3wan.net

Green ICTs - Google's use oof electricity is now computed as a total and per user

2011-09-08T14:52:00.001-07:00

Kenya - Regulator has published a detailed analysis of ICT access by location

2011-09-04T14:14:00.000-07:00

[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

Thailand - DTAC is to launch a 3G service in Bangkok this week, despite legal threats

2011-09-04T14:11:00.000-07:00

[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

Thailand - Govt and Shin Sat are in continued debate over satellite commitments and costs

2011-09-04T14:09:00.000-07:00

[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

Thailand - Official has accused DTAC of violating the foreign ownership law

2011-09-04T14:07:00.000-07:00

[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

USA - 40% of adult consumers have smartphones with Android the most popular operating systems

2011-09-04T14:05:00.000-07:00

[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

Fiji-Tonga undersea cable - This is to be funded by the Asian Development Bank

2011-09-04T05:13:00.000-07:00

[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

Pakistan - Regulator has suspended 11 service providers for non-payment of regulatory fees

2011-09-04T05:11:00.000-07:00

[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

Mobile - Analyst challenges the view that smartphones generate enough revenue to pay for network investments

2011-09-04T05:09:00.000-07:00

[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?

Mobile - Networks are almost full requiring significant investment in upgrading to cope with demand

2011-09-04T05:04:00.000-07:00

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

South Africa - Govt wants to issue spectrum licences to new operators in 2.6 and 3.5 GHz bands

2011-08-24T13:55:00.000-07:00

[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

Africa - Google cache servers are helping local exchange of content - content delivery neworks

2011-08-24T13:53:00.000-07:00

[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

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

2011-08-24T13:50:00.000-07:00

[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

South Africa - Vodacom will "deregister" 1 million SIM card where no personal details have been recorded

2011-08-22T15:32:00.000-07:00

[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

Privacy - NY Times warns over the privacy settings for Linkedin.com

2011-08-21T14:49:00.000-07:00

[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

Australia - Consumers of mobile services have high expectations not always satisfied

2011-08-21T14:46:00.000-07:00

[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

Mobile Adverts - growth of 22%, over the previous quarter, served 112.5 billion mobile advertising impressions across the globe

2011-08-21T14:43:00.000-07:00

[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

Australia - National research and academic network trialing 8 Terabits per second

2011-08-21T14:42:00.000-07:00

[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

Mobile - Analysis of means to increase innovation in mobile in Africa and the Middle East

2011-08-21T14:37:00.000-07:00

[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

USA - A study found 6.2% of users had scanned QR codes, mainly in 18-34 years old

2011-08-21T14:35:00.000-07:00

[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

India - Regulator is to reduce international call rates by cutting costs of cable landing stations

2011-08-21T14:34:00.001-07:00

[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

Semiconductors - Intel is commissioning Science Fiction writers to imagine future uses of its technologies

2011-08-21T14:32:00.000-07:00

[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

Wi-Fi - WLAN market revenues are expected to surpass $8 billion in 2015, a 49% increase over 2010 revenues

2011-08-20T00:44:00.000-07:00

[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

Mobile TV - US Cellular has launched a mobile TV service powered by MobiTV with live and on-demand programmes

2011-08-19T14:59:00.000-07:00

[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

Mobile - Routers and switches expected to constitute 30% of mobile backhaul market

2011-08-19T14:57:00.000-07:00

[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

Mobile - Shoppers remain highly uncomfortable with mobile payments

2011-08-19T14:55:00.000-07:00

[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

Zambia - Chamber of Commerce has welcomed the suspension of import duty on telecommunications equipment as a spur to growth

2011-08-19T14:33:00.000-07:00

[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

Mobile - Adoption of this technology is a factor in reshaping industries ahead of other trends

2011-08-19T14:24:00.000-07:00

[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

South Africa - Telkom under (again) new management seems to be setting out a new strategy

2011-08-19T14:23:00.000-07:00

[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?

UK - China Telecom is to become an MVNO targeting Chinese living in there

2011-08-18T14:54:00.000-07:00

[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

USA - More than 33 million Americans used their mobile phones for shopping

2011-08-18T04:15:00.000-07:00

[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

Mobile - NG-M2M and connected device market growing at 25% per annum

2011-08-18T04:09:00.000-07:00

[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

India - GSM operators claim 10% more mobile broadband would add USD 80 billion to education, healthcare and transport sectors

2011-08-18T04:08:00.000-07:00

[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

USA - Study show differing levels of satisfaction with mobile operators depending on the consumer channel and transaction type

2011-08-18T04:06:00.000-07:00

[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

Pakistan - Parliamentary Cttee accused mobile operators of plundering with corrupt employees of the regulator

2011-08-18T04:03:00.000-07:00

[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

Social Networking - LinkedIn.com has launched a mobile app for Apple, Android and the mobile Web

2011-08-17T14:13:00.000-07:00

[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

UK - One Scottish police force will accept reporting of crimes using Facebook

2011-08-17T14:08:00.000-07:00

[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

USA - Online privacy policies can be made more consistent to help in presenting them to customers

2011-08-17T14:06:00.000-07:00

[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

Netherlands - Dutch competition authority blocked the sale of CAIW a cable operator to KPN

2011-08-16T14:50:00.000-07:00

[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

Greece - Spectrum auction is pitched at higher prices to help pay off its deficit

2011-08-16T14:42:00.000-07:00

[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

USA - Verizon ranked top mobile carrier by Strategy Analytics

2011-08-16T14:38:00.000-07:00

[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

Mobile handsets - Gartner estimates Nokia share has slipped from 30.1 to 22.8%

2011-08-16T14:33:00.000-07:00

[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

Iraq - Parliament wants USD 2.85 Bn from mobile operators

2011-08-14T10:10:00.000-07:00

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

Thailand - Gp Capt Anudith Nakornthap is the new Minister of ICT, promises to sort out concessions

2011-08-12T11:48:00.000-07:00

[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

South Africa - ISPA argues for the importance of optical fibre as backhaul for other networks

2011-08-11T14:53:00.000-07:00

[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

Computing - The PC is going the way of typewriters, vinyl records and vacuum tubes

2011-08-11T14:48:00.000-07:00

[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

Cameroon - 6,000km of optical fibre as part of the Central African Backbone linking to Chad, Cameroon and CAR

2011-08-11T14:44:00.000-07:00

[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

Amazon - Launch of the "Kindle Cloud Reader" for Apple products to bypass its hefty retail margin

2011-08-11T14:42:00.000-07:00

[bbc] Amazon has launched a browser-based version of its Kindle eBook application called the Kindle Cloud Reader.

The software is optimised for iPad tablets, but directs customers to Amazon's own eBook store instead of using Apple's purchasing system.

This avoids the 30 percent charge on in-app purchases levied by Apple.

The launch follows recent changes to Apple's terms that forced Amazon and others to remove direct purchasing links in their native iPad programs.

Kindle Cloud Reader can run on PCs, Macs and mobile devices using the Apple Safari or Google Chrome web browser.

The application is not regarded as a 'native' program because it runs in a web page, and therefore isn't subject to Apple restrictions.

However, using the latest HTML5 web technology, Cloud Reader looks like a native app - and even saves books onto the user's device for reading offline.

A button on the web page takes users to Amazon's Kindle Store where they can purchase new items.

Amazon dodges iPad rules with a web-based Kindle reader

Australia - Cisco predicts 84 million network-connected devices by 2015, three times the population

2011-08-11T14:29:00.000-07:00

[cisco] Cisco predicts that the number of network-connected devices in Australia will be more than 84 million, more than triple Australia's population, by 2015. In the Australia-specific projections from its fifth annual global Cisco® Visual Networking Index Forecast (2010-2015) released today, the company also said the total amount of Australia's consumer and business Internet (IP) traffic will grow six-fold by 2015, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 41%.

When coupled with the Government's National Digital Economy Strategy, the results reveal that Australia is on the verge of a substantial evolution in how new jobs, businesses and even new public services will be enabled by a broadband-enabled economy. According to Cisco, the four key factors that will drive this evolution in Australia are:

1. More Internet users:By 2015, there will be 20 million Internet users – up from 14 million in 2010. The average Internet user will generate 19.5 gigabytes of Internet traffic per month in 2015, up 562% from 3.0 gigabytes per month in 2010, a CAGR of 46%.

2. Higher demand for broadband: IP traffic will reach 22 gigabytes per capita in Australia in 2015, up from 4 gigabytes per capita in Australia in 2010. In 2015, IP traffic will be the equivalent of 2 billion DVDs per year, 128 million DVDs per month or 175,885 DVDs per hour.

3. An increasing number of devices: The proliferation of tablets, mobile phones, connected appliances and other smart devices is driving up the demand for connectivity. By 2015, in Australia there will be 3.6 networked devices per capita, up from 2.1 per capita in 2010.

4. More video: By 2015, 15 billion minutes (27,716 years) of video content will traverse the Internet every month. Internet video traffic will be 81% of all consumer Internet traffic in 2015, up from 50% in 2010.

Today's research reinforces the need for Australian businesses to prepare for the next wave of productivity, collaboration and the stimulation of innovation that can be gained from the forthcoming NBN, one of the key platforms for Australia's economic future. The increase in Internet video traffic highlights that Australians are seeking more visual, virtual and mobile Internet experiences. This has implications for key industry sectors such as education, retail and entertainment and how they may consider creating more interactive, engaging learning, shopping and social experiences for Australians.

The research also predicts that Australian Internet-video-to-television traffic will be 14% of consumer Internet video traffic by 2015, up from 7% in 2010. This projection will be of interest to Australian employers who may choose to offer Web-based video conferencing to teleworkers as a means of maintaining the same collaborative work culture and productivity levels while saving the employee from commuting during peak hours and reducing transport congestion

Australia to See Internet Grow Six-Fold by 2015 – What's the Productivity Payoff?

