in its entirety. Under the terms of the contract, Visionstream Australia, part of the Leighton Holdings Limited group of companies, has been selected to replace copper telephone lines with the high speed fibre optic broadband network in cities, towns and suburbs covering around 200,000 homes and businesses; the four-year design, construction and maintenance contract is valued at around AUD300 million (USD314 million), and contains an option for renewal over each of the following two years

Continued here:

OVETEL NBN Co inks deal for completion of rollout in Tasmania

3G licensing guidelines finalised

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has finalised draft guidelines for awarding 3G mobile licences, under which a total of four companies will receive concessions – including two of the country’s existing five private sector mobile operators, plus one potential new entrant and state-run Teletalk, which has a guaranteed licence. bdnews24.com quotes BTRC chairman Zia Ahmed as saying that the preparatory work for awarding the licences would be complete by June or July after the communications ministry approves the Cellular Mobile Phone Service (3G/4G/LTE) Regulatory Licence Guideline 2012. The 3G licences will allow operators to upgrade to 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) without paying any extra fees.

Visit site:

OVETEL 3G licensing guidelines finalised

Jamaica plans for ‘super regulatory body’

Jamaica’s Minister for Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Phillip Paulwell has announced plans to create a ‘super regulatory body’ to monitor the telecoms sector. The new body would combine the functions of existing authorities the Spectrum Management Authority (SMA), the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) and the Broadcasting Commission.

Read More:
OVETEL Jamaica plans for ‘super regulatory body’

MTC allows Alfa roaming

Lebanese mobile operator MTC Touch has enabled subscribers of the country's other cellco Alfa to roam on the MTC network when outside of Alfa’s coverage zones in remote areas, reports Telecompaper citing local newspaper The Daily Star.

More:

OVETEL MTC allows Alfa roaming

PLDT abandons BPL project; group now boasts 65m mobile users

After three years of testing to assess the possibility of introducing broadband services over power lines (BPL), Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) has decided to put the project on the backburner Malaya Business Insight reports. The telco had been working with power utility Meralco since August 2009 concerning a joint project designed to bring broadband services directly to the homes of some 4.5 million of the latter’s customers.

More:
OVETEL PLDT abandons BPL project; group now boasts 65m mobile users

Free Mobile has 2.2m subs says Bouygues

The CEO of French mobile service provider Bouygues Telecom is claiming that France’s newest cellular network operator, Free Mobile, has attracted at least 2.2 million subscribers since its launch in mid-January. According to a report from Fierce Wireless, Olivier Roussat told the French newspaper La Tribune that Free Mobile had been a ‘great commercial success’, but added that requests from Bouygues customers to port their numbers to the new operator had returned to normal levels after a flurry of activity in January.

Original post:

OVETEL Free Mobile has 2.2m subs says Bouygues

Rural Cellular Association blasts Verizon spectrum claims

Verizon Wireless' planned USD3.6 billion acquisition of Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) spectrum from cableco consortium SpectrumCo has come under fire from the Rural Cellular Association (RCA), Fierce Wireless reports. Steve Berry, the president of the RCA, has used his testimony at the hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee's antitrust subcommittee to lambast claims that Verizon needs more spectrum to cope with a looming capacity crunch for its Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, describing the mooted deal as having an ‘insidious and disastrous effect on competition’. Berry added: ‘This transaction would transfer at least 20MHz of prime, unused, and nearly nationwide spectrum into the hands of a carrier that already holds as much as 44MHz of unused spectrum in many markets.

More:

OVETEL Rural Cellular Association blasts Verizon spectrum claims

Central Telegraph to launch Moscow MVNO under the ‘Qwerty’ brand

According to Prime Tass news agency Moscow-based telecoms operator Central Telegraph is poised to launch as an mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) in the capital this summer. Citing comments by commercial director Kirill Karasyov, the report indicates that the service will become available between June and August and be offered under the ‘Qwerty’ brand that Central Telegraph currently markets its ISP activities under. According to Karasyov, the telco received an MVNO permit in 2011, and is obliged to launch commercial services no later than September 2012

See the original article here:
OVETEL Central Telegraph to launch Moscow MVNO under the ‘Qwerty’ brand

Huawei reportedly excluded from bidding in NBN tenders

Australia’s Federal Government has banned Chinese vendor Huawei from bidding in any tenders for the supply of equipment for the National Broadband Network (NBN), according to the Australian Financial Review. It is understood that the decision was made in light of concerns regarding the potential of cyber-attacks being launched from China.

