Thursday, September 08, 2011
Sunday, September 04, 2011
Kenya - Regulator has published a detailed analysis of ICT access by location
[Communications Commission of Kenya] More than 1,100 sub-locations in Kenya (out of a total of 7,149) lack access to voice telephony services.
According to statistics released by the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) today, only 893 sub-locations in the country have access to broadband data/Internet services, with a total of 85,000 broadband subscribers.
These statistics are part of the ICT Access Gaps Study findings released to stakeholders at a Nairobi hotel today. The Study, aimed at assisting CCK in developing the most appropriate framework for provision of affordable ICT services, was carried out by Apoyo Consultoria of Peru, South America.
According to the study, less than five percent of people living in rural areas use the Internet in spite of growth in the number of internet users from 1.7 million in 2007 to 10 million in June 2011. In most counties, Internet usage stands at below five per cent.
Mobile penetration grew by an average of 31% annually from 34% in 2007 to 65% by June 2011. Mobile subscribers on the other hand increased from 11 million in 2007 to 25million in June 2011.
At the sub-location level, more than 50% of the population uses mobile phones, with sub-locations in Nairobi, Kiambu and Nyeri counties leading with mobile telephone usage of about 70%.
In the postal/courier market, all counties have at least three PCK offices.
The main obstacles for increasing coverage in un-served areas include the high operation and maintenance costs occasioned mainly by lack of electricity, access to roads and cable vandalism. The Study identified low population, and high licence and spectrum fees as additional obstacles to universal access to voice and data services.
Opening the workshop, Information and Communications Permanent Secretary Bitange Ndemo said the Government would soon put in place the requisite policy interventions to address the access gaps identified in the Study.
He said the Government has facilitated international broadband connectivity and the construction of national terrestrial broadband network with a view to transforming Kenya to a knowledge economy. The remaining challenge, added Dr. Ndemo, is to expand broadband infrastructure to cover the last mile.
The PS challenged the Commission to explore mechanisms to spur the usage of the available broadband connectivity for e-learning and other socio-economic activities. He said the Postal Corporation of Kenya and the courier industry in general would benefit from enhanced business opportunities in light of impending uptake of e-commerce in the country.
Addressing workshop participants, acting CCK Director-General Francis Wangusi said the ICT Access Gap Study was part of the wider CCK initiative towards evidence-based regulation.
CCK releases ICT Access Gaps Study results
According to statistics released by the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) today, only 893 sub-locations in the country have access to broadband data/Internet services, with a total of 85,000 broadband subscribers.
These statistics are part of the ICT Access Gaps Study findings released to stakeholders at a Nairobi hotel today. The Study, aimed at assisting CCK in developing the most appropriate framework for provision of affordable ICT services, was carried out by Apoyo Consultoria of Peru, South America.
According to the study, less than five percent of people living in rural areas use the Internet in spite of growth in the number of internet users from 1.7 million in 2007 to 10 million in June 2011. In most counties, Internet usage stands at below five per cent.
Mobile penetration grew by an average of 31% annually from 34% in 2007 to 65% by June 2011. Mobile subscribers on the other hand increased from 11 million in 2007 to 25million in June 2011.
At the sub-location level, more than 50% of the population uses mobile phones, with sub-locations in Nairobi, Kiambu and Nyeri counties leading with mobile telephone usage of about 70%.
In the postal/courier market, all counties have at least three PCK offices.
The main obstacles for increasing coverage in un-served areas include the high operation and maintenance costs occasioned mainly by lack of electricity, access to roads and cable vandalism. The Study identified low population, and high licence and spectrum fees as additional obstacles to universal access to voice and data services.
Opening the workshop, Information and Communications Permanent Secretary Bitange Ndemo said the Government would soon put in place the requisite policy interventions to address the access gaps identified in the Study.
He said the Government has facilitated international broadband connectivity and the construction of national terrestrial broadband network with a view to transforming Kenya to a knowledge economy. The remaining challenge, added Dr. Ndemo, is to expand broadband infrastructure to cover the last mile.
The PS challenged the Commission to explore mechanisms to spur the usage of the available broadband connectivity for e-learning and other socio-economic activities. He said the Postal Corporation of Kenya and the courier industry in general would benefit from enhanced business opportunities in light of impending uptake of e-commerce in the country.
Addressing workshop participants, acting CCK Director-General Francis Wangusi said the ICT Access Gap Study was part of the wider CCK initiative towards evidence-based regulation.
CCK releases ICT Access Gaps Study results
Thailand - DTAC is to launch a 3G service in Bangkok this week, despite legal threats
[the nation] Total Access Communication (DTAC) will press ahead with the launch of its third-generation wireless broadband service in Bangkok this week as planned, despite a possible legal threat from its concession owner CAT Telecom.
DTAC has about a million subscribers with 3G-850-megahertz mobile phones, of whom about 400,000 are in Bangkok. It believes it has to debut the service now or it might lose premium subscribers to competitors Real Move and Advanced Info Service, which launched full 3G services last month.
CAT has warned DTAC that it should wait for a ruling by the Office of the Attorney-General on whether the launch of a commercial 3G service is appropriate under its CAT concession. The office recently warned DTAC that launching the service before its ruling could put the telecom at risk of legal action.
DTAC believes it can launch the service under a permit it secured from
the National Telecommunica-tions Commission to install and use a 3G network. It argues that this is not in fact the launch of |a new commercial service but |simply an upgrade of network data-transmission speeds for its customers.
A telecom-industry source said CAT had asked DTAC to withdraw its complaint at the Central Administrative Court against the state agency and its board in connection with the CAT-True Group deals on collaboration in 3G business first, and then CAT would urge the Office of the Attorney-General to expedite its ruling.
The source added that DTAC might want to wait to see how the new minister of information and communications technology handles the CAT-True deals. If the minister declines to look into the matter, DTAC might consider withdrawing its court complaint.
DTAC has said many times that its complaint against the deals and its 3G service launch are two separate issues.
CAT and True's subsidiaries Real Move and Real Future signed deals in January to develop jointly a nationwide 3G-850MHz service. In April, DTAC filed the court complaint against the legitimacy of the deals and against the CAT board for allowing the state agency to sign them with True group.
DTAC had its staff try the new 3G service last month. It will install 2,000 3G base stations by next year to cover 40 provinces, of which 400 are already available in Bangkok.
DTAC to go ahead wIth 3G launch thIs week
DTAC has about a million subscribers with 3G-850-megahertz mobile phones, of whom about 400,000 are in Bangkok. It believes it has to debut the service now or it might lose premium subscribers to competitors Real Move and Advanced Info Service, which launched full 3G services last month.
CAT has warned DTAC that it should wait for a ruling by the Office of the Attorney-General on whether the launch of a commercial 3G service is appropriate under its CAT concession. The office recently warned DTAC that launching the service before its ruling could put the telecom at risk of legal action.
DTAC believes it can launch the service under a permit it secured from
the National Telecommunica-tions Commission to install and use a 3G network. It argues that this is not in fact the launch of |a new commercial service but |simply an upgrade of network data-transmission speeds for its customers.
A telecom-industry source said CAT had asked DTAC to withdraw its complaint at the Central Administrative Court against the state agency and its board in connection with the CAT-True Group deals on collaboration in 3G business first, and then CAT would urge the Office of the Attorney-General to expedite its ruling.
The source added that DTAC might want to wait to see how the new minister of information and communications technology handles the CAT-True deals. If the minister declines to look into the matter, DTAC might consider withdrawing its court complaint.
DTAC has said many times that its complaint against the deals and its 3G service launch are two separate issues.
CAT and True's subsidiaries Real Move and Real Future signed deals in January to develop jointly a nationwide 3G-850MHz service. In April, DTAC filed the court complaint against the legitimacy of the deals and against the CAT board for allowing the state agency to sign them with True group.
DTAC had its staff try the new 3G service last month. It will install 2,000 3G base stations by next year to cover 40 provinces, of which 400 are already available in Bangkok.
DTAC to go ahead wIth 3G launch thIs week
Thailand - Govt and Shin Sat are in continued debate over satellite commitments and costs
[the nation] However much it has tried, Intouch Group, formerly known as the Shin Corp group, cannot avoid the political spotlight for long.
The group still has many hot issues on which it has to deal with Yingluck Shinawatra's government, which could draw it into close public scrutiny.
On the latest issue, its satellite-operator flagship Thaicom will have to talk with the new Information and Communications Technology Ministry on the country's attempt to reserve the 120 degrees east and 50.5 degrees east longitude orbital slots before its reservation rights expire in January and October next year respectively.
The ICT Ministry in the previous government gave the nod to Thaicom to help seek ways to maintain the reservation rights.
Intouch executive chairman Somprasong Boonyachai said Thaicom was in talks with some foreign satellite operators for possible deals to buy their satellites and reposition them to maintain the country's right to reserve the slots.
"But Thaicom has to talk with the new government on many issues, such as who will pay the cost of buying and repositioning the two satellites, which parties will manage them, and whether the two new satellites will be included in Thaicom's concession," he said.
Thaicom also still has to talk with the ICT Ministry on the plan, which was acknowledged by the previous Cabinet, to rectify Thaicom's concession amendments by having it resume its original concession conditions.
As part of that move, Thaicom has to build a backup satellite for Thaicom 3, Intouch has to raise its stake in Thaicom to the original 51 per cent from the current 41 per cent, and Thaicom has to return US$6.7 million (Bt201 million) in insurance proceeds to the ministry.
The ministry will discuss with Thaicom what to do with iPSTAR, which was perceived as not part of its original concession.
Somprasong said Intouch had yet to promise to raise its stake in Thaicom to 51 per cent, as it has to consider all aspects of the matter, including the share price.
Somprasong has continued to affirm that the Intouch Group has never been involved in politics. According to its latest survey, the group is perceived less as politically associated firm when compared with 2006 and 2007. He said the result of the survey makes him feel more relaxed.
In an attempt to get rid of its image as a politically linked company, in April Shin changed its group corporate logo to "Intouch". Its securities-trading name was also changed from SHIN to INTUCH, and Shin Group was renamed Intouch Group.
Thaicom also appointed the former head of IBM Thailand, Suphajee Suthumpun, as its chief executive officer, replacing Arak Chonlatanon.
Suphajee, 47, took over Thaicom's office on August 1. She was even speculated to be the future successor of Somprasong as Intouch executive chair.
Before joining Thaicom, she held the positions of managing director of IBM Thailand and general manager of Global Technology Services Group, IBM Asean.
Somprasong said Suphajee was qualified to run Thaicom. She has well-rounded knowledge of management, finance, and international markets, and puts forth a professional executive image.
Somprasong said Thaicom's business had bright prospects, given that the iPSTAR utilisation rate is expected to surge to 50 per cent next year from about 26 per cent at the present.
Thaicom currently has a broadcasting satellite, Thaicom 5. and broadband satellite iPSTAR.
'Apolitical' Shin Corp successor in the spotlight
The group still has many hot issues on which it has to deal with Yingluck Shinawatra's government, which could draw it into close public scrutiny.
On the latest issue, its satellite-operator flagship Thaicom will have to talk with the new Information and Communications Technology Ministry on the country's attempt to reserve the 120 degrees east and 50.5 degrees east longitude orbital slots before its reservation rights expire in January and October next year respectively.
The ICT Ministry in the previous government gave the nod to Thaicom to help seek ways to maintain the reservation rights.
Intouch executive chairman Somprasong Boonyachai said Thaicom was in talks with some foreign satellite operators for possible deals to buy their satellites and reposition them to maintain the country's right to reserve the slots.
"But Thaicom has to talk with the new government on many issues, such as who will pay the cost of buying and repositioning the two satellites, which parties will manage them, and whether the two new satellites will be included in Thaicom's concession," he said.
Thaicom also still has to talk with the ICT Ministry on the plan, which was acknowledged by the previous Cabinet, to rectify Thaicom's concession amendments by having it resume its original concession conditions.
As part of that move, Thaicom has to build a backup satellite for Thaicom 3, Intouch has to raise its stake in Thaicom to the original 51 per cent from the current 41 per cent, and Thaicom has to return US$6.7 million (Bt201 million) in insurance proceeds to the ministry.
The ministry will discuss with Thaicom what to do with iPSTAR, which was perceived as not part of its original concession.
Somprasong said Intouch had yet to promise to raise its stake in Thaicom to 51 per cent, as it has to consider all aspects of the matter, including the share price.
Somprasong has continued to affirm that the Intouch Group has never been involved in politics. According to its latest survey, the group is perceived less as politically associated firm when compared with 2006 and 2007. He said the result of the survey makes him feel more relaxed.
In an attempt to get rid of its image as a politically linked company, in April Shin changed its group corporate logo to "Intouch". Its securities-trading name was also changed from SHIN to INTUCH, and Shin Group was renamed Intouch Group.
Thaicom also appointed the former head of IBM Thailand, Suphajee Suthumpun, as its chief executive officer, replacing Arak Chonlatanon.
Suphajee, 47, took over Thaicom's office on August 1. She was even speculated to be the future successor of Somprasong as Intouch executive chair.
Before joining Thaicom, she held the positions of managing director of IBM Thailand and general manager of Global Technology Services Group, IBM Asean.
Somprasong said Suphajee was qualified to run Thaicom. She has well-rounded knowledge of management, finance, and international markets, and puts forth a professional executive image.
Somprasong said Thaicom's business had bright prospects, given that the iPSTAR utilisation rate is expected to surge to 50 per cent next year from about 26 per cent at the present.
Thaicom currently has a broadcasting satellite, Thaicom 5. and broadband satellite iPSTAR.
'Apolitical' Shin Corp successor in the spotlight
Thailand - Official has accused DTAC of violating the foreign ownership law
[the nation] Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot today said Total Access Communication (DTAC) has breached foreign business law.
Alongkorn also recommended the Business Development Department to file charges against seven corporate shareholders of DTAC, believed to hold shares in DTAC on behalf of foreigners.
Alongkorn did not specify the names of the companies. On the shareholders' list as of December 2010, corporate shareholders of DTAC included Telenor Asia (Singapore) and Thai Telco Holdings Co Ltd. Holding shares in Thai Telco Holdings included Bolero Co Ltd, Abaroni Co Ltd and Sandalwood Holdings Co Ltd.
Banyong Limprayoonwong, director-general of the Business Development Department, said at a press conference today that Alongkorn could just give the recommendation given that he is a caretaker minister who has no authority in this case.
Banyong added that the Business Development Department, which enforces the Foreign Business Act BE2542, would stick to the original schedule: to decide within 7 days whether to file charges against "nominees" or to forward the investigation to the police.
DTAC reiterates its high commitment to do business in Thailand with high standard of good corporate governance.
In a statement, it said "we are in full compliance with the Thai laws and regulations. The company is willing to cooperate with the authorities and sincerely hope that the investigation process will be fair, transparent and not discriminatory. DTAC affirms that its customers, partners and all stakeholders as well as its business operations will not be affected by the ongoing entity investigation process."
DTAC breaches foreign business law: Alongkorn
Alongkorn also recommended the Business Development Department to file charges against seven corporate shareholders of DTAC, believed to hold shares in DTAC on behalf of foreigners.
Alongkorn did not specify the names of the companies. On the shareholders' list as of December 2010, corporate shareholders of DTAC included Telenor Asia (Singapore) and Thai Telco Holdings Co Ltd. Holding shares in Thai Telco Holdings included Bolero Co Ltd, Abaroni Co Ltd and Sandalwood Holdings Co Ltd.
Banyong Limprayoonwong, director-general of the Business Development Department, said at a press conference today that Alongkorn could just give the recommendation given that he is a caretaker minister who has no authority in this case.
Banyong added that the Business Development Department, which enforces the Foreign Business Act BE2542, would stick to the original schedule: to decide within 7 days whether to file charges against "nominees" or to forward the investigation to the police.
DTAC reiterates its high commitment to do business in Thailand with high standard of good corporate governance.
In a statement, it said "we are in full compliance with the Thai laws and regulations. The company is willing to cooperate with the authorities and sincerely hope that the investigation process will be fair, transparent and not discriminatory. DTAC affirms that its customers, partners and all stakeholders as well as its business operations will not be affected by the ongoing entity investigation process."
DTAC breaches foreign business law: Alongkorn
USA - 40% of adult consumers have smartphones with Android the most popular operating systems
[nielsen] Forty percent of mobile consumers over 18 in the U.S. now have smartphones, according to July 2011 data from Nielsen. Android is the most popular operating system, with 40 percent of mobile consumers reporting they have a smartphone with an Android OS. Apple’s iOS is in second place, with 28 percent.
Among those who say they are likely to get a new smartphone in the next year, approximately one third say they want their next smartphone to be an iPhone and one third say they want an Android device. However, among those who say they are usually the first to embrace new technologies, “Innovators” or the earliest of early adopters, Android leads as the “Next Desired Operating System” – 40 percent for Android compared to 32 percent for iOS. (Survey respondents were asked several questions to determine their attitudes toward new technologies.)