Australia - NBN changes the way companies can engage with customers and can make efficiency gains for them and the national economy

2011-08-11T14:25:00.000-07:00

[it wire] The head of IT at one of Australia’s leading law firms has provided the most compelling reason yet as to why enterprises need to start planning immediately for the services they will offer as the national broadband network is rolled out across the country. It's all about a resurgence of IT driven competitive advantage.

Speaking at a Trans-Tasman Business Circle event in Sydney today Peter Westerveld, chief information officer for Minter Ellison said; “If the technology makes it easier for us to connect to clients, so it will be easier for competitors to connect to clients.” Organisations which failed to start planning now for the services they might offer in the future would miss out on the competitive advantage accruing from being an NBN early adopter he warned.

Mr Westerveld said that once the network was rolled out the way that law firms interacted with clients would be quite different. He said that law firms competed both for clients and for talent, and innovative, fast IT systems were seen as offering a competitive advantage that organisations could not afford to ignore.

Glenn Archer, first assistant secretary of AGIMO, (the Australian Government Information Management Office) meanwhile said that the increased speeds and reach offered by the NBN would “Open enormous opportunities to build service delivery platforms for citizens.” He made the unsubstantiated claim that the “Internet is now the preferred channel” for citizens to do business with Government, but acknowledged that the services which government could deliver at present were “constrained by the lowest common denominator” in terms of the technology platform and internet speeds available to Australians.

This he said led to “Often skinny, basic websites,” being developed because “Most citizens are limited to dial up speeds.”

He also said that a fast ubiquitous broadband network was essential to deliver the promised benefits of cloud computing. Cloud computing he said “Will be as much of a game changer as the internet. But if you don’t have high speed internet you don’t have cloud.”

Sharing the platform was Jim Hassell, head of product development and sales at NBN Co. He said that organisations with early access to the NBN in Tasmania were now starting to see benefits.

He cited film animation company Blue Rocket which had previously taken 30 hours to download a 24 minute video from overseas clients. Uploading the completed video back to the client took 11 days.

Mr Hassell said that the speeds offered by the NBN meant that the download would now take 35 minutes, and the upload one and a half hours.

While much commentary about the NBN has focussed on whether the country needs a network which would allow entertainment videos to be downloaded quickly, research revealed by Cisco today demonstrates that the video content on the internet is surging even given current network speeds.

Releasing the results of its Visual Networking Index Forecast for 2010-2015, Les Williamson, vice president of Cisco Asia Pacific, said that by next year 50 per cent of consumer traffic over the internet would be visual. In Australia 80 per cent of internet traffic was expected to be video by 2015.

Not all of that visual traffic will be entertainment focussed. The rollout of the national e-health initiative will vastly increase the amount of visual medical data transmitted over the internet for example.

Also the release yesterday of the Productivity Commission’s report into how to tackle the nation’s ageing population called for more Australians to be provided with aged care services in their own home. This will demand the use of telehealth and remote monitoring devices, again increasing the amount of non entertainment video transmitted over the internet.

Mr Hassell said advances in other technologies – such as medical imaging systems - was also placing additional burden on communications networks. Where a typical medical scan might have once collected 20 Mbytes of data, the resolution had advanced to the extent that a scan today could reach 200 Mbytes placing much higher demands on communications networks should the scan be transmitted electronically.

Cisco’s research suggests that by 2015 the 20 million internet users in Australia will each generate 19.5 Gbytes of internet traffic a month.

Law firm believes NBN promises competitive edge

Australia - Cisco forecasts IP traffic growth to 149 Petabytes per month and doubling each year

2011-08-11T14:23:00.000-07:00

[it wire] Cisco has released its latest global IP traffic forecasts - for the first time breaking out Australian specific data, which includes the forecast that, by 2015, Australian mobile networks will be carrying 149 petabytes per month as a result of data volumes doubling ever year from their 2010 level of just five petabytes per month.

Mobile data traffic is forecast to grow at three times the rate of fixed IP traffic. According to Cisco, it accounted for just five percent of total IP traffic in 2010, but this will rise to 29 percent of 54 petabytes per month by 2015, according to Cisco's forecasts, in its fifth annual global Cisco Visual Networking Index Forecast (2010-2015).

Network connected devices will double from 47 million in 2010 to 84 million in 2015, Cisco says, but it has given no indication how many of these will use mobile as opposed to fixed networks.

Cisco is forecasting Australian Internet users to number 20 million by 2015, up from 14 million today with the average user generating 19.5GB of Internet traffic per month, up from 3.0GB in 2010. Eighty two percent of this traffic will be video, according to Cisco, some 15 billion minutes per month.

This figure seems somewhat conservative as it equates to only 25 minutes per user per day. Given the time Australian's spend watching TV and or DVDs, a reasonable substitution of current delivery technologies with IP delivered video would seem likely to push this figure higher.

Cisco is forecasting that Internet-video-to-television traffic in Australia will be 14 percent of consumer Internet video traffic by 2015, up from seven percent in 2010.

It says: "The increase in Internet video traffic highlights that Australians are seeking more visual, virtual and mobile Internet experiences. This has implications for key industry sectors such as education, retail and entertainment and how they may consider creating more interactive, engaging learning, shopping and social experiences for Australians."

Cisco developed th VNI Forecast to estimate global Internet Protocol traffic growth and trends. It is based on in-depth analysis and modelling of traffic, usage and device data from independent analyst forecasts.

According to Cisco, "The annual study, which began in 2008, has historically been accurate to within a three percent to five percent deviation - usually on the conservative side."

Challenge for mobile operators: how to carry 149 petabytes per month

Asia-Pacific - Mobile business is the top issue for IT professions according to IDC

2011-08-11T14:21:00.000-07:00

[it wire] Every IT manager we talk to tells us that dealing with the diversity and infiltration of smartphones and tablets is a growing issue. So, it's no surprise that mobile business is the number one IT issue occupying the minds of IT professionals in Asia/Pacific, according to IDC's CIO Innovation Survey 2011.

The definition of "enterprise mobility" is evolving according to IDC. For some it's about mobile email or Unified Communications. For others, it's about extending the office into the mobile environment.

Tim Dillon, IDC's Associate Vice President for Asia/Pacific End-User and Mobility Research says "Organizations that continue to take enterprise mobility for granted will be swept aside in the new environment. Today, we’re seeing what we could call a ‘perfect storm’ created by the evolution of different areas of technology combining to fundamentally, and drastically change how organizations can use enterprise mobility to support business goals and strategies. New access networks, new devices, new mobile operating systems, applications, platforms and delivery models come together to create true and all-embracing enterprise mobility. If previous IT turning points for industry have been the move from mainframes to desktops and the growth of Internet, then new mobile devices and applications will constitute the next seismic shift."

Experienced IT leaders know that, despite the constant change cycle of hardware specifications, fundamental platform shifts are relatively rare in technology. In the 1980s there was the move from centralised to distributed computing as the mainframe gave way to the PC. However, for the next 20 years or so, much of the progress followed Moore's Law with almost every component of the computer becoming faster, bigger or cheaper. It wasn't until the middle of 2010s when mobile communications and device portability combined to create a new computing platform - one that many IT managers are struggling to deal with.

IDC will be holding their Asia/Pacific Mobile Everything Conferences in Melbourne (August 10) and Sydney (August 24) where they will explore the changing landscape for devices where tablets, iPads and large-screen smartphones can now run almost fully functional versions of all enterprise software and services. Smarter and more capable mobile operating systems are providing the market with platforms to mobilize new applications, extending the functionality of virtually all IT systems to the mobile devices.

Dillon adds, "ICT is evolving on multiple fronts to create a true revolution in mobility. As enterprise applications become mobile, the boundaries of the enterprise become extended and blurred. With the constant evolution in devices and applications that tap into the core enterprise systems, all systems become increasingly vulnerable to the acts of negligent users and malicious attacks - Companies will need to pair 'pervasive mobility' with 'ubiquitous security'."

IDC says mobility is biggest ICT issue in Asia Pac

Mobile - Data bandwidth usage continued rapid rise with 77% growth in H1 2011

2011-08-11T14:15:00.000-07:00

[allot] Allot Communications Ltd., a leading supplier of service optimization and revenue generation solutions for fixed and mobile broadband service providers worldwide, announced today that its H1 2011 Allot MobileTrends Report shows that mobile data bandwidth usage continued its steady rise with 77% growth during the first half (H1) of 2011 based on data collected from Allot’s worldwide mobile operator customers.

The H1 2011 Allot MobileTrends Report found that video streaming continued to show significant growth with a 93% increase, and remains the single largest application taking up bandwidth, accounting for 39% of mobile bandwidth. Although having limited impact on the total bandwidth, VoIP and IM have gained share to become the fastest growing application type with a 101% increase. This data is in line with the declining SMS/MMS revenue experienced by operators.

The H1 2011 Allot MobileTrends Report for the first time takes a closer look at trends in charging models among worldwide operators based on survey information gathered from over fifty worldwide mobile operators. The findings reveal that a growing number of operators are implementing application-aware charging models and most operators no longer offer ‘unlimited’ data plans.

Main findings include:

YouTube remains the single most popular mobile Internet destination, accounting for 22% of mobile data bandwidth usage and 52% of total video streaming
Apple’s App Store generates 84% of overall app store download traffic, while Google’s Android Market accounts for 13
Skype continues as the undisputed VoIP market leader with 82% of mobile VoIP bandwidth, although its market share has been slightly reduced by newcomers such as Viber
Twitter and Facebook grew by 297% and 166%, respectively
32% of the mobile operators surveyed worldwide have already implemented application-aware charging models
“OTT applications continue to shift the balance of power from the operators to the content and app providers,” said Rami Hadar, President and CEO of Allot Communications. “This presents a real challenge for survival to which operators have already begun to respond. We are seeing operators taking the opportunity to evolve their service plans, away from 'unlimited' and towards application-aware models, in order to meet this challenge."