More:
OVETEL Huawei reportedly excluded from bidding in NBN tenders

VIPnet launches LTE: second or first in Croatia?

Croatian cellco VIPnet, a subsidiary of Telekom Austria, has announced the commercial launch of Long Term Evolution (LTE) 4G mobile broadband services in partnership with technology vendor Ericsson Nikola Tesla, the local arm of Swedish equipment giant Ericsson. The operator’s press release, dated Friday 23 March 2012, claims that the LTE network was the first to launch in Croatia, although as reported by CommsUpdate, on the same day rival T-Hrvatski Telekom (T-HT) also announced that it had launched the first commercial LTE service in Croatia

Read this article:
OVETEL VIPnet launches LTE: second or first in Croatia?

Etisalat, Du launch CPS on commercial basis

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has announced the commercial launch of carrier pre-selection (CPS) for fixed calls by the United Arab Emirates’ two licensed service providers, Etisalat and Du. The service allows customers to select their preferred service provider to route their fixed voice calls without having to dial additional codes or programming on-site equipment

More here:

OVETEL Etisalat, Du launch CPS on commercial basis

Telefonica reduces Zon shareholding below 5%

Spanish telecoms giant Telefonica has confirmed that it has reduced its shareholding in Portuguese cableco Zon Multimedia by around 0.5%, taking its shareholding below the 5% threshold. Following the divestment Telefonica’s total shareholding in Zon stands at 4.9997%, down from 5.46%. In November 2011 the Spanish telco indicated that it was looking to divest non-core or underperforming assets in order to reduce debt.

Read the original post:

OVETEL Telefonica reduces Zon shareholding below 5%

Indotel working on two broadband-related projects

Indotel, the telecoms regulator for the Dominican Republic, is reportedly collaborating with a number of local operators on a project aimed at introducing broadband in those rural regions where such services remain unavailable. According to BNamericas, which cites local news source Listin Diario, the initiative will seek to expand coverage to those border areas of the country still lacking connectivity, with the project expected to complement Indotel’s previous efforts in enhancing broadband access in the Dominican Republic

See more here:
OVETEL Indotel working on two broadband-related projects

FCC takes steps to address 700MHz interoperability; MSS spectrum

United States telecoms regulator the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has voted to investigate the technical factors that should be taken into account as part of an effort to make the entire lower 700 MHz band interoperate, Fierce Wireless reports. The FCC has also voted to look at the specific rules that would allow terrestrial use of Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) spectrum, an issue which is likely to have a significant impact on how and when satellite TV giant DISH Network deploys its network

Visit site:
OVETEL FCC takes steps to address 700MHz interoperability; MSS spectrum

DTAC promises 5,000 3G BTS this year; LTE test in Q3

Digital Total Access Communication (DTAC) has confirmed that it is on track to achieve a target of expanding its 3G HSPA-based 850MHz network by a total of 3,000 additional base transceiver stations (BTS) by the end of 2012, for a total of 5,000 3G BTS.

View the original here:
OVETEL DTAC promises 5,000 3G BTS this year; LTE test in Q3

Bouygues Telecom reveals LTE plans

Bouygues Telecom has unveiled plans for the deployment of a pilot LTE network in Lyon in June. The company says that by the end of 2012 it hopes to have 5,000 LTE sites, although the specific cities to be covered are as yet unknown.

Read the original post:

OVETEL Bouygues Telecom reveals LTE plans

New network rollouts stalled

New entrants to Costa Rica’s wireless market, Claro Costa Rica and Movistar Costa Rica (subsidiaries of Mexico’s America Movil and Spain’s Telefonica respectively) have appealed to the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Telecommunications (MINAE) to extend their network rollout deadline, following further difficulties in acquiring permissions to erect infrastructure. The cellcos require permission from municipalities to build towers, though the process has been slowed by the fact that most areas have no regulations in place regarding the construction of telecoms infrastructure. Under the licences issued to Claro and Movistar in January last year, the pair are obliged to roll out networks in three stages within five years, with the first phase due to be completed by mid-July

Read the article:
OVETEL New network rollouts stalled

Dialog completes Suntel purchase

Sri Lanka’s largest cellco by users, Dialog Axiata, has completed a deal worth LKR4.5 billion (USD34.5 million) to acquire 100% of local fixed-wireless telecoms operator Suntel, which will be integrated into its Dialog Broadband Networks (DBN) division. Malaysian-backed Dialog told the Colombo Bourse that it had concluded the acquisition of Suntel agreed in December 2011 with previous owners, Overseas Telecom (a part-owned subsidiary of Sweden’s TeliaSonera), National Development Bank, C-Tech Investments, Kelmarsh Investments, Townsend Ltd and International Finance Corporation. Suntel’s fixed telecoms network is based on a 382 base station network delivering fixed voice, broadband internet and data communication services via CDMA, WiMAX and other fixed-wireless access technologies.