40 Percent of U.S. Mobile Users Own Smartphones; 40 Percent are Android
Among those who say they are likely to get a new smartphone in the next year, approximately one third say they want their next smartphone to be an iPhone and one third say they want an Android device. However, among those who say they are usually the first to embrace new technologies, “Innovators” or the earliest of early adopters, Android leads as the “Next Desired Operating System” – 40 percent for Android compared to 32 percent for iOS. (Survey respondents were asked several questions to determine their attitudes toward new technologies.)
40 Percent of U.S. Mobile Users Own Smartphones; 40 Percent are Android
Fiji-Tonga undersea cable - This is to be funded by the Asian Development Bank
[fiji times] THE Asian Development Bank (ADB) will assist in Tonga's high-speed Internet access by financing the development of a submarine cable system.
The ADB board of directors on Tuesday approved grant funds of $18.9million to help finance the establishment and operation of an 827 km submarine cable system from Tonga to the Southern Cross Cable in Fiji which will provide widely accessible information and communication technology (ICT) services.
"The new ICT services the cable will bring will improve Tonga's economic performance and delivery of public services," ADB said in a statement.
"The Tonga to Fiji Submarine Cable Project aims to improve existing businesses' efficiency and create new business opportunities, especially in the ICT sector.
"The cable technology will boost telecommunications, computer, information, maintenance and repair services.
"It will also allow ICT-based education, health, and government services to overcome the small island country's challenges - distance and scarce human resources."
The project is estimated to cost $61m and is being co-financed by the World Bank Group and Tonga Cable Limited.
The fibre optic cable will connect Tonga to the Southern Cross Cable, the main trans-Pacific link between Australia and the United States.
It will generate economic opportunities and social benefits starting mid 2013 when the cable is in place.
"The project aims to deliver good quality, affordable broadband Internet to Tonga's population of 100,000," said Robert Wihtol, director general of ADB's Pacific Department.
"In addition to the positive socioeconomic impact of the initiative, the project will contribute to regional integration."
The cable will increase the frequency and quality of communications among countries in the region, encouraging trade in services and will allow the region to form a sizeable market for digital products and services.
Tonga's Ministry of Finance and National Planning will be the executing agency for the project, which should be completed by 2016.
ICT project to link Tonga to the world
The ADB board of directors on Tuesday approved grant funds of $18.9million to help finance the establishment and operation of an 827 km submarine cable system from Tonga to the Southern Cross Cable in Fiji which will provide widely accessible information and communication technology (ICT) services.
"The new ICT services the cable will bring will improve Tonga's economic performance and delivery of public services," ADB said in a statement.
"The Tonga to Fiji Submarine Cable Project aims to improve existing businesses' efficiency and create new business opportunities, especially in the ICT sector.
"The cable technology will boost telecommunications, computer, information, maintenance and repair services.
"It will also allow ICT-based education, health, and government services to overcome the small island country's challenges - distance and scarce human resources."
The project is estimated to cost $61m and is being co-financed by the World Bank Group and Tonga Cable Limited.
The fibre optic cable will connect Tonga to the Southern Cross Cable, the main trans-Pacific link between Australia and the United States.
It will generate economic opportunities and social benefits starting mid 2013 when the cable is in place.
"The project aims to deliver good quality, affordable broadband Internet to Tonga's population of 100,000," said Robert Wihtol, director general of ADB's Pacific Department.
"In addition to the positive socioeconomic impact of the initiative, the project will contribute to regional integration."
The cable will increase the frequency and quality of communications among countries in the region, encouraging trade in services and will allow the region to form a sizeable market for digital products and services.
Tonga's Ministry of Finance and National Planning will be the executing agency for the project, which should be completed by 2016.
ICT project to link Tonga to the world
Pakistan - Regulator has suspended 11 service providers for non-payment of regulatory fees
[the news - Pakistan] Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has suspended licences of 11 service providers’ for a month due to non-submission of audit accounts and non-payment of annual regulatory dues in the last couple of years.
“PTA is curbing the menace of grey traffic and willing to punish heavily all the defaulters. These operators have been given show cause notices but they are yet to deposit their dues to the regulator. Hence PTA comes with a harsh action by suspending licences of eleven operators,” sources in the PTA said.
Reliable sources disclosed that the Standing Committee of the Senate on Telecommunications and Information Technology is putting pressure on the PTA to put a hard hand on the defaulters and grey traffickers. The suspension of licences of these operators which came after continuous monitoring, shows the commitment and persistent efforts of the Authority.
The Authority had also asked operators to pay annual licence fees, which has been calculated on the basis of their annual gross revenues, along with late payment at the rate of 2 percent of the outstanding amount. However the operators failed to comply with the instructions and the Authority had to issue them show-cause notices under section 23 of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (Re-organization) Act 1996.
PTA has directed all LDI, fixed line and cellular operators to suspend all telecommunication services, extended to these service providers under any agreement, with immediate effect till further orders.
The regulator said the licences of all the operators shall stand terminated in case of non-compliance upon expiration of one month after the date of issuance of suspension order. Moreover it may recover its outstanding dues as arrears through land revenue without any further notice and initiate recovery proceedings under section 30 of the Company Act.
The suspended operators are:
Ace Connect (Pvt) Ltd, ASCUL (Pvt) Ltd, Brogstelling Technologies (Pvt) Ltd, e-World (Pvt) Ltd, Gujjar Communication (Pvt) Ltd, Live Line Broad Band (Pvt) Ltd, Nom Communication (Pvt) Ltd, Samsung Voice Call (Pvt) Ltd, Vision Soft Technologies (Pvt) Ltd, Zain Business Empire (Pvt) Ltd and Eagle Technologies (Pvt) Ltd.
PTA suspends licences of 11 defaulting service providers
“PTA is curbing the menace of grey traffic and willing to punish heavily all the defaulters. These operators have been given show cause notices but they are yet to deposit their dues to the regulator. Hence PTA comes with a harsh action by suspending licences of eleven operators,” sources in the PTA said.
Reliable sources disclosed that the Standing Committee of the Senate on Telecommunications and Information Technology is putting pressure on the PTA to put a hard hand on the defaulters and grey traffickers. The suspension of licences of these operators which came after continuous monitoring, shows the commitment and persistent efforts of the Authority.
The Authority had also asked operators to pay annual licence fees, which has been calculated on the basis of their annual gross revenues, along with late payment at the rate of 2 percent of the outstanding amount. However the operators failed to comply with the instructions and the Authority had to issue them show-cause notices under section 23 of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (Re-organization) Act 1996.
PTA has directed all LDI, fixed line and cellular operators to suspend all telecommunication services, extended to these service providers under any agreement, with immediate effect till further orders.
The regulator said the licences of all the operators shall stand terminated in case of non-compliance upon expiration of one month after the date of issuance of suspension order. Moreover it may recover its outstanding dues as arrears through land revenue without any further notice and initiate recovery proceedings under section 30 of the Company Act.
The suspended operators are:
Ace Connect (Pvt) Ltd, ASCUL (Pvt) Ltd, Brogstelling Technologies (Pvt) Ltd, e-World (Pvt) Ltd, Gujjar Communication (Pvt) Ltd, Live Line Broad Band (Pvt) Ltd, Nom Communication (Pvt) Ltd, Samsung Voice Call (Pvt) Ltd, Vision Soft Technologies (Pvt) Ltd, Zain Business Empire (Pvt) Ltd and Eagle Technologies (Pvt) Ltd.
PTA suspends licences of 11 defaulting service providers
Mobile - Analyst challenges the view that smartphones generate enough revenue to pay for network investments
[fierce wireless] The gospel in the wireless industry the past few years has been that increasing smartphone penetration will deliver immediate and significant benefits to carriers: higher ARPUs and stickier customers.
However, in a research note entitled "The Dark Side of Smartphones," Credit Suisse analyst Jonathan Chaplin challenges that conventional wisdom. Chaplin argues that ARPU growth has been disappointing, smartphone-driven costs are rising faster than ARPU, pressuring margins, and capital expenditure requirements are rising, again due to smartphones.
Chaplin said three things need to happen for the smartphone situation to improve: competitive intensity needs to return to pre-Verizon (NYSE:VZ) iPhone levels, carriers need more spectrum to blunt capex costs, and there needs to be industry consolidation.
Some carriers are clearly feeling the "dark side" effects of smartphones. For example, MetroPCS (NASDAQ:PCS) said it will increase capex this year from a previous estimate of $700 million to $900 million to a new target of $900 million to $1 billion. On the company's earnings conference call, CEO Roger Linquist said, according to a SeekingAlpha transcript, that the increase is "primarily driven by an increase in capacity expenditures for future subscriber and data growth driven by the popularity of our Android handset offering."
Are smartphones worth the cost to carriers?
However, in a research note entitled "The Dark Side of Smartphones," Credit Suisse analyst Jonathan Chaplin challenges that conventional wisdom. Chaplin argues that ARPU growth has been disappointing, smartphone-driven costs are rising faster than ARPU, pressuring margins, and capital expenditure requirements are rising, again due to smartphones.
Chaplin said three things need to happen for the smartphone situation to improve: competitive intensity needs to return to pre-Verizon (NYSE:VZ) iPhone levels, carriers need more spectrum to blunt capex costs, and there needs to be industry consolidation.
Some carriers are clearly feeling the "dark side" effects of smartphones. For example, MetroPCS (NASDAQ:PCS) said it will increase capex this year from a previous estimate of $700 million to $900 million to a new target of $900 million to $1 billion. On the company's earnings conference call, CEO Roger Linquist said, according to a SeekingAlpha transcript, that the increase is "primarily driven by an increase in capacity expenditures for future subscriber and data growth driven by the popularity of our Android handset offering."
Are smartphones worth the cost to carriers?
Mobile - Networks are almost full requiring significant investment in upgrading to cope with demand
Traditional network management practice says that network element usage level should not exceed 70% of its capacity. If it does - it is time to do something - buy more or manage it better. So, according to a recent Credit Suisse report - it is time to do something for wireless networks, globally. For North America, where current utilization at peak time reaches 80% it is even urgent.
Survey mobile networks are near full
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
South Africa - Govt wants to issue spectrum licences to new operators in 2.6 and 3.5 GHz bands
[tech central] The department of communications wants to use the sale of radio frequency spectrum in “high-demand bands” to facilitate the entrance of new infrastructure competitors in SA’s telecommunications industry.
“We should allow licensees that don’t have spectrum so they can compete with the incumbents,” says Robert Nkuna, special adviser to communications minister Roy Padayachie. “The opportunity should allow us to introduce new operators.”
Industry regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa), is expected to license access to two key frequency bands — 2,6GHz and 3,5GHz — either later this year or early next year.
Operators are particularly keen to get access to the 2,6GHz band, which is ideally suited for providing the next generation of wireless broadband networks using a technology called long-term evolution.
“Engagements with Icasa are ongoing to see how fast we can conclude the process,” says Nkuna.
Incumbent operators such as Vodacom and MTN are lobbying hard for access to the spectrum, arguing they’re best resourced financially to fund the roll-out of national networks.
Communications director-general Rosey Sekese adds that the “real issue” the department is grappling with around spectrum is ensuring that whichever companies are granted licences roll out services in rural areas and not only in urban areas that are already well served.
“It’s not about ensuring people continue to roll out where there is already infrastructure,” says Sekese.
Meanwhile, Nkuna says government will direct Icasa to conduct a full review of the spectrum currently used by television broadcasters, and not only the spectrum expected to be freed up around 800MHz — usually referred to as the “digital dividend” spectrum.
It will direct Icasa to conduct a review of all spectrum between 470MHz and 862MHz to determine which of it could be freed up for other purposes, including broadband.
The department is also discussing whether to license access to the digital dividend spectrum to telecoms operators ahead of completion of digital migration to ensure companies can begin offering wireless broadband services as soon as possible after analogue switch-off. Nkuna says all issues related to spectrum are being “fast tracked”.
Gov’t wants to license new telecoms operators
“We should allow licensees that don’t have spectrum so they can compete with the incumbents,” says Robert Nkuna, special adviser to communications minister Roy Padayachie. “The opportunity should allow us to introduce new operators.”
Industry regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa), is expected to license access to two key frequency bands — 2,6GHz and 3,5GHz — either later this year or early next year.
Operators are particularly keen to get access to the 2,6GHz band, which is ideally suited for providing the next generation of wireless broadband networks using a technology called long-term evolution.
“Engagements with Icasa are ongoing to see how fast we can conclude the process,” says Nkuna.
Incumbent operators such as Vodacom and MTN are lobbying hard for access to the spectrum, arguing they’re best resourced financially to fund the roll-out of national networks.
Communications director-general Rosey Sekese adds that the “real issue” the department is grappling with around spectrum is ensuring that whichever companies are granted licences roll out services in rural areas and not only in urban areas that are already well served.
“It’s not about ensuring people continue to roll out where there is already infrastructure,” says Sekese.
Meanwhile, Nkuna says government will direct Icasa to conduct a full review of the spectrum currently used by television broadcasters, and not only the spectrum expected to be freed up around 800MHz — usually referred to as the “digital dividend” spectrum.
It will direct Icasa to conduct a review of all spectrum between 470MHz and 862MHz to determine which of it could be freed up for other purposes, including broadband.
The department is also discussing whether to license access to the digital dividend spectrum to telecoms operators ahead of completion of digital migration to ensure companies can begin offering wireless broadband services as soon as possible after analogue switch-off. Nkuna says all issues related to spectrum are being “fast tracked”.
Gov’t wants to license new telecoms operators
Africa - Google cache servers are helping local exchange of content - content delivery neworks
[computer world] The availability of Google cache servers has encouraged more African Internet and content providers to exchange content locally, according to experts at last week's Africa Peering and Interconnection Forum in Accra, Ghana.
Google cache servers allow YouTube, search and other services to be available locally, which means lower latency for users because there is no international transit involved.
Africa has 15 exchange points, and they all acknowledge that the presence of Google cache servers has been a major motivation for ISPs and other content providers to exchange content locally.
"Google cache has been a major attraction," said Ayitey Bulley, a network consultant. "Telcos are advertising how YouTube videos do not buffer and download faster on their network, but it is only because they are peering at the exchange."
With the recent entry into Africa of several fiber optic cables connecting the whole continent, focus has shifted from infrastructure projects to ways to make connectivity cheaper. Local hosting and peering has been identified as a major factor in lowering Internet connectivity.
"Africa is having extensive infrastructure but we can not lower costs if we keep buying transit links instead of exchanging content locally," said Adiel Akplogan, AfriNIC CEO, speaking at the opening ceremony of the peering forum last week. "Efficient interconnection is the critical element to lower costs."
Google has a policy of encouraging the establishment of cache servers, mainly within bigger ISPs carrying volumes of traffic. In areas where there is higher traffic, Google sets up Points of Presence (PoP).
Google has also been working closely with SeaCom, one of the fiber optic cable providers, to host some of the servers and allow providers to exchange content at a neutral point.
"SeaCom has an open policy, we work with all providers to encourage content exchange," said Willem Marais, head of sales, Southern and West Africa for SeaCom. "We are hoping to bring in other content providers, which will lead to growth."
For the last four years, Google has been leading the drive to develop more African online content through app contests, university interconnection program and the digitization of government data.
"At the Nigeria IXP, we have a Google cache server and four universities are peering in order to interconnect to the Google program, which has driven up the content at the exchange," said Yen Choi, a board member at NIXP.
While it has been easy for some IXPs with high numbers of Internet users to attract Google, it has not been easy for Malawi. The country has eight major ISPs peering at the Malawi IXP but the policy was that only members could see the amount of traffic and activity. Two months ago, the members decided to use public IP addresses instead of private IP addresses and now the IXP has initiated the process of obtaining Google cache.
However, the issue of private IP addresses has affected Africa's global appeal to content carriers. With private addresses, the number of users are not publicly visible online. In some cases, 2,000 users are able to use two public IP addresses, meaning to an international content carrier viewing online, there appears to be only two users.
With the ongoing digitization and innovation projects going on in Africa, Google is hoping to bring more people online and in the process grow its business portfolio in the region.
Google cache servers drive interconnection in Africa
Google cache servers allow YouTube, search and other services to be available locally, which means lower latency for users because there is no international transit involved.
Africa has 15 exchange points, and they all acknowledge that the presence of Google cache servers has been a major motivation for ISPs and other content providers to exchange content locally.
"Google cache has been a major attraction," said Ayitey Bulley, a network consultant. "Telcos are advertising how YouTube videos do not buffer and download faster on their network, but it is only because they are peering at the exchange."
With the recent entry into Africa of several fiber optic cables connecting the whole continent, focus has shifted from infrastructure projects to ways to make connectivity cheaper. Local hosting and peering has been identified as a major factor in lowering Internet connectivity.
