Subtel to make more spectrum available for LTE

Chilean regulator the Sub-Secretaria de Telecomunicaciones (Subtel) is considering auctioning frequencies in the 700MHz band for 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) services, reports RCR Wireless. Subtel’s head, Jorge Atton said that use of the band would help improve connectivity in remote areas, and drive up internet penetration. Oliver Flogel, Chile’s executive secretary of digital development, added that the 700MHz band was well-suited to deploy mobile internet services over large areas.

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OVETEL Subtel to make more spectrum available for LTE

NetAmerica launches new programme to drive 700MHz LTE deployments

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 it has launched a new programme to help mobile carriers that purchased 700MHz spectrum in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) Auction 73 to meet build-out requirements; the terms associated with these licences mandate that carriers which acquired spectrum in the lower 700MHz band provide wireless service coverage in 35% of the licence's geographic area by June 2013. The programme allows 700MHz licence holders to join the Alliance as a so-called ‘Affiliate Members’, which NetAmerica says allows participating companies ‘to meet today's demand for build-out with full confidence that they are not compromising the future of their networks, the future of their customers, or eliminating themselves from a migration to high-value, revenue generating applications’. However, it is unclear how an Affiliate Member’s status differs from that of a full member.

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OVETEL NetAmerica launches new programme to drive 700MHz LTE deployments

LightSquared boss Falcone forced to step down as ‘public face’ of LTE venture

Hedge-fund manager Philip Falcone is poised to step aside as the public face of his ill-fated LightSquared venture, the Wall Street Journal reports, in a last gasp effort to stop the open-access Long Term Evolution (LTE) firm from defaulting on its debt.

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OVETEL LightSquared boss Falcone forced to step down as ‘public face’ of LTE venture

Vodafone selects Ivrea to host ‘experimental’ LTE launch

According to local media reports Vodafone Italy has selected Ivrea, a town in the north-west of the country, as the first location to gain access to its in-deployment Long Term Evolution (LTE) network. Although details on the launch remain scarce, it has been reported that the move has been enabled by the provision of an experimental licence that allows the cellco to deploy LTE services using 1800MHz spectrum usually reserved for GSM services. Previously, the company staged a series of LTE trials at a selection of the nation’s football stadia, starting with Torino’s Stadio Olimpico

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OVETEL Vodafone selects Ivrea to host ‘experimental’ LTE launch

3G subs approach 13 million

The number of third-generation (3G) subscribers in Vietnam has reached approximately 12.8 million, reports Viet Nam News, citing a spokesperson from the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC). According to the ministry, mobile network operators Viettel, Vinaphone, MobiFone, Hanoi Telecom (Vietnamobile) and EVN Telecom have between them deployed around 33,700 3G base transceiver stations (BTS) across the country.

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OVETEL 3G subs approach 13 million

Movicel expands LTE to capital

Angolan cellco Movicel has expanded its commercial 4G LTE mobile broadband network, which it launched earlier this month in oil-producing province Cabinda, to Angola's capital city, Luanda. The wireless modem-based service, branded 'Movinet 4G', is based on a network which is being built out via contracts with Chinese equipment vendors ZTE and Huawei, under a plan to cover the country's largest cities by the end of 2012 and offer nationwide services in three years

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OVETEL Movicel expands LTE to capital

Rising OPEX eats into Idea’s profit

India’s Idea Cellular has reported net profits of INR2.39 billion (USD44.61 million) for the fourth quarter of its financial year, ended 31 March 2012, down year-on-year from INR2.75 billion but increasing from INR2.01 billion in the previous quarter, ended 31 December 2011. The drop in profit came despite revenue growth of 26.8% y-o-y to INR53.70 billion, as operating expenses rose by 27.0% over the same period, offsetting the impact of the greater income. The cellco’s earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) for the period under review were INR13.57 billion, up from INR10.75 billion a year earlier

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OVETEL Rising OPEX eats into Idea’s profit

Regulator ordered to pay MML USD76 million

The Blantyre High Court’s Commercial Division has ordered the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) to pay USD66.85 million to defunct wireless operator Malawi Mobile Limited (MML) for breach of contract, local newspaper The Nation reports. The case dates back to 2005, when the telecoms regulator stripped MML of its licence, stating the company failed to roll out its network on time. The cellco went on to contend the revocation of its licence in court, arguing that the move was a breach of contract, and said it would seek USD135 million in compensation.

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OVETEL Regulator ordered to pay MML USD76 million

Vodafone to drum up INR3bn

Vodafone India is reportedly looking to raise INR3 billion (USD55.991 million) through a one-year commercial paper, yielding 10.40% on maturity. According to Reuters, which cited a source with direct knowledge of the matter, the UK-based group has selected Standard Chartered as the sole arranger of the deal.

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OVETEL Vodafone to drum up INR3bn

Nawras selects Huawei for network modernisation project

Oman’s second national telecoms operator Nawras has announced that it has selected Huawei as the preferred bidder for a network modernisation project and managed services, following a comprehensive tender process. As part of the agreement, the Chinese vendor will provide a Radio Access Network (RAN) and undertake a modernisation of the RAN in order to accommodate anticipated developments, including the launch of Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology. Separately, the parties intend to sign an agreement covering managed services for both the fixed and mobile networks, which will further advance efficiency

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OVETEL Nawras selects Huawei for network modernisation project

Anatel hopes 4G auction will raise BRL3.8bn

Brazilian telecommunications regulator Agencia Nacional de Telecomunicacoes (Anatel) expects that the forthcoming auction of mobile frequencies in the 2.5GHz and 450MHz bands will generate a minimum BRL3.8 billion (USD2 billion) for the government, BNAmericas reports.

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OVETEL Anatel hopes 4G auction will raise BRL3.8bn

Claro clarifies full commercial 4G launch in Puerto Rico not until Q3

America Movil’s CEO Daniel Hajj has confirmed that a full commercial launch of 4G LTE services by the Mexico-based firm’s Claro Puerto Rico unit will take place in the third quarter of 2012, following the limited rollout of LTE infrastructure and pre-commercial 700MHz services on the island late last year which the group’s head referred to as a soft launch. Speaking to investors on a quarterly results conference call, Hajj also said that amongst the ‘four or five’ Latin American markets in which America Movil will launch LTE-based mobile broadband networks this year, its Mexican division will introduce commercial 4G services by the end of the year, using its existing frequency bands.

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OVETEL Claro clarifies full commercial 4G launch in Puerto Rico not until Q3

Mobile competition regulations due in around three months

Ecuadorian telecoms authority Conatel is expected to draw up new regulations governing competition between mobile operators in the next three months or so, with the aim of benefiting end users, local newspaper El Telegrafo reported, as quoted by BNamericas. Telecoms secretary Ruben Leon said the government is currently studying relevant regulation in other countries, such as Mexico, Chile and Colombia.

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OVETEL Mobile competition regulations due in around three months

NTA reaffirms aim to prevent frequency hoarding

The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) is seeking to actively discourage the practice of frequency hoarding in the Kingdom and hopes its new merger and acquisition policy will go some way to achieving this. The Himalayan News Service quotes NTA spokesperson Kailash Prasad Neupane as saying that under the terms of the policy – enacted by the national Radio Frequency Policy Determinism Committee (RFPDC) acting under the Ministry of Information and Communications (MoIC) – those companies concerned will be required to surrender extra frequency spectrum within six months of a merger. The NTA has set a charge equivalent to 0.7% of an operator’s annual income for the annual frequency fee, and fixed a price of NPR7 million (USD84,378) per MHz block of spectrum on extra frequencies being ‘hoarded’ or that are currently lying dormant

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OVETEL NTA reaffirms aim to prevent frequency hoarding

TIM Brasil reports 29.5% rise in Q1 profit

Telecom Italia’s Brazilian telecoms unit TIM Participacoes (TIM Brasil) has reported a 29.5% year-on-year rise in net profit for the three months ended 31 March 2012 to BRL276.4 million (USD146.3 million) driven by solid subscriber growth and rising revenue. TIM Brasil, the nation’s second largest carrier by subscribers, increased its mobile base by 27.2% y-o-y to 67.2 million, as gross additions topped 9.9 million lines and net additions reached 3.1 million. The carrier booked top line revenue of BRL4.50 billion (+19.1% y-o-y), while net service revenues grew 15.9% y-o-y and (gross) data revenue surged 56.1% to BRL1 billion as smartphone penetration reached 31.1% of the total base, compared to 12.6% a year earlier

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OVETEL TIM Brasil reports 29.5% rise in Q1 profit

ComReg consults on new draft strategy for 2012-2014

Irish telecoms regulator the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) has published its draft strategy statement for regulating the Republic’s communications market for the period until 30 June 2014, as per the Communications Regulation Act (2002).

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OVETEL ComReg consults on new draft strategy for 2012-2014

Time Warner Cable’s internet sales up 9.6%

US cableco Time Warner Cable has reported that its revenues for the first quarter of 2012 increased by 6.4% compared to a year earlier, to USD5.1 billion. Residential service revenues increased 4.1% year-on-year to USD4.4 billion, and business service turnover grew 37.5% to USD429 million.

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OVETEL Time Warner Cable’s internet sales up 9.6%

Cofetel launches consultation on interconnection rate cost model

Mexican telecoms regulator the Comision Federal de Telecomunicaciones (Cofetel) is planning to launch a public consultation regarding the proposed cost model for defining fixed and mobile interconnection rates.