Continue reading here:

OVETEL Dialog completes Suntel purchase

Unitech open to selling stake, but disagrees with price

Unitech has said that it is open to selling its stake in Uninor to its joint venture partner, Norway’s Telenor, provided that the valuation is right, reports the Wall Street Journal. Following the cancellation of the cellco’s concessions by the Supreme Court last month, Telenor announced that it would split from Unitech and seek a new partner in India.

Excerpt from:

OVETEL Unitech open to selling stake, but disagrees with price

TRA mulls licensing of new service providers in 2015

The United Arab Emirates is reportedly considering plans to open up the telecommunications sector to new players in 2015, according to a report by Emirates 24/7, which cites Dubai-based Arabic language daily Albayan. The plan is part of a strategy to upgrade services to the public and ensure fair competition in the market, said Majid Sultan Al Mismar, deputy director of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA). ‘We are studying plans to open up the country’s telecommunications sector,’ he told Albayan, adding: ‘The plan involves allowing the operation of new service providers in the country by 2015, depending on market requirements and the needs of subscribers.’ At present the only service providers operating in the UAE are incumbent Etisalat and second national operator Du, which broke Etisalat’s monopoly on the mobile market in 2007

Original post:
OVETEL TRA mulls licensing of new service providers in 2015

Trio of cellcos win 2.6GHz spectrum licences

Lithuania’s Communications Regulatory Authority (RRT) has announced that the country’s three mobile network operators – Omnitel, Tele2 Lithuania and Bite Lithuania – have won the tender for spectrum licences in the 2500MHz-2560MHz and 2620MHz-2680MHz frequency bands. Each of the three cellcos has been awarded 2x20MHz of spectrum in the two bands, which is suitable for the provision of 4G services, such as Long Term Evolution (LTE). Under the terms of the concessions, the winning bidders must provide 50% network coverage of a minimum of five cities within three years of receiving their licences, and must extend coverage to over 50% of 15 cities within five years

See original article:

OVETEL Trio of cellcos win 2.6GHz spectrum licences

Drillisch, Deutsche Telekom end legal dispute

German mobile services provider Drillisch has announced it has settled a dispute with Deutsche Telekom subsidiary Telekom Deutschland (TD) which had led to the termination of contracts and legal proceedings between the two parties. Drillisch said it has signed an agreement with Deutsche Telekom and TD which aims to end all civil proceedings still pending between the companies. It also ensures a smooth takeover of customers still using TD's mobile network and allows the remaining customers to continue to use the incumbent’s infrastructure

Link:

OVETEL Drillisch, Deutsche Telekom end legal dispute

T-HT launches LTE in four cities

Croatia’s T-Hrvatski Telekom (T-HT) today launched the country’s first commercial Long Term Evolution (LTE) 4G mobile broadband network, covering four major cities, Zagreb, Rijeka, Osijek and Split. The company, which offers mobile services under the T-Mobile brand, plans to expand the LTE network to other urban areas in Croatia during this year. T-HT says that its new 4G network is capable of mobile data rates up to a theoretical 173Mbps downlink and 58Mbps uplink, or around ten times faster than existing HSPA-based services, and is aimed at users wanting to access the most data-intensive multimedia content.