"Africa is having extensive infrastructure but we can not lower costs if we keep buying transit links instead of exchanging content locally," said Adiel Akplogan, AfriNIC CEO, speaking at the opening ceremony of the peering forum last week. "Efficient interconnection is the critical element to lower costs."
Google has a policy of encouraging the establishment of cache servers, mainly within bigger ISPs carrying volumes of traffic. In areas where there is higher traffic, Google sets up Points of Presence (PoP).
Google has also been working closely with SeaCom, one of the fiber optic cable providers, to host some of the servers and allow providers to exchange content at a neutral point.
"SeaCom has an open policy, we work with all providers to encourage content exchange," said Willem Marais, head of sales, Southern and West Africa for SeaCom. "We are hoping to bring in other content providers, which will lead to growth."
For the last four years, Google has been leading the drive to develop more African online content through app contests, university interconnection program and the digitization of government data.
"At the Nigeria IXP, we have a Google cache server and four universities are peering in order to interconnect to the Google program, which has driven up the content at the exchange," said Yen Choi, a board member at NIXP.
While it has been easy for some IXPs with high numbers of Internet users to attract Google, it has not been easy for Malawi. The country has eight major ISPs peering at the Malawi IXP but the policy was that only members could see the amount of traffic and activity. Two months ago, the members decided to use public IP addresses instead of private IP addresses and now the IXP has initiated the process of obtaining Google cache.
However, the issue of private IP addresses has affected Africa's global appeal to content carriers. With private addresses, the number of users are not publicly visible online. In some cases, 2,000 users are able to use two public IP addresses, meaning to an international content carrier viewing online, there appears to be only two users.
With the ongoing digitization and innovation projects going on in Africa, Google is hoping to bring more people online and in the process grow its business portfolio in the region.
Google cache servers drive interconnection in Africa
USA - Investment in 4G would be $25-53 billion, causing $73-151 billion in GDP growth and creation of 371,000 to 771,000 jobs
[prnewswire] A new Deloitte report states that wireless telecommunications companies in the United States could invest $25 to $53 billion in fourth generation cellular wireless networks (4G) between 2012 and 2016, triggering $73 to $151 billion in gross domestic product growth and creating 371,000 to 771,000 jobs. Additional growth could occur as high-tech companies create new mobile broadband products and services, further changing the way people live, work and learn.
The Deloitte report, "The Impact of 4G Technology on Commercial Interactions, Economic Growth, and U.S. Competitiveness," investigates the economic dynamics surrounding 4G technology and explains how the U.S. can maintain the global leadership position in mobile broadband innovation it won during the 3G era.
The $25 billion figure assumes a baseline scenario in which U.S. 4G deployment proceeds at a moderate pace and the transition from 3G to 4G extends to the middle of the decade. Under these conditions, U.S. firms are vulnerable to incursions by foreign competitors capitalizing on aggressive efforts in their home markets to deploy 4G networks and develop 4G-based devices and services.
The $53 billion figure assumes a scenario in which U.S. carriers invest more rapidly in 4G networks and start to produce popular 4G-based offerings before global competitors gain traction. In this scenario, the demand stimulated by new offerings justifies more network investment, setting off a virtuous cycle of investment and market response that positions the U.S. to retain its mobile broadband leadership.
"Investment in such a powerful form of communication contributes to the economic recovery and provides a job-creating engine for the future," said Phil Asmundson, vice chairman and U.S. media and telecommunications sector leader, Deloitte LLP. "The key to harnessing the potential benefits of 4G technology lies in America's market-driven wireless sector, which encourages the emergence of innovative applications that spur productivity and could produce the same surge of innovation and demand we experienced during the 3G era."
Global Competition Should Spur U.S. Innovation and Investment
According to the report, more than 150 carriers in 60 countries are currently committed to 4G deployments and trials. South Korea, Sweden and China are examples of countries moving rapidly to reap the benefits of 4G technology.
Cloud Computing Accelerating 4G Capabilities
Rapid adoption of cloud computing further enables the U.S. to take full advantage of 4G's potential impact by allowing developers and entrepreneurs to analyze the market's response to new applications, content, solutions and business models – cheaper and quicker.
"Cloud computing will allow handheld devices to be more compact and efficient while making them tremendously more useful and powerful," Asmundson said. "Applications, storage and computing power all can largely reside in the cloud, but only if connectivity is robust, reliable and secure. The benefits of 4G and cloud go beyond the telecom sector. Together, 4G and cloud technologies support the kind of entrepreneurial ecosystem that has made the United States a mobile broadband leader."
The advent of high-performance wireless capacity, coupled with cloud infrastructure and other advances, is proliferating new offerings and capabilities that exceed what has been possible with 3G technology, the report notes. In addition to consumers, a variety of U.S. end-user industries, including nonprofit and government entities, are likely to use devices and services incorporating the capabilities of 4G technology to better serve their customers, patients, clients and students. This includes applications such as augmented reality for businesses, machine-to-machine technology involving the use of sensors and actuators and the development of smart highways.
4G Enabling Marginalized Groups
Deloitte's report indicates that the deployment of 4G mobile broadband has special implications for certain disadvantaged markets including minority groups, rural communities and localities with limited access to full broadband connectivity, and some small businesses. The report explains how equipping these marginalized groups with 4G access helps move them further into the nation's economic mainstream, thereby serving the public interest while boosting U.S. competitiveness.
Lessons from the 3G Revolution
Deloitte's analysis emphasizes that America's success in 3G was driven by entrepreneurial innovation. When the government auctioned large amounts of spectrum, removed spectrum caps limiting individual carriers' spectrum holdings and permitted market forces to operate, private enterprise pursued new opportunities and a robust 3G ecosystem was born.
The FCC is moving to expand spectrum supply through a new incentive auction, but the report indicates that it will be difficult to keep pace with projected demand. Accordingly, there is a continuing need to find additional ways to make better use of available spectrum and to unlock additional spectrum.
Deloitte: U.S. Could See $53 Billion in 4G Network Investments by 2016, Creating 771,000 New Jobs
The Deloitte report, "The Impact of 4G Technology on Commercial Interactions, Economic Growth, and U.S. Competitiveness," investigates the economic dynamics surrounding 4G technology and explains how the U.S. can maintain the global leadership position in mobile broadband innovation it won during the 3G era.
The $25 billion figure assumes a baseline scenario in which U.S. 4G deployment proceeds at a moderate pace and the transition from 3G to 4G extends to the middle of the decade. Under these conditions, U.S. firms are vulnerable to incursions by foreign competitors capitalizing on aggressive efforts in their home markets to deploy 4G networks and develop 4G-based devices and services.
The $53 billion figure assumes a scenario in which U.S. carriers invest more rapidly in 4G networks and start to produce popular 4G-based offerings before global competitors gain traction. In this scenario, the demand stimulated by new offerings justifies more network investment, setting off a virtuous cycle of investment and market response that positions the U.S. to retain its mobile broadband leadership.
"Investment in such a powerful form of communication contributes to the economic recovery and provides a job-creating engine for the future," said Phil Asmundson, vice chairman and U.S. media and telecommunications sector leader, Deloitte LLP. "The key to harnessing the potential benefits of 4G technology lies in America's market-driven wireless sector, which encourages the emergence of innovative applications that spur productivity and could produce the same surge of innovation and demand we experienced during the 3G era."
Global Competition Should Spur U.S. Innovation and Investment
According to the report, more than 150 carriers in 60 countries are currently committed to 4G deployments and trials. South Korea, Sweden and China are examples of countries moving rapidly to reap the benefits of 4G technology.
Cloud Computing Accelerating 4G Capabilities
Rapid adoption of cloud computing further enables the U.S. to take full advantage of 4G's potential impact by allowing developers and entrepreneurs to analyze the market's response to new applications, content, solutions and business models – cheaper and quicker.
"Cloud computing will allow handheld devices to be more compact and efficient while making them tremendously more useful and powerful," Asmundson said. "Applications, storage and computing power all can largely reside in the cloud, but only if connectivity is robust, reliable and secure. The benefits of 4G and cloud go beyond the telecom sector. Together, 4G and cloud technologies support the kind of entrepreneurial ecosystem that has made the United States a mobile broadband leader."
The advent of high-performance wireless capacity, coupled with cloud infrastructure and other advances, is proliferating new offerings and capabilities that exceed what has been possible with 3G technology, the report notes. In addition to consumers, a variety of U.S. end-user industries, including nonprofit and government entities, are likely to use devices and services incorporating the capabilities of 4G technology to better serve their customers, patients, clients and students. This includes applications such as augmented reality for businesses, machine-to-machine technology involving the use of sensors and actuators and the development of smart highways.
4G Enabling Marginalized Groups
Deloitte's report indicates that the deployment of 4G mobile broadband has special implications for certain disadvantaged markets including minority groups, rural communities and localities with limited access to full broadband connectivity, and some small businesses. The report explains how equipping these marginalized groups with 4G access helps move them further into the nation's economic mainstream, thereby serving the public interest while boosting U.S. competitiveness.
Lessons from the 3G Revolution
Deloitte's analysis emphasizes that America's success in 3G was driven by entrepreneurial innovation. When the government auctioned large amounts of spectrum, removed spectrum caps limiting individual carriers' spectrum holdings and permitted market forces to operate, private enterprise pursued new opportunities and a robust 3G ecosystem was born.
The FCC is moving to expand spectrum supply through a new incentive auction, but the report indicates that it will be difficult to keep pace with projected demand. Accordingly, there is a continuing need to find additional ways to make better use of available spectrum and to unlock additional spectrum.
Deloitte: U.S. Could See $53 Billion in 4G Network Investments by 2016, Creating 771,000 New Jobs
Monday, August 22, 2011
South Africa - Vodacom will "deregister" 1 million SIM card where no personal details have been recorded
[telecom lead] Vodacom announced it is deregistering approximately one million inactive SIM cards as part of a series of steps to help improve the effectiveness of the RICA Act.
On 1st July 2011, the requirement for the de-activation of all unregistered SIM cards as per the Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-Related Information Act, 2002 ('RICA') became effective.
Following the cut-off date, at a joint press briefing between the Department of Justice & Constitutional Development (DoJ) and the Department of Communications (DoC), the issue of the sale of fraudulently preregistered SIMs was addressed.
Vodacom has identified almost one million SIMs which have been registered but not yet activated. All of these SIMs have now been deregistered. This means that these SIMs cannot be sold and used without first being registered in the new customer's name.
Supporting this measure, Vodacom has also implemented a process whereby all SIMs registered but not activated within 30 days will automatically be deregistered. The company is also checking all instances where numerous SIM cards were registered in the name of a single customer.
In the case of company registrations, Vodacom will verify the details of these companies with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission. All new registrations undertaken in a company name will also be checked in the same way.
In addition to this, Vodacom is embarking on an education campaign to remind customers that all SIMs must be registered in the user's name. Furthermore, Vodacom will reiterate that the RICA Act imposes severe penalties on anyone who fails to register their details or provides fraudulent information.
The potential penalties include a fine or imprisonment, or both. Customers will also be reminded of their legal obligation to report lost or stolen SIM cards to the police.
"Vodacom fully supports the goal of reducing crime and we're pleased to work with the Department of Justice to ensure that not only the letter but also the spirit of RICA is being implemented. By taking these actions, we're closing down avenues that criminals could use to hide their identity. We'll continue to engage with the relevant authorities as they implement additional measures to stamp out fraudulent activity," said Portia Maurice, chief officer corporate affairs, Vodacom.
Customers can report RICA fraud such as the sale of preregistered SIM cards by calling 082 111. The information will be handed to Vodacom's forensic department who will investigate and take the appropriate action. Customers can alternatively report such incidents to the police.
Vodacom to deregister one million inactive SIM cards
On 1st July 2011, the requirement for the de-activation of all unregistered SIM cards as per the Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-Related Information Act, 2002 ('RICA') became effective.
Following the cut-off date, at a joint press briefing between the Department of Justice & Constitutional Development (DoJ) and the Department of Communications (DoC), the issue of the sale of fraudulently preregistered SIMs was addressed.
Vodacom has identified almost one million SIMs which have been registered but not yet activated. All of these SIMs have now been deregistered. This means that these SIMs cannot be sold and used without first being registered in the new customer's name.
Supporting this measure, Vodacom has also implemented a process whereby all SIMs registered but not activated within 30 days will automatically be deregistered. The company is also checking all instances where numerous SIM cards were registered in the name of a single customer.
In the case of company registrations, Vodacom will verify the details of these companies with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission. All new registrations undertaken in a company name will also be checked in the same way.
In addition to this, Vodacom is embarking on an education campaign to remind customers that all SIMs must be registered in the user's name. Furthermore, Vodacom will reiterate that the RICA Act imposes severe penalties on anyone who fails to register their details or provides fraudulent information.
The potential penalties include a fine or imprisonment, or both. Customers will also be reminded of their legal obligation to report lost or stolen SIM cards to the police.
"Vodacom fully supports the goal of reducing crime and we're pleased to work with the Department of Justice to ensure that not only the letter but also the spirit of RICA is being implemented. By taking these actions, we're closing down avenues that criminals could use to hide their identity. We'll continue to engage with the relevant authorities as they implement additional measures to stamp out fraudulent activity," said Portia Maurice, chief officer corporate affairs, Vodacom.
Customers can report RICA fraud such as the sale of preregistered SIM cards by calling 082 111. The information will be handed to Vodacom's forensic department who will investigate and take the appropriate action. Customers can alternatively report such incidents to the police.
Vodacom to deregister one million inactive SIM cards
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Privacy - NY Times warns over the privacy settings for Linkedin.com
[ny times] Move over Facebook. It’s time to pay attention to privacy on LinkedIn.
That was is the message of last week’s mini controversy over LinkedIn’s quiet effort to introduce a new type of advertising on the site that would commandeer users’ names and pictures for product endorsements.
LinkedIn first announced the new “social ads” in an upbeat blog post in late June. The ads would include the names and photos of people’s LinkedIn contacts if they were connected to the advertiser in some way and the company had changed its privacy policy. At the end, it mentioned that users may opt-out of the ads.
LinkedIn’s Social-Ad Misstep
That was is the message of last week’s mini controversy over LinkedIn’s quiet effort to introduce a new type of advertising on the site that would commandeer users’ names and pictures for product endorsements.
LinkedIn first announced the new “social ads” in an upbeat blog post in late June. The ads would include the names and photos of people’s LinkedIn contacts if they were connected to the advertiser in some way and the company had changed its privacy policy. At the end, it mentioned that users may opt-out of the ads.
LinkedIn’s Social-Ad Misstep
Australia - Consumers of mobile services have high expectations not always satisfied
[it wire] Mobile consumers have high expectations of their service providers and, it seems, not all of them are satisfied with what they are getting at the moment, with a significant number experiencing poor levels of service.
According to a survey of more than 500 Australian mobile users commissioned by Compuware, users’ expectations are not being met, with a majority of users experiencing “slow or unreliable mobile and application performance.” This is despite their expectation of quick, anytime transactions that work flawlessly every time.
Mirroring their counterparts in other countries, Australian users expectations for mobile website speed continue to increase, with most expecting websites to load just as fast on their mobiles as they do on their computers.
Rafi Katanasho, application performance management director at Compuware Australia and New Zealand, says user expectations for mobile continues to increase, but he maintains that companies in Australia are not meeting mobile users’ need for fast and reliable experiences, resulting in many of them failing to take advantage of the opportunities being provided by increased mobile access. Compuware
“Today’s mobile users demand exceptional web experiences and highly satisfying, convenient, on-the-go mobile site speeds regardless of their mode of access,” Katanasho said.
Other key findings of the Compuware survey include:
• Mobile users’ expectations for mobile website speed continue to increase. Sixty two percent of Australian mobile web users expect websites to load as quickly, almost as quickly or faster on their mobile phone compared to the computer they use at home. However, over a third of Australians said websites load more slowly on their phone. Globally, an average of 71% of global mobile web users expect websites to load as quickly, almost as quickly or faster on their mobile phone compared to the computer they use at home - up from 58% in 2009. However, almost half (46%) said websites load more slowly on their phone.
• Fifty percent of Australian web users say they expect a website to load on their mobile phone in three seconds or less and 62% are willing to wait five seconds or less for a single web page to load before leaving the site. Thirty-four percent are only willing to wait five seconds or less for an application to load before exiting. Globally, nearly 60% of web users say they expect a website to load on their mobile phone in three seconds or less, and 74% are only willing to wait five seconds or less for a single web page to load before leaving the site. Fifty percent are only willing to wait five seconds or less for an application to load before exiting.
• Fifty-four percent of Australian mobile web users had a problem accessing a website in the past year and 45% had a problem accessing an app on their phone. More than 82% of mobile web users would access websites more often from their phone if the experience was as fast and reliable. Fifty-seven percent of global mobile web users had a problem accessing a website in the past year, and 47% had a problem accessing an app on their phone. More than 80% of mobile web users would access websites more often from their phone if the experience was as fast and reliable.