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OVETEL Cofetel launches consultation on interconnection rate cost model

Clearwire Q1 sales up 36%, EBITDA losses narrow to USD38m

US WiMAX broadband operator Clearwire has reported a 36% year-on-year rise in first-quarter revenues to USD323 million, while its adjusted EBITDA loss narrowed to USD38 million in the three months ended 31 March 2012, compared to USD210 million in Q1 2011.

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OVETEL Clearwire Q1 sales up 36%, EBITDA losses narrow to USD38m

Batelco’s profits shrink 8%

Bahrain-based telecoms group Batelco, with operations across six countries, has reported an 8% year-on-year decline in net profit to BHD16.1 million (USD42.7 million) for the first quarter of 2012, with EBITDA also falling, to BHD28.3 million, down from BHD32.6 million for the same period in 2011. The group’s gross revenues stood at BHD78 million for the three months ended 31 March 2012, down by 4% from BHD80.8 million in Q1 last year

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OVETEL Batelco’s profits shrink 8%

Wind wins apex court victory over Public Mobile in ownership case

Canada’s Supreme Court has ruled in favour of cellco Globalive Wireless (Wind Mobile) in a case brought by rival operator Public Mobile. The apex court threw out Public Mobile’s last-chance attempt to query a previous decision from the Federal Court of Appeal which found that Wind’s ownership structure complied with Canadian foreign ownership law. Wind, part of the multinational Vimpelcom group, announced that the Supreme Court judgement puts an end to all legal challenges over its foreign ownership/capital funding.

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OVETEL Wind wins apex court victory over Public Mobile in ownership case

EarthLink’s sales down 2% q-o-q

US telco EarthLink has reported revenue of USD344 million in the first quarter of 2012, a 2% decrease from the prior quarter but a 42% increase from the first quarter of 2011, reflecting the acquisitions of One Communications and five IT services companies in 2011. Business services comprised 76% of EarthLink's revenue in the three months to the end of March 2012, up from 59% in the year-ago quarter.

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OVETEL EarthLink’s sales down 2% q-o-q

Rise in operating expenses hits China Telecom profit

China Telecom, China’s largest broadband provider by subscribers, has reported revenues of CNY67.929 billion (USD10.757 billion) for the three months ended 31 March 2012, a year-on-year increase of 15.7%. However, a 19.3% increase in operating expenses, from CNY51.778 billion to CNY61.777 billion, caused profits for the quarter to slide by 6.3% compared to the same period in 2011. Q1 2012 saw China Telecom accrue net additions of 9.36 million wireless subscribers, of which 7.26 million signed up to 3G packages, bringing the company’s total wireless customer base to 135.83 million, of which 43.55 million were 3G subscribers.

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OVETEL Rise in operating expenses hits China Telecom profit

Upfront smartphone costs hit MetroPCS bottom line

US cellco MetroPCS has reported a 63% year-on-year drop in first-quarter net profit to USD21 million, despite a 10% rise in service revenues to USD1.16 billion and an increase in monthly blended ARPU to USD40.56, USD0.14 higher than the same period of last year. MetroPCS attributed falling profitability to rising costs of upgrading customers to smarthpones and 4G LTE devices, with EBITDA also reported at 8% lower year-on-year in the three months ended 31 March 2012, at USD262 million. Average cost per new customer activation leapt to USD235.45 in Q1 2012, up from USD157.28 in 1Q11

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OVETEL Upfront smartphone costs hit MetroPCS bottom line

TSTT awards 4G contract to Huawei

Telecommunications Services of Trinidad & Tobago (TSTT) has handed a contract to Huawei Technologies of China for an upgrade to a 4G-ready mobile network, to be deployed by September this year.

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OVETEL TSTT awards 4G contract to Huawei

Sunrise inks five-year deal with Huawei, sketches network upgrade plans for new TQ Net unit

Having announced the termination of its long-standing partnership with US-French vendor Alcatel-Lucent in August 2011, Switzerland’s Sunrise has teamed up with China’s Huawei to modernise its network infrastructure.

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OVETEL Sunrise inks five-year deal with Huawei, sketches network upgrade plans for new TQ Net unit

EC threatens Greece over OTE golden share

Dow Jones Newswires reports that the European Commission (EC) has given the Greek government two months to respond to its concerns about its so-called golden share in Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE), or face being taken to the European Court of Justice.

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OVETEL EC threatens Greece over OTE golden share

BTRC proposes off-net rate cuts

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has given a proposal to the Ministry of Posts & Telecommunications (MoPT) for approval, under which it would reduce off-net mobile call charges to BDT0.50 (USD0.006) per minute, down from the existing rate of BDT0.65, while halving the charge for receiving an off-net SMS message to BDT0.10, reports local newspaper The Daily Star. Minimum/maximum on-net charges will remain at BDT0.25/BDT2.0 under the proposal.

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OVETEL BTRC proposes off-net rate cuts

T-HT’s sales down 4.7% in tough climate; pushes new LTE data packages

T-Hrvatski Telekom (T-HT), Croatia’s dominant telecoms group, has reported its results for the three months to 31 March 2012, in which it said that the economic climate, regulatory framework and competitive landscape all ‘got tougher’, leading to a consolidated revenue fall of 4.7% year-on-year to HRK1.806 billion (USD316 million), while it continued applying rigorous cost cutting measures to protect margins. In the residential segment, T-HT’s mobile subscribers decreased by 6.5% year-on-year and 5.2% quarter-on-quarter, while ADSL users increased by 0.2% (to 536,000) and pay-TV customers reached a total of 325,000, up by 8.9% in twelve months

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OVETEL T-HT’s sales down 4.7% in tough climate; pushes new LTE data packages

Optus switches on trial LTE access in Hunter region

Australia’s second largest mobile network operator by subscribers, Optus, has announced the launch of trial 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) services in the Hunter region, with it saying that it has coverage of Greater Newcastle, Maitland, Port Stephens and areas in the Hunter Valley. According to the operator, select customers in the region will be able to access the wireless broadband services, with over a thousand business and residential subscribers expected to receive 4G service and devices from next week

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OVETEL Optus switches on trial LTE access in Hunter region

Maroc Telecom reports stable Q1 revenue

Moroccan group Maroc Telecom has reported consolidated revenues of MAD7.534 billion (USD890 million) for the first three months of 2012, an increase of 0.1% from MAD7.528 billion in the year-ago quarter. Solid growth in the firm’s international business, which saw a 21% year-on-year rise in revenue to MAD1.726 billion, helped to offset a 4% decline in domestic turnover to MAD5.902 billion

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OVETEL Maroc Telecom reports stable Q1 revenue

NII Holdings’ Q1 net income slips 90% on higher costs

US-based digital trunking firm NII Holdings, which provides wireless services under the Nextel brand in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Peru and Chile, has announced its consolidated financial results for the three months ended 31 March 2012. The company said it generated consolidated operating revenues of USD1.63 billion in the first quarter of 2012, almost flat compared to the USD1.62 billion recorded in the year-ago period

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OVETEL NII Holdings’ Q1 net income slips 90% on higher costs

Declining fixed segment drags TP revenues down 3.4%

Polish broadband and wireless provider Telekomunikacja Polska (TP Group) has reported a 3.4% year-on-year fall in revenues for Q1 2012 as limited growth in the wireless sector failed to offset falling revenues from the fixed segment. TP revenues for the three month period ended 31 March 2012 totalled PLN3.521 billion (USD1.114 million); income from fixed line operations was down 5.4% y-o-y to PLN1.927 billion, whilst mobile revenues increased 0.3% to PLN1.861 billion

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OVETEL Declining fixed segment drags TP revenues down 3.4%

Telkom profits rise to highest level in six years, driven by mobile and internet

Indonesia’s largest telecoms operator by subscribers and revenues, PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom) says that group net income for the three months ended 31 March 2012 climbed 17.5% year-on-year to IDR3.32 trillion (USD362 million), its highest for six years, fuelled by strong growth at its mobile arm Telkomsel. Consolidated revenue for the first quarter of 2012 grew by almost 7% to IDR17.8 trillion on the back of mobile, data and internet services growth

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OVETEL Telkom profits rise to highest level in six years, driven by mobile and internet

MGTS plots USD2bn GPON rollout

Moscow City Telephone Network (MGTS), the capital’s dominant wireline provider, has confirmed plans to spend USD2 billion on its in-deployment GPON network, Kommersant has reported, with around USD600 million of the budget earmarked for this year.

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OVETEL MGTS plots USD2bn GPON rollout

Softbank posts strong full-year results

Softbank Corp has reported a 7% hike in sales to JPY3.2 trillion (USD39.5 billion) for the full year ending 31 March 2012, while net income soared 65% year-on-year to JPY313 billion. The operator said the gains were largely due to subscriber growth and strong sales of the iPhone 4S which was launched in October 2011. Softbank’s mobile unit recorded 3.5 million net additions during the year, bringing its total subscriber base to 28.9 million at the end of March

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OVETEL Softbank posts strong full-year results

Turk Telekom seeks to explore ‘different vertical markets’

Turk Telekom is looking for acquisitions in alternative markets, such as entertainment and education, CEO Hakam Kanafani has told Bloomberg. The chief executive commented: ‘Our eyes are open for any opportunities in the region.

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OVETEL Turk Telekom seeks to explore ‘different vertical markets’

AM records 37.5% increase in net profit in 1Q12

Latin American telecoms behemoth America Movil (AM) has posted a 37.5% year-on-year increase in net profit for the first quarter of 2012, with the company’s bottom line bolstered by foreign exchange gains linked to the appreciation of various currencies relative to the US dollar.