The Allot MobileTrends Report data was collected from January 1 to June 30, 2011 from leading mobile operators worldwide with a combined user base of 250 million subscribers. Except for data regarding mobile charging trends, Allot gathered the data using the long term reporting capabilities of Allot NetXplorer, Allot’s centralized management and reporting system. The length of the collection period allows for increased accuracy in the identification of usage trends and patterns, reducing the influence of temporary events in the monitored networks. Information on mobile charging trends is based on a survey of more than fifty mobile broadband providers worldwide. The information gathered is publicly available on operators' websites.

Allot MobileTrends Report Shows Significant 77% Growth in Mobile Data Bandwidth Usage in H1, 2011

Google - US Patriot Act trumps EU data protection laws, with Google passing data to US "intelligence" agencies

2011-08-11T01:07:00.000-07:00

[softpedia] Google has admitted complying with requests from US intelligence agencies for data stored in its European data centers, most likely in violation of European Union data protection laws.

Gordon Frazer, Microsoft UK's managing director, made news headlines some weeks ago when he admitted that Microsoft can be compelled to share data with the US government regardless of where it is hosted in the world.

At the center of this problem is the USA PATRIOT ACT, which states that companies incorporated in the United States must hand over data administered by their foreign subsidiaries if requested.

Not only that, but they can be forced to keep quiet it in order to avoid exposing active investigations and alert those targeted by the probes.

This situation poses a serious problem for companies like Microsoft, Google or Amazon, which offer cloud services around the world, because their subsidiaries must also respect local laws.

For example, European Union legislation requires companies to protect the personal information of EU citizens and this is clearly not something that Microsoft, Google, Amazon, or any of their EU customers can do.

This is not only a theoretical problem. According to German-language magazine WirtschaftsWoche [Google translate], a Google spokesperson confirmed that the company has complied with requests from US intelligence agencies for data stored in its European data centers.

The situation is likely to spark an official inquiry from the European Commission, with some members of the European Parliament already reacting to the stories. It's hard to foresee what kind of solution can be found at this point, but one thing's clear - US-based cloud providers operating in EU can be forced to break the law. European companies and government agencies that are using their services are also in a tough position.

Google Admits Handing over European User Data to US Intelligence Agencies

USA - Regulator has proposed 5-stage plan for SMS and video calls to emergency services

2011-08-11T01:00:00.000-07:00

[the hill] Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski announced a five-step plan to deploy the next generation of 911 services at a conference in Philadelphia on Wednesday.

The plan will allow emergency responders to receive text messages, voice calls, videos and photos from individuals while providing automatic location information to decrease response time. The commission is expected to launch a rulemaking on the issue at next month's open meeting.

“It’s hard to imagine that airlines can send text messages if your flight is delayed, but you can’t send a text message to 9-1-1 in an emergency," Genachowski said.

"The unfortunate truth is that the capability of our emergency response communications has not kept pace with commercial innovation — has not kept pace with what ordinary people now do every day with communications devices. The shift to NG911 can’t be about if, but about when and how.”

Genachowski promised last year that the next generation of 911 services would include the ability to accept text messages and videos, citing the inability of trapped students to text 911 during the Virginia Tech campus shootings in 2007. The FCC launched an inquiry on texting 911 at its December meeting.

The plan calls for developing location accuracy mechanisms so emergency dispatchers can quickly pinpoint the location of the caller. The commission will also work with states to create a governance framework for the next-generation 911 network, along with technical standards for hardware and software.

The commission will also work with Congress to develop a cost model and explore possible options to fund the next-generation network.

Congress is still deadlocked over the issue of a nationwide, interoperable public-safety network for first-responders, one of the key recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. The stalemate appears unlikely to be resolved before the 10th anniversary of the attacks next month.

FCC announces plan to update 911 to receive texts, video

Australia - The decline of the Wi-Fi hotspot driven by the cheapness of mobile broadband - but rise again as operators try to off-load traffic

2011-08-09T05:48:00.000-07:00

[it wire] Remember when carrier operated public WiFi hotspots were all the rage? Telstra, Optus and a handful of private operators were rolling them out in coffee shops, airports and on the street. Sure every other coffee shop today has free WiFi, but the big telco-operated networks have all but disappeared. They could be about to make a comeback.

Telstra at one point had over 1000 public WiFi hotspots. In mid 2005 it had 130 in the CBDs of Sydney and Melbourne alone. The Australian reported at the time that Telstra had "switched on blanket WiFi coverage across the Sydney and Melbourne CBDs."

And where are they today? According to Telstra's web site it has just 49. They are located mostly in airports and a few hotels and conference centres.

Optus' network has similarly shrunk. It announced in 2003 that it would install over 500 WiFi hotspots in CBD cafes, airports and hotels over the ensuing 18 months. I'm not sure what the number peaked at but today, according to the Optus web site there are less than 60 in a disparate collection of - mostly - coffee shops hotels and bars. And, the web site says, the service is not available to new customers.

It's not hard to see why telco-operated public WiFi is moribund: the meteoric rise of - and similarly meteoric fall in the price of - wireless broadband. Public WiFi is not even a cheap option: Both Telstra and Optus charge around $12 per hour, which is not particularly attractive in comparison to cellular broadband except for the very infrequent user. Once you've bought your dongle - pretty cheap these days - even the premium priced Telstra will give you 1GB on its mobile network anywhere in Australia for $40 on 30 day prepay. And the MVNOs are a good deal cheaper.

But perhaps it is too early to write RIP over carrier operated WiFi networks. A number of industry commentators claim that, notwithstanding the efficiency gains promised by LTE and beyond it by LTE advanced, such is the growing demand for wireless data that offload to WiFi and/or femtocells will be essential.

Just last week, analyst firm Juniper Research issued a report forecasting that even with the increased deployment and utilisation of LTE networks, global mobile network data delivery costs could surpass $US370b annually by 2016, a sevenfold increase on their 2010 level of $US53b.

Where has all the WiFi gone?

Netherlands - Net Neutrality Law has been blamed for rises in mobile data prices, considered among the most expensive in Europe

2011-08-09T05:45:00.000-07:00

[fierce wireless] All three mobile operators in the Netherlands have now raised their mobile data pricing, making the tariffs among the most expensive in Europe.
The pricing changes, first taken by KPN Mobile, are being viewed as the operator community's response to the Dutch parliament passing net neutrality legislation, which has banned operators from charging extra for services like Skype and IM services.

The Dutch market, which is becoming increasingly competitive, saw KPN Mobile, which has just under 50 per cent market share--report second-quarter service revenues down 8.7 per cent year-on-year. The company responded by announcing mobile data price increases starting September 15.

T-Mobile, which shares the remaining market with Vodafone, has followed KPN Mobile by no longer offering unlimited data at no extra cost. Instead, subscribers can pay extra to go above the limit but only at a slower data speed. Vodafone also lowered its data allowances in new tariff plans that became effective last Monday.
In an attempt to soften the impact of these changes, KPN and Vodafone are looking to make their subscribers more aware of their data usage. Both operators plan to provide customers with more data download details on their monthly bills as well as up-to-date usage via the operators' websites.

Vodafone, T-Mobile react to Dutch net neutrality by raising mobile data tariffs

Cyberwarfare - Proposal to use OSCE as the vehicle to pre-empt cyberattacks

2011-08-09T05:12:00.000-07:00

[nextgov] Russia and the United States are co-sponsoring a resolution to pre-empt cyberattacks that an influential international body is expected to adopt this week, according to a Belgium parliamentary member who introduced the decree. The proposal calls for member nations to exchange information about the way they intend to deploy cyber technology during military conflicts.

Russian support is notable because the former Soviet republic was blamed in 2007 for knocking out Internet access in neighboring Estonia. Both nations belong to the 56-member Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. OSCE parliamentarians are gathering this week in Serbia to select provisions for inclusion in the Belgrade Declaration, an annual statement that guides OSCE decisions. The organization, which represents North America, Europe and Central Asia, provides a venue for negotiations on conflict prevention and post-war rehabilitation.

"One advantage of OSCE is that we have Russia as a state," Belgian Parliamentarian Francois Xavier de Donnea told Nextgov in an interview Tuesday. "It is a place where the American and European countries can dialogue with the former Soviet Union and risks can be reduced."

Alexander Kozlovsky, deputy chairman of the Russian State Duma International Affairs Committee, signed the proposed provision, according to de Donnea.

"I think such a resolution could get unanimous support," de Donnea said.

Last month, defense ministers at NATO, which does not include Russia, approved a new policy on cyber defense to help allies protect their communications systems and deter cyberattacks.

Deputy Secretary of Defense William J. Lynn III said shortly after passage, "NATO is unanimous in acknowledging the need to elevate its treatment of network security," adding that the new strategic concept the alliance adopted last November "names cybersecurity as a leading priority for NATO in the 21st century."

But De Donnea said the ideal forum for worldwide discussion of cybersecurity threats is the United Nations.

"If the OSCE succeeds in conducting dialogues between states on norms in cybersecurity. . . it would be a major step toward a more global approach, which would be promoted by the United Nations," he said. The U.N. and OSCE do not share a budget but coordinate closely on field operations.

Last week, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said she believes the OSCE can play a meaningful role in forming international measures for state behavior in cyberspace, but she was not specifically addressing the resolution at the time, aides said Tuesday.

"We welcome consideration of the establishment of a cybersecurity unit within the OSCE secretariat with existing resources and look forward to discussing this in more detail with other OSCE participating states and partners," she said during remarks at a joint meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council and OSCE Forum for Security Cooperation in Vienna.