• Mobile users do not have much patience for retrying a website or application that is not functioning initially; just under a third will go to a competitor’s site instead. The majority of Australian mobile web users are only willing to retry a website (77%) or application (79%) two times or less if it does not work initially. Globally, the majority of mobile web users are only willing to retry a website (78%) or application (80%) two times or less if it does not work initially.
• A bad experience on a mobile website leaves mobile web users much less likely to return to, or recommend, a particular website. Forty-one per cent of Australians are unlikely to return to a website that they had trouble accessing from their phone and 64% are unlikely to recommend the site. Nearly half of mobile web users are unlikely to return to a website that they had trouble accessing from their phone, and 57% are unlikely to recommend the site.
Mobile services not up to scratch for consumers
According to a survey of more than 500 Australian mobile users commissioned by Compuware, users’ expectations are not being met, with a majority of users experiencing “slow or unreliable mobile and application performance.” This is despite their expectation of quick, anytime transactions that work flawlessly every time.
Mirroring their counterparts in other countries, Australian users expectations for mobile website speed continue to increase, with most expecting websites to load just as fast on their mobiles as they do on their computers.
Rafi Katanasho, application performance management director at Compuware Australia and New Zealand, says user expectations for mobile continues to increase, but he maintains that companies in Australia are not meeting mobile users’ need for fast and reliable experiences, resulting in many of them failing to take advantage of the opportunities being provided by increased mobile access. Compuware
“Today’s mobile users demand exceptional web experiences and highly satisfying, convenient, on-the-go mobile site speeds regardless of their mode of access,” Katanasho said.
Other key findings of the Compuware survey include:
• Mobile users’ expectations for mobile website speed continue to increase. Sixty two percent of Australian mobile web users expect websites to load as quickly, almost as quickly or faster on their mobile phone compared to the computer they use at home. However, over a third of Australians said websites load more slowly on their phone. Globally, an average of 71% of global mobile web users expect websites to load as quickly, almost as quickly or faster on their mobile phone compared to the computer they use at home - up from 58% in 2009. However, almost half (46%) said websites load more slowly on their phone.
• Fifty percent of Australian web users say they expect a website to load on their mobile phone in three seconds or less and 62% are willing to wait five seconds or less for a single web page to load before leaving the site. Thirty-four percent are only willing to wait five seconds or less for an application to load before exiting. Globally, nearly 60% of web users say they expect a website to load on their mobile phone in three seconds or less, and 74% are only willing to wait five seconds or less for a single web page to load before leaving the site. Fifty percent are only willing to wait five seconds or less for an application to load before exiting.
• Fifty-four percent of Australian mobile web users had a problem accessing a website in the past year and 45% had a problem accessing an app on their phone. More than 82% of mobile web users would access websites more often from their phone if the experience was as fast and reliable. Fifty-seven percent of global mobile web users had a problem accessing a website in the past year, and 47% had a problem accessing an app on their phone. More than 80% of mobile web users would access websites more often from their phone if the experience was as fast and reliable.
• Mobile users do not have much patience for retrying a website or application that is not functioning initially; just under a third will go to a competitor’s site instead. The majority of Australian mobile web users are only willing to retry a website (77%) or application (79%) two times or less if it does not work initially. Globally, the majority of mobile web users are only willing to retry a website (78%) or application (80%) two times or less if it does not work initially.
• A bad experience on a mobile website leaves mobile web users much less likely to return to, or recommend, a particular website. Forty-one per cent of Australians are unlikely to return to a website that they had trouble accessing from their phone and 64% are unlikely to recommend the site. Nearly half of mobile web users are unlikely to return to a website that they had trouble accessing from their phone, and 57% are unlikely to recommend the site.
Mobile services not up to scratch for consumers
Mobile Adverts - growth of 22%, over the previous quarter, served 112.5 billion mobile advertising impressions across the globe
[prnewswire] Today, InMobi, the world's largest independent mobile ad network, released its Mobile Insights Report: Global Edition, Quarter Ending July 2011. This comprehensive report is part of an on-going series to analyze quarterly data trends on InMobi's network and it projects that Android will be the top global mobile ad platform by the end of the year. InMobi experienced global ad impression growth of 22%, over the previous quarter, served 112.5 billion mobile advertising impressions across the globe and reports that smartphone growth is the primary driver, outpacing advanced phone ad growth rate by two to one.
InMobi Mobile Insights Report: Android Projected as Top Global Mobile Ad OS by the End of 2011
InMobi Mobile Insights Report: Android Projected as Top Global Mobile Ad OS by the End of 2011
Australia - National research and academic network trialing 8 Terabits per second
[it wire] Australia’s Academic and Research Network, AARnet, is hoping to get an 8 terabit per second communications trial up and running later this, or early next, year as it responds to the dramatically rising data demands of researchers which are doubling each year. The organisation has also finally released its five year strategic plan, several months after it was originally slated.
University network plans 8 terabit per second trials
University network plans 8 terabit per second trials
Mobile - Analysis of means to increase innovation in mobile in Africa and the Middle East
[prnewswire] As success stories continue to emerge from mobile innovation (mInnovation) experiences in Africa and the Middle East (AME), interested stakeholders must devise ways to leverage their resources and position themselves as mInnovation industry leaders, according to a new report from Pyramid Research.
Three Steps to Accelerate Mobile Innovation in Africa and the Middle East explains the basic components of mInnovation and discusses why AME is fertile ground for mInnovation to take root. The report identifies the three enabling conditions in the mInnovation arena, along with the roles these conditions play in the mInnovation ecosystem, and highlights the benefits of mInnovation for interested stakeholders.
The report concludes with four case studies from the region that present mobile innovators, the new ideas they have created involving the use of the mobile phone and the funding sources that supported the development of mInnovation.
Mobile innovation may be a recent phenomenon in AME, but the field is quickly becoming sophisticated. Pyramid Research predicts that as the sector matures, the marketplace will become increasingly competitive, which will spur further mInnovation developments. "Pyramid believes that three important ingredients to ensure mInnovation success are: a place to exchange knowledge, the talent of human resources and investments to facilitate the transformation of mInnovation ideas into business realities," indicates Matt Donnelly, Managing Editor at Pyramid. "Pyramid Research projects that these conditions will come together in AME to enable the generation and implementation of new mobile-based services, businesses and content that can have a significant impact on the way (and the amount) that mobile network services are consumed," he adds.
Three Steps to Accelerate Mobile Innovation in Africa and the Middle East, Pyramid finds
Three Steps to Accelerate Mobile Innovation in Africa and the Middle East explains the basic components of mInnovation and discusses why AME is fertile ground for mInnovation to take root. The report identifies the three enabling conditions in the mInnovation arena, along with the roles these conditions play in the mInnovation ecosystem, and highlights the benefits of mInnovation for interested stakeholders.
The report concludes with four case studies from the region that present mobile innovators, the new ideas they have created involving the use of the mobile phone and the funding sources that supported the development of mInnovation.
Mobile innovation may be a recent phenomenon in AME, but the field is quickly becoming sophisticated. Pyramid Research predicts that as the sector matures, the marketplace will become increasingly competitive, which will spur further mInnovation developments. "Pyramid believes that three important ingredients to ensure mInnovation success are: a place to exchange knowledge, the talent of human resources and investments to facilitate the transformation of mInnovation ideas into business realities," indicates Matt Donnelly, Managing Editor at Pyramid. "Pyramid Research projects that these conditions will come together in AME to enable the generation and implementation of new mobile-based services, businesses and content that can have a significant impact on the way (and the amount) that mobile network services are consumed," he adds.
Three Steps to Accelerate Mobile Innovation in Africa and the Middle East, Pyramid finds
USA - A study found 6.2% of users had scanned QR codes, mainly in 18-34 years old
[prnewswire] comScore, Inc., a leader in measuring the digital world, today released results of a study on mobile QR and bar code scanning based on data from its comScore MobiLens service. A QR ("Quick Response") code is a specific matrix bar code (or two-dimensional code) that is readable by smartphones. The study found that in June 2011, 14 million mobile users in the U.S., representing 6.2 percent of the total mobile audience, scanned a QR or bar code on their mobile device. The study found that a mobile user that scanned a QR or bar code during the month was more likely to be male (60.5 percent of code scanning audience), skew toward ages 18-34 (53.4 percent) and have a household income of $100k or above (36.1 percent). The study also analyzed the source and location of QR or bar code scanning, finding that users are most likely to scan codes found in newspapers/magazines and on product packaging and do so while at home or in a store.
"QR codes demonstrate just one of the ways in which mobile marketing can effectively be integrated into existing media and marketing campaigns to help reach desired consumer segments," said Mark Donovan, comScore senior vice president of mobile. "For marketers, understanding which consumer segments scan QR codes, the source and location of these scans, and the resulting information delivered, is crucial in developing and deploying campaigns that successfully utilize QR codes to further brand engagement."
14 Million Americans Scanned QR or Bar Codes on Their Mobile Phones in June 2011
"QR codes demonstrate just one of the ways in which mobile marketing can effectively be integrated into existing media and marketing campaigns to help reach desired consumer segments," said Mark Donovan, comScore senior vice president of mobile. "For marketers, understanding which consumer segments scan QR codes, the source and location of these scans, and the resulting information delivered, is crucial in developing and deploying campaigns that successfully utilize QR codes to further brand engagement."
14 Million Americans Scanned QR or Bar Codes on Their Mobile Phones in June 2011
India - Regulator is to reduce international call rates by cutting costs of cable landing stations
[the mobile indian] TRAI is likely to reduce the landing charges paid by the operators on international calls, which will result in reduction in ISD rates.
International call rates may soon get cheaper if Telecom Regulator Authority of India or TRAI, the regulator of the telecom business in India, has its way.
TRAI is reviewing charges paid by International Long Distance Operators (ILDOs) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to Cable Landing Stations (CLS) in India for landing international voice and data traffic on India's shores.
These landing stations connect the country to rest of the world through undersea cables and charge for all the calls originating and terminating in India.
A number of undersea cable-based international consortiums like SMW4, SMW3, TIC and Falcon provide international bandwidth to Indian ISD (all the mobile and landline operators) service providers. These submarine cables terminate at cable landing stations which are operated and managed by Tata, Bharti, Reliance Communication and BSNL.
It is expected that the review will result in lower charges in the next two months and will in sync with ISD tariff of other Asian countries.
This charge constitutes a major chunk of the ISD call rates and therefore any reduction in landing charges will bring down the international call rates further.
While ISD rates have come down for countries with major expatriate Indian population like USA, Canada, UK and Gulf to as low as Rs 3 per minute (at times even lower than that), charges to other countries remain very high which goes up to Rs 10 per minute. Even Nepal which is a neighbour the call rates are more than Rs 9 per minute.
ISD rates may get slashed
International call rates may soon get cheaper if Telecom Regulator Authority of India or TRAI, the regulator of the telecom business in India, has its way.
TRAI is reviewing charges paid by International Long Distance Operators (ILDOs) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to Cable Landing Stations (CLS) in India for landing international voice and data traffic on India's shores.
These landing stations connect the country to rest of the world through undersea cables and charge for all the calls originating and terminating in India.
A number of undersea cable-based international consortiums like SMW4, SMW3, TIC and Falcon provide international bandwidth to Indian ISD (all the mobile and landline operators) service providers. These submarine cables terminate at cable landing stations which are operated and managed by Tata, Bharti, Reliance Communication and BSNL.
It is expected that the review will result in lower charges in the next two months and will in sync with ISD tariff of other Asian countries.
This charge constitutes a major chunk of the ISD call rates and therefore any reduction in landing charges will bring down the international call rates further.
While ISD rates have come down for countries with major expatriate Indian population like USA, Canada, UK and Gulf to as low as Rs 3 per minute (at times even lower than that), charges to other countries remain very high which goes up to Rs 10 per minute. Even Nepal which is a neighbour the call rates are more than Rs 9 per minute.
ISD rates may get slashed
Semiconductors - Intel is commissioning Science Fiction writers to imagine future uses of its technologies
[bbc] Chip maker Intel has commissioned leading science fiction authors to pen short stories that imagine future uses for the firm's technology.
The collection, called "The Tomorrow Project", aims to capture the public's imagination regarding the company's current research.
Intel believes this can help anticipate consumer aspirations, and drive future adoption of its products.
The anthology has been made available online as a free download.
The Tomorrow Project is led by Intel futurist Brian David Johnson, who regards the scheme as an important way to assess future technology trends.
Intel recruits sci-fi writers to dream up future tech
The collection, called "The Tomorrow Project", aims to capture the public's imagination regarding the company's current research.
Intel believes this can help anticipate consumer aspirations, and drive future adoption of its products.
The anthology has been made available online as a free download.
The Tomorrow Project is led by Intel futurist Brian David Johnson, who regards the scheme as an important way to assess future technology trends.
Intel recruits sci-fi writers to dream up future tech
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Wi-Fi - WLAN market revenues are expected to surpass $8 billion in 2015, a 49% increase over 2010 revenues
[prnewswire] In a newly released market forecast report by Dell'Oro Group, the trusted source for market information about the networking and telecommunications industries, overall Wireless LAN (WLAN) market revenues are expected to surpass $8 billion in 2015, a 49% increase over 2010 revenues.
"The wireless LAN market continues its rapid expansion, as it tries to keep pace with the large growth in the number of Wi-Fi enabled devices," said Chris DePuy, Analyst of Wireless LAN research at Dell'Oro Group. "802.11n technology has helped to propel this market, and is continuing to evolve, providing for higher bandwidth connections and the ability to seamlessly roam from the cellular network to WLAN. The small office/home office (SOHO) segment, driven by huge growth in broadband CPE with WLAN and wireless routers, will continue to account for the majority of the revenue, but the enterprise segment, with its faster growth rate, will close the gap within the next few years. Universities and schools, one of the critical vertical segments for WLAN, benefit from government subsidy programs, like the US Federal Communications Commission's E-rate program," added DePuy.
Wireless LAN Market to Expand by 49 Percent in 2015, According to Dell'Oro Group
"The wireless LAN market continues its rapid expansion, as it tries to keep pace with the large growth in the number of Wi-Fi enabled devices," said Chris DePuy, Analyst of Wireless LAN research at Dell'Oro Group. "802.11n technology has helped to propel this market, and is continuing to evolve, providing for higher bandwidth connections and the ability to seamlessly roam from the cellular network to WLAN. The small office/home office (SOHO) segment, driven by huge growth in broadband CPE with WLAN and wireless routers, will continue to account for the majority of the revenue, but the enterprise segment, with its faster growth rate, will close the gap within the next few years. Universities and schools, one of the critical vertical segments for WLAN, benefit from government subsidy programs, like the US Federal Communications Commission's E-rate program," added DePuy.
Wireless LAN Market to Expand by 49 Percent in 2015, According to Dell'Oro Group
Friday, August 19, 2011
Mobile TV - US Cellular has launched a mobile TV service powered by MobiTV with live and on-demand programmes
[prnewswire] Delivering on the increasing demand for mobile media services, U.S. Cellular has launched U.S. Cellular Mobile TV, powered by MobiTV.
U.S. Cellular Mobile TV, a downloadable application, features live TV, video-on-demand programming and the option to download content for offline viewing. Subscribers will have access to top programming from ABC, CBS, NBC, ESPN, The Disney Channel, MTV, Comedy Central and more. In addition to the core entertainment package consisting of news, sports and other select entertainment, genre-specific content packages are also available, including a Spanish-speaking package featuring content from Univision and other providers, and a children's programming package featuring premium content from Nickelodeon, PBS Kids and more.
"Our partnership with MobiTV represents another opportunity for us to delight customers with quality TV entertainment whenever and wherever they want," said Joe Settimi, Senior Director of Data Strategy and Services for U.S. Cellular.
"Additionally, U.S. Cellular Mobile TV will operate on our high-speed nationwide network so users can access information quickly and enjoy everything their cell phone has to offer."
U.S. Cellular Mobile TV provides subscribers with access to compelling features powered by the latest version of MobiTV, Inc.'s converged media platform. These include an enhanced user interface for simple discovery, providing subscribers with tools to create a more personalized experience, and the ability to download and store content for offline viewing.
"Being selected by one of America's top carriers not only showcases the strength of the MobiTV technology platform, but also the demand for a reliable and flexible platform on which a service can grow upon," said Charlie Nooney, CEO, MobiTV, Inc.
U.S. Cellular Launches Mobile TV Service Powered By MobiTV
U.S. Cellular Mobile TV, a downloadable application, features live TV, video-on-demand programming and the option to download content for offline viewing. Subscribers will have access to top programming from ABC, CBS, NBC, ESPN, The Disney Channel, MTV, Comedy Central and more. In addition to the core entertainment package consisting of news, sports and other select entertainment, genre-specific content packages are also available, including a Spanish-speaking package featuring content from Univision and other providers, and a children's programming package featuring premium content from Nickelodeon, PBS Kids and more.