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OVETEL AM records 37.5% increase in net profit in 1Q12

SingTel sells off entirety of Far EasTone holding

Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) has revealed that it had sold its 3.98% stake in Taiwanese telco Far EasTone (FET), Reuters reports.

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OVETEL SingTel sells off entirety of Far EasTone holding

Safaricom, Airtel unite for fibre-optic JV

According to Business Daily Africa, Kenyan telcos Safaricom and Airtel Kenya are poised to embark on a joint venture (JV), which will see them deploy an independent fibre-optic network in a bid to curtail their reliance on third parties for wholesale internet access. Safaricom chief executive Bob Collymore told the website that the domestic telecoms giant initiated talks with a number of local operators, including Telkom Kenya and Essar Telecom Kenya (ETK, or ‘yu’) for the project, but only Airtel has expressed an interest thus far. Collymore commented: ‘We are going to roll out the fibre in the coming financial year, it will involve partnering with other mobile operators.

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OVETEL Safaricom, Airtel unite for fibre-optic JV

Tango and cash; Qualcomm invests USD40m in Luxembourg telco

Luxembourg’s full-service telecoms provider Tango has secured an additional USD40 million worth of funding from a series of investors, Telecompaper reports. Principal investors include US wireless technology manufacturer Qualcomm, acting through its venture arm, Qualcomm Ventures, and Access Industries. Additional investment has been sourced from members of co-founder Eric Setton's family, who have bankrolled the company since its inception

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OVETEL Tango and cash; Qualcomm invests USD40m in Luxembourg telco

Turkcell warns of ‘improper payments’ scandal at K’cell

Turkcell has disclosed that it is currently investigating allegations of so-called ‘improper payments’ relating to Kazakh mobile operator GSM Kazakhstan (K’cell), in which it holds an indirect stake. In a regulatory filing lodged with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Turkish firm disclosed: ‘The allegations concern transactions that may involve K’cell, and certain of the employees and management of K’cell, Fintur Holdings, TeliaSonera and certain vendors of K’cell’

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OVETEL Turkcell warns of ‘improper payments’ scandal at K’cell

Vivendi break-up on the cards?

Reports from France are suggesting that the media and communications conglomerate Vivendi could be broken up into two separate entities, with one unit handling the media, gaming and entertainment assets such as Universal Music Group and Activision Blizzard, while the other holds the telecoms and content distribution businesses, which include France’s largest alternative operator SFR and the Brazilian operator GVT.

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OVETEL Vivendi break-up on the cards?

PrimeTel upgrades networks for quad-play services

PrimeTel, the largest alternative fixed line telecoms operator in Cyprus, has awarded a contract to Sonus Networks to build a new SIP backbone network to support its business, residential, mobile and wholesale carrier services. PrimeTel will use Sonus equipment to offer SIP and PRI trunking services, business and residential voice services and interconnect services across Cyprus, Europe and the Middle East. The Sonus solution will replace PrimeTel’s existing voice-over-IP (VoIP) network and allow the service provider to deliver services such as SIP trunking, plus triple- and quad-play bundles which PrimeTel says will be marketed as Mobile3play and Mobile4play

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OVETEL PrimeTel upgrades networks for quad-play services

Algeria and Tunisia help boost Wataniya results, though profit slides

Kuwaiti telecoms group Wataniya has reported a 90% drop in its first-quarter net profit to KWD28.3 million (USD102.1 million), with results in the year-earlier period having been boosted by a one-off fair value gain. Revenue for the three months to end-March 2012 stood at KWD180.3 million, up from KWD169.8 million the year before.

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OVETEL Algeria and Tunisia help boost Wataniya results, though profit slides

FCC approves spectrum transfer from AT to T-Mobile

The FCC has approved the transfer of spectrum in 128 markets from AT&T to T-Mobile USA. The transfer is a condition of the companies’ failed merger and will bolster T-Mobile’s LTE deployment plans. ‘We applaud the FCC for acting swiftly to approve the transfer of these spectrum licenses,’ said Neville Ray, chief technology officer for T-Mobile USA.

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OVETEL FCC approves spectrum transfer from AT&T to T-Mobile

Telkom and KT close to finalising terms

Telkom South Africa has announced that it is close to finalising the terms of a potential strategic venture with South Korea’s KT Corp. The news follows a statement from the telco in October 2011 that it was in talks with KT, with the latter reportedly expressing an interest in acquiring a 20% stake in the South African telco. In December Telkom signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with KT which saw them agree to a period of exclusive engagement and information exchange to share areas of mutual strategic and business cooperation.

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OVETEL Telkom and KT close to finalising terms

MTN Rwanda cuts mobile data pricing as competition increases

Cellular operator MTN Rwanda has halved the price of some of its mobile data bundles as it faces up to increased competition after the launch of third operator Airtel last month. Under the new pricing, Business Times reports, the price of MTN’s 250MB data package will be reduced to RWF3,000 (USD5.03) a month from RWF6,000, while the price of the 500MB option will drop from RWF10,000 to RWF5,000 and the 5GB tariff will be cut from RWF30,000 per month to RWF15,000.

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OVETEL MTN Rwanda cuts mobile data pricing as competition increases

LinkdotNet to quit Pakistan

Orascom subsidiary LinkdotNet is reportedly considering closing down operations in Pakistan amidst dwindling returns. According to Pro Pakistani, which cites sources familiar with the matter, the decision to wind up LinkdotNet has already been agreed in-principal and will allow Orascom to focus on its core wireless service, which operates under the Mobilink brand. If the company choo8scses to go ahead with the move, its broadband services offered under the Mobilink Infinity banner are not expected to be affected

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OVETEL LinkdotNet to quit Pakistan

Onatel Q1 revenue climbs 16%

Office Nationale des Telecommunications (Onatel), Burkina Faso’s incumbent fixed line telecoms operator, has announced it generated net profit of XAF4.623 billion (USD9.1 million) in the first quarter of 2012, an increase of 219% compared to the XAF1.450 billion reported in the year-ago quarter.

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OVETEL Onatel Q1 revenue climbs 16%

Leap losses widen as churn increases

Revenue at Leap Wireless rose 6% in the first quarter compared with the corresponding period last year after the company added 258,000 net new wireless subscribers during the three months under review. However, the cellco’s net loss attributable to common stockholders slipped to USD98.4 million, down from USD96.2 million, on the back of higher monthly churn, up to 3.3% from 3.1% last year. Leap, which has traditionally focused on the lower-cost market, is facing increased competition in the pre-paid customer segment

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OVETEL Leap losses widen as churn increases

KDDI reports falls in Q4 and FY net profits

The Japanese telco KDDI Corp has announced a 16% drop in net profit for its fiscal fourth quarter to 31 March 2012 to JPY44.25 billion (USD543.9 million), down from JPY52.48 billion a year before.

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OVETEL KDDI reports falls in Q4 and FY net profits

Virgin Media sees customer gains, upgrades bolster its first quarter results

On the back of a high-profile media campaign, British cableco Virgin Media has revealed that in the first three months of 2012 it saw net cable customer additions of 21,200, an increase it said was also bolstered by improved churn.

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OVETEL Virgin Media sees customer gains, upgrades bolster its first quarter results

DiGi reports lower first quarter net profit despite revenue increase

Malaysia’s DiGi Telecommunications saw a lower net profit in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period a year earlier, despite recording higher revenues year-on-year. For the three months ended 31 March 2012 DiGi posted a net profit of MYR320.63 million (USD104.5 million), down from MYR331.4 million in 1Q11, and significantly lower than the MYR394 million net profit it reported in 4Q11. The telco noted that the decline against the last quarter of 2011 could be attributed in the main to ‘prior years’ tax incentives related to mobile broadband network facilities which resulted in significantly lower effective tax rate in Q411’

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OVETEL DiGi reports lower first quarter net profit despite revenue increase

Unicom records 24.8% increase in Q1 revenues

China Unicom, China’s second largest provider of wireless and broadband services by subscribers, has reported revenues of CNY61.193 billion (USD9.683 billion) for the quarter ended 31 March 2012, an increase of 24.8% compared to the same period a year earlier. Net profit for the period was CNY1.007 billion, up from CNY145 million a year earlier.

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OVETEL Unicom records 24.8% increase in Q1 revenues

PTCL Q3 profits jump 43.8% y-o-y

The Pakistan Telecommunications Company Ltd (PTCL) has reported a 43.8% year-on-year rise in net profits to PKR1.357 billion (USD14.92 million) for the third quarter of its financial year, ended 31 March 2012. Total revenue for the period was PKR14.834 billion, up 11.3%y-o-y, with earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of PKR2.186 billion, a y-o-y increase of 45.2%.

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OVETEL PTCL Q3 profits jump 43.8% y-o-y

Mobistar records 28.1% slump in net profit in 1Q12

Mobistar, the Belgian unit of France Telecom-Orange, has released its financial results for the three months ended 31 March 2012, with the operator posting a 28.1% year-on-year drop in net profit, which it said was primarily the result of ‘a lower EBITDA and the accelerated depreciations of the network through its complete renewal’.

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OVETEL Mobistar records 28.1% slump in net profit in 1Q12

PrimaCom up for sale?

German regional cable operator PrimaCom, which was taken over by its creditors last year, has been put up for sale, according to a report by Bloomberg which cites people familiar with the process. The unnamed sources claim that investment bank Jefferies Group Inc. (JEF) has been hired to prepare the search for a buyer, while initial information may be sent to potential bidders of the Leipzig-based cableco next month.