Separately, the White House in May distributed a voluntary international strategy for cybersecurity that, like the OSCE proposal, urges cooperation in developing standards for acceptable conduct on the Internet.

U.S. and Russia among 22 nations supporting international cyber resolution

USA - FCC has found that fdixed broadband speeds are close to promised levels

2011-08-09T05:06:00.001-07:00

[computer world] Wired broadband providers in the U.S. deliver speeds that are close to, and sometimes exceed, the service they promise customers, according to a report released Tuesday by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission.

During peak hours, providers of DSL-based service delivered download speeds that were 82% of advertised speeds, while cable providers delivered 93% of advertised speeds, and fiber-based providers delivered 114% of advertised speeds, said the FCC report, based on test results from 6,800 U.S. residents.

Upload speeds during peak hours were 95% of the advertised speeds for DSL, 108% for cable and 112% for fiber.

The tests, of 13 broadband providers serving 86% of the U.S. population, are "the most comprehensive and rigorous assessment ever of broadband performance in the United States," FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said during a press conference at a Best Buy in Washington, D.C.

The new report represents a "significant improvement" over 2009 tests released in August 2010, Genachowski said. The earlier FCC report said U.S. consumers were getting download speeds that were half of the advertised speeds.

Some critics questioned the results and methodology the FCC used in the earlier study. The new report "corrects" the earlier study and shows the FCC's commitment to use good data, said Richard Bennett, senior research fellow at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, a tech-focused think tank.

"This report pretty well dispels the myth that many of my colleagues in the public-interest community have been peddling for a while that there's a huge gap between advertised and actual speeds," he said.

Genachowski and Parul Desai, communications policy counsel at Consumers Union, called on broadband providers to give customers more easy-to-understand information about broadband speeds provided. About 49% of the broadband customers who volunteered for the FCC study could not correctly report the advertised broadband speed their service offered, the report said.

"Consumers have been wandering in the wilderness for a long time, and we hope this information will help people cut through the confusion," Desai said. "Broadband is becoming so essential for Americans in their daily lives."

The FCC should also release a similar report on mobile broadband speeds, Desai said.

AT&T and the National Cable and Telecommunications Association, a trade group representing cable broadband providers, applauded the report.

"These results, based on data from monitoring equipment installed in consumer homes and in ISP networks, debunk the conventional mythology that ISPs are delivering far less than the speeds they advertise," Bob Quinn, AT&T's senior vice president for federal regulatory affairs, wrote in a blog post. "Perhaps now we can get past the rhetoric about advertised vs. actual speeds and focus on the important task of ensuring all Americans have access to these broadband services."

FCC: Broadband delivers close to advertised speeds

Switzerland - With France Telecom proposing to sell its network, bidders are emerging, including a cable operator

2011-08-08T14:20:00.000-07:00

[cellular news] Only a few weeks after France Telecom said that it was going to have another attempt at selling its Switzerland subsidiary, it is reported that at least three companies are interested in bidding for the company.

Citing three people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg News reported that Apax Partners, Eqt Partners and cable operator Liberty Global are all considering a bid for Orange Switzerland.

The sale process probably will begin at the end of this month, said two of the people, who declined to be identified as talks are private.

The company tried to merge Orange Switzerland with rival network, Sunrise last year, but it was blocked by the Swiss Competition Commission.

Suitors Lining Up for Orange Switzerland Sale

LTE - Ovum reports that tariffs are not innovative discouraging use of mobile broadband

2011-08-08T14:18:00.000-07:00

[cellular news] Operators that offer high-speed mobile broadband technology LTE are failing to deliver innovative pricing models, according to Ovum.

In a new report, the telecoms analyst firm claims that there is a lack of new and innovative LTE tariffs, which is a missed opportunity for operators given that LTE is a new service in the eyes of consumers.

Nicole McCormick, Ovum senior analyst and author of the report, commented: "We looked at the LTE pricing strategies of operators in Europe, Asia-Pacific, and theUS, and were disappointed with our findings.

"LTE provides operators with the opportunity to experiment with new and innovative pricing models, which allows them to find the best way of deriving revenues from the premium service.

"However, most operators have not grasped this opportunity. Instead, LTE tariffs in the regions Ovum analysed are dominated by unlimited offerings and large data buckets, which can be problematic."

According to the report, unlimited data plans for LTE can present significant problems for operators, especially if they are accompanied by a lenient fair usage policy.

McCormick commented: "Operators should not offer unlimited LTE tariffs without some sort of deterrent as they could have an impact on the quality of the service given LTE's data-intensive nature. However, we note that some leading operators -Verizon Wireless,SKTelecom, NTT DoCoMo and LG U+ - have steered clear of unlimited LTE offerings despite offering such packages in the 3G arena."

The report also found that charging high premiums for LTE is unsustainable in the long-term due to competitive pressures in the industry and increased migration to 4G services. McCormick added: "Operators will need to be careful not to alienate high-end customers that have paid a premium for a fast, high-quality service by reducing LTE tariffs too quickly or drastically."

Lack of Innovation in LTE Pricing Models, Report Finds

Asia and Africa - UNDP project to give the poor with virtual phone numbers to be accessible from shared phones

2011-08-08T14:16:00.000-07:00

[cellular news] Three million poor people in Africa and South Asia, the majority of them women, will gain access to low-cost mobile phone numbers as part of technology firm Movirtu's partnership with the United Nations-backed initiative that enlists the private sector in efforts to fight poverty.

Instead of sharing a phone number with family members or neighbours, those provided with a Movirtu cloud phone number will be able to use any mobile phone to log in with their own unique number to make and receive individual calls and access critical information and services such as banking or agriculture support.

The new effort is part of the Business Call to Action (BCtA), a global initiative supported by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the corporate responsibility scheme known as the UN Global Compact and several other organizations and governments.

"Evidence shows that access to mobile communications is a way of improving lives and expanding the earning potential of one billion people living on $1-2 a day," said Amanda Gardiner, BCtA Acting Programme Manager.

"By providing low-income communities with access to secure mobile accounts and identities, Movirtu is helping to bridge the divide between those that have easy access to mobile phones and those that rely on community phones or paying a borrower's premium to friends to meet their communication needs," she added.

The United Kingdom-based company plans to bring the phone technology to at least 12 markets in Africa and South Asia by early 2013, giving at least 50 million people in both continents access to the technology, with a target of 3 million using it on a regular basis.

A unique personal mobile identity will allow users to access network applications that provide information about employment opportunities, promote access to mobile payment systems or banking services, and help keep users up-to-date on a variety of health and market topics.

The main beneficiaries of Movirtu's investment will be women in rural communities in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, according to a news release issued by the company and BCtA.

"It is a basic fact not everyone in the world can afford their own mobile phone," said Ramona Liberoff, Executive Vice President of Marketing, Strategy and Planning at Movirtu. "Our goal is to increase the earning potential of those on $1-2 a day by saving money and allowing them to access the economic benefits of a full mobile identity today."

Movirtu has been piloting the phones in Africa, with Madagascar the first market entry point. Additional country launches will be announced later this year.

Millions of Poor People Will Have Mobile Phone Numbers Under UN-backed Scheme

Ireland - Just Mobile, an MVNO, is closing down due to the lack of funding, following losses of EUR 2 million

2011-08-08T14:14:00.000-07:00

[cellular news] Irish MVNO, Just Mobile says that it is closing its network after being unable to secure additional funding to continue operations.

The company operated on the Vodafone network and said that the network, and other suppliers - which it said had have been very supportive - could not continue to support the company any longer.

In a statement, the company said that it had "created something special for our customers, but unfortunately the business climate is not conducive for young companies to raise capital in."

The shut-down will take place progressively over the next couple of weeks and will close completely on the 19th August.

The company is reported to have lost around EUR2 million since it was launched just ten months ago.

Irish MVNO Closes Down

UK - Appeal by BT was upheld allowing higher charges for calls to certain number ranges

2011-08-08T14:07:00.000-07:00

[catribunal] BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS PLC - and - EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE LIMITED (Appellants) - v - OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS (Respondent)

These relate to:
OFCOM’s determinations
on 5 February 2010 for calls terminating on 080
on 10 August 2010 for calls terminating on 0845 and 0870

judgement

Guyana - Govt has been working to develop an open telecoms sector to advance social and economic development

2011-08-07T15:27:00.000-07:00

[NCN Guyana] The Government has been working assiduously to develop an open telecommunications sector, to lend to the social and economic advancement of the country.

This is according to Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds, who was speaking at the presentation of the new telecommunications legal regime at the International Conference Centre earlier today.

He noted that the telecommunications sector has been rapidly evolving, hence the need for a new legal framework to enable Guyana to perform effectively in a competitive environment.

He believes hybrid solutions are necessary to improve telecommunications, given Guyana's population.

The new telecommunications legal regime will see the development of the new telecommunications act and amendments to the public utilities commission act, as well as regulations for licensing, interconnection and pricing.

New licenses and frequency authorization will also be issued under this new legislation to Gt&T, Digicel and four existing internet service providers.

Under the new institutional arrangement for the sector, the minister responsible will be tasked with developing policies, determining what types of networks and services require licenses and oversee the new telecommunications agency that will be established.

Government is working to open the telecommunication sector

UK - Scotland has a markedly lower proportion of broadband lines than the rest of the UK

2011-08-07T15:25:00.000-07:00

[bbc] Scots are still the least likely in the UK to have a broadband internet connection, according to a report from the communications regulator Ofcom.

Just 61% of Scots have broadband, compared with 74% of people across the whole of the UK.

Broadband connection is particularly low in Greater Glasgow, where the figure is just 50%.

One reason why take-up is so low may be that a relatively high proportion of Scots never use the internet.