"Our partnership with MobiTV represents another opportunity for us to delight customers with quality TV entertainment whenever and wherever they want," said Joe Settimi, Senior Director of Data Strategy and Services for U.S. Cellular.
"Additionally, U.S. Cellular Mobile TV will operate on our high-speed nationwide network so users can access information quickly and enjoy everything their cell phone has to offer."
U.S. Cellular Mobile TV provides subscribers with access to compelling features powered by the latest version of MobiTV, Inc.'s converged media platform. These include an enhanced user interface for simple discovery, providing subscribers with tools to create a more personalized experience, and the ability to download and store content for offline viewing.
"Being selected by one of America's top carriers not only showcases the strength of the MobiTV technology platform, but also the demand for a reliable and flexible platform on which a service can grow upon," said Charlie Nooney, CEO, MobiTV, Inc.
U.S. Cellular Launches Mobile TV Service Powered By MobiTV
Mobile - Routers and switches expected to constitute 30% of mobile backhaul market
[prnewswire] In a newly released market forecast report by Dell'Oro Group, the trusted source for market information about the networking and telecommunications industries, Mobile Backhaul market revenues are expected to approach $9 billion by 2015. This updated report tracks two key market segments: Transport, which includes microwave and optical equipment, and Routers and Switches, which includes cell site devices, carrier Ethernet switches, and service provider edge routers.
"We're at the initial stage of the mobile broadband wave with only a few LTE deployments underway. As radio access networks across the globe get upgraded to newer mobile radio technologies like 4G LTE, availability of sufficient backhaul capacity will be a key enabler to customer experience. Our latest report indicates high-capacity optical and microwave deployments will have to maintain a growth curve to deliver the requisite backhaul capacity through 2015," said Jimmy Yu, Sr. Director of Optical and Microwave research at Dell'Oro Group.
Furthermore, "Our research has found that operators around the world are concerned with the rate of mobile traffic growth and are transitioning to Internet Protocol (IP) technologies to build a more efficient and scalable backhaul network. Our latest report forecasts the demand for IP-based routers and switches will continue to grow through 2015, almost doubling the market size of the Router and Switches segment in the five-year forecast period," said Shin Umeda, Vice President of Routers research at Dell'Oro Group.
Mobile Broadband to Drive Backhaul Market to $9 Billion by 2015, According to Dell'Oro Group
"We're at the initial stage of the mobile broadband wave with only a few LTE deployments underway. As radio access networks across the globe get upgraded to newer mobile radio technologies like 4G LTE, availability of sufficient backhaul capacity will be a key enabler to customer experience. Our latest report indicates high-capacity optical and microwave deployments will have to maintain a growth curve to deliver the requisite backhaul capacity through 2015," said Jimmy Yu, Sr. Director of Optical and Microwave research at Dell'Oro Group.
Furthermore, "Our research has found that operators around the world are concerned with the rate of mobile traffic growth and are transitioning to Internet Protocol (IP) technologies to build a more efficient and scalable backhaul network. Our latest report forecasts the demand for IP-based routers and switches will continue to grow through 2015, almost doubling the market size of the Router and Switches segment in the five-year forecast period," said Shin Umeda, Vice President of Routers research at Dell'Oro Group.
Mobile Broadband to Drive Backhaul Market to $9 Billion by 2015, According to Dell'Oro Group
Mobile - Shoppers remain highly uncomfortable with mobile payments
[prnewswire] Most shoppers are still very fearful about using their mobile phone to pay for their shopping, according to a poll by money saving website DiscountVouchers.co.uk.
Just over 70% of respondents said they would not use their mobile phone to pay for shopping, even if the technology was secure. Shoppers said they still preferred the more traditional cash or cards.
Doug Scott, managing director of DiscountVouchers.co.uk, says: "This proves shoppers are still very suspicious of shopping with their mobiles. If security is robust, there's nothing to worry about."
Shoppers Suspicious of Using Mobile Phones to Pay for Shopping
Just over 70% of respondents said they would not use their mobile phone to pay for shopping, even if the technology was secure. Shoppers said they still preferred the more traditional cash or cards.
Doug Scott, managing director of DiscountVouchers.co.uk, says: "This proves shoppers are still very suspicious of shopping with their mobiles. If security is robust, there's nothing to worry about."
Shoppers Suspicious of Using Mobile Phones to Pay for Shopping
Zambia - Chamber of Commerce has welcomed the suspension of import duty on telecommunications equipment as a spur to growth
[Times of Zambia] THE Zambia Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI) has hailed Government for suspending duty on telecommunication equipment as this will stimulate growth in the industry.
ZACCI president Geoffrey Sakulanda said in a statement in Lusaka yesterday the measure would accelerate tele-connectivity across the country.
Mr Sakulanda said the development would result in reduction of capital expenditure and in turn accelerate network spread for service operators Airtel, MTN and Zamtel.
Other Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector players constructing and installing communication equipment would also benefit from the development.
Recently, the ministry of Finance and National Planning passed Statutory Instrument No. 23 of 2011 under the Customs and Excise Act which waives all taxes for telecommunications site equipment.
“We applaud the Government who through the Ministry of Finance and National Planning recently passed a Statutory Instrument, which suspends duty on taxes related to all Active and Passive GSM telecommunications equipment.
“As we all know, telecommunications is a catalyst to development. People are able to access communications services. It is most likely that development will follow”,” Mr Sakulanda said.
He expressed happiness at the accelerated mobile network rollout particularly in the rural areas.
The ZACCI president called on service providers to share their infrastructure so that speed is enhanced and competition is extended in all areas.
ZACCI hails State over telecommunications duty stance
ZACCI president Geoffrey Sakulanda said in a statement in Lusaka yesterday the measure would accelerate tele-connectivity across the country.
Mr Sakulanda said the development would result in reduction of capital expenditure and in turn accelerate network spread for service operators Airtel, MTN and Zamtel.
Other Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector players constructing and installing communication equipment would also benefit from the development.
Recently, the ministry of Finance and National Planning passed Statutory Instrument No. 23 of 2011 under the Customs and Excise Act which waives all taxes for telecommunications site equipment.
“We applaud the Government who through the Ministry of Finance and National Planning recently passed a Statutory Instrument, which suspends duty on taxes related to all Active and Passive GSM telecommunications equipment.
“As we all know, telecommunications is a catalyst to development. People are able to access communications services. It is most likely that development will follow”,” Mr Sakulanda said.
He expressed happiness at the accelerated mobile network rollout particularly in the rural areas.
The ZACCI president called on service providers to share their infrastructure so that speed is enhanced and competition is extended in all areas.
ZACCI hails State over telecommunications duty stance
Mobile - Adoption of this technology is a factor in reshaping industries ahead of other trends
[zd net] Although multimedia adoption trends vary by industry, mobile is single-handedly “remaking entire industries,” according to the first annual “Technology Outlook” research report conducted by Bluewolf, which specializes in enterprise-class cloud adoption.
The survey highlights what Bluewolf researchers believe to be the top five tech trends of 2011. Mobile is at the forefront of the pack thanks to increased HTML5 adoption as well as an exponentially growing pool of apps designed for the iPhone, iPad and Android devices.
As for those industries that are being remade? Without a doubt, media is the leader here from a variety of angles as print publishers are finally going forward faster with digital, and then major networks and movie studios are licensing their material for online streaming.
Retail and “high-tech” (i.e. cloud providers, front-end developers, etc.) companies have also made significant gains in mobile, and financial services have made a small push.
Specifically, Bluewolf found that HTML5, Android and iPhone/iPad app development increased by more than 200 percent, although development for BlackBerry and Windows Mobile apps has dropped by roughly 50 percent.
The other four major themes we’re seeing this year, according to Bluewolf, are user engagement, big data, the consumerization of IT and, unsurprisingly, cloud computing.
Cloud computing as a major trend of 2011 has been drummed to death already, but the other three trends could really be considered as off-shoots from the cloud from certain perspectives.
For example, Bluewolf cited that big data revolves around “everything from data storage, warehousing, and integration to Business Intelligence.” Well, cloud storage and virtualization are definitely going to be options there.
Bluewolf concluded that there are a few lessons that can IT managers can learn from these findings — namely, the value of the user experience and keeping the technology portfolio simple.
Even though most of the study findings make it look like companies should starting betting on mobile more than anything, it’s still a good idea to pay considerable attention to the cloud.
Tom Gooding, account director for financial services at Bluewolf, noted in the study, “Look seriously at what you can move to the cloud now (processes, applications or infrastructure), otherwise you will be the last in your industry to do so.”
Mobile is remaking entire industries, study says
The survey highlights what Bluewolf researchers believe to be the top five tech trends of 2011. Mobile is at the forefront of the pack thanks to increased HTML5 adoption as well as an exponentially growing pool of apps designed for the iPhone, iPad and Android devices.
As for those industries that are being remade? Without a doubt, media is the leader here from a variety of angles as print publishers are finally going forward faster with digital, and then major networks and movie studios are licensing their material for online streaming.
Retail and “high-tech” (i.e. cloud providers, front-end developers, etc.) companies have also made significant gains in mobile, and financial services have made a small push.
Specifically, Bluewolf found that HTML5, Android and iPhone/iPad app development increased by more than 200 percent, although development for BlackBerry and Windows Mobile apps has dropped by roughly 50 percent.
The other four major themes we’re seeing this year, according to Bluewolf, are user engagement, big data, the consumerization of IT and, unsurprisingly, cloud computing.
Cloud computing as a major trend of 2011 has been drummed to death already, but the other three trends could really be considered as off-shoots from the cloud from certain perspectives.
For example, Bluewolf cited that big data revolves around “everything from data storage, warehousing, and integration to Business Intelligence.” Well, cloud storage and virtualization are definitely going to be options there.
Bluewolf concluded that there are a few lessons that can IT managers can learn from these findings — namely, the value of the user experience and keeping the technology portfolio simple.
Even though most of the study findings make it look like companies should starting betting on mobile more than anything, it’s still a good idea to pay considerable attention to the cloud.
Tom Gooding, account director for financial services at Bluewolf, noted in the study, “Look seriously at what you can move to the cloud now (processes, applications or infrastructure), otherwise you will be the last in your industry to do so.”
Mobile is remaking entire industries, study says
South Africa - Telkom under (again) new management seems to be setting out a new strategy
[tech central] SA’s most important telecommunications operator has been abused for years. Telkom has been fraught with political infighting and plagued by shocking management decisions. Now, finally, indications are new CEO Nombulelo Moholi is steering the ship away from the rocks.
The billions of rand Telkom squandered on Multi-Links in Nigeria — an acquisition made by axed former CEO Papi Molotsane — must count as one of the most spectacular failures in SA corporate history.
It was under pressure from government to expand elsewhere in Africa, but the purchase of Multi-Links was doomed from the start. The company was one of four operators in the West African market using a wireless technology called CDMA in a sector dominated by GSM operators. This made it difficult for Telkom to get a toehold in the competitive Nigerian market and, coupled with bad management decisions on the ground, Multi-Links became a financial millstone around the operator’s neck.
This wasn’t the only management decision made during Molotsane’s tenure that still haunts Telkom. Its decision to get into the pay-TV business through Telkom Media — later reversed by Molotsane’s successor, the technocrat Reuben September — cost it hundreds of millions of rand more.
For years, Telkom’s senior leadership team has been embroiled in political battles that have caused incalculable damage to the company. September, for example, became embroiled in skirmishes with Jeff Molobela, the former chairman, who didn’t like him or want him at the helm — a fight September eventually lost when he tendered his resignation last year.
Former Cell C CEO, US national Jeffrey Hedberg who had been brought into the Telkom fold to try to rescue Multi-Links, was appointed in an acting capacity to replace September but left the company earlier this year after declining to make himself available for the position on a full-time basis. Instead, the job went to Moholi, who, apart from a brief interregnum at Nedbank — she quit Telkom after being effectively demoted by Molotsane before being hired back by September — has been at the company for most of her working career.
Early indications are that Moholi, with the support of new chairman, the clearly level-headed Lazarus Zim, is righting the Telkom ship. Since Moholi took the helm, what was an almost constant flow of anonymous “dossiers” containing allegations about top management has dried up.
And, although it’s still early days, Telkom does appear to realise it needs to up its game in a market that has become much more competitive in recent years. It must do much more to remain relevant in the voice and data markets, but it’s no longer behaving like it’s the only game in town.
Moholi has an enormous amount on her plate. The company’s “last mile” of copper wire infrastructure will be opened to competitors in some or other way, possibly as early as this year, through a regulatory intervention called “local-loop unbundling”; it’s coming from behind in mobile with 8ta; its monopoly over national long-distance fibre is being eroded; and it remains overstaffed and pressured by powerful trade unions. The list goes on.
In the next few years, Telkom is going to have to make several important calls if it wants to survive in a cutthroat market. One of the biggest of these may involve committing tens of billions of rand to a project to replace its copper network with high-capacity fibre into millions of homes and businesses.
The company is not ready to make a big call like that just yet, though it should already be thinking along those lines. For now, it’s good that stability and normalcy are returning to the company. Without this, Telkom won’t achieve much.
Telkom on the mend?
The billions of rand Telkom squandered on Multi-Links in Nigeria — an acquisition made by axed former CEO Papi Molotsane — must count as one of the most spectacular failures in SA corporate history.
It was under pressure from government to expand elsewhere in Africa, but the purchase of Multi-Links was doomed from the start. The company was one of four operators in the West African market using a wireless technology called CDMA in a sector dominated by GSM operators. This made it difficult for Telkom to get a toehold in the competitive Nigerian market and, coupled with bad management decisions on the ground, Multi-Links became a financial millstone around the operator’s neck.
This wasn’t the only management decision made during Molotsane’s tenure that still haunts Telkom. Its decision to get into the pay-TV business through Telkom Media — later reversed by Molotsane’s successor, the technocrat Reuben September — cost it hundreds of millions of rand more.
For years, Telkom’s senior leadership team has been embroiled in political battles that have caused incalculable damage to the company. September, for example, became embroiled in skirmishes with Jeff Molobela, the former chairman, who didn’t like him or want him at the helm — a fight September eventually lost when he tendered his resignation last year.
Former Cell C CEO, US national Jeffrey Hedberg who had been brought into the Telkom fold to try to rescue Multi-Links, was appointed in an acting capacity to replace September but left the company earlier this year after declining to make himself available for the position on a full-time basis. Instead, the job went to Moholi, who, apart from a brief interregnum at Nedbank — she quit Telkom after being effectively demoted by Molotsane before being hired back by September — has been at the company for most of her working career.
Early indications are that Moholi, with the support of new chairman, the clearly level-headed Lazarus Zim, is righting the Telkom ship. Since Moholi took the helm, what was an almost constant flow of anonymous “dossiers” containing allegations about top management has dried up.
And, although it’s still early days, Telkom does appear to realise it needs to up its game in a market that has become much more competitive in recent years. It must do much more to remain relevant in the voice and data markets, but it’s no longer behaving like it’s the only game in town.
Moholi has an enormous amount on her plate. The company’s “last mile” of copper wire infrastructure will be opened to competitors in some or other way, possibly as early as this year, through a regulatory intervention called “local-loop unbundling”; it’s coming from behind in mobile with 8ta; its monopoly over national long-distance fibre is being eroded; and it remains overstaffed and pressured by powerful trade unions. The list goes on.
In the next few years, Telkom is going to have to make several important calls if it wants to survive in a cutthroat market. One of the biggest of these may involve committing tens of billions of rand to a project to replace its copper network with high-capacity fibre into millions of homes and businesses.
The company is not ready to make a big call like that just yet, though it should already be thinking along those lines. For now, it’s good that stability and normalcy are returning to the company. Without this, Telkom won’t achieve much.
Telkom on the mend?
Thursday, August 18, 2011
UK - China Telecom is to become an MVNO targeting Chinese living in there
[telecoms.com] The European arm of Chinese carrier China Telecom will name the host of its forthcoming UK MVNO play before September, managing director Ou Yan told Telecoms.com. China Telecom Europe, which focuses predominantly on international backbone and enterprise and carrier services, will be launching a UK MVNO before the end of Q112, targeting the half a million Chinese living in Britain with a SIM-only, Chinese content offering, Ou said.
The firm has received bids from host networks in the UK, Ou said, and will be making its selection in less than a fortnight. Key criteria include coverage, 3G network performance and price, Ou said.
“We are the world’s largest Chinese content provider and we know how to deliver this kind of content,” he said. “I have been living in the UK for six years now, and it’s not very easy for the Chinese community here to get Chinese language content, so this could be our entry into the consumer market.”