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OVETEL PrimaCom up for sale?

OF Networks deploys GE-PON optical LAN deployment in West Sumatra

OF Networks (OFN), a subsidiary of OKI group, has supplied Gigabit Ethernet Passive Optical Network (GE-PON) systems for the rollout of an optical LAN in the Tanah Datar region of West Sumatra, Indonesia. The deployment was carried out in partnership with the local Telecommunication Technology Committee (TTC) in Tanah Datar and is the first LAN deployment to GE-PON technology by a municipality in Indonesia, OKI says. The new infrastructure will support maximum data transmission rates of 1Gbps in rural areas

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OVETEL OF Networks deploys GE-PON optical LAN deployment in West Sumatra

FPT posts Q1 financial results

Vietnamese telecommunications and software company the Corporation for Financing and Promoting Technology (FPT) has announced its generated revenue of VND5.95 trillion (USD285 million) in the three months ended 31 March 2012.

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OVETEL FPT posts Q1 financial results

Tower Bersama approves USD406m acquisition of 2,500 Indosat towers

Dow Jones Newswires writes that shareholders of Indonesian telecoms infrastructure company PT Tower Bersama have approved a plan to purchase 2,500 mobile towers from the country’s second largest operator, PT Indosat, for USD406 million. In a meeting in Jakarta, the firm’s backers approved a cash deal worth USD334 million, with the remainder to be paid through the issuance of 5% in new shares to Indosat for IDR661.23 million (USD72 million). The president of Tower Bersama Herman Setya Budi told reporters that the company will be using USD9 million of its own funds for the cash portion of the deal, while USD325 million will come via a five-year loan from a consortium of eleven lenders – including United Overseas Bank, Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp, DBS Bank and HSBC Holdings.

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OVETEL Tower Bersama approves USD406m acquisition of 2,500 Indosat towers

True launches 200Mbps premium service, with premium price to match

Thailand’s True Corp has launched what it claims to be the fastest broadband internet service in the country, a 200Mbps/15Mbps download/upload connection based on DOCSIS 3.0 HFC cable technology. The group’s ISP and fixed line division True Online is aiming at the high-end customer market with the new super-fast product, by charging THB9,999 (USD323) per month for the premium package, although this includes a premium TrueVisions pay-TV channel package bundled in for the first twelve months, as well as unlimited usage of the True group’s public Wi-Fi hotspot broadband access network. As reported by TelecomAsia, True’s existing premium DOCSIS 3.0-based service, offering 100Mbps/15Mbps maximum download/upload speeds, currently has 3,000 users and is available in the city centres of 14 out of Thailand’s 76 provinces, while True’s ADSL broadband network is available in 36 provinces.

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OVETEL True launches 200Mbps premium service, with premium price to match

Minister reaffirms it has no urgent need to divest MTS stake

The government of the Republic of Belarus has no immediate desire to offload its majority stake in domestic mobile operator MTS Belarus, according to communications minister Nikolai Pantelei. Speaking to reporters in Minsk, Pantelei said that holding on to its 51% stake – held through state vehicle Intercity Communications – is advantageous to the administration

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OVETEL Minister reaffirms it has no urgent need to divest MTS stake

AirSpeed Telecom establishes link to LINX London Internet Exchange

Irish wireless broadband provider AirSpeed Telecom has reportedly established connectivity to the LINX Internet Exchange in London.

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OVETEL AirSpeed Telecom establishes link to LINX London Internet Exchange

Altimo plans Vimpelcom stake increase

The CEO of Altimo, the telecoms investment arm of Russia's Alfa Group, has told the Financial Times that his company wants to raise its stake in multinational telecoms group Vimpelcom. The news follows the recent sale of Altimo’s stake in rival Russian cellco MegaFon. The executive told the newspaper that Altimo is likely to use USD1.5 billion of the USD5.2 billion it earned from the sale of the stake in MegaFon in order to increase its holding in Vimpelcom.

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OVETEL Altimo plans Vimpelcom stake increase

Tele2 deploying Baltic LTE with NSN, upgrading 2G/3G networks

Swedish group Tele2 has chosen Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) as sole network supplier for the rollout of 4G LTE mobile broadband technology across Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. In addition to providing Tele2 with LTE radio and core networks in all three Baltic countries, NSN will also modernise and expand Tele2's 2G and 3G networks using a Single Radio Access Network (RAN) and Liquid Core technology for 2G/3G/4G traffic. The contract includes NSN’s Flexi Multiradio base stations, multi controller radio network controllers and base station controllers, as well as voice core network elements including its Liquid Core-based open Mobile Switching Centre Server and open Media Gateway

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OVETEL Tele2 deploying Baltic LTE with NSN, upgrading 2G/3G networks

Usmanov wants new company to hold Scartel and MegaFon

Ivan Streshinsky, the CEO of Telecominvest, has told the Kommersant newspaper that his company plans to create a holding company which would own shares in both MegaFon and Scartel. Telecominvest is majority-owned by the billionaire businessman Alisher Usmanov, who secured control of MegaFon on Tuesday via AF Telecom, which now owns 50% plus one share of MegaFon directly and through Telecominvest. Meanwhile, state conglomerate Russian Technologies owns 25.1% of Scartel, with Fund Telconet Capital, co-owned by Sergei Adoniev, owning the remainder

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OVETEL Usmanov wants new company to hold Scartel and MegaFon

Sprint posts higher revenues but widening losses

Sprint Nextel has posted revenue for the first quarter of USD8.73 billion, up 5% year-on-year, on the back of strong iPhone sales and the full impact of a USD10 per month surcharge on smartphones.

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OVETEL Sprint posts higher revenues but widening losses

Open Mobile's LTE services go live with Novatel's modem and MiFi device

Puerto Rican cellular operator Open Mobile has introduced commercial LTE mobile broadband services by offering 4G internet access via LTE-enabled USB modem and mobile hotspot devices supplied by Novatel Wireless. Federico Grosso, president of Open Mobile, announced: ‘We're excited to introduce Puerto Ricans to the Ovation MC 551 modem and the Novatel Wireless MiFi 4510 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot, offering them the convenience of portable Wi-Fi access at lightening fast speeds.’ The Ovation LTE modem supports peak download speeds of up to 100Mbps and peak upload speeds of up to 50Mbps, while the MiFi device supports connectivity with up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices simultaneously.

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OVETEL Open Mobile's LTE services go live with Novatel's modem and MiFi device

KPN selects JPMorgan for BASE sale

Dutch incumbent KPN Telecom (or Royal KPN) has reportedly hired JPMorgan Chase & Co. To assist in the sale of its Belgian unit BASE, Dow Jones Newswires reports, citing a person familiar with the situation. As previously reported by CommsUpdate, earlier this month, KPN announced it was considering the sale of BASE in a deal that could generate up to EUR1.8 billion (USD2.3 billion) for the company

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OVETEL KPN selects JPMorgan for BASE sale

Finland’s MoTC outlines plans for 800MHz spectrum sale

Finland’s Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) has announced that it has begun preparations for the sell-off of spectrum in the 800MHz band which can be used to offer 4G services.

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OVETEL Finland’s MoTC outlines plans for 800MHz spectrum sale

Cofetel introduces obligations for SMP operators

Mexico’s Comision Federal de Telecomunicaciones (Cofetel) has reportedly published specific obligations aimed at those telecoms operators deemed as holding significant market power (SMP) in a number of domestic markets.

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OVETEL Cofetel introduces obligations for SMP operators

Telmex reports net profit drop in 1Q11 as fixed voice accesses continue to decline

Mexican fixed line incumbent Telefonos de Mexico (Telmex) has reported a 7.3% year-on-year decline in net profit for the first three months of 2012 on the back of revenues that fell by 3.5% as fixed line erosion continued.

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OVETEL Telmex reports net profit drop in 1Q11 as fixed voice accesses continue to decline

Flat sales and increased expenses hit J:COM Q1 results

The Japanese cable TV operator Jupiter Telecommunications (J:COM) has reported a 10.4% drop in operating profit for the three months to 31 March 2012 to JPY18.48 billion (USD228 million). Programming and operating costs rose by 7.7% to JPY35.72 billion, while selling, general and administrative expenses increased 2.9% year-on-year to JPY17.94 billion. Meanwhile, sales were up just 0.8% at JPY92.51 billion.

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OVETEL Flat sales and increased expenses hit J:COM Q1 results

MTN says it is complying with sanctions against Iran

The South Africa-based mobile group MTN says it is complying with all international sanctions against Iran, where it has a 49% stake in the number-two mobile operator Irancell.

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OVETEL MTN says it is complying with sanctions against Iran

Maldives reports end-March telecoms stats

According to the latest figures from the Communications Authority of Maldives (CAM), the island ended March 2012 with a total of 539,792 mobile subscribers, of which 86.7% were pre-paid. Fixed broadband subscribers, meanwhile, totalled 17,140 at the end of the first quarter of 2012, compared to 15,601 twelve months earlier, while mobile broadband customers almost doubled from 32,485 to 60,215 over the same period. The number of fixed telephone lines (including payphones) reached 25,306 at 31 March 2012, of which the majority (18,768) were located on Male

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OVETEL Maldives reports end-March telecoms stats

OTE cutting 2,000 staff, report says

Greece’s incumbent PSTN operator Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE) is planning to reduce its workforce by around 2,000 staff via a voluntary redundancy programme, according to an unsourced report by Greek newspaper Imerisia, cited by Reuters. The report claims that the proposed measure would reduce the Deutsche Telekom-backed company’s operating costs by approximately EUR150 million (USD197 million) over the next three years, while the majority of employees targeted would be near to retirement age.