Ofcom's Scottish director Vicki Nash warned that with so many public services now available online, Scots were at risk of being left behind.

About 30% of adults in Scotland say they do not use the internet in any location, compared with 20% across the UK as a whole.

Just under two-thirds of Scots have a computer in their home but across the UK the figure is 77%.

Take-up of broadband was particularly low amongst those aged between 16 and 34, people aged 55 and people on a low income or lower down the social scale.

Broadband use 'lower in Scotland', according to OFCOM

Mobile - AT&T has increased voicemail security in the light of #hackgate requiring a PIN when logging in from your own phone

2011-08-07T15:21:00.001-07:00

[boston globe] AT&T Inc. is changing the default method by which cellular customers check their voice mail, after reports that the company’s policies made messages more vulnerable to hackers than on other cellphone carriers.

The giant telecommunications company said yesterday it will start requiring users to enter a password to access their voice mails from their own cellphones. Until now, AT&T users calling from their own phones would immediately get access to their voice mails without entering a password.

“We wish that we did not have to make this change,’’ wrote AT&T’s chief privacy officer Bob Quinn in a posting on the company’s public policy blog. But Quinn said that easily available Internet technology makes it easy for criminals to gain access to unprotected cellular voice mailboxes.

AT&T increases voice mail security
Password meant to deter hackers

Africa - Use of the SMS for reminders to healthcare workers is helping treat malaria sufferers

2011-08-07T15:16:00.000-07:00

[cellular news] New research funded by the Wellcome Trust has shown that sending text message reminders to healthcare workers in rural Africa can improve the implementation of national guidelines for treating malaria. The intervention led to more patients receiving accurate antimalarial treatment.

The study, published today in The Lancet, was carried out by researchers at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)-Wellcome Trust Research Programme in Nairobi.

Within Africa, the adherence to national malaria treatment guidelines by health workers is vital in making sure that patients stick to and correctly complete malaria treatment doses. Failure to do so can not only affect the patient's recovery from the disease, but can also increase the likelihood of the malaria parasites becoming resistant to the drugs. However, despite the relatively simple guidelines, failure by the health workers to adhere to the guidelines has been widely reported across the continent.

To help improve health workers' practices, researchers at the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme carried out a randomised controlled trial looking at the impact of sending SMS text message reminders to health workers' personal mobile phones.

For five working days, two text messages (one at 9am and one at 2pm) were sent daily to every health worker's mobile phone. The same process was repeated every week for six months. The messages included both information from the guidelines and inspirational quotes. For example:

Message one (Monday morning): Check ALL sick children <5yrs for any severe signs! Also check for fever, cough, diarrhea, pallor & any other problem. Quote: "Persistent work triumphs"
Message two (Monday afternoon): Child has FEVER when complained by mother or child is hot or Temp is >=37•5 - Pls ask mother, touch child & take Temp! Quote: "Actions speak louder than words"
Message three (Tuesday morning): TREAT with AL* all children under 5yrs weighing >=5kg coming with FEVER for first visit & without severe signs. Quote: "Opportunity seldom knocks twice"
*Artemether-lumefantrine, the recommended anti-malarial.

Most randomised controlled trials from high-income countries have focused on reminders to improve patients' adherence to treatment, and all studies assessed only short-term effects of the intervention. This is believed to be the first study to assess the use of text messaging to target the behaviour of health workers. The researchers evaluated the effectiveness of the intervention using a performance index on how health workers managed the children in clinic, by interviewing mothers of children as they left the clinic and by reviewing clinical records. The study showed a 25% improvement in health workers practices in providing correct care to patients with malaria. The intervention resulted in a substantial increase in the number of patients who received prompt antimalarial treatment at the health facility and were correctly counselled to take remaining tablets when they were at home.

Lead author of the study Dr Dejan Zurovac says: "This trial, the first one using text-messaging to target health workers' behaviour in developing countries, has shown that a simple intervention like SMS can improve health workers adherence to malaria treatment guidelines by 25%. Text-messaging should complement traditional approaches to support clinical management such as in-service training of health workers, supportive supervision, or dissemination of job-aids."

Dr Zurovac and colleagues believe the scheme may have been successful because text-message reminders address health workers' forgetfulness, emphasise the clinical importance of doing tasks described in the messages, and increase the priority of doing the tasks because the text messages represent the voice of authority of the health workers' employer (the Ministry of Health).

The simplicity and low cost of text messaging means that widespread implementation of an intervention that uses this technology can be done quickly and successfully. For example, the cost of a text message in Kenya is about US$0.01, resulting in the cost of full exposure to the intervention of $2.6 per health worker, or $39,000 if scaled up to an estimated 15,000 health workers in all rural facilities nationwide.

Professor Bob Snow, who heads the research group in Nairobi, says: "The role of the mobile phone in improving health providers' performance, health service management and patient adherence to new medicines across much of Africa has a huge potential to engage and promote health to many people, who despite being poor and often inaccessible nevertheless have access to cell phone communication."

Co-author and head of the Department of Disease Prevention and Control, Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, Dr Willis Akhwale added: "This is an excellent example of high quality research responding to immediate needs of policy implementers who are continuously searching for simple and low cost solutions to strengthen weak health systems and provide better care for Kenyans. We need to explore ways of scaling up such intervention to all health workers in the country."

Text Message Reminders Improve Healthcare Practice in Rural Africa

Mobile - With the rise of data traffic operators are looking to deploy IP exchanges in 1-2 years

2011-08-07T15:14:00.000-07:00

[cellular news] Mobile operators around the globe consider IP Exchange (IPX) an essential ingredient for next generation wireless services, according to a new study commissioned by Sybase 365.

"Despite the interest in IPX as a next-generation play, operators also report benefits on today's congested networks. The majority rate the security and manageability of IPX as the main plusses, however operators are also excited by the potential to cut costs by reducing the number of connections needed," said William Dudley, Group Director of Operator Services Products at Sybase 365. "Operators see potential in IPX to enable them to bring over-the-top services including multimedia and other high-bandwidth content, and social networking into the fold."

Gearing Up for IPX

The majority of operators surveyed (63.5%) plan to deploy IPX over the next one to three years. The findings underscore the firm grasp of the benefits and opportunities for IPX that operators have, as well as growing demand for an infrastructure that can securely and reliably connect multiple operators with over-the-top (OTT) services, enterprises and cloud services. IPX management and security capabilities rank highest as prime benefits for current network owners (24%). More than half (50%) of operators surveyed agree that IPX networks make it easier to deploy end-to-end IP services, cut costs, guarantee quality and ease the migration to 4G networks. Nearly a quarter of operators (23%) rank highly the ability to consolidate multiple connections.

"Our study shows that while operators will be relying on IPX to handle roaming, IP signalling and streaming services on next-generation networks in the early days, in the longer term, when more 4G networks are live, operators will also leverage IPX to facilitate expanded voice interconnect," said Dudley. "We firmly believe IPX will become a centralized infrastructure across service providers and across solutions for the rest of the decade and beyond."

IPX Opportunities

Results of the Sybase 365 study also show that operators will look to IPX service providers to offer multimedia services, Voice over IP (VoIP) and HD voice. Operators in all regions are most interested in bringing high-bandwidth or multimedia services into their service offerings, followed by social networks and financial services. One operator highlighted that offering differentiated services is one of the key elements being considered for IPX networks. "Internet players are always included in such open initiatives, because they are designed to give customers more choice in terms of the services they can enjoy." IPX will also "offer operators improved flexibility to deliver new services," he noted.

IPX Deployment

Nearly eight out of 10 operators surveyed (79.3%) who say they have deployed IPX currently use it for voice services, with data roaming next (59.5%), citing ease of use and scalability as major benefits. A minority claim to be using IPX for inter-MSC connectivity, signalling, enhanced GRX, MPLS, IP transit, L3 VPN, BGP peering, CDN and IP data. The survey found that there are a significant number of IPX networks already in place, with the Asia Pacific region leading the way in terms of deployments to date (32%), as seen with the recent IPX deployment by Total Access Communication PLC (dtac) of Thailand. Additionally, the study reveals that service providers of all types -- wireless, wire line, wholesale, cable operators and integrated carriers -- are already deploying IPX.

Key Drivers

Long Term Evolution (LTE) is expected to be a major driver of IPX deployments. Many 3G operators are committed to LTE and are planning to start rolling LTE out in two to three years, according to the study. There is a clear correlation between the number of operators planning to deploy IPX within the next one to three years (41%) and those who believe IPX will become essential to operating 4G networks in the same timeframe (45%).

LTE Ignites Interest In IP Exchange Facilities

USA - The growth of quad-play (fixed and mobile voice, broadband and TV) is forecast to reach 13% of the market by 2016

2011-08-06T04:16:00.000-07:00

[cellular news] By 2016, thirteen percent of US households will take a "Quad Play" service -- a bundled offering of fixed voice, broadband, television and mobile voice -- from the same provider in 2016, according to a report just published by Strategy Analytics. This represents a four-fold increase compared to 2011 levels.

Today, 57 percent of American households are classified as "multiplay," meaning that they take more than one entertainment or communication service from the same provider. This makes the US one of the most highly bundled countries in the world. According to this report, while the Quad Play will make strides in the US market over the next five years, the voice-video-data "Triple Play" will be the dominant bundle type.

"Quad Play bundling has had a slow start in the US, but we see increased momentum over the next five years," said Ben Piper, Director of the Multiplay Market Dynamics service and author of the report. "Survey research we have just fielded shows that US Quad Play subscribers have a much higher 'value for money' perception, and are significantly less likely to churn."

AT&T reports that more than 75 percent of its U-verse TV subscribers receive the service as part of a Triple Play or Quad Play offering. Additionally, the Triple Play ARPU has increased over 8 percent year over year to $170.