If successful, Ou plans to replicate the MVNO in other European markets, including France, Germany and Italy, where there are substantial Chinese communities. France has the largest Chinese population in the region, Ou said, with more than 600,000 resident Chinese. The firm also plans to target Chinese tourists visiting the region. But China Telecom Europe is not looking for a single host operator across Europe, Ou said, arguing that this might limit the firm’s expansion.
China Telecom to name UK MVNO host by end August
The firm has received bids from host networks in the UK, Ou said, and will be making its selection in less than a fortnight. Key criteria include coverage, 3G network performance and price, Ou said.
“We are the world’s largest Chinese content provider and we know how to deliver this kind of content,” he said. “I have been living in the UK for six years now, and it’s not very easy for the Chinese community here to get Chinese language content, so this could be our entry into the consumer market.”
If successful, Ou plans to replicate the MVNO in other European markets, including France, Germany and Italy, where there are substantial Chinese communities. France has the largest Chinese population in the region, Ou said, with more than 600,000 resident Chinese. The firm also plans to target Chinese tourists visiting the region. But China Telecom Europe is not looking for a single host operator across Europe, Ou said, arguing that this might limit the firm’s expansion.
China Telecom to name UK MVNO host by end August
USA - More than 33 million Americans used their mobile phones for shopping
[prnewswire] Marketers attempting to understand consumer habits that influence mobile marketing can get a revealing glimpse into the mindset of the mobile consumer through the newly released 2011 Mobile Consumer Report from Experian Simmons.
According to exclusive research from Experian Simmons, a part of Experian Marketing Services, 29 percent of cell phone owners today believe their phone will be the primary device for their entertainment needs in the future. The report provides marketers with vivid insights that they need to prepare for the mobile revolution, including how consumers use their phones to manage social connections, consume media, get information, plan shopping trips, interact with mobile advertising and more.
"The explosion in usage of mobile technologies is an industry game-changer, and marketers need reliable insights to better understand this rapidly changing landscape," said Ken Wollenberg, general manager of Experian Simmons. "This report will help them devise plans that are timely, relevant and more effective in driving incremental sales and building brand awareness in the mobile space."
Other findings from the report include:
More than nine out of 10 adults, seven out of 10 teens and one out of five kids own a mobile phone
Fifty-six percent of smartphone owners access the Internet from their phone; 27 percent watch video
Thirty percent of iPhone owners want to make purchases in stores using their phone
Twenty percent of social networkers access their account from their phone
Sixteen percent of mobile owners downloaded a mobile app last month
More Than 33 Million Americans Use Their Mobile Phone for Shopping-Related Activities
According to exclusive research from Experian Simmons, a part of Experian Marketing Services, 29 percent of cell phone owners today believe their phone will be the primary device for their entertainment needs in the future. The report provides marketers with vivid insights that they need to prepare for the mobile revolution, including how consumers use their phones to manage social connections, consume media, get information, plan shopping trips, interact with mobile advertising and more.
"The explosion in usage of mobile technologies is an industry game-changer, and marketers need reliable insights to better understand this rapidly changing landscape," said Ken Wollenberg, general manager of Experian Simmons. "This report will help them devise plans that are timely, relevant and more effective in driving incremental sales and building brand awareness in the mobile space."
Other findings from the report include:
More than nine out of 10 adults, seven out of 10 teens and one out of five kids own a mobile phone
Fifty-six percent of smartphone owners access the Internet from their phone; 27 percent watch video
Thirty percent of iPhone owners want to make purchases in stores using their phone
Twenty percent of social networkers access their account from their phone
Sixteen percent of mobile owners downloaded a mobile app last month
More Than 33 Million Americans Use Their Mobile Phone for Shopping-Related Activities
Mobile - NG-M2M and connected device market growing at 25% per annum
[prnewswire] Compass Intelligence, a global consulting and market analytics firm, has released its first study on the M2M market: The Next-Generation M2M and Connected Device Business Market - A Paradigm Shift: From Connecting Millions of People, to Connecting Billions of Things - Part I.
Findings from the research, which is part of Compass Intelligence's new Connected Worlds subscription service indicates that the next-generation M2M and connected device market will reach 87 million endpoints by 2015, with a compound annual growth rate of over 25%.
"We have entered an era where every device that can benefit from being connected via a cellular connection to the internet will be connected to the internet; and that this hyper-connectivity coupled together with emerging cloud services will propel society into new ways of interacting with the world around us," explains James Brehm, Senior Strategist of Compass Intelligence."
"Much confusion exists around what makes up M2M. In defining the market, the GSMA includes devices like connected iPads and other media tablets, some Tier-1 MNOs include connected CE like picture frames, PNDs, and the like, while others including M2M specialists and M2MVNOs look solely to B2B applications," states Brehm.
The subscription will provide clarity around the definition, size, and forecast on the next-generation M2M and connected device market, explore the dynamics of the business and consumer next-generation M2M and connected device market, discuss how business models, industries, and markets are changing as a result of anytime anywhere connectivity, and examine new and innovative high-bandwidth M2M services that will shape the world in which we live.
Key findings of our most recent M2M research include the following:
The largest B2B vertical market is the transportation and distribution vertical, with over 30% market share.
Growth will come from areas where there is a demonstrable ROI and that are easiest to measure increased productivity and efficiency.
Cloud computing and cookie cutter hosted applications will drive M2M adoption.
Industry consolidation will occur rapidly over the next twelve to eighteen months.
By 2015 more than 40 percent of M2M connections in the U.S. could be running on 3G, 3.5G, or 4G networks.
Compass Intelligence Research Predicts Tremendous Growth for the Next-Generation M2M and Connected Device Market; U.S. to Reach 87 Million Endpoints by 2015
Findings from the research, which is part of Compass Intelligence's new Connected Worlds subscription service indicates that the next-generation M2M and connected device market will reach 87 million endpoints by 2015, with a compound annual growth rate of over 25%.
"We have entered an era where every device that can benefit from being connected via a cellular connection to the internet will be connected to the internet; and that this hyper-connectivity coupled together with emerging cloud services will propel society into new ways of interacting with the world around us," explains James Brehm, Senior Strategist of Compass Intelligence."
"Much confusion exists around what makes up M2M. In defining the market, the GSMA includes devices like connected iPads and other media tablets, some Tier-1 MNOs include connected CE like picture frames, PNDs, and the like, while others including M2M specialists and M2MVNOs look solely to B2B applications," states Brehm.
The subscription will provide clarity around the definition, size, and forecast on the next-generation M2M and connected device market, explore the dynamics of the business and consumer next-generation M2M and connected device market, discuss how business models, industries, and markets are changing as a result of anytime anywhere connectivity, and examine new and innovative high-bandwidth M2M services that will shape the world in which we live.
Key findings of our most recent M2M research include the following:
The largest B2B vertical market is the transportation and distribution vertical, with over 30% market share.
Growth will come from areas where there is a demonstrable ROI and that are easiest to measure increased productivity and efficiency.
Cloud computing and cookie cutter hosted applications will drive M2M adoption.
Industry consolidation will occur rapidly over the next twelve to eighteen months.
By 2015 more than 40 percent of M2M connections in the U.S. could be running on 3G, 3.5G, or 4G networks.
Compass Intelligence Research Predicts Tremendous Growth for the Next-Generation M2M and Connected Device Market; U.S. to Reach 87 Million Endpoints by 2015
India - GSM operators claim 10% more mobile broadband would add USD 80 billion to education, healthcare and transport sectors
[prnewswire] The GSMA today announced that a 10% increase in broadband penetration in India will contribute a combined US $80 billion (INR 3,506 billion) of net revenues across the country's transport, healthcare and education sectors by 2015. The figures come from a new study, commissioned by the GSMA and conducted by analyst firm Analysys Mason, on the economic impact of Mobile Broadband growth on these key industry sectors.
Broadband connectivity is a driver of socio-economic improvement, fuelling economic growth across all industry sectors and contributing to enhanced GDP. According to Analysys Mason, a 10% increase in broadband penetration will lead to net growth revenue increases of 42% in the healthcare sector (equating to an additional INR 1,215 billion or US$ 27.4 billion), 36.8% in education (an extra INR 1,402 billion or US$ 31.2 billion) and 18.8% in the transport sector (an additional INR 889 billion or US$ 20 billion).
Currently broadband penetration in India is 1.7%(1), and is forecast to rise to 12.5% by 2015. However, to achieve this it is essential that additional spectrum is released quickly, most notably the 700MHz and 2.6GHz bands, so that mobile operators can roll out next-generation Mobile Broadband networks and services and meet demand.
As of Q2 2011, there were 3.5 million HSPA Mobile Broadband connections(2) in India and this figure is expected to rise exponentially to 225.5 million by the end of 2015(3), but only if the right amount of spectrum is allocated for mobile services. According to previous Analysys Mason research(4), allocation of an additional 5MHz of 3G spectrum will lead to a 3.3% increase in Mobile Broadband penetration by population, enhancing GDP by US$ 12.1 billion (INR 538 billion)by 2015.
Robindhra Mangtani, Senior Director, GSMA, commented: "Simply put, if the Indian government allocates sufficient spectrum in the near future, it will open up a staggering economic opportunity. However, the current lack of spectrum remains a formidable obstacle to India benefiting from Mobile Broadband services and the government meeting its stated broadband connectivity target of 160 million Internet connections by 2014. India's government must act quickly if it is to enact the proposed National Spectrum Act, which was announced by Communications Minister Kapil Sibal in April, and quickly allocate the urgently required spectrum to meet the high demand for Mobile Broadband services."
Mangtani continued: "India is the second largest mobile market in the world and a vibrant and exciting growth market for Mobile Broadband – it has an opportunity to shape the mobile industry of the future. By acting now, India's hardware manufacturers and software companies have a huge opportunity to build a lead in developing supporting elements, which will not only transform Indian society but also, through a thriving export market, bring the power of Mobile Broadband to countries across the world."
A 10% Increase in Mobile Broadband Penetration Will Generate US $80 Billion (INR 3,506 Billion) in Extra Revenue for India's Transport, Healthcare and Education Sectors, Says GSMA
Broadband connectivity is a driver of socio-economic improvement, fuelling economic growth across all industry sectors and contributing to enhanced GDP. According to Analysys Mason, a 10% increase in broadband penetration will lead to net growth revenue increases of 42% in the healthcare sector (equating to an additional INR 1,215 billion or US$ 27.4 billion), 36.8% in education (an extra INR 1,402 billion or US$ 31.2 billion) and 18.8% in the transport sector (an additional INR 889 billion or US$ 20 billion).
Currently broadband penetration in India is 1.7%(1), and is forecast to rise to 12.5% by 2015. However, to achieve this it is essential that additional spectrum is released quickly, most notably the 700MHz and 2.6GHz bands, so that mobile operators can roll out next-generation Mobile Broadband networks and services and meet demand.
As of Q2 2011, there were 3.5 million HSPA Mobile Broadband connections(2) in India and this figure is expected to rise exponentially to 225.5 million by the end of 2015(3), but only if the right amount of spectrum is allocated for mobile services. According to previous Analysys Mason research(4), allocation of an additional 5MHz of 3G spectrum will lead to a 3.3% increase in Mobile Broadband penetration by population, enhancing GDP by US$ 12.1 billion (INR 538 billion)by 2015.
Robindhra Mangtani, Senior Director, GSMA, commented: "Simply put, if the Indian government allocates sufficient spectrum in the near future, it will open up a staggering economic opportunity. However, the current lack of spectrum remains a formidable obstacle to India benefiting from Mobile Broadband services and the government meeting its stated broadband connectivity target of 160 million Internet connections by 2014. India's government must act quickly if it is to enact the proposed National Spectrum Act, which was announced by Communications Minister Kapil Sibal in April, and quickly allocate the urgently required spectrum to meet the high demand for Mobile Broadband services."
Mangtani continued: "India is the second largest mobile market in the world and a vibrant and exciting growth market for Mobile Broadband – it has an opportunity to shape the mobile industry of the future. By acting now, India's hardware manufacturers and software companies have a huge opportunity to build a lead in developing supporting elements, which will not only transform Indian society but also, through a thriving export market, bring the power of Mobile Broadband to countries across the world."
A 10% Increase in Mobile Broadband Penetration Will Generate US $80 Billion (INR 3,506 Billion) in Extra Revenue for India's Transport, Healthcare and Education Sectors, Says GSMA
USA - Study show differing levels of satisfaction with mobile operators depending on the consumer channel and transaction type
[prnewswire] Overall satisfaction with the wireless purchase experience differs across contact channels stemming from consumer channel expectations and the transaction type, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2011 U.S. Full-Service Wireless Purchase Experience Study(SM)—Volume 2 and the 2011 U.S. Wireless Non-Contract Purchase Experience Study(SM)—Volume 2, both released today.
Now in their eighth year, the semiannual studies have been expanded in 2011 to collect evaluations from customers who recently had a wireless purchase experience using any of three contact methods: telephone calls with sales representatives; visits to a retail wireless store; and on the Web. Overall customer satisfaction with both full-service and non-contract branded carriers is based on six factors (in order of importance): store sales representative; website sales; phone sales representative; store facility; offerings and promotion; and cost of service.
The study finds that overall customer satisfaction varies widely by the type of channel used for their wireless sales transaction. Satisfaction is lowest among customers who most recently conducted a Web sales transaction (738 on a 1,000-point scale, on average), compared with retail (walk-in) and telephone channels (753 and 752, respectively). Customers who purchased through the Web channel, where finding information quickly is more challenging, tend to rate their experience lower based on the general lack of personal assistance, compared with either in-person or over the phone.
In addition, the study finds that satisfaction with cost of service and offerings and promotions is lower when purchases are made over the phone than when made online or in stores. For example, satisfaction with cost of service among purchases occurring over the phone averages 626, compared with 653 and 652 when purchases occur online and in stores, respectively. Similarly, satisfaction with offerings and promotions for purchases made over the phone averages 12 points lower than for online purchases and 17 points lower than for in-store purchases. Customers making purchases online and in stores have the opportunity to view all product offerings and see the pricing associated with each one, which is not always possible over the phone.
"Within the past year, there have been a number of new product and service plan innovations where, in most cases, relatively detailed information needs to be provided to customers in a logical and cost-effective manner," said Kirk Parsons, senior director of wireless services at J.D. Power and Associates. "Being able to provide a seamless experience across multiple sales channels is key for service carriers, particularly as devices and plans become more complex. Providing up-to-date product and service information is becoming increasingly critical to exceeding customer expectations."
Overall satisfaction also differs by the method of purchase, as expectations are set by the type of purchase being made. For example, satisfaction is 775 among full-service customers who change their service plan via the phone, compared with just 716 among those opting to do so online. However, overall satisfaction scores do not vary by channel when purchasing a new device.
According to Parsons, full-service carriers that provide an exceptional purchase experience (receiving ratings of 10 on a 10-point scale) may earn $4 more per customer each month, compared with full-service carriers that do not provide a satisfactory experience.
Sprint and T-Mobile rank highest, in a tie, in customer satisfaction among major full-service wireless carriers with a score of 755 each. Sprint performs well among the website sales, offerings and promotions and cost of service factors. T-Mobile performs particularly well in the cost of service factor.
Boost Mobile ranks highest in overall purchase experience satisfaction among non-contract service carriers with an overall score of 766. Boost Mobile performs particularly well in phone sales representative, offerings and promotions and cost of service. MetroPCS (760) and Virgin Mobile (753) follow Boost Mobile in the non-contract service carrier rankings.
The study also finds the following key retail wireless sales transaction patterns:
Sixty-two percent of full-service customers indicate that their most recent purchase experience occurred in a retail store location, while 19 percent say that their most recent sales transaction occurred via the telephone or online channel. This differs considerably from non-contract branded customers—26 percent say their most recent purchase transaction occurred online, and only 13 percent indicate that it was over the telephone.
The average total time customers spent in the full-service retail store to complete the sales transaction is approximately 53 minutes—a decrease of more than three minutes, compared with six months ago. In comparison, customers making purchases from non-contract carriers indicate spending just 44 minutes in the retail store.
Satisfaction with the overall purchase experience among other retailers, such as Apple, Best Buy, Costco, RadioShack and Wal-Mart, averages 740 index points—18 points lower than among stores owned by full-service wireless carriers.
The 2011 Wireless Full-Service Purchase Experience Study—Volume 2 is based on responses from 9,190 wireless customers. The 2011 Wireless Non-Contract Purchase Experience Study—Volume 2 is based on responses from 1,767 wireless customers. Both studies are among current subscribers who report having a sales transaction with their current carrier within the past six months. The study was fielded from January through June 2011.
J.D. Power and Associates Reports: Satisfaction with the Wireless Purchase Experience Differs Considerably Among Sales Channels
Now in their eighth year, the semiannual studies have been expanded in 2011 to collect evaluations from customers who recently had a wireless purchase experience using any of three contact methods: telephone calls with sales representatives; visits to a retail wireless store; and on the Web. Overall customer satisfaction with both full-service and non-contract branded carriers is based on six factors (in order of importance): store sales representative; website sales; phone sales representative; store facility; offerings and promotion; and cost of service.