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OVETEL OTE cutting 2,000 staff, report says

Nawras Q1 revenue down 2.7%

Oman’s second national telecoms operator Nawras has announced its unaudited financial results for the three months ended 31 March 2012, posting a 2.7% year-on-year decline in revenue to OMR46.8 million (USD121.2 million) from OMR48.1 million in Q1 2011. The company said that sales were hit by a reduction in SMS revenues which was not fully offset by growth in data revenue

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OVETEL Nawras Q1 revenue down 2.7%

NITEL liquidation put on hold

Nigeria’s Senate Committee on Privatisation has ordered the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) and the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE) to halt the guided liquidation process of ailing fixed line incumbent Nigeria Telecommunications (NITEL) and its mobile arm M-Tel.

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OVETEL NITEL liquidation put on hold

Regulators approve PLDT’s Digitel bond valuation

The Philippines’ Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed documents approving Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT’s) valuation of PHP14.64 billion (USD343.49 million) worth of Digital Telecommunications (Digitel) bonds, paving the way for it to secure a near 100% ownership of the firm it took control of in October last year. The SEC’s rubber stamping of the deal will allow for the bonds’ conversion into equity, the filing said

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OVETEL Regulators approve PLDT’s Digitel bond valuation

Umniah inks music deal as it gears up for 3G launch

In preparation for its imminent 3G launch, Umniah Jordan has inked an agreement with Arabic music production company Rotana, reports Zawya. The agreement will allow Umniah to offer a greater range of value added services (VAS) such as ringtones and videos and further strengthen its position in the youth market

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OVETEL Umniah inks music deal as it gears up for 3G launch

Velcom increases revenues on back of Teradata solution

Belarusian mobile operator Mobile Digital Communications (MDC, or Velcom as it is more commonly known) says it has successfully increased its revenues as a result of the implementation of analytic data solutions provider Teradata’s revenue assurance solution. The new platform reportedly allows Velcom to identify and prevent lost revenues by providing insight into potential cases of telephony service revenue leakage

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OVETEL Velcom increases revenues on back of Teradata solution

SC grants slight reprieve, but TRAI proposals unsettle market

India’s Supreme Court has extended the deadline for the re-auction of the cancelled 2G licences by three months, despite a petition from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) requesting a full year to prepare for the tender. The two-member bench said: ‘In our view, it will be just and proper to partially accept the averments made … Accordingly, the time specified for conducting the auction and grant of licences is extended up to 31 August 2012.’ The extension gives the sector regulators some breathing room to conduct the auction, but falls short of its proposed auction date of March 2013. The affected cellcos will be allowed to continue operations until 7 September 2012, giving those providers that have chosen to exit the market time to wind-up operations.*In response, the DoT has said it is hastening the auction process and is awaiting final recommendations from the Telecoms Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), due 15 May

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OVETEL SC grants slight reprieve, but TRAI proposals unsettle market

Anatel will begin reviewing 4G tender proposals and reveal auction date on 5 June

Brazil’s telecoms regulator Agencia Nacional de Telecomunicacoes (Anatel) says it will begin the process of reviewing proposals for the country’s upcoming tender of 2.5GHz and 450MHz mobile spectrum for 4G services on 5 June. BNAmericas quotes an unnamed official at Anatel as saying that at the same date, the watchdog will confirm the date when the spectrum licences will be awarded.

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OVETEL Anatel will begin reviewing 4G tender proposals and reveal auction date on 5 June

AT posts solid first quarter results

AT&T has posted revenue of USD31.8 billion for the first quarter of 2012, up nearly 2% year-on-year. Net income came in at USD3.58 billion, up more than 5% and above analysts’ expectations.

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OVETEL AT&T posts solid first quarter results

PCCW and 3 take LTE pre-orders; China Mobile HK offers two LTE handsets, uncapped data

Hong Kong mobile operators Hutchison (3) and PCCW have announced that they are accepting pre-orders from customers for 4G LTE devices whilst both operators prepare to launch commercial services over their fourth-generation networks.

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OVETEL PCCW and 3 take LTE pre-orders; China Mobile HK offers two LTE handsets, uncapped data

Price disparities persist in the Ethernet world

As enterprises around the world replace traditional SDH/SONET private line networks with newer generation point-to-point EoMPLS and port based VPLS services, carriers have rapidly expanded their Ethernet network footprints to keep up with the demand. As a consequence of growing EoMPLS service availability, competition is increasing and prices are declining around the world. However, data from TeleGeography’s Ethernet Pricing Service show that great price disparities persist, both among regions and service providers.

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OVETEL Price disparities persist in the Ethernet world

Sprint and DirecTV seek delay of Verizon cable deal review

A number of companies, public interest groups and trade organisations have asked the FCC to suspend their 180-day deadline for reviewing a proposed deal between Verizon Wireless and several cablecos. Verizon Wireless hopes to buy USD3.9 billion worth of wireless spectrum from cable operators including Comcast and Time Warner Cable, while in exchange the cablecos would be allowed to resell Verizon’s mobile services.

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OVETEL Sprint and DirecTV seek delay of Verizon cable deal review

MTS tests LTE in Moscow

According to the Interfax news agency, Russia’s largest cellco by subscribers Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) has test launched 4G services in Moscow.

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OVETEL MTS tests LTE in Moscow

Econet Wireless sees 24% jump in FY sales

Zimbabwe telco Econet Wireless has reported a 24% increase in full-year revenues in its financial year to end-February 2012. Sales rose to USD611.1 million, up from USD493.5 million the previous year, driven by a 16% increase in subscriber numbers to 6.41 million.

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OVETEL Econet Wireless sees 24% jump in FY sales

MTS, Kyivstar, Rostelecom remain hopefuls for Ukrtelecom’s 3G mobile unit?

A report in Ukraine’s Kommersant newspaper, quoting unnamed sources, says that recent negotiations on the planned sale of Ukrtelecom’s 3G mobile division with potential buyers, including three Ukrainian cellcos, failed as the parties did not reach agreement on a satisfactory price range for the unit. A source ‘familiar with the negotiations’ indicated that Ukrtelecom’s Austrian owner Epic was unwilling to significantly lower its asset valuation for the 3G network operation

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OVETEL MTS, Kyivstar, Rostelecom remain hopefuls for Ukrtelecom’s 3G mobile unit?

Virgin Mobile France signs full MVNO deal with Orange

Virgin Mobile France, a division of French mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) group Omea Telecom, has signed a full MVNO contract with FT-Orange.

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OVETEL Virgin Mobile France signs full MVNO deal with Orange

Government to launch probe into Tigo Tanzania’s ownership, paper says

A report in the East African Business Week says that the government of Tanzania is preparing to launch a probe into the ownership status of local mobile operator MIC Tanzania Limited (Tigo), following questions from members of parliament who want to know why it is wholly foreign-owned contrary to local law – and specifically the Electronic and Postal Communications Act (EPOCA) of 2010. Tigo Tanzania is a 100% owned subsidiary of Millicom International Cellular (MIC), which in January 2006 bought out the 15.6% stake owned by then non-controlling shareholder Ultimate Communications Limited for USD1.332 million, to assume full control

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OVETEL Government to launch probe into Tigo Tanzania’s ownership, paper says

Bell Aliant accelerates to 250Mbps

Atlantic Canadian telco Bell Aliant announced yesterday that it is increasing the maximum downlink data connection speed of its fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) broadband internet services to 250Mbps, which it claims is the fastest in Atlantic Canada. Last month CommsUpdate reported that cableco Eastlink had launched a new cable broadband package with 200Mbps downloads in the Atlantic Canada region, and Aliant’s latest FTTH upgrade appears to trump this

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OVETEL Bell Aliant accelerates to 250Mbps

3G licences no longer expected before June

Pakistan’s government is no longer expecting to receive the anticipated USD800 million windfall to be generated by the distribution of 3G licences before the end of the fiscal year on 30 June, reports the Business Recorder citing informed sources. Problems of transparency relating to the selection of a consultant to advise the auction process have marred the long-delayed sale of 3G concessions and are expected to set the tender back once again

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OVETEL 3G licences no longer expected before June

Anti-corruption committee yet to reach conclusion on CAT-True deals

Thai newspaper The Nation reports that the anti-graft panel probing the legality of the CAT Telecom-True Corp 3G contracts will convene on 8 May 2012 to reach a conclusion after failing to form a consensus opinion on several outstanding issues. The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) committee had already postponed the date of its final decision from 5 April to 23 April. If a recommendation is reached in the May meeting, it will be submitted to the NACC in June

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OVETEL Anti-corruption committee yet to reach conclusion on CAT-True deals

Multimedia given green light for Stream acquisition

Polish broadband provider Multimedia Polska has received approval from Poland’s anti-trust authority the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) to acquire 100% of cableco Stream Communications, reports Broadband TV News. Stream Communications currently represents approximately 100,000 subscribers and its acquisition will increase Multimedia’s customer base past the 500,000 threshold for Q1 2012.

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OVETEL Multimedia given green light for Stream acquisition

Belgrade to issue free shares in Telekom Srbija

The Serbian government has finalised its decision on the free distribution of shares of Telekom Srbija. According to Balkans Business News, Belgrade has determined a market value of EUR2.27 billion (USD2.988 billion) for the total one billion shares in Telekom and will issue 6.94% of the shares to employees and former employees, whilst a further 15% will be distributed to the public.