See more here:
OVETEL T-HT launches LTE in four cities

Versatel revenue down 13% on lower wholesale, mass market sales

German fixed network operator Versatel Communications has announced it generated revenue of EUR631.2 million (USD833 million) for the year ended 31 December 2011, down 12.9% from EUR724.7 million in 2010. The company attributed the drop to a 20.1% year-on-year fall in sales from its wholesale segment to EUR189.6 million, due to a reduction in mobile termination rates (MTRs), as well as one-off revenues of EUR8 million from long-term finance leases recognised in 2010

Visit site:

OVETEL Versatel revenue down 13% on lower wholesale, mass market sales

Airspan expanding WiMAX with Netpage

Broadband wireless access technology provider Airspan Networks has revealed that it is providing equipment and solutions for the WiMAX network launched in mid-March by Gambian ISP Netpage. Airspan’s macro base station, Air4G, forms part of the Greater Banjul network, with services aimed at businesses and private users

Follow this link:

OVETEL Airspan expanding WiMAX with Netpage

FT-Orange plans to roll out LTE across EU markets by 2015

In a speech to the European Commission (EC) France Telecom-Orange CEO Stephane Richard said that the company plans to have rolled out LTE across all of its markets in the European Union (EU) by 2015. The pledge follows a decision by the EU to make more spectrum available for use with LTE. The executive made a number of other statements, including a commitment to launch 3G services in the telco’s African and Middle Eastern markets by the same date

Continue reading here:
OVETEL FT-Orange plans to roll out LTE across EU markets by 2015

MinTIC kicks off 4G auction

Colombia’s Ministry of Information Technology and Communication (MinTIC) has launched a tender for 4G spectrum, suitable for the provision of Long Term Evolution (LTE) services. The auction will see the allocation of 225MHz of frequencies in the following bands: 1710MHz-1755MHz, 1850MHz-1990MHz, 2110MHz-2155MHz and 2500MHz-2690MHz. ICT minister Diego Molano Vega said that the auction was intended to encourage competition amongst incumbent providers and promote the entrance of new telcos into the market.

More here:

OVETEL MinTIC kicks off 4G auction

Impairment charges lead to slump in net profit for Partner in 2011

On the back of impairment charges totalling ILS311 million (USD83 million) Israeli operator Partner Communications has reported a more than 64% drop in net profit for its 2011 financial year. Partner noted that the impairment charges in part related to the acquisition of fixed line operator 012 Smile, which it completed in March 2011, and followed a ‘deterioration in market conditions and the annual impairment review of goodwill’.

Continued here:
OVETEL Impairment charges lead to slump in net profit for Partner in 2011

Unicom annual profits jump 20%

China Unicom has reported a 20% year-on-year rise in net profit for the year ended 31 December 2011 to CNY4.212 billion (USD665.3 million).

Follow this link:
OVETEL Unicom annual profits jump 20%

EU racks up pressure on Hungary over contentious telecoms tax

The European Commission (EC) is expected to refer the government of Hungary to the European Court of Justice over its controversial special telecoms tax. Budapest’s relationship with Brussels has been strained since Hungary introduced the measure in 2010 to try to reduce its budget deficit and Reuters reports that it has seen documents that show Hungary will be referred – having twice failed to respond to requests to bring its tax legislation into line with EU law – and could ultimately face ‘severe fines’ if it does not toe the line. TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database writes that in September last year the EC ordered the Hungarian government to abolish the tax or face legal proceedings

Read More:
OVETEL EU racks up pressure on Hungary over contentious telecoms tax

Ericsson to deploy 900MHz HSPA network for Softbank

The Japanese cellular operator Softbank Mobile has awarded Ericsson a contract to deploy a 900MHz evolved HSPA radio access network.

Read the original:

OVETEL Ericsson to deploy 900MHz HSPA network for Softbank

Trio interested in bidding for Jaring?

There are at least three companies believed to be finalising possible bids for Malaysian broadband provider Jaring Communications, according The Star Online.

Continue Reading:

OVETEL Trio interested in bidding for Jaring?

HOT more than triples net income in 2011

Israeli cableco HOT Telecommunication Systems has unveiled its financial results for the 2011 financial year, posting a 321% year-on-year rise in net profit, Globes Online reports. The operator recorded a net income of ILS341 million (USD91 million) in the year ending 31 December 2011, up from ILS106 million in the previous twelve-month period, with the improvement attributed in the main to lower provisions for copyrights. Turnover in the year stood at ILS3.37 billion, up by 3.7% when compared with the ILS3.25 billion generated in 2010, with revenues from telecoms services (both fixed line voice and broadband) rising by 4.6% to account for ILS1.08 billion of the total.