The study finds that overall customer satisfaction varies widely by the type of channel used for their wireless sales transaction. Satisfaction is lowest among customers who most recently conducted a Web sales transaction (738 on a 1,000-point scale, on average), compared with retail (walk-in) and telephone channels (753 and 752, respectively). Customers who purchased through the Web channel, where finding information quickly is more challenging, tend to rate their experience lower based on the general lack of personal assistance, compared with either in-person or over the phone.
In addition, the study finds that satisfaction with cost of service and offerings and promotions is lower when purchases are made over the phone than when made online or in stores. For example, satisfaction with cost of service among purchases occurring over the phone averages 626, compared with 653 and 652 when purchases occur online and in stores, respectively. Similarly, satisfaction with offerings and promotions for purchases made over the phone averages 12 points lower than for online purchases and 17 points lower than for in-store purchases. Customers making purchases online and in stores have the opportunity to view all product offerings and see the pricing associated with each one, which is not always possible over the phone.
"Within the past year, there have been a number of new product and service plan innovations where, in most cases, relatively detailed information needs to be provided to customers in a logical and cost-effective manner," said Kirk Parsons, senior director of wireless services at J.D. Power and Associates. "Being able to provide a seamless experience across multiple sales channels is key for service carriers, particularly as devices and plans become more complex. Providing up-to-date product and service information is becoming increasingly critical to exceeding customer expectations."
Overall satisfaction also differs by the method of purchase, as expectations are set by the type of purchase being made. For example, satisfaction is 775 among full-service customers who change their service plan via the phone, compared with just 716 among those opting to do so online. However, overall satisfaction scores do not vary by channel when purchasing a new device.
According to Parsons, full-service carriers that provide an exceptional purchase experience (receiving ratings of 10 on a 10-point scale) may earn $4 more per customer each month, compared with full-service carriers that do not provide a satisfactory experience.
Sprint and T-Mobile rank highest, in a tie, in customer satisfaction among major full-service wireless carriers with a score of 755 each. Sprint performs well among the website sales, offerings and promotions and cost of service factors. T-Mobile performs particularly well in the cost of service factor.
Boost Mobile ranks highest in overall purchase experience satisfaction among non-contract service carriers with an overall score of 766. Boost Mobile performs particularly well in phone sales representative, offerings and promotions and cost of service. MetroPCS (760) and Virgin Mobile (753) follow Boost Mobile in the non-contract service carrier rankings.
The study also finds the following key retail wireless sales transaction patterns:
Sixty-two percent of full-service customers indicate that their most recent purchase experience occurred in a retail store location, while 19 percent say that their most recent sales transaction occurred via the telephone or online channel. This differs considerably from non-contract branded customers—26 percent say their most recent purchase transaction occurred online, and only 13 percent indicate that it was over the telephone.
The average total time customers spent in the full-service retail store to complete the sales transaction is approximately 53 minutes—a decrease of more than three minutes, compared with six months ago. In comparison, customers making purchases from non-contract carriers indicate spending just 44 minutes in the retail store.
Satisfaction with the overall purchase experience among other retailers, such as Apple, Best Buy, Costco, RadioShack and Wal-Mart, averages 740 index points—18 points lower than among stores owned by full-service wireless carriers.
The 2011 Wireless Full-Service Purchase Experience Study—Volume 2 is based on responses from 9,190 wireless customers. The 2011 Wireless Non-Contract Purchase Experience Study—Volume 2 is based on responses from 1,767 wireless customers. Both studies are among current subscribers who report having a sales transaction with their current carrier within the past six months. The study was fielded from January through June 2011.
J.D. Power and Associates Reports: Satisfaction with the Wireless Purchase Experience Differs Considerably Among Sales Channels
Pakistan - Parliamentary Cttee accused mobile operators of plundering with corrupt employees of the regulator
[pakistan tribune] Standing Committee of the Senate on Telecommunications and Information Technology has said mobile companies are plundering the people with both hands in collaboration with Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), "whose corrupt employees are taking their share from these companies".
The committee meeting was held at the Parliament House on Wednesday. Chairman of the committee Senator Idrees Khan presided.
He constituted an eight-member sub-committee under the chairmanship of Senator Zahid Khan which would submit its report to the committee after making an inquiry into the billions of rupees of corruption in the Universal Service Fund.
Chairman PTA Muhammad Yaseen told the committee that at present only 13 operators are allowed to bring international traffic of telecom signals to Pakistan. He said in 2008 a system was installed to check unauthorized signals, but only 30 percent international calls are being monitored as the system has not been upgraded till date. An amount of $10 million would be required o improve the monitoring system.
He informed the committee that Rs64 billion revenue was collected on account of international call traffic, which was given to Universal Service Funds. On the occasion the chairman standing committee pointed out that illegal international call traffic is on the rise as it shares 25 percent of the total telecom traffic.
Senator Faisal Raza Abdi said a fraud of Rs4 billion occurred in Universal Service Fund. He said several illegal telephone exchanges have been running in the country under the supervision of dishonest officers of FIA. The member board of director of Universal Service Funds is himself working as a contractor.
He said the role of PTA is almost nil and its staff is getting heavy salaries and perks for doing nothing. "One minute call drops after a few seconds, but the consumer has to pay full dues". The committee has decided to call representatives of the mobile companies in the next meeting.
Senate body flays mobile companies for illegal profits
The committee meeting was held at the Parliament House on Wednesday. Chairman of the committee Senator Idrees Khan presided.
He constituted an eight-member sub-committee under the chairmanship of Senator Zahid Khan which would submit its report to the committee after making an inquiry into the billions of rupees of corruption in the Universal Service Fund.
Chairman PTA Muhammad Yaseen told the committee that at present only 13 operators are allowed to bring international traffic of telecom signals to Pakistan. He said in 2008 a system was installed to check unauthorized signals, but only 30 percent international calls are being monitored as the system has not been upgraded till date. An amount of $10 million would be required o improve the monitoring system.
He informed the committee that Rs64 billion revenue was collected on account of international call traffic, which was given to Universal Service Funds. On the occasion the chairman standing committee pointed out that illegal international call traffic is on the rise as it shares 25 percent of the total telecom traffic.
Senator Faisal Raza Abdi said a fraud of Rs4 billion occurred in Universal Service Fund. He said several illegal telephone exchanges have been running in the country under the supervision of dishonest officers of FIA. The member board of director of Universal Service Funds is himself working as a contractor.
He said the role of PTA is almost nil and its staff is getting heavy salaries and perks for doing nothing. "One minute call drops after a few seconds, but the consumer has to pay full dues". The committee has decided to call representatives of the mobile companies in the next meeting.
Senate body flays mobile companies for illegal profits
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Social Networking - LinkedIn.com has launched a mobile app for Apple, Android and the mobile Web
[ny times] LinkedIn hopes to capture some of the frenzy surrounding social networking on smartphones with a series of major updates announced Tuesday on the company’s Web site.
The company’s mobile offerings, which have grown relatively stale, have been completely redesigned for Apple iOS, Google Android and the mobile Web with a slick and simple interface and a batch of new features.
Joff Redfern, mobile product director at LinkedIn, said in a phone interview that the new apps were meant to make the service more attractive to mobile users. Mr. Redfern said that the company hoped to engage people who used LinkedIn primarily on the Web and rarely used its mobile products.
LinkedIn Targets Mobile Users
The company’s mobile offerings, which have grown relatively stale, have been completely redesigned for Apple iOS, Google Android and the mobile Web with a slick and simple interface and a batch of new features.
Joff Redfern, mobile product director at LinkedIn, said in a phone interview that the new apps were meant to make the service more attractive to mobile users. Mr. Redfern said that the company hoped to engage people who used LinkedIn primarily on the Web and rarely used its mobile products.
LinkedIn Targets Mobile Users
UK - One Scottish police force will accept reporting of crimes using Facebook
[bbc] Criminals can now be reported to the police on Facebook under a new scheme launched by Lothian and Borders Police.
The 'Made From Crime' initiative will allow internet users to report their concerns online, anonymously if they wish, through an advert on the site.
It is the first scheme of its kind in Scotland, and has the backing of the Scottish government, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
It makes use of the Proceeds of Crime Act, allowing officers to seize assets.
Crime to be reported to police on Facebook
The 'Made From Crime' initiative will allow internet users to report their concerns online, anonymously if they wish, through an advert on the site.
It is the first scheme of its kind in Scotland, and has the backing of the Scottish government, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
It makes use of the Proceeds of Crime Act, allowing officers to seize assets.
Crime to be reported to police on Facebook
USA - Online privacy policies can be made more consistent to help in presenting them to customers
[NY Times] For many Internet users, online privacy policies are long and difficult to read. Transfer those same policies to a mobile device, where users can find themselves clicking through multiple screens often with tiny type, and the policies can become almost useless to the average consumer.
Yet those same policies govern how much user data is collected through mobile applications and how that data is shared with advertisers and other third parties. And with growing concern over data collection, including proposed legislation to more closely protect consumers, one company is trying to make privacy policies that are both easy for consumers to read and easy for mobile application developers to create.
“Everybody complains that no one reads privacy policies and that privacy policies are too long and too difficult,” said Jim Brock, the founder of PrivacyChoice, a company that has analyzed and indexed the data in hundreds of privacy policies across the Web. “The mobile environment requires you to say things very succinctly, and it requires you to say things in layers.”
Using the data collected from hundreds of online privacy policies, Mr. Brock and his team devised a tool to help mobile application developers create basic policies without the help of a lawyer. Developers who want to use the tool can select answers to basic questions about how they collect data, how that data is used and whether it can be deleted.
The resulting policy boils complicated policy language down to a few sentences like “We collect or share your location only with your permission” or “We keep personal data until you delete it.”
“If you have 10 minutes, you can get on the right side of privacy rules,” said Mr. Brock, who estimates that the vast majority of applications that mobile phone users download don’t have privacy policies at all. Policies that do exist can be challenging for users to read without having to click through multiple screens. Adding to the confusion, many application developers are small businesses that make revenue off customized advertising, but don’t have a consistent approach to making policy.
Morgan Reed, the executive director for the Association for Competitive Technology, a trade organization that supports mobile application developers, said more than 80 percent of developers are small businesses with fewer than 10 employees. Many of the apps they create collect data on users — including their location — that can be sent to advertising networks, which in turn show users ads based on the data that has been collected.
Without advertising revenue, app developers would have to charge more for their apps — which typically sell for 99 cents to a few dollars each — and some might find it difficult to stay in business. “Solving this privacy problem is absolutely critical for us,” Mr. Reed said. “We want to make sure this revenue stream continues.”
The cost for a legal consultation, which can range from a couple of hundred dollars to thousands, can also be a deterrent for small app developers looking to create privacy policies. But Christopher Wolf, a partner at the Hogan Lovells law firm and a co-chairman of the Future of Privacy Forum, said app developers should not claim cost as an excuse.
“I think it’s a cop-out for app developers to say they don’t have the budget for it,” Mr. Wolf said. “It’s an investment for any business that deals in consumer data. They ought to build it into the development cost.”
Andrew Binkowski, a researcher at the University of Chicago and an app developer, said allowing advertising on his baby name app, Stork Drop, doubled his revenue. Mr. Binkowski said the app drew advertisements for items like diapers or cord blood banks (facilities that store umbilical cord blood for future use).
As for privacy policies, Mr. Binkowski said he wasn’t sure if it was necessary to have one given that his apps did not collect personally identifiable data and in some cases, did not collect any data at all. The cost and expertise needed to create a privacy policy were also a concern. “I’m still not certain about what needs to go in there,” he added.
Forrester Research predicts that by 2015, 36 percent of consumers in the United States will use mobile Internet services, with spending on mobile advertising expected to increase to $2.8 billion.
In June, Senator Al Franken, Democrat of Minnesota and the chairman of the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on privacy, technology and the law, proposed legislation along with Senator Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut, that would require mobile companies to obtain a user’s consent before collecting location-based data and before sharing that data with third parties.
Recent efforts to increase the availability of mobile privacy policies, like Mr. Brock’s policy generator, “is a good first step in informing consumers,” Mr. Franken said in an e-mail. “But it alone will not address the majority of privacy threats that consumers face on their mobile devices.”
Another tool to manage tracking by advertisers and ad networks is being developed by Evidon, the company that provided the technology behind an icon-based online self-regulatory program supported by the Digital Advertising Alliance.
Scott Meyer, the company’s chief executive, said work is under way on a tool that would allow users to opt out of being served targeted advertising across multiple providers, similar to the way the icon program works. Mr. Meyer said the company had already signed contracts with multiple ad networks and agencies and expected to announce the new tool by the end of the year.
“The point of this is to build a more trusted environment,” Mr. Meyer said.
Industry Tries to Streamline Privacy Policies for Mobile Users
Yet those same policies govern how much user data is collected through mobile applications and how that data is shared with advertisers and other third parties. And with growing concern over data collection, including proposed legislation to more closely protect consumers, one company is trying to make privacy policies that are both easy for consumers to read and easy for mobile application developers to create.
“Everybody complains that no one reads privacy policies and that privacy policies are too long and too difficult,” said Jim Brock, the founder of PrivacyChoice, a company that has analyzed and indexed the data in hundreds of privacy policies across the Web. “The mobile environment requires you to say things very succinctly, and it requires you to say things in layers.”
Using the data collected from hundreds of online privacy policies, Mr. Brock and his team devised a tool to help mobile application developers create basic policies without the help of a lawyer. Developers who want to use the tool can select answers to basic questions about how they collect data, how that data is used and whether it can be deleted.
The resulting policy boils complicated policy language down to a few sentences like “We collect or share your location only with your permission” or “We keep personal data until you delete it.”
“If you have 10 minutes, you can get on the right side of privacy rules,” said Mr. Brock, who estimates that the vast majority of applications that mobile phone users download don’t have privacy policies at all. Policies that do exist can be challenging for users to read without having to click through multiple screens. Adding to the confusion, many application developers are small businesses that make revenue off customized advertising, but don’t have a consistent approach to making policy.
Morgan Reed, the executive director for the Association for Competitive Technology, a trade organization that supports mobile application developers, said more than 80 percent of developers are small businesses with fewer than 10 employees. Many of the apps they create collect data on users — including their location — that can be sent to advertising networks, which in turn show users ads based on the data that has been collected.
Without advertising revenue, app developers would have to charge more for their apps — which typically sell for 99 cents to a few dollars each — and some might find it difficult to stay in business. “Solving this privacy problem is absolutely critical for us,” Mr. Reed said. “We want to make sure this revenue stream continues.”
The cost for a legal consultation, which can range from a couple of hundred dollars to thousands, can also be a deterrent for small app developers looking to create privacy policies. But Christopher Wolf, a partner at the Hogan Lovells law firm and a co-chairman of the Future of Privacy Forum, said app developers should not claim cost as an excuse.
“I think it’s a cop-out for app developers to say they don’t have the budget for it,” Mr. Wolf said. “It’s an investment for any business that deals in consumer data. They ought to build it into the development cost.”
Andrew Binkowski, a researcher at the University of Chicago and an app developer, said allowing advertising on his baby name app, Stork Drop, doubled his revenue. Mr. Binkowski said the app drew advertisements for items like diapers or cord blood banks (facilities that store umbilical cord blood for future use).
As for privacy policies, Mr. Binkowski said he wasn’t sure if it was necessary to have one given that his apps did not collect personally identifiable data and in some cases, did not collect any data at all. The cost and expertise needed to create a privacy policy were also a concern. “I’m still not certain about what needs to go in there,” he added.
Forrester Research predicts that by 2015, 36 percent of consumers in the United States will use mobile Internet services, with spending on mobile advertising expected to increase to $2.8 billion.
In June, Senator Al Franken, Democrat of Minnesota and the chairman of the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on privacy, technology and the law, proposed legislation along with Senator Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut, that would require mobile companies to obtain a user’s consent before collecting location-based data and before sharing that data with third parties.
Recent efforts to increase the availability of mobile privacy policies, like Mr. Brock’s policy generator, “is a good first step in informing consumers,” Mr. Franken said in an e-mail. “But it alone will not address the majority of privacy threats that consumers face on their mobile devices.”
Another tool to manage tracking by advertisers and ad networks is being developed by Evidon, the company that provided the technology behind an icon-based online self-regulatory program supported by the Digital Advertising Alliance.
Scott Meyer, the company’s chief executive, said work is under way on a tool that would allow users to opt out of being served targeted advertising across multiple providers, similar to the way the icon program works. Mr. Meyer said the company had already signed contracts with multiple ad networks and agencies and expected to announce the new tool by the end of the year.