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OVETEL Belgrade to issue free shares in Telekom Srbija

CANTV reports full-year financials; sales up 17.5% to USD3.8bn

Venezuelan state-owned fixed and mobile telecoms group CANTV has released its annual financial report for the full-year 2011.

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OVETEL CANTV reports full-year financials; sales up 17.5% to USD3.8bn

Telenor premature in FIPB talks

India’s Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) has refused to approve Norwegian telco Telenor’s proposals to float a new joint venture, reports the India Express. Currently in the midst of breaking from Unitech, its current partner in joint venture Uninor, the Norwegian firm was looking to ensure that it could continue to provide wireless services after 2 June 2012 when its concessions are revoked

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OVETEL Telenor premature in FIPB talks

Telstra hits LTE coverage milestone as it unveils next stage of Newcastle rollout

Australia’s largest mobile network operator by subscribers, Telstra, has announced that it has reached a milestone in its national 4G technology rollout, with the cellco reportedly now offering Long Term Evolution-based (LTE-based) services in more than 100 regional and metropolitan centres across the country, including the nation’s eight capital city central business districts (CBDs). Alongside the coverage announcement, Telstra has also outlined the second phase of its 4G technology rollout in Newcastle, New South Wales, which it says will see coverage extended to a number of new suburbs over the coming months. Among the new locations to be covered are: Broadmeadow, Callaghan, Georgetown, Jesmond, Kotara East, Lambton, Mayfield, Mayfield West, Waratah and Waratah West

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OVETEL Telstra hits LTE coverage milestone as it unveils next stage of Newcastle rollout

Sector balks at TRAI recommendations

The Telecoms Regulatory Authority of India has incensed representatives of the nation’s telecoms sector with its base price recommendations for spectrum concessions revoked by the Supreme Court earlier this year.

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OVETEL Sector balks at TRAI recommendations

KT confirms that its LTE services are now available nationwide

South Korean mobile network operator KT Corp has reportedly announced that it has achieved nationwide coverage for its 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) services, according to the Korea Herald. With the cellco now offering LTE in 84 cities it is keen to press the technological benefits of its offerings versus those of its rivals SK Telecom and LG Uplus, which both inaugurated their respective 4G networks ahead of KT. Pyo Hyun-myung, president of KT Corp’s mobile business unit, was cited as saying: ‘There should be a first-mover advantage in the market.

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OVETEL KT confirms that its LTE services are now available nationwide

CTU contacts potential 4G bidders

The Czech Telecommunication Office (CTU) has reportedly approached a number of domestic and international companies with the terms and conditions of its forthcoming sale of 4G mobile frequencies, according to the Euro citing the agency’s head Pavel Dvorak. The Czech watchdog has written to telecoms operators such as China Mobile and financial groups including Czech private equity firms PPF, KKCG and J&T Finance Group, the weekly newspaper added. The CTU is working proactively in the hope it will be able to entice a new operator to enter the Czech mobile market

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OVETEL CTU contacts potential 4G bidders

AM in renewed attempt to acquire Digicel El Salvador

El Salvador’s competition regulator, the Superintendencia de Competencia (SC), has said it has received a new application from Mexican mobile giant America Movil’s (AM’s) local unit Claro to acquire rival operator Digicel El Salvador. The antitrust body states that the application does not currently comply with some of the requirements of Article 35 of the Competition Act and Article 25 of its Regulations, however, and as such has not yet been accepted for further analysis.

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OVETEL AM in renewed attempt to acquire Digicel El Salvador

Home Cellular enters the Israeli mobile arena

Another mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) has launched in the Israeli wireless sector, Globes Online reports, with Home Cellular, a unit of DIY chain Home Center, becoming the latest to challenge the country’s established network operators. Home Cellular is understood to be targeting lower-end users, and is offering calls for ILS0.19 (USD0.05) per minute, with SMS messages charged at ILS0.15 per message. Internet access, meanwhile, is also available, with Home Cellular announcing that it will charge ILS0.12 per MB for usage, on top of a ILS17.90 monthly charge.

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OVETEL Home Cellular enters the Israeli mobile arena

International ops drive 2% rise in Etisalat Q1 revenue

In a statement to the Abu Dhabi Securities Market, Emirates Telecommunications Corporation (Etisalat) has reported consolidated revenue of AED8.205 billion (USD2.23 billion) for the three months ended 31 March 2012, an increase of 2% year-on-year. Turnover generated by the company’s international business totalled AED2.275 billion in the first quarter of 2012, an increase of 21% compared to the AED1.875 billion reported in the year-ago quarter, helping to offset a 3% decline in domestic revenue, which fell to AED6.085 billion due to rising competition in its home market from rival Du. Etisalat said net profit attributable to the shareholders of the company totalled AED1.809 million, down slightly from AED1.817 billion in the first quarter of 2011

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OVETEL International ops drive 2% rise in Etisalat Q1 revenue

CCK warns of counterfeit handset switch-off

The Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) has stated that it may order network operators to disable counterfeit mobile phones at any point from May onwards.

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OVETEL CCK warns of counterfeit handset switch-off

Israeli firms said to be interested in Hondutel stake

Local daily newspaper El Heraldo reports that two Israel-based companies are reportedly interested in taking a stake in, or acquiring control of Honduras’ ailing state-owned national PTO Hondutel (Empresa Hondurena de Telecomunicaciones). One of the potential suitors is said to be LRG, a firm that has a diverse portfolio of assets and operations in several countries around the globe. The secretary of Honduras’ public-private investment association Coalianza, Jose Antonio Pineda, is quoted as saying: ‘We told how to present their investment model, and we're waiting for a reply’.

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OVETEL Israeli firms said to be interested in Hondutel stake

KPN reports 51% fall in 1Q profit; accelerates cost-cutting plan

Dutch telecoms group KPN Telecom (or Royal KPN as it is also known) posted a 51% year-on-year fall in net income to EUR288 million (USD379 million) for the three months ended 31 March 2012, down from EUR591 million a year earlier, as weak margins across all its business operations – but particularly in its domestic consumer mobile segment – hit its bottom line. The Group reported that quarterly sales dipped 1.4% to EUR3.19 billion, while core earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA), fell 13% in the first quarter to EUR1.1 billion, broadly in line with the EUR1.111 billion forecast in a Reuters poll of eight analysts. Nonetheless, KPN noted that the fall in EBITDA was most pronounced in the group's Netherlands home market, where core profit declined 15%, even though core profit at its international business (including Belgium and Germany) showed a small 1.7% y-o-y rise.

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OVETEL KPN reports 51% fall in 1Q profit; accelerates cost-cutting plan

MegaFon launches 4G services via Yota; resolves ownership disputes

MegaFon has announced the launch of its LTE network in Novosibirsk under an MVNO deal with Yota.

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OVETEL MegaFon launches 4G services via Yota; resolves ownership disputes

TKK delays spectrum allocation due to Orange takeover

Austria’s Telekom Control Commission (TKK) announced yesterday that it is to postpone the publishing of a tender document for the joint allocation of frequencies in the 800MHz, 900MHz and 1800MHz frequency bands.

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OVETEL TKK delays spectrum allocation due to Orange takeover

Far EasTone claims greater mobile revenue growth than rivals in 1Q12

In reporting its financial results for the three months ended 31 March 2012, Taiwan’s Far EasTone has claimed that it saw greater growth in both mobile service revenues and turnover from mobile data services than either of its rivals, Chunghwa Telecom and Taiwan Mobile Company. Far EasTone said that it recorded a 9.7% year-on-year increase in revenues from mobile voice services in the first three months of 2012, while mobile data turnover was up 48.1% against 1Q 2011, with consolidated revenues for the three-month period standing at TWD21.29 billion (USD715 million), a 20.5% rise from TWD17.65 billion a year earlier. The bulk of that – TWD16.84 billion – was service revenue, of which mobile services accounted for TWD14.75 billion (up from TWD13.44 billion in 1Q11), while fixed line service turnover was TWD2.89 billion, representing a 17.6% y-o-y increase

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OVETEL Far EasTone claims greater mobile revenue growth than rivals in 1Q12

Glo Mobile at risk of losing Ghana licence

The National Communications Authority (NCA) in Ghana is threatening to revoke a cellular operating concession held by Nigerian-owned company Glo Mobile if it fails to launch commercial services this month local news portal Joy Online reports. Glo Mobile was awarded its wireless licence in Ghana in 2008 but has been forced to cancel several planned launches over the past few years. The regulator now says the firm has until the end of April to begin operations or it will lose its concession.

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OVETEL Glo Mobile at risk of losing Ghana licence

LightSquared buys time: pays spectrum partner Inmarsat USD56m, suspends commitments for two years

LightSquared, the stricken LTE venture backed by billionaire hedge fund manager Philip Falcone, has paid outstanding dues of USD56.3 million to satellite operator Inmarsat, its frequency-holding partner in a proposed mobile broadband network project, which it defaulted on in February after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) retracted support for the rollout plan.