Read More:

OVETEL HOT more than triples net income in 2011

OTE looks at further wage cuts to offset losses blamed on regulation

Greek incumbent telco OTE is planning deeper wage cuts to help reduce its labour costs over the next three years by more than the EUR160 million (USD212 million) total targeted in a deal with its main employees union last year. Amidst Greece’s recession, OTE’s financial problems have been exacerbated by its domestic fixed line division losing around 100,000 customers per quarter, because, it says, alternative telcos can undercut its prices as they are not tethered by the strict regulation that the former monopoly must adhere to. In an interview with Reuters, OTE’s CEO Michael Tsamaz complained: ‘The regulator is causing OTE a bigger problem than the economic crisis.

Continued here:

OVETEL OTE looks at further wage cuts to offset losses blamed on regulation

Australia’s universal service reform legislation passed

Australia’s Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, has announced the passing of the last major piece of legislation underpinning the National Broadband Network (NBN) and the recent structural reforms to the country’s telecommunications sector. With the universal service reform legislation package having finally been passed, Mr Conroy noted: ‘This legislation safeguards key telecommunications services for all Australians, particularly those in rural, regional and remote Australia, during and after the transition to the NBN.’ The relevant bills – the Telecommunications Universal Service Management Agency Bill 2011; the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Service Reform) Bill 2011; and the Telecommunications (Industry Levy) Bill 2011 – were introduced to parliament in November 2011. One of the key aspects of the new legislation is the establishment of a new agency, the Telecommunications Universal Service Management Agency (TUSMA).

More:

OVETEL Australia’s universal service reform legislation passed

Virgin Islands telco deploys ‘Innovative’ VoIP solution

Innovative Telephone, the largest telco by subscribers in the Virgin Islands (US), has announced that it has selected Metaswitch Networks to migrate its legacy voice telephony operations on the islands of St Croix, St John and St Thomas to an all-IP solution. Terry Falls, senior vice president of operations and engineering at Innovative, commented: ‘In 2005 we deployed our first Metaswitch solution in St

See more here:
OVETEL Virgin Islands telco deploys ‘Innovative’ VoIP solution

Free Mobile suffering from congestion

The newly launched fourth cellular network operator in France, Free Mobile, has been suffering from network congestion problems during peak early evening periods, with some customers unable to make calls or send text messages.

Continue reading here:

OVETEL Free Mobile suffering from congestion

SPTC offers to withdraw contentious mobile, fixed-wireless services

The Swaziland Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (SPTC) has reportedly made an offer to withdraw its ‘ONE’ mobile phone service and fixed-wireless ‘Fixedfone’ services from the market in a bid to end its bitter ongoing dispute with MTN Swaziland. The revelation has been made on the eve of the hearing at the International Court of Arbitration in Geneva, Switzerland, which was due to begin last night

More:

OVETEL SPTC offers to withdraw contentious mobile, fixed-wireless services

Stricken Telkom seeks KES10.9bn bailout to ease crippling debt

Telkom Kenya, which is co-owned by France Telecom-Orange (51%) and the Kenyan government (49%), has reportedly asked taxpayers to foot a KES10.9 billion (USD129.6 million) rescue package to help secure the company’s short-term future. The telco, which posted a record loss of KES18.2 billion in 2011, has around a week to raise KES5.8 billion to repay an outstanding bank loan that is due by the end of the month. The East African, citing ‘interviews with insiders and confidential documents prepared by management’, reports that the company is on the verge of a liquidity crisis that could see the firm default on its bank loans and other supplier debt

Originally posted here:

OVETEL Stricken Telkom seeks KES10.9bn bailout to ease crippling debt

NBTC approves master plan; spectrum conditions favour TOT

The board of Thailand’s National Broadcasting & Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) yesterday approved the final draft of its telecoms ‘master plan’, a pre-requisite for moving ahead with planned 3G 2100MHz mobile licences in September or October this year. Three separate master plan documents, covering spectrum management, and the wider telecoms and broadcasting sectors, will be published in the Royal Gazette early next month as previously planned, the watchdog announced. As part of the plan the NBTC has decided to allow state telecoms operators TOT and CAT Telecom to keep existing wireless frequencies which are not covered by licences for up to a further 15 years

Read this article:
OVETEL NBTC approves master plan; spectrum conditions favour TOT

Kopings Kabel deploys 1Gbps solution from Calix

Kopings Kabel, a local full-service telecoms and TV provider in the central Swedish city of Koping, is using technology solutions supplied by Calix to deliver advanced broadband services with capabilities of up to 1Gbps. The range of fibre and copper access technologies on offer to Koping residents include gigabit passive optical network (GPON), point-to-point gigabit Ethernet (GE) and DSL. Kopings Kabel serves over 10,000 subscribers amongst the 17,000 inhabitants of the city.