Beyond the United States, Strategy Analytics sees high growth opportunities for multiplay bundling in Austria, Italy, and China, each expected to double the percentage of multiplay homes by 2016.

USA to See 13 Percent Quad Play Service Penetration by 2016

Mobile - Huawei has an Android handset with 3D user interface "Huawei Vision"

2011-08-06T04:14:00.000-07:00

[cellular news] Huawei has shown off a new Android based smartphone, that comes with a 3D user interface and carousel animation display. Huawei Vision runs on the Android Gingerbread 2.3 OS and is supported by a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM 8255 processor.

The Huawei Vision measures 9.9mm at its thinnest point and weighs around 121g. It supports 720p video recording and features a 5 megapixel auto focus camera with LED flash.

"We are very excited to present Huawei Vision, the smartphone which strikes the perfect balance between technology and style," said Victor Xu, chief marketing officer of Huawei Device. "The unique 3D user interface heralds a new era in Huawei's leadership, as we continue to create devices that enhance the user experience through stylish design and smart functionality."

Huawei Vision will be available in selected markets from September - pricing was not confirmed.

Huawei Shows off Android Phone with 3D Display

Niger - Privatisation of telco stopped by UN SC 1973 blocking transactions with Libya

2011-08-06T04:13:00.000-07:00

[cellular news] The government of Niger has said that it is having to look for a new buyer for the state-owned telecoms company, Sonitel after UN sanctions meant that a prior deal with the Libyan company LAP Green could not be completed.

"We are going to launch an international invitation to tender ... We are going to make sure the buyer this time is a real professional," Communications Minister Salifou Labo Bouche was reported as saying by the Reuters news agency, who cited the local television channel Tenere.

He said the purchaser could be either a new entrant or a company already in the Nigerien market. The country currently has four mobile networks.

According to the Mobile World analysts the country has around 14.4 million mobile phone users, which represents a population penetration level of 23%.

Niger Sale of State-Owned Telco Blocked by UN Sanctions

USA - Consumer Reports has found m-payments may have reduced loss liability and consumer protection than more established payment systems

2011-08-06T04:10:00.000-07:00

[cellular news] While Americans are still using plenty of cash, checks, credit and debit cards to pay their bills, new electronic methods such as paying by cell phone or digital wallets are emerging. Before jumping in, consumers should be aware of the disparity in loss liability and consumer protections they offer, according to Consumer Reports.

CR's latest investigation into these new payment options finds that banks and technology companies are jostling for a greater share of the $50 billion a year in fees generated by everyday transactions. Some services by PayPal, Obopay, Square, Zong, and FaceCash already allow you to pay for purchases with your cell phone, but so-called digital wallet services are scheduled to hit the market soon.

Google said in May that it planned to launch its version this summer. At least three competing digital wallets are planned for launch later this year and in 2012: from Visa in partnership with more than a dozen banks; Isis, a joint venture of AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless; and PayPal Mobile's point-of-sale technology.

"As these new forms of payment grow more popular, consumers must be careful to understand the costs, and disparities in protections associated with the promise of new convenience," said Jeff Blyskal, sr. editor Consumer Reports.

Despite all the hype, consumers don't seem to be clamoring to pay with their phones yet. According to a recent nationally representative survey by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, only 5 percent of survey respondents have used their cell phone to pay for day-to-day purchases in the previous month. Somewhat more use other fairly new forms of payment, including billing to their home or cell phone account (10 percent).

Most of the new electronic payment options are tied to credit and debit cards, so whatever costs consumers incur in using their plastic will transfer to the new methods. Paying by mobile phone won't save them money. Google Wallet merchant transaction fees are the same as those charged on plastic payments, and the same is expected to be true for Visa's digital wallet. Square and PayPal Mobile charge merchants even more than the average big bank fee, 2.75 and 2.9 percent of the transaction amount, respectively.

Among payment processors Consumer Reports looked at, only Obopay charges consumers (not merchants) an explicit flat 50-cent fee for payments over $10. You can transfer funds to your Obopay account from a bank account at no cost, but if you link a transaction to a debit or credit card, you'll pay a 1.5 percent fee. So on a $100 payment, fees can run from 50 cents to $2.

Prepaid debit cards can be especially costly, whether you use them by themselves or link them to an alternative payment method. Many prepaid debit cards charge fees for activating and maintaining the accounts, and for transactions, balance inquiries, and reloading.

Things often go wrong during the processing of 300 million noncash payments each day. In a Consumer Reports survey, one in four Americans said they had an unauthorized charge, billing error, noncredited payment, or other problem in the last year when paying for purchases or paying bills.

A consumer's right to get their money back when something goes wrong -- errors, goods not delivered as promised, fraud -- varies by the payment option used. Again, the underlying method of payment tied to your mobile device will govern their rights in such instances. Cell phone and digital wallet payment services linked to a credit card offer consumers the most protection. However, there is a large disparity in protection for services that link to prepaid debit cards and direct billing to consumers' phone bill.

Prepaid cards offer consumers no guaranteed protections against unauthorized transactions. The cards may have some protections in their contracts, but they're essentially voluntary and can be rescinded at any time. Visa and MasterCard prepaid-card holders may get assurances from those brands' zero-liability policies, which protect against unauthorized use and require issuing banks to give provisional credit for losses from unauthorized use within five business days of notification. But those policies have loopholes. Visa's doesn't cover ATM or PIN transactions not processed by the Visa network. MasterCard's policy offers no protection if a consumer reported two or more unauthorized events in the past 12 months, and it doesn't cover ATM or PIN transactions.

For consumers who opt for direct-to-phone bill charges, their rights in this area are unclear. Any protections are based on the wireless carrier's contract, and they vary widely. Consumers Union reviewed the contracts of 18 wireless carriers to find out what kind of baseline protections they contained; none provided protections for mobile payment transactions that are as strong as those guaranteed by law when consumers use a credit card or debit card.

Consumers may have some rights under state laws or public utility agency rules, but those also vary from state to state. So far, only the California Public Utilities Commission provides its state's residents the right to reverse unauthorized charges. California consumers can also bar third parties from putting charges on their phone bill.

Consumer Reports Finds Hidden Costs in Mobile Payment Services

Belgium - Finally, a fourth mobile operator has been licensed to a j/v of the cable operators

2011-08-06T04:03:00.000-07:00

[cellular-news] Belgium's telecom regulator, BIPT has formally awarded a previously announced 3G license to Telenet Tecteo Bidco. The conditions of the licence were accepted by the licensee on 29 July.

BIPT had previously received an offer from the candidate for the total spectrum available (1950.1-1964.9 MHz /2140.1-2154.9 MHz) amounting to EUR 616,656.8/month. Telenet Tecteo Bidco opted for paying the amount bid in annual instalments over the total period from July 2011 to March 2021.

In the meantime the payment was made for 2011 and Telenet Tecteo Bidco has accepted the conditions of the licence.

As a result the three operators who already acquired a 3G licence in 2001 (Belgacom, Mobistar and KPN Group Belgium) are now joined by Telenet Tecteo Bidco. The latter is now under the obligation to start offering its services no later than 18 months from the date when the licence was granted, i.e. 15 July 2011.

Although the information still needs to be confirmed officially Telenet Tecteo Bidco has already announced its wish to make use of the possibility to acquire the reserved spectrum in the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands, with a view to putting these to use for the first time on 27 November 2015.

In the autumn, licences will also be auctioned in the 2.6 GHz band (4G licences). The invitation to submit applications was published on 1 June 2011 and sets 14 October 2011 as the deadline for candidates to apply.

Belgium Grants Fourth 3G Licence to Telenet Tecteo Bidco

USA - Increasingly online adverts are directing potential customers to their pages on Facebook and Twitter platforms

2011-08-06T04:00:00.000-07:00

[NY Times] MARKETERS promoting their products online have followed a fairly standard arc historically, first buying digital ads and building their own Web sites in the early years of the Internet, and more recently amassing followers on social networks like Facebook and Twitter.

Now, companies increasingly are running online ads that focus less on pitching their products than promoting their Facebook pages and Twitter accounts.

The ads, which have menu tabs and increasingly resemble mini-Web sites themselves, allow users to click within the ad to see a brand’s Twitter messages or Facebook wall posts in real time, or to watch a brand’s video content from YouTube — all without leaving the Web page where the ad appears.

Brands Now Direct Their Followers to Social Media

UK - Regulator's survey reports obsession with smartphones, with 60% of teenagers "highly addicted"

2011-08-06T03:59:00.000-07:00

[knowyourmobile] Telecommunications regulator Ofcom has issued a detailed survey that highlights the UK's obsession with the smartphone.

The 341 page document, which is its annual Communications Market Report, claims 37 per cent of adults and 60 per cent of teenages are 'highly addicted' to their smartphones.

It also found one in three adults in the UK use a smartphone, with 58 per cent of that figure male and 42 per cent female. For teenagers, more girls own a smartphone - 48 per cent male versus 52 per cent female.

You may think the iPhone was top throughout but the survey found the BlackBerry – or the CrackBerry as we should probably now call it – was the most popular handset maker for teenagers (37 per cent said it was their preferred brand).

If BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) isn't a big part of the reason for this we'll eat our metaphorical hat.

The iPhone doesn't miss out on a mention: 32 per cent of adults said the iPhone was, suprise surprise, their favourite smartphone.

Adult Britons mostly use their phone for email, internet surfing and social networking. Teenagers prefer social networking, listening to music and playing games

To emphasise just how addicted we have become to the smartphone, over half of adults and two-thirds of teenages have used one during a social situation. 50 per cent of teens also admit they have answered or used their phone when on the toilet.

It's definitely hard to imagine surviving without smartphones, the internet and social networking websites such as Twitter or Facebook, but there was a time when riding your bike or kicking a ball about was enough.