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OVETEL LightSquared buys time: pays spectrum partner Inmarsat USD56m, suspends commitments for two years

Tunisiana back to the negotiating table for 3G licence

Tunisia’s ICT minister, Mongi Marzouk has rejected Tunisiana’s bid to acquire licences for 3G and fixed line services, reports Tunisia Live. Tunisiana was the only eligible bidder for the concessions, entering a bid of TND125 million (USD81.82 million) and TND36 million for the 3G and fixed authorisations respectively

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OVETEL Tunisiana back to the negotiating table for 3G licence

SIM card registration deadline extended

A deadline for the registration of all mobile SIM cards in Belize has been extended for three months. The government announced last October that all cellular phone subscribers should register their accounts or else face disconnection, and that deadline passed on 12 April this year. The cut-off date has now been extended to Friday 13 July, local news source The Guardian reports.

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OVETEL SIM card registration deadline extended

Osiptel looks to drop fees for calls to cities

Peruvian telecoms regulator Osiptel has drafted a resolution (031-2012-CD/Osiptel) that will see certain interconnection fees fall by 68%: rural operators connecting to the networks of urban providers will be charged the lower rate. The watchdog claims that the move would reduce the annual outgoings of the affected telcos by USD2.7 million, and allow increased competition. Osiptel listed four rural telcos that would be affected by the decision: Rural Telecom, Gilat to Home, Valtron and Telefonica del Peru.

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OVETEL Osiptel looks to drop fees for calls to cities

Telenor’s Indian cup half full; in talks with new partners

Despite ongoing troubles in India, Norwegian telco Telenor, which operates on the subcontinent via Uninor, is ‘optimistic’ that a solution to the 2G licence crisis will be found. Uninor’s managing director Sigve Brekke hinted that the company’s meetings with Indian telecom officials were bearing fruit, saying: ‘We see there will be a clarity on 2G spectrum auction process before June 2 and are hopeful that a solution will be found before June 2

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OVETEL Telenor’s Indian cup half full; in talks with new partners

Iliad extends FreeWiFi access to mobile customers

The French telecoms group Iliad has announced the launch of its community Wi-Fi internet network, FreeWiFi Secure, for many of its mobile customers. Previously only available to Iliad’s ADSL subscribers, Wi-Fi network access has now been extended to customers of Iliad’s newly launched cellular operator Free Mobile who are on the standard monthly unlimited tariff which costs EUR15.99 (USD21)

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OVETEL Iliad extends FreeWiFi access to mobile customers

Umniah on track for 3G launch

Bahrain-backed telco Umniah is close to completing the construction of its 3G network in Jodan, reports Zawya. Umniah has signed up Chinese vendors ZTE and Huawei for the rollout, and is on track for its scheduled H1 2012 commercial launch. As noted in TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database, Umniah will be the last of the kingdom’s three cellcos to launch third-generation services, behind Zain and Jordan Telecom Group (Orange Jordan)

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OVETEL Umniah on track for 3G launch

Zain Iraq still uncertain on public listing

The Kuwait-based mobile group Zain is still being cautious on its plans for a listing of its subsidiary in Iraq, even though its operating licence required a flotation by August 2011 at the latest. ‘It’s hard to say . It all depends.

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OVETEL Zain Iraq still uncertain on public listing

Cambodia, Vietnam inaugurate telecoms link

Vietnam Telecom International (VTI) and Telecom Cambodia (TC) have launched the Cambodian-Vietnamese Super Highway Telecoms Network, which is expected to help meet growing customer demand for telecommunications services in Cambodia.

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OVETEL Cambodia, Vietnam inaugurate telecoms link

LIME launches its first Caribbean IPTV service

Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC), operating under the LIME brand, has launched TV-over-broadband in Barbados, the group’s first IPTV service in the Caribbean. ‘LIME TV’ subscribers nationwide can now watch up to 130 IPTV channels and video-on-demand (VoD) content via a set-top box, or connected device, over a fixed broadband connection. Chris Dehring, chief marketing officer of LIME, commented: ‘Our goal is to provide consumers with a pay TV product that is functionally superior to their current experience, delivers higher levels of service and is easy to use.

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OVETEL LIME launches its first Caribbean IPTV service

HKBN nears 200,000 IPTV users, loses profits on start-up costs

City Telecom (including Hong Kong Broadband Network ) has reported that its EBITDA for the first six months of its fiscal year fell by 7% to HKD281 million (USD37 million) and net profit dropped by 20% to HKD135 million, despite revenues climbing by 11% year-on-year to HKD918 million in the period September 2011-February 2012. The fall in profitability was attributed to multimedia business start-up costs, as the company prepares to spin off its VoIP-based voice telephony, fibre broadband internet and international direct dial (IDD) operations, to concentrate on its IPTV/multimedia operations, under a deal agreed with private equity firm CVC Capital Partners earlier this month. In the first half of fiscal year 2011/12, the fixed network services offered by HKBN – VoIP, broadband and IPTV – grew in revenue terms by 14% year-on-year, and accounted for 90%, or HKD828 million, of total revenues, while the turnover of City Telecom’s international telephony business dropped by 6% to HKD90 million

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OVETEL HKBN nears 200,000 IPTV users, loses profits on start-up costs

Undersea capacity more than doubled; backhaul not yet upgraded to match

The capacity of Bangladesh’s only international submarine cable connection has been upgraded to 85Gbps from 40Gbps, but the new bandwidth cannot yet be utilised because the backhaul link from the landing station to Dhakar has not received the necessary upgrades, local newspaper The Daily Star reports. Monwar Hossain, managing director of Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Ltd (BSCCL), said the capacity of the undersea fibre-optic link to the SEA-ME-WE 3 submarine cable will reach 200Gbps by September this year, while the active capacity of the terrestrial backhaul route from Cox’s Bazar to the capital is currently 30Gbps, with a total useable capacity of 40Gbps, according to officials at state-owned Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Ltd (BTCL). The telco’s board in November approved a 200Gbps upgrade to the backhaul link, but this has been delayed, and a recent BTCL board meeting observed that if the state-run firm does not carry out the work itself, the additional bandwidth may be provided by other, newly licensed terrestrial cable operators, decreasing BTCL’s revenue

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OVETEL Undersea capacity more than doubled; backhaul not yet upgraded to match

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OpenNet turns back on M1 offer; tight-lipped on StarHub proposal

The Straits Times reports that OpenNet, the Singaporean venture set up to build out the country’s Next Generation Nationwide Broadband Network (NGNBN), has rejected M1 Limited’s latest offer to act as a sub-contractor for the firm, in order to ease delays in connecting people to the ultra-high speed network. In a further disappointing development, citizens of the city-state currently awaiting connection to the NGNBN also learn that OpenNet is still dithering on whether to take-up a similar offer from another local telco, StarHub. Problems with hooking people up to the new system first surfaced last June, with reports that customers were having to wait up to six weeks for a connection.

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OVETEL OpenNet turns back on M1 offer; tight-lipped on StarHub proposal

China Mobile Q1 profits up 3.5% despite ARPU slide

China Mobile, China’s largest cellco by subscribers, has reported first-quarter operating revenues of CNY127.445 billion (USD20.111 billion), a 7.8% increase year-on-year. Meanwhile, net profit increased to CNY27.779 billion for the period, up 3.5% y-o-y, and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) were CNY60.703 billion with an EBITDA margin of 47.6%. Despite intensifying competition and a high level of mobile penetration, the cellco’s subscriber base increased to 667.2 million from 649.6 million at the end of December 2011, with 59.6 million customers signed up to 3G services, compared to 51.2 million in the previous quarter

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OVETEL China Mobile Q1 profits up 3.5% despite ARPU slide

Budapest plans to launch phone call tax in July, paper says

Bloomberg News, citing a report in the Welt newspaper, says that the government of Hungary is planning to introduce a new ‘minute-based’ tax on telephone calls from July 2012, as it looks to raise up to USD225 million for state coffers. The move follows a previously implemented controversial sales tax on domestic telecoms operators which was challenged by the European Commission (EC). Under the new plan, phone calls from a fixed or mobile number would be taxed at HUF2 (USD0.01) per minute, while a similar levy would be applied to mobile SMS.

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OVETEL Budapest plans to launch phone call tax in July, paper says

Hutch Lanka launches 3G

Hutchison Telecommunications Lanka (Hutch) has launched commercial 3G services based on a HSDPA/HSUPA network covering Sri Lanka’s Western province including capital Colombo. Hutch, which offered exclusively pre-paid services until a recent post-paid contract launch, won its 3G licence in August 2006 for around USD5 million, and revealed plans to launch commercial W-CDMA-based services in 2008, but the target date came and went as it struggled against tough competition, making it the last of the island’s five cellcos to deploy a 3G network, TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database says.

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OVETEL Hutch Lanka launches 3G

Nepal reports 14.25m mobile subscribers; fixed line users up to 849,786

Data published by the national regulator the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) shows that the mountain Kingdom was home to more than 14.215 million mobile subscribers at mid-March 2012 (Falgon, 2068), after net additions of 890,564 new connections in the preceding three-month period. At that date overall teledensity (fixed and mobile) stood at 60.34% (up from 56.46%), according to the NTA’s latest Management Information System report, as fixed lines reached 849,786 (including 222,798 WiLL lines), compared to 845,542 and 227,116 lines respectively at mid-December. Nepal Telecom (NT) added a net 249,054 mobile subscribers in the three months to mid-March to boost its total to 6.751 million (including 848,944 CDMA users), while fellow GSM provider Ncell reported 7.463 million connections, having added the single largest net gain – or 611,510 users – in the three months under review.