See original article:
OVETEL Kopings Kabel deploys 1Gbps solution from Calix

i-Cable, Wharf T revenues up 5%, 4%

Hong Kong group The Wharf (Holdings) Ltd has reported its annual results for 2011, including its two telecoms units, i-Cable and Wharf T&T. Hong Kong triple-play cableco i-Cable reported that its efforts to sustain competitiveness and growth in a very tough competitive climate bore fruit in 2011, as its revenues increased by 5% to HKD2.11 billion (USD272 million), and it improved annual net loss to HKD179 million from HKD267 million a year earlier. Cable pay-TV subscribers ‘grew steadily’ in 2011, and turnover for pay-TV increased by 12% to HKD1.75 billion, offsetting a decline in broadband and telephony earnings, while i-Cable also said it continued with cable broadband network upgrades in an attempt to reduce customer attrition

See the original post:

OVETEL i-Cable, Wharf T&T revenues up 5%, 4%

MTN Cyprus debuts HSPA+

Cellular operator MTN Cyprus has announced the launch of a HSPA+ network offering peak mobile data speeds of 21Mbps. The cellco says that HSPA+ is currently operational in broad urban areas, covering 40% of the population, and the company is already exploring options to expand further, Telecompaper reports. Among the new products launched to support the new high speed services will be new generation smartphones, portable Wi-Fi devices, and HSPA+ capable USB dongles and routers

Continued here:
OVETEL MTN Cyprus debuts HSPA+

TRA announces 2600MHz, other spectrum auctions

Bahrain’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has announced a plan to award licences for paired spectrum in the 2600MHz and other frequency bands suitable for 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) mobile services either in the fourth quarter of this year or in early 2013.

Read More:
OVETEL TRA announces 2600MHz, other spectrum auctions

Finland cuts stake in TeliaSonera to 11.7%; bond sale could reduce holding to 9.5%

The government of Finland, via state fund Solidium, has cut its holding in Scandinavian telecoms giant TeliaSonera from 13.7% to 11.7%. Solidium said the sale was to diversify its investment portfolio and improve financial flexibility, reports Dow Jones Newswire. The fund sold 89 million shares for a total of SEK4.02 billion (USD598 million), while it has also placed SEK5.3 billion of bonds exchangeable into TeliaSonera shares at SEK57.63 a share; should all the three-and-a-half-year bonds be exchanged, Solidium's stake in TeliaSonera would fall to 9.5%.

View original post here:
OVETEL Finland cuts stake in TeliaSonera to 11.7%; bond sale could reduce holding to 9.5%

NTT’s Xi 4G service hits 2m subs

NTT DoCoMo has announced that its Long Term Evolution (LTE) 4G cellular service Xi (pronounced ‘crossy’) hit the two million subscriber milestone on 18 March. The service, which offers mobile downloads at up to 75Mbps, launched in December 2010 and reached the one million customer mark exactly a year later. Subscriber numbers have since doubled in less than two months, propelled by the introduction of the first Xi-compatible smartphones in November 2011, DoCoMo says

See the original article here:

OVETEL NTT’s Xi 4G service hits 2m subs

Cubic and Vooz positive on IPTV; Buddy more cautious

Supersak na Nakhonphanom, the CEO of IPTV service provider Cubic Associates Group (Thailand), claims that the local IPTV market is expected to more-than double in size this year to THB3 billion (USD97 million), with continued ‘rapid’ growth over the next few years, despite facing major challenges from satellite, cable and terrestrial broadcast TV, which is fast evolving. As reported by CommsUpdate, Cubic recently announced a partnership with state-owned telco TOT to offer IPTV services over the latter’s fixed network connections from next month; Cubic is also looking for other network partners if TOT decides against an exclusive partnering strategy

Read More:
OVETEL Cubic and Vooz positive on IPTV; Buddy more cautious

Djezzy valuation completed; government and Vimpelcom now in talks

The Algerian government has decided on a valuation for Russian-owned firm Vimpelcom’s local cellular operator, Djezzy, and the government is now negotiating with Vimpelcom in an attempt to agree a price to nationalise 51% of the cellco. ‘The valuation has been done.