“The point of this is to build a more trusted environment,” Mr. Meyer said.
Industry Tries to Streamline Privacy Policies for Mobile Users
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Netherlands - Dutch competition authority blocked the sale of CAIW a cable operator to KPN
[dutch news] The Dutch anti-cartel authority NMa has blocked the sale of a small cable service provider to KPN, saying it would 'strongly' limit competition, and calling for more research.
KPN said in May it planned to take over CAIW (known as Caiway), which has 143,000 clients mainly in the west of the country.
'The takeover would lead to both the cable and the copper network in the west being owned by the same firm, the NMa said in a statement. 'This will limit consumer choice in terms of television services, internet access and fixed link telephony.'
The NMa will now carry out a more detailed investigation into the takeover. In addition, KPN will have to apply for a licence to acquire CAIW if it decides to press ahead.
According to the Financieele Dagblad, KPN plans to press ahead with the purchase, despite NMa opposition.
Cartel body blocks KPN's acquisition of cable firm Caiway
KPN said in May it planned to take over CAIW (known as Caiway), which has 143,000 clients mainly in the west of the country.
'The takeover would lead to both the cable and the copper network in the west being owned by the same firm, the NMa said in a statement. 'This will limit consumer choice in terms of television services, internet access and fixed link telephony.'
The NMa will now carry out a more detailed investigation into the takeover. In addition, KPN will have to apply for a licence to acquire CAIW if it decides to press ahead.
According to the Financieele Dagblad, KPN plans to press ahead with the purchase, despite NMa opposition.
Cartel body blocks KPN's acquisition of cable firm Caiway
Greece - Spectrum auction is pitched at higher prices to help pay off its deficit
[ny times] This November, the Greek government hopes to raise as much as €300 million by auctioning some of the best parts of its broadcast spectrum to three mobile network operators. Proceeds from the sale would help Greece weather its financial crisis.
But Greece, despite its grave fiscal problems, is by no means acting like a distressed seller. The country is planning to sell 14 units of prime 900-megahertz spectrum. At current prices, a block of 10 megahertz could cost as much as €46.6 million, or $66.2 million. One operator, Wind Hellas, says that is twice as much as other European sellers are asking in similar sales.
“The approach used to set the price for the renewal of mobile spectrum is driven solely by short-term revenue gains and disregards the need for Greece to create a positive investment climate,” Nassos Zarkalis, the chief executive of Wind, the No. 3 operator, said after the government set the auction’s terms in late July. “This sends the worst signal possible to international investors.”
The price demands are particularly galling to Wind, whose owners, a group of five U.S and British investment funds, recently paid €420 million to acquire the company in December, the largest single investment by a foreign company in Greece so far.
Terms of Spectrum Auction in Greece Rankle Operators
But Greece, despite its grave fiscal problems, is by no means acting like a distressed seller. The country is planning to sell 14 units of prime 900-megahertz spectrum. At current prices, a block of 10 megahertz could cost as much as €46.6 million, or $66.2 million. One operator, Wind Hellas, says that is twice as much as other European sellers are asking in similar sales.
“The approach used to set the price for the renewal of mobile spectrum is driven solely by short-term revenue gains and disregards the need for Greece to create a positive investment climate,” Nassos Zarkalis, the chief executive of Wind, the No. 3 operator, said after the government set the auction’s terms in late July. “This sends the worst signal possible to international investors.”
The price demands are particularly galling to Wind, whose owners, a group of five U.S and British investment funds, recently paid €420 million to acquire the company in December, the largest single investment by a foreign company in Greece so far.
Terms of Spectrum Auction in Greece Rankle Operators
USA - Verizon ranked top mobile carrier by Strategy Analytics
[fierce wireless] Strategy Analytics ranked US mobile carriers
1 Verizon Wireless
2 AT&T Mobility
3 Sprint Nextel
4 T-Mobile USA
5 MetroPCS
6 Clearwire
7 U.S. Cellular
8 Leap Wireless
9 Cellular South
10 ATN
11 Cincinnati
12 Ntelos
Grading the top 10 U.S. carriers in the second quarter of 2011
1 Verizon Wireless
2 AT&T Mobility
3 Sprint Nextel
4 T-Mobile USA
5 MetroPCS
6 Clearwire
7 U.S. Cellular
8 Leap Wireless
9 Cellular South
10 ATN
11 Cincinnati
12 Ntelos
Grading the top 10 U.S. carriers in the second quarter of 2011
Mobile handsets - Gartner estimates Nokia share has slipped from 30.1 to 22.8%
[NY Times] Nokia is about to drop from its position as the leading cellphone maker in the world, according to the latest sales estimates made by the technology analysts at Gartner.
Nokia was still No. 1 in the second quarter of the year, but its worldwide market share slipped to 22.8 percent from 30.1 percent in the same quarter a year ago.
The rest of the horse race goes as follows: Samsung at 16.3 percent, down from 17.8 percent, and LG at 5.7 percent, down from 8 percent.
Hugues De La Vergne, the author of the report, said sales of cellphones and smartphones were starting to slide in Europe, where those three makers are strong. He also said that Nokia appears to have stuffed the sales channels to get rid of inventory, which it won’t be able to do in the current quarter.
Gaining strength was Apple in the No. 4 slot with 4.6 percent, up from 2.4 percent, followed by ZTE with 3 percent, up from 1.8 percent.
Research in Motion, to no one’s surprise, also slipped. Its market share is about 3 percent, down from 3.2 percent.
Cellphone Market Share Shifting
Nokia was still No. 1 in the second quarter of the year, but its worldwide market share slipped to 22.8 percent from 30.1 percent in the same quarter a year ago.
The rest of the horse race goes as follows: Samsung at 16.3 percent, down from 17.8 percent, and LG at 5.7 percent, down from 8 percent.
Hugues De La Vergne, the author of the report, said sales of cellphones and smartphones were starting to slide in Europe, where those three makers are strong. He also said that Nokia appears to have stuffed the sales channels to get rid of inventory, which it won’t be able to do in the current quarter.
Gaining strength was Apple in the No. 4 slot with 4.6 percent, up from 2.4 percent, followed by ZTE with 3 percent, up from 1.8 percent.
Research in Motion, to no one’s surprise, also slipped. Its market share is about 3 percent, down from 3.2 percent.
Cellphone Market Share Shifting
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Iraq - Parliament wants USD 2.85 Bn from mobile operators
Iraq's parliament has ruled that three mobile operators must pay $2.85 billion in licence fees and fines within a month, overturning a deal allowing them to pay over five years, lawmakers and officials said on Thursday.
The ruling late on Wednesday could reinforce investor worries about unclear regulations over who controls the telecommunications sector, one of the fastest growing industries in a country pulling back from years of war.
Iraq's Ministry of Communications and the Communications and Media Commission (CMC), an independent body linked to parliament, both oversee the telecoms sector, but they are usually at odds over who has the final word on regulation.
Iraq's parliament voted late on Wednesday to recommend Kuwait operator Zain (ZAIN.KW), Asiacell, an affiliate of Qatar Telecom (QTEL.QA) (Qtel), and Korek, part-owned by France Telecom SA (FTE.PA), pay all the $2.85 billion within a month.
But in a reflection of the murkiness of regulations, officials and lawmakers gave conflicting interpretations on whether the vote was binding because the companies had struck a deal with the previous government to pay that amount over five years.
The payment covers the cost of their operating licences in Iraq, interest for delayed payments and fines.
Iraqi lawmakers seek $2.85 bln from telecom firms
The ruling late on Wednesday could reinforce investor worries about unclear regulations over who controls the telecommunications sector, one of the fastest growing industries in a country pulling back from years of war.
Iraq's Ministry of Communications and the Communications and Media Commission (CMC), an independent body linked to parliament, both oversee the telecoms sector, but they are usually at odds over who has the final word on regulation.
Iraq's parliament voted late on Wednesday to recommend Kuwait operator Zain (ZAIN.KW), Asiacell, an affiliate of Qatar Telecom (QTEL.QA) (Qtel), and Korek, part-owned by France Telecom SA (FTE.PA), pay all the $2.85 billion within a month.
But in a reflection of the murkiness of regulations, officials and lawmakers gave conflicting interpretations on whether the vote was binding because the companies had struck a deal with the previous government to pay that amount over five years.
The payment covers the cost of their operating licences in Iraq, interest for delayed payments and fines.
Iraqi lawmakers seek $2.85 bln from telecom firms
Friday, August 12, 2011
Thailand - Gp Capt Anudith Nakornthap is the new Minister of ICT, promises to sort out concessions
[Bangkok Post] The new Information and Communications Technology (ICT) minister says reorganising all mobile concessions will be one of his first tasks aimed at addressing past illegal concession amendments.
Gp Capt Anudith Nakornthap was royally endorsed on Tuesday to head what he admitted is a ministry of choice.
He said he would make a nationwide broadband network a top priority in order to narrow the digital divide so that the technology is available to urban and rural communities alike.
"Under my leadership, a level playing field will be created for all telecom companies in terms of regulatory framework and concession terms so that ICT is accessible and affordable to all Thai citizen, serving the nation's interests," he told the Bangkok Post.
"I will not take sides with or favour any company, even the mobile leader AIS. Any company found guilty of wrongdoing will be subjected to the same rule and law.
"I have no particular loyalty or agenda with any company."
Gp Capt Anudith also said the probe into DTAC's nationality, initiated by its rival True Move during the previous government, would continue.
"If the country's second-largest mobile operator is found guilty of using nominees, an act in violation of the Foreign Business Alliance Act [action must be taken]. [Investigation into the shareholder structure of] AIS would be no exception either."
Gp Capt Anudith, former leader of the Royal Thai Air Force's F-16ADF squadron, has the full backing of Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan - a former key member of Thai Rak Thai who retains a strong influence in Pheu Thai though she is currently banned from politics.
Bangkok MP Anudith also said that he wanted to erase the negative image of the two state telecom enterprises, TOT Plc and CAT Telecom, by restructuring and reorganising them to make them fit for the highly competitive telecom market.
He indicated that the ministry would complete and announce key plans next week to drive ICT expansion, strengthen the ICT master plan, as well as a policy and legislative framework aimed at addressing the sector's problems by creating a level playing field for everyone.
New ICT minister vows to sort out concession mess
Gp Capt Anudith Nakornthap was royally endorsed on Tuesday to head what he admitted is a ministry of choice.
He said he would make a nationwide broadband network a top priority in order to narrow the digital divide so that the technology is available to urban and rural communities alike.
"Under my leadership, a level playing field will be created for all telecom companies in terms of regulatory framework and concession terms so that ICT is accessible and affordable to all Thai citizen, serving the nation's interests," he told the Bangkok Post.
"I will not take sides with or favour any company, even the mobile leader AIS. Any company found guilty of wrongdoing will be subjected to the same rule and law.
"I have no particular loyalty or agenda with any company."
Gp Capt Anudith also said the probe into DTAC's nationality, initiated by its rival True Move during the previous government, would continue.
"If the country's second-largest mobile operator is found guilty of using nominees, an act in violation of the Foreign Business Alliance Act [action must be taken]. [Investigation into the shareholder structure of] AIS would be no exception either."
Gp Capt Anudith, former leader of the Royal Thai Air Force's F-16ADF squadron, has the full backing of Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan - a former key member of Thai Rak Thai who retains a strong influence in Pheu Thai though she is currently banned from politics.
Bangkok MP Anudith also said that he wanted to erase the negative image of the two state telecom enterprises, TOT Plc and CAT Telecom, by restructuring and reorganising them to make them fit for the highly competitive telecom market.
He indicated that the ministry would complete and announce key plans next week to drive ICT expansion, strengthen the ICT master plan, as well as a policy and legislative framework aimed at addressing the sector's problems by creating a level playing field for everyone.
New ICT minister vows to sort out concession mess
Thursday, August 11, 2011
South Africa - ISPA argues for the importance of optical fibre as backhaul for other networks
[news24] Despite the exponential growth of wireless internet connectivity, cable broadband remains relevant in SA, the Internet Service Providers' Association (Ispa) said.
"The fibre is critical somewhere in the network, so even if I'm now getting an LTE 42mbps service from Vodacom, you're accessing the internet through that; you're getting to the closest base station. What happens once it gets to the base station? Fibre," Dominic Cull, Ispa regulatory advisor told News24.
Cull said that despite the rise in mobile wireless devices, broadband would continue to rely on cable for the foreseeable future.
"There's got to be fibre in your core network, even if your last mile is wireless," he said.
SA has seen an explosion of wireless devices and access to the internet via the wireless networks. Mobile operators have been racing to upgrade their networks as consumer demand for web access has expanded.
SA cable broadband still relevant - Ispa
"The fibre is critical somewhere in the network, so even if I'm now getting an LTE 42mbps service from Vodacom, you're accessing the internet through that; you're getting to the closest base station. What happens once it gets to the base station? Fibre," Dominic Cull, Ispa regulatory advisor told News24.
Cull said that despite the rise in mobile wireless devices, broadband would continue to rely on cable for the foreseeable future.
"There's got to be fibre in your core network, even if your last mile is wireless," he said.
SA has seen an explosion of wireless devices and access to the internet via the wireless networks. Mobile operators have been racing to upgrade their networks as consumer demand for web access has expanded.
SA cable broadband still relevant - Ispa
Computing - The PC is going the way of typewriters, vinyl records and vacuum tubes
[bbc] PCs are going the way of typewriters, vinyl records and vacuum tubes, one of the engineers who worked on the original machine has said.
The claim was made in a blog post commemorating 30 years since the launch of the first IBM personal computer.
No longer, said Dr Mark Dean, are PCs the leading edge of computing.
No single device has taken the PC's place, he said, instead it has been replaced by the socially-mediated innovation it has fostered.
While IBM was not the first to produce a personal computer, the launch of the 5150 on 12 August 1981 established standards and a design around which many desktop machines have since been built.
Era of the PC 'coming to a close'
see also original blog
The claim was made in a blog post commemorating 30 years since the launch of the first IBM personal computer.
No longer, said Dr Mark Dean, are PCs the leading edge of computing.
No single device has taken the PC's place, he said, instead it has been replaced by the socially-mediated innovation it has fostered.
While IBM was not the first to produce a personal computer, the launch of the 5150 on 12 August 1981 established standards and a design around which many desktop machines have since been built.
Era of the PC 'coming to a close'
see also original blog
Cameroon - 6,000km of optical fibre as part of the Central African Backbone linking to Chad, Cameroon and CAR
[cameroon tribune] Cameroon now counts close to six thousand kilometres of active optical fibre planted across the national territory, thanks to the Central African Backbone (CAB) project which went underway in 2010. The Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Jean-Pierre Biyiti bi Essam, also President of the national steering committee of the sub-regional project, has said.
Mr Biyiti bi Essam was speaking at the Yaounde Hilton Hotel yesterday August 10 while chairing the first national steering committee meeting of the project. The meeting, he said, was meant to evaluate the path covered thus far and chart the way forward.
Since launching the sub-regional project in Yaounde on August 5, 2010, the government of Cameroon went down to work, through the country's telecommunications outfit, Camtel, through whom the over 5,000 km optical fibre cables have been planted. The minister disclosed that the project endorsed by the CEMAC Head of States seeks to decrease prohibitive telecommunication costs in landlocked countries, improve quality, route diversification and coverage of telecommunication services and enable regional integration through public-private partnership implementation.
The ongoing phase one of the CEMAC/World sponsored project covers Chad, Cameroon and the Central African Republic while phase two will include other African countries like, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Democratic Republic of Congo, among others. "While Cameroon is already fully engaged with the planting of the optical fibre cables, other countries are still being awaited to bring onboard their backbone for interconnection so as to render effective the CAB project," Nana Yomba Lucien, Director of Infrastructure in the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, said.
Telecommunications - Cameroon Assesses CAB Project
Mr Biyiti bi Essam was speaking at the Yaounde Hilton Hotel yesterday August 10 while chairing the first national steering committee meeting of the project. The meeting, he said, was meant to evaluate the path covered thus far and chart the way forward.
Since launching the sub-regional project in Yaounde on August 5, 2010, the government of Cameroon went down to work, through the country's telecommunications outfit, Camtel, through whom the over 5,000 km optical fibre cables have been planted. The minister disclosed that the project endorsed by the CEMAC Head of States seeks to decrease prohibitive telecommunication costs in landlocked countries, improve quality, route diversification and coverage of telecommunication services and enable regional integration through public-private partnership implementation.
The ongoing phase one of the CEMAC/World sponsored project covers Chad, Cameroon and the Central African Republic while phase two will include other African countries like, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Democratic Republic of Congo, among others. "While Cameroon is already fully engaged with the planting of the optical fibre cables, other countries are still being awaited to bring onboard their backbone for interconnection so as to render effective the CAB project," Nana Yomba Lucien, Director of Infrastructure in the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, said.
Telecommunications - Cameroon Assesses CAB Project
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