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OVETEL Nepal reports 14.25m mobile subscribers; fixed line users up to 849,786

ICASA unveils five-year plan

South Africa’s telecoms regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), has unveiled its strategic plan for the next five years, reports technology news site mybroadband.co.za. The watchdog says its priorities for the period covering 2012-2013 include local loop unbundling (LLU), more choice for broadband access and fairer pricing, and the introduction of a wholesale network access product (bitstream) by November 2012. Meanwhile, the Department of Communications says it plans to give ICASA the green light in May 2012 to issue an invitation to apply for spectrum in the 800MHz and 2.6GHz bands, often used for 4G LTE services.

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OVETEL ICASA unveils five-year plan

France Telecom-Orange’s MobiNil tender offer approved by the EFSA

Egypt’s financial market regulator, the Egyptian Financial Supervisory Authority (EFSA), has reportedly approved a tender offer in which European telecoms giant France Telecom-Orange is seeking to increase its stake in local cellco Egyptian Company for Mobile Services (ECMS), which trades as MobiNil. Following approval of the offer, the EFSA has said that shares in both MobiNil and Orascom Telecom Holdings (OTH), the latter of which is the other major shareholder in the Egyptian cellco, will resume trading on the Egyptian bourse after a two-day suspension

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OVETEL France Telecom-Orange’s MobiNil tender offer approved by the EFSA

CWW snapped up by Vodafone

Vodafone Group has reached an agreement with Cable & Wireless Worldwide (CWW) to acquire the UK fixed line network operator for approximately GBP1.044 billion (USD1.7 billion) in cash. Vodafone, which is offering CWW shareholders GBP0.38 a share in cash, may use CWW’s fibre network to bolster bandwidth for customers’ increasing demand for data services on its mobile network

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OVETEL CWW snapped up by Vodafone

Vimpelcom vacates Vietnam

Vimpelcom has agreed to sell its entire 49% stake in GTel Mobile and give up operational control of the Vietnamese wireless operator, the company announced in a statement. The shareholding will be sold to GTEL Transmit and Infrastructure Service One Member Company Limited, a related party of Vimpelcom’s Vietnamese partner, Global Telecommunications Corporation, which will pay cash consideration of USD45 million upon satisfaction of usual conditions precedent. Upon completion of the sale, Vimpelcom said it will have no further obligations or liabilities to Global Telecommunications Corporation or GTEL Mobile, while the latter is required to discontinue the use of Vimpelcom’s ‘Beeline’ trademark after a transition period of six months

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OVETEL Vimpelcom vacates Vietnam

GPB offloads P1s; unit renamed Mobiliti One

Malaysian equipment vendor Green Packet Berhad (GPB) has, through its wholly owned domestically registered Packet One Bhd (P1) subsidiary, sold its 70% stake in Singaporean wireless broadband provider and consultancy and solutions firm Packet One Singapore (P1s) to Green Packet director Dr Tang Pen San. The two sides entered into a share sale agreement for 700,000 ordinary shares in P1s on 19 April 2012; the total cash consideration of the deal was MYR2.45 (USD0.80)

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OVETEL GPB offloads P1s; unit renamed Mobiliti One

Indian troubles to lead to USD1bn writedown for Sistema

Russia’s Sistema will take a writedown of approximately USD1 billion as a result of developments on the subcontinent, reports Reuters, citing sources close to Sistema. The writedown is a non-cash item that will be recognised in Sistema’s fourth-quarter results, eroding earnings, one of the sources said

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OVETEL Indian troubles to lead to USD1bn writedown for Sistema

MegaFon rumoured to be considering London IPO

Citing banking and industry sources, Reuters reports that MegaFon may float a stake of up to 20%, worth USD4 billion, on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) in the second half of this year.

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OVETEL MegaFon rumoured to be considering London IPO

Criminal proceedings against Drillisch dropped

The Public Prosecutor’s Office Hanau has formally dismissed the proceedings against members of the management board and the board of directors of Drillisch Group, the German mobile services provider has announced. The move follows the settlement of a dispute with Deutsche Telekom subsidiary Telekom Deutschland (TD) last month, which had led to the termination of contracts and resulted in legal proceedings between the two parties. Drillisch signed an agreement with Deutsche Telekom and TD to end all civil proceedings between the companies, and which 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.*TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database states that the dispute stemmed from a decision by Deutsche Telekom to end its cooperation with Drillisch in November 2011, on the suspicion that the service provider committed fraud regarding commission fees; criminal charges were filed against the service provider that month by DT

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OVETEL Criminal proceedings against Drillisch dropped

S-Fone to switch from CDMA to HSPA?

Vietnamese telecoms company Saigon Postel has reportedly received permission from the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) to migrate its S-Fone cellular network from a CDMA to a HSPA platform, VnExpress reports, citing an unnamed MIC official. In 2007 rival HT Mobile, which today operates under the Vietnamobile brand, abandoned its CDMA network after receiving permission from the MIC to switch to the GSM standard.

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OVETEL S-Fone to switch from CDMA to HSPA?

Etisalat to introduce international VoIP from Q2?

The United Arab Emirates’ incumbent telecoms operator Etisalat plans to offer international IP telephony services from the second quarter of this year, the company’s COO Essa Haddad told Reuters, as reported by Arabian Business.

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OVETEL Etisalat to introduce international VoIP from Q2?

Examiner reports: Eircom booked EUR1.49bn pre-tax loss for 2010/11

Ireland’s foundering former monopoly operator Eircom made a pre-tax loss of EUR1.49 billion (USD1.95 billion) for the financial year ended 30 June 2011 on revenues that fell by 8% year-on-year to EUR1.68 billion. According to The Irish Times, the telco’s results were revealed in a report to the Republic’s High Court by interim examiner Michael McAteer of Grant Thornton, who yesterday had his appointment confirmed by Mr Justice Peter Kelly

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OVETEL Examiner reports: Eircom booked EUR1.49bn pre-tax loss for 2010/11

Telefonica Peru Q1 profits drop by 41.9%

Peru’s largest cellco by subscribers, Telefonica del Peru, which offers services under the ‘Movistar’ brand, has reported operating revenues of PEN940 million (USD351.4 million) for the first quarter of 2012, up 0.5% from the same period of 2011. Net profits dropped by 41.9% to PEN23.4 million, compared to PEN40.3 million a year earlier. Telefonica attributed the drop to an increase in operating costs.

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OVETEL Telefonica Peru Q1 profits drop by 41.9%

TRAI recommends no change to exit policy

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has given the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) its recommendations regarding a possible change in exit policy for telecoms licence holders, in light of the Supreme Court’s cancellation of 122 concessions in February.

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OVETEL TRAI recommends no change to exit policy

Macedonia’s VIP Mobile completes successful 3G tests

Macedonian wireless operator Mobilkom Macedonia (VIP Mobile), a unit of Telekom Austria-controlled mobilkom Austria, has released a press release confirming the successful completion of technical trials of its 3G mobile network and services. The cellco went on to say that in the wake of the trials, it has launched legal proceedings to secure formal regulatory approval for the commercial use of its 3G network. TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database writes that VIP Mobile turned in positive earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of EUR6.3 million (USD8.3 million) in FY2011, from negative EBITDA of EUR5.2 million a year earlier

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OVETEL Macedonia’s VIP Mobile completes successful 3G tests

Swindon getting LTE hybrid network from UK Broadband

UK Broadband (UKB), Hong Kong-based PCCW’s British broadband unit, has announced that it has begun work on a project in partnership with Capita, Swindon Borough Council’s IT service provider, under which it will roll out a hybrid microwave/Long Term Evolution (LTE) network.

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OVETEL Swindon getting LTE hybrid network from UK Broadband

Euskaltel ordered to pay EUR222 million to Orange Espana in damages

The Basque Country’s Tribunal Superior de Justicia del País Vasco (TSJPV) has reportedly ratified a ruling made by a Paris court more than three years ago, in which alternative telco Euskaltel was ordered to pay Orange Espana EUR222 million (USD291 million) in damages, according to Cinco Dias.

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OVETEL Euskaltel ordered to pay EUR222 million to Orange Espana in damages

China Mobile Hong Kong LTE launching on 25 April

Cellular giant China Mobile’s Hong Kong division will launch commercial 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) mobile broadband services on 25 April, the company said in a statement yesterday, promising a choice of LTE handsets and peak download/upload speeds of up to 100Mbps/35Mbps. The announcement brings forward the 4G live date significantly, after the parent company said recently that it would introduce LTE based on FDD/TDD technology in the Special Administrative Region (SAR) ‘by the fourth quarter of 2012.’ China Mobile operates pre-commercial LTE networks in several mainland Chinese cities, and the latest announcement represents its first commercial launch of the technology. It will be the second Hong Kong operator to evolve to 4G following Telstra subsidiary CSL’s phased network launch in 2010/2011, while the territory’s other three cellcos – Hutchison (3), PCCW and SmarTone – will also switch on LTE networks this year, TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database says

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OVETEL China Mobile Hong Kong LTE launching on 25 April

Shareholders back Bakrie Telecom share issue

Stakeholders in Indonesian CDMA wireless operator PT Bakrie Telecom yesterday approved a plan to issue new shares equivalent to approximately 10% in the enlarged firm, worth around IDR754 billion (USD81.8 million), to pay off debt and to acquire a stake in fellow CDMA provider PT Sampoerna Telekomunikasi Indonesia (STI). The Jakarta Post reports Bakrie Telecom president Anindya Bakrie as confirming the move and adding that the new shares will be offered at a minimum price of IDR265 per share – a premium on yesterday’s closing price of IDR255. Anindya went on to say that several strategic investors had shown an interest in buying the shares.

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OVETEL Shareholders back Bakrie Telecom share issue