Originally posted here:
OVETEL Djezzy valuation completed; government and Vimpelcom now in talks

Sunrise revenues dip 1.8%

Swiss triple play provider Sunrise has reported revenues of CHF1.984 billion (USD2.178 billion) for the full year 2011, and CHF529 million for the three months ended 31 December 2011. Annual revenues were down by 1.8% compared 2010, Sunrise attributed the fall to a CHF76.1 million drop in income from wholesale hubbing services.

More:
OVETEL Sunrise revenues dip 1.8%

Polkomtel profits drop by 9.9%

Poland’s largest cellco by subscribers, Polkomtel has seen revenues for the full year 2011 slump by 4.7%, falling to PLN7.312 billion (USD2.340 billion) from PLN7.673 billion in 2010.

See original article:
OVETEL Polkomtel profits drop by 9.9%

IPKO reports EUR70 million revenues for 2011

Kosovar fixed line and mobile operator IPKO has announced revenues of EUR70.363 million (USD93.160 million) for 2011 in a press conference, reports Kosova Press. The telco claimed to have signed up 450,000 mobile customers, as well as 72,000 internet, 67,000 cable TV and 5,000 fixed voice subscriptions.

Read the article:
OVETEL IPKO reports EUR70 million revenues for 2011

SMC units looking to expand Filipino operations

Filipino telco Eastern Telecommunications Philippines Inc (ETPI) and its subsidiary Telecommunications Technologies Philippines Inc (TTPI), both of which are controlled by local conglomerate San Miguel Corp (SMC), have announced plans to extend their operations in a bid to secure a share of the lucrative domestic communications market. The BusinessMirror newspaper reports that ETPI, which holds licences to offer a range of telecoms services in the country, is working on expanding its own telecommunications network nationwide – part of which includes the deployment of a fibre-optic cable (FOC) along the proposed Tarlac, Pangasinan, La Union Expressway. The paper notes that SMC is part of a consortium that will build the 88.58km toll-road project, adding that ETPI’s new FOC will serve as a backbone for the northern Luzon region.

See the article here:

OVETEL SMC units looking to expand Filipino operations

CAIW picks Netadmin open access management platform

Dutch cable TV, broadband and telephony operator CAIW has selected Netadmin Systems to implement an open access management platform on its network ahead of an anticipated surge in customers as it continues to roll out fibre on its network.

Visit link:
OVETEL CAIW picks Netadmin open access management platform

China Mobile Hong Kong LTE launch scheduled for Q4

China Mobile has revealed plans to launch commercial Long Term Evolution (LTE) mobile broadband services via its wholly owned subsidiary China Mobile Hong Kong (formerly Peoples) in the fourth quarter of 2012, over a network based on 2600MHz FDD and 2300MHz TDD band spectrum. The group’s annual financial results announcement states simply that ‘We will launch LTE TDD/FDD commercial service in the Hong Kong Special Administration Region (SAR) in 2012.’ China Mobile executive director and vice chairman Xi Guohua added that China Mobile will launch commercial services in the SAR as soon as the fourth quarter, after handsets that support both FDD and TDD become available.

Read More:

OVETEL China Mobile Hong Kong LTE launch scheduled for Q4

Watchdog cuts spectrum usage fees by 60%

The Telecommunications Office of the Slovak Republic (TU SR) has published a binding regulation which reduces usage rights fees for a comprehensive range of wireless frequencies, effective from 1 April 2012.

Follow this link:

OVETEL Watchdog cuts spectrum usage fees by 60%

Digicel Samoa launches ‘4G’ mobile broadband service

Digicel’s Samoan operating subsidiary has announced the launch of its new 4G mobile broadband network in the country, promising faster and more reliable internet connections to its customers. Although the cellco has not provided any details about the technology it is employing for the new service, TeleGeography notes that Digicel currently markets 3.5G HSPA+ services under the ‘Digicel 4G Mobile’ banner in the Cayman Islands, Jamaica and Barbados, and also offers it as ‘3G+’ in Bermuda. Furthermore, Digicel Samoa rival BlueSky Samoa is also marketing an HSPA+ network – providing a maximum connection of 21Mbps and 5.7Mbps (downlink/uplink) – as 4G

Continue reading here:

OVETEL Digicel Samoa launches ‘4G’ mobile broadband service

Tata completes round-the-world cable network ring

India’s Tata Communications has announced the completion of what it claims to be the world's first wholly-owned round-the-world fibre-optic cable network, following the official launch of its Tata Global Network-Eurasia (TGN-EA) cable. The 9,280km TGN-EA system connects Europe to India, through Egypt, bringing increased capacity, resilience and enhanced communications links to the Middle East and the rest of the world. The completion of the final link across Egypt enables Tata to offer its customers access to a wholly-owned express route cable from Europe to India with improved latency, redundancy and scalability.