60 per cent of teens 'highly addicted' to their CrackBerry smartphones

Botswana - BTC has reported the loss of BWP 500,000 [USD 60,000] worth of solar panels

2011-08-06T03:55:00.000-07:00

[Mmegi] The Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) has lost close to half a million from stolen solar panels used in the Nteletsa project.

Replacement of the panels coupled with the changeover from this system to the fixed wireless terminals (FWT) system means that the corporation will continue to lose more money.

Speaking to Mmegi in an interview Golekanye Molapisi, communications manager for BTC, said in the period beginning April 2010 to date, the parastatal lost close to P411,000 worth of solar panels stolen countrywide. He said the losses are more than this if they include replacement costs, labour as well as revenue lost due to loss of telephone use. He could however not provide figures towards these additional costs.
BTC, in partnership with the government, first implemented the Nteletsa programme - aimed at rural and underserved communities with access to telecommunications services, in 1999 with the Nteletsa 1 project. Phone sets used in the project were powered by solar panels because most of the villages in the project were not electrified. However, this proved to be a nightmare, as Molapisi said, the panels were "stolen at an alarming rate."

BTC was spending millions of Pula replacing the panels, but for every three panels replaced, two were stolen as soon as they were replaced," he said. He said this left many villages without telecommunications services, defeating the purpose of the Nteletsa project. Molapisi said the corporation has now embarked on a project to replace the phones with the new FWT technology, in which all old lines from the old system will be changed to the new one. This new system, which he described as a lasting solution, is possible because most villages are now electrified. Meanwhile, some of the villages provided with service in the Nteletsa 1 programme have been suffering from malfunctioning and non-functioning phones, including in government service providers. Lentsweletau, in the Kweneng district, is one of the villages experiencing these problems. Phone checks by Mmegi revealed that some of the affected offices in the village include the Post Office, the sub-land board, the clinic, the social services offices as well as the two primary schools in the village. Some of the offices have resorted to using cell phones as their official primary contact with the public.

However, Kgosi Lawrence Motswakhumo of Lentsweletau told Mmegi in an interview that complaints in the village about phones not working were more common last year, and that recently if such problems arise they usually last "one or two days."
Molapisi explained that in Lentsweletau 50 percent of the customers have already been changed over, and the changeover to the new system is expected to be completed by end of this month.

BTC loses half million in stolen solar panels

Greece - OTE has slowed the decline in growth of its revenues, but growth is still some way off

2011-08-06T03:53:00.000-07:00

[stockmarketwire] Hellenic Telecommunications Organization SA, the Greek full-service telecommunications provider, has today announced consolidated results for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011 showing net income of €62m compared to €61mn loss in Q2 '10

The latest financial report shows the pace of Group revenue decline has slowed down, helped by early signs of market stabilization in Greek mobile.

The company results show pro forma EBITDA margin down 1.4pp despite stringent cost-control actions.

Hellenic Telecoms shows strong operating cash flow and lower CAPEX.

"Commenting on OTE's performance in the second quarter, Michael Tsamaz, Chairman & CEO, said: "While OTE's Greek fixed-line business continues to suffer from its inability to compete in a market where price is the consumer's first and foremost consideration, we have started to see the early signs of stabilization and normalization we expected in mobile services after the destructive price wars of last year.

"Growth is still not in sight, but the rate of decline has improved significantly and we are achieving healthy increases in mobile data. Outside of Greece, we are also seeing improved conditions in Romanian fixed-line and across our mobile footprint with the exception of Albania, whose economy is closely tied to Greece's."

Growth still not in sight for Hellenic Telecommunications

New Zealand - Telecom NZ and Vodafone have settled a multitude of disputes between them

2011-08-03T10:55:00.000-07:00

[nbr] Telecom and Vodafone this morning revealed they have settled three Supreme Court cases and two High Court cases out of court, plus two disputes before the Commerce Commission.

All related to Vodafone payments to Telecom under the (now being phased out) Telecommunications Service Obligation (TSO) regime, which saw Telecom compensated for providing service to “commercially non-viable” rural customers.

Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

Vodafone contented its payments to Telecom – which ranged from $15 million to $20 million a year – were too high.

"We've had seven years of this. It's time to move on," Vodafone GM of corporate affairs Tom Chignell told NBR.

There's also another good reason to move on.

The two companies won a joint bid for the government’s $300 million, six-year Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI), which is replacing the TSO.

"Times marched on and the world's changed around us," Telecom spokesman Mark Watts told NBR.

"It's time to move on given what we're doing together [with the RBI)."

The three Supreme Court cases settled out of court cover Vodafone TSO payments to Telecom for the years 2003/2002, 2004/2005 and 2005/2006.

The two High Court cases settled cover the years 2006/2007 and 2007/2008.

TSO disputes in front of the Commerce Commission for the years 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 have also been settled.

Vodafone contended that the Commerce Commission, which brokered the TSO, incorrectly calculated payments. But although the Commerce Commission calculated payments, the TSO regime saw Vodafone to make annual TSO payments directly to Telecom – leading to the head-to-head legal action.

Telecom, Vodafone settle multimillion High Court, Supreme Court TSO cases

Mobile - Growth of traffic is driven by very sharp increases in tablet computers

2011-08-03T10:52:00.000-07:00

[cbr online] Tablets shipments will see a growth of 239% in 2011 compared to previuos year.

Tablet sales in 2011 will help drive a 57.8% increase in the shipments of mobile broadband devices that provide high-speed wireless connectivity while on the move, according to a new IHS iSuppli Wireless Communications topical report, from market research firm IHS.

Shipments of mobile broadband devices in 2011 are expected to grow to 157.9 million units, up from 100.1 million units in 2010, and this segment includes devices such as notebook and netbook computers, as well as e-book readers.

This year's mobile broadband devices growth rate matches the 57.4% expansion of 2010.

The report reveals that the mobile broadband devices market will continue to rise during the next few years but at lower rates, declining to 38.1% in 2012 and by 11% in 2015 to about 350.7 million units.

Within the segment, tablets will represent the fastest-growing mobile broadband device this year with shipments projected to reach 58.9 million units, up 239.3% from 17.4 million in 2010.

Tablets, largely iPad from Apple, appear to be at the forefront in boosting mobile broadband, and will
influence every node of the value chain, including suppliers, device manufacturers, mobile network operators, third-party applications and service suppliers, the report notes.

The mobile broadband segment utilises four primary methods for internet access, USB dongles, mobile hotspots, embedded modules and embedded chipsets, with pros and cons for each tool.

With the arrival of media tablets and other consumer electronics with embedded Wi-Fi capability, the mobile devices started using a 3G or 4G network as backhaul for data traffic.

Currently, mobile hotspots and embedded chipsets are the fastest-growing, growing 25 to 50% faster than the overall market.

By 2015, the report says a majority of the mobile broadband devices will use the 4G wireless standard known as long term evolution (LTE), as a connection for faster speeds and lower latencies or delays from their mobile broadband networks.

Tablets account for mobile broadband growth: Report

Australia - The direct economic contribution of the Internet economy is AUD 50 billlion plus AUS 27 billion in productivity increases

2011-08-03T10:48:00.000-07:00

[it wire] A report from Deloitte Access Economics, commissioned by Google, puts the direct contribution of the Internet to the Australian economy at $50b, the wider benefits through productivity increases at $27b and the value of the benefits to households at $53b.

The report says the $50b direct contribution amounted to 3.6 percent of Australia's GDP in 2010, a figure similar to the value to the retail sector or Australia's iron ore exports, and adds "wider benefits – which are not fully captured in GDP calculations – include: approximately $27b in productivity increases to businesses and government in the form of improvements to the way they operate and deliver services…[and] the equivalent of $53bin benefits to households in the form of added convenience (eg of online banking and bill paying) and access to an increased variety of goods and services and information."

Furthermore, it says that Internet activity has doubled over the last four years and forecasts that the direct contribution of the Internet to the Australian economy is set to increase by $20b over the next five years, to roughly $70b: a rate of growth double that forecast for the economy as a whole. This will also see the number of people employed in directly Internet related activities from 190,000 today to 270,000.

"Australia's use of the Internet will expand rapidly to progressively close the gap between Australia and the world's leading digital economies," the report says. "These expectations reflect the rollout of the National Broadband Network connecting more Australians at higher speeds, government and business making better use of the Internet, and government developing a policy framework that supports investment and innovation in the Internet economy."

Australia's $130b Internet economy
see also report

Korea - Regulator is preparing for the first ever auction of spectrum for 3G networks

2011-08-03T10:46:00.000-07:00

[joongang daily] This month, there will be a very intriguing, important, yet controversial auction in the Korean mobile industry.

The Korea Communications Commission - the country’s telecommunications regulator - will hold an auction of slots in three mobile frequency bands. They are: 2.1-gigahertz (GHz) band, 1.8 GHz band and 800 MHz band.

It will be the first such auction in Korean mobile telecommunication market history.

For mobile carriers, it’s a matter of life-and-death. Securing vital spectrum slots are a must to meet surging data demand from smartphone and tablet PC users and to develop future wireless network technologies like fourth-generation (4G) technologies, also known as long-term revolution.

Last Thursday, the KCC wrapped up the applications for the auction. As expected all three carriers applied, promising heated competition this scorching summer.

It’s a war for 1.8 GHz

LG U+, the country’s smallest mobile carrier, is the sole bidder for the much-sought after 2.1 GHz band. Last month, the KCC declared that it would ban SK Telecom and KT - the No.1 and No.2 in the market - from bidding for the band to prevent a possible monopoly.

The 2.1 GHz is thought to be the “golden” band for 3G service and thus, crucial for smartphone services. SK Telecom and KT already own licenses for the band, while LG U+ has been the only player in the market without a license for the band.