Read the original post:
OVETEL Tata completes round-the-world cable network ring

EU unhappy at OPTA decision on FTTB access

Dow Jones Newswires writes that the European Commission (EU) is launching an investigation into a decision by the Dutch telecoms regulator OPTA not to regulate access to business broadband services in the country, which it believes may be in breach of EU telecoms rules. In a statement published yesterday, the Commission responded to OPTA’s decision not to force former state-owned PTO KPN Telecom to allow rival operators access to its networks for business services by saying: ‘Without this access, business customers may not have a choice of competitive deals from different operators, and could therefore pay higher prices.’ The EU adds that it has ‘serious doubts’ whether or not the watchdog’s local ruling for fibre-to-the-business (FTTB) infrastructure is in line with European law

Read More:

OVETEL EU unhappy at OPTA decision on FTTB access

Cisco and Avaya tighten their grip on the enterprise voice market

New data from TeleGeography partner Synergy Research Group show that enterprise voice equipment revenues reached USD2.4 billion in Q4 2011, bringing total revenues to USD9.6 billion for the year. The market has plateaued over the last three years, with quarterly revenues staying within a fairly narrow range of USD2.3 billion to USD2.5 billion

View article:

OVETEL Cisco and Avaya tighten their grip on the enterprise voice market

DTAC’s Wi-Fi service goes commercial

Thailand’s second largest mobile operator by subscribers DTAC has announced the launch of commercial Wi-Fi public wireless broadband hotspot services for its cellular network users, following the completion of a trial last month which it said was used by 100,000 people.

Continued here:

OVETEL DTAC’s Wi-Fi service goes commercial

Sint Maarten now has .sx appeal

Minister of Economic & Tourism Affairs, Telecommunications & Transport Franklin Meyers and Bureau of Telecommunications and Post Sint Maarten (BTP-SXM) director Peggy Ann Brandon launched Sint Maarten's new top-level internet domain, .sx this week, The Daily Herald reports, bringing to an end a process previously described as ‘impossible to achieve’ by Meyers. Although .sm was Sint Maarten's preferred domain, it had already been assigned to San Marino.

Visit site:
OVETEL Sint Maarten now has .sx appeal

Get in Djibouti: PTO signs accord with Level 3 for internet services

Djibouti’s national fixed and mobile operator Djibouti Telecom (DT) has reportedly signed an accord with US-based broadband services provider Level 3 Communications to provide ‘an internet network’ in the country. The move forms part of a plan to make the Horn of Africa nation an ‘indispensable hub of telecommunications in the region,’ its managing director Abdurahman Mohamed Hassan told reporters on Monday. No further details are available at this time.

View post:

OVETEL Get in Djibouti: PTO signs accord with Level 3 for internet services

Zero hour for ‘freemium’ WiMAX firm; free 4G access for one year up for grabs

Self-styled ‘freemium’ 4G provider NetZero has announced the launch of its pre-paid mobile WiMAX service, which piggybacks on Clearwire's national 4G network. Citing a fact sheet distributed to media outlets, Fierce Wireless quotes NetZero as saying: ‘NetZero 4G Mobile Broadband requires no contracts, commitments or overage charges. Customers simply pick the data plan that meets their needs, starting at just USD9.95 per month

See more here:
OVETEL Zero hour for ‘freemium’ WiMAX firm; free 4G access for one year up for grabs

Filipino cellcos predict surge in smartphone sales in 2012

The Philippine Daily Inquirer writes that the country’s main mobile operators are expecting a surge in sales of smartphones this year as the wider coverage of mobile data networks and increased availability of affordable devices and tariff plans drives consumer demand. PLDT unit Smart Communications reports that smartphone sales doubled in the last three months of 2011 alone, fuelled by growing demand for the mobile internet and increased availability of devices.

Continue Reading:

OVETEL Filipino cellcos predict surge in smartphone sales in 2012