So the bloodiest battle will take place in bidding for the 1.8 GHz band and the 800 MHz band.

But the problem is both SK Telecom and KT want the 1.8GHz.

The available slot in 1.8 GHz is twice that of 800MHz. The size of the frequency bands is important since the more voice and data traffic they can handle, the more business for the carriers.

Also, about 20 mobile carriers in Europe and five in the U.S. and Asia have chosen 1.8 GHz as the frequency band for their 4G mobile telecommunication service.

“To strengthen our competitiveness in future business, this band is a must-have. That is why no matter how substantial the sacrifice may be, we must bet everything on this,” said an SK Telecom executive.

Analysts fear Winner’s Curse

A telecom auction that’s going to cost a bundle

USA - Yankee Group has come out against AT&T's merger with T-Mobile USA as having a negative effect for consumers

2011-08-03T10:43:00.000-07:00

[yankee group] AT&T's proposed $39 billion purchase of T-Mobile USA will have a negative impact on consumers, warns a new report released by leading mobility research firm Yankee Group. After analyzing Yankee Group consumer data and using the U.S. Department of Justice's (DoJ's) market concentration metrics, Yankee Group contends the merger will increase market concentration, decrease competition and raise average mobile prices in the most heavily populated U.S. wireless markets. The firm urges the FCC to block the merger unless it plans to take a stronger regulatory stance.

"We believe this merger will reduce choice for consumers and, more importantly, leave little incentive for AT&T to offer competitive pricing for unbundled mobile services," said Gigi Wang, Yankee Group's chief research officer and co-author of the report, "AT&T/T-Mobile Merger: More Market Concentration, Less Choice, Higher Prices."

The report also concludes the AT&T/T-Mobile merger would:
-Give AT&T more than a 50 percent market share in five major markets: Dallas, Houston, Miami, San Francisco and St. Louis.
-Grow the number of highly concentrated top 27 cellular markets from 1 to 17, reducing network choices in those markets.
-Increase mobile phone bills in seven major markets: Seattle and Houston would see mean increases of more than $5 per month, and Boston, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami and New York would see increases of less than $5 per month.

Yankee Group recommends the FCC:
-Think creatively about divesture remedies.
-Regulate unbundled wireless tariffs.
-Enforce mandatory, reasonable data roaming rates.

"We think that the FCC and DoJ now have to step up to the plate and regulate," said Carl Howe, research director at Yankee Group and co-author of the report. "Our research shows that the U.S. wireless market is maturing into a duopoly. While agencies were reluctant to regulate too strongly in years past because they didn't want to upset a nascent marketplace, those days are now over; it's now time to get back into the game."

Yankee Group to FCC: AT&T/T-Mobile Merger Will Result in Higher Prices
see also report from Yankee Group

Mobile - Google is a potential giant in the mobile software market

2011-08-03T10:41:00.000-07:00

[yankee group] Google’s mobile business has been performing quite well for the company. The search giant’s Android operating system is easily besting all other competitors around the world; a host of vendors are lining up to work with Google; and most analysts would agree that over the next several years, it will be the search giant that will lead all others in total mobile software market share.

But for all the good progress at Google, there are also several major issues with the company’s mobile division that it needs to address in the coming months and years. From its trouble with lawsuits to continued fragmentation in the marketplace, there’s no clear way for Google to fully insulate itself from the multiple threats its mobile division will have to contend with in the coming years.

Google's Mobile Business Growth: 10 Issues It Must Resolve

Wi-Fi - These networks are becoming an adjunct to 3G networks as operators shift traffic to something cheaper

2011-08-03T10:38:00.000-07:00

[fierce wireless] As more smartphones ship with Wi-Fi capabilities, and as carriers look to offload data traffic from their mobile networks, Wi-Fi is becoming an even more important tool for operators than it ever has been. Thus, Wi-Fi networks are edging closer to becoming an extension of mobile networks through standards work, dubbed Hotspot 2.0, that will add elements such as security, authentication and automatic roaming. But will operators wait for these standards to be completed given the fact that they desperately need data offloading solutions now?

Is Wi-Fi going to become just an extension of carriers' mobile networks?

USA - A small sample suggests significant demand for Apple iPhone from Android owners

2011-08-03T10:35:00.000-07:00

[fortune] Finds high pent up demand for iPhone 5 among Verizon subscribers and Android owners.

It's only a tiny sample, so large conclusions must not be drawn. But the survey results reported in Gene Munster's note to Piper Jaffray clients Monday suggest that the pent-up demand for Apple's (AAPL) next iPhone could be even stronger than suspected.

In a survey of 216 mobile phone users conducted one recent week in Minneapolis ( in "food courts, on the street, near the entrance of a baseball stadium on a game day"), Munster found evidence that the iPhone's market share could by his estimate double in the next round of smartphone purchases. Specifically he found:

Among all respondents 64% indicated that they plan to buy an iPhone when they purchase a new phone.

Of those surveyed, 29% already have iPhones and 64% expect their next phone to be an iPhone; 17% have an Android device and 17% also indicated they expect their next phone to be an Android.

Among those who do not have an iPhone but plan to buy an iPhone next, 60% are specifically waiting for the iPhone 5

Of those Verizon subs who do not have an iPhone but plan to buy an iPhone next, 74% are specifically waiting for the iPhone 5,

At AT&T, that same metric is 53%.

Among existing iPhone users, 94% expect to buy another iPhone (6% expect to switch to Android)

Among existing Android users 47% expect to buy another Android smartphone (42% expect to switch to iPhone).

Among all BlackBerry users just 26% expect to buy another BlackBerry, 67% expect to buy an iPhone and 3% expect to buy an Android device.

"In other words," Munster concludes, "our survey suggests Apple will take share from BlackBerry and, to a lesser degree, Android as well as other smartphones and feature phones in the future. "

Survey: iPhone retention 94% vs. Android 47%

Australia - The merged Vodafone-3 network claims to have overcome all the network problems of 2010

2011-08-03T10:30:00.000-07:00

[it wire] Vodafone Hutchison Australia (VHA) says it’s “turned the corner” on network woes which plagued the company late last year, and that it now has confidence in its network to actively seek out customers.

In a call after this afternoon’s announcement of their financial results for the first six months of 2011, VHA expressed delight at the progress of their network improvements, saying it now has full confidence in its network capabilities and performance.

CEO Nigel Dews said during the call that the company has now full confidence in the service it can provide, and that “what we don’t have we make up in value.”

He said VHA’s “first preference” is to sell customers devices compatible with its new 850Mhz devices, but phones compatible with Vodafone’s other networks will still work “well” according to Dews.

Dews also mentioned that the telco is keeping a watchful eye on mobile termination rates, noting that for them, “any substantial fall in termination rates is a win for Telstra.”

VHA have learned the hard way, Dews said, but the organisation is “working hard” to make sure nothing like last year’s disaster and the loss of nearly 375,000 customers over the past six months can ever happen again.

VHA: “We’ve turned the corner” on network woes

Mobile - Research suggests need for operators to reduce costs and inefficiencies if they are to remain viable

2011-08-03T10:28:00.000-07:00

[juniper research] Mobile network operators (MNOs) must explore means of addressing data delivery costs and inefficiencies in base station operations if their networks are to remain economically viable, a new report from Juniper Research has found. According to the report, even with the increased deployment and utilisation of LTE networks, global MNO data delivery costs could surpass $370 billion annually by 2016, a 7x increase on their 2010 level of $53 billion.

However, the report argued that future operating costs could be significantly reduced by the deployment of data offload solutions, such as WiFi networks and femtocells, allied to the utilisation of network optimisation techniques to facilitate flow control.

Further savings possible at base stations

Furthermore, the Mobile Operator Business Models report observed the potential for substantial savings at the base station level, identifying both active and passive network sharing as a means of reducing site lease costs and reducing energy loss by using feederless sites and remote radio heads. It also recommended that operators in developing markets that are reliant on diesel to power off-grid generators should accelerate their transition to renewable alternatives.

These measures will additionally enable MNOs to meet their sustainability commitments, as report author Dr Windsor Holden pointed out. “The case for reducing network ineffiency is both environmental and economic. By implementing solutions designed to reduce energy wastage, not only will MNOs markedly cut their operating costs but they will following sustainable business practices which reduce greenhose gas emissions.”

Other findings from the report include:
• MNOs should consider leveraging core assets to develop new revenue streams in areas such as cloud platform provision and M2M
• Tier 2 operators should continue to offer unlimited data plans to gain competitive advantage
• Regulatory pricing controls will continue to negatively impact operator margins

Mobile Network Operators Face Seven Fold Increase in Data Delivery Costs, Rising to $370bn by 2016, Juniper Research warns

Nigeria - Globacom is using its submarine cable to serve major oil companies helping to pay for the investment

2011-08-03T00:59:00.000-07:00

[submarine telecom] Globacom’s international submarine cable, Glo 1, has signed on a number of major oil companies in the past few months, signaling increasing preference for the cable as bandwidth provider of choice, according to the Nigerian Pilot. The list of customers includes: Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Total ELf, Chevron, Agip, Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), Exxon Mobil and TransOcean.

Head of Glo 1 Enterprise Solutions, Folu Aderibigbe, said recently in Lagos that the most recent of the deals was the one signed with ExxonMobil. He said, according to the terms of the contract, Glo 1 will provide the oil major high-speed international bandwidth link that will connect its offices in Lagos and the United Kingdom.

“Our network solution will provide ExxonMobil seamless connectivity for running data applications, voice communications and video transmissions between its Lagos and UK offices,” Aderibigbe explained. Glo 1 had last month announced a 10-year deal with SPDC to provide the oil company connectivity between its operational hubs in Lagos and Niger Delta. Glo 1 is also providing the other oil companies that had signed on to it a range of domestic and international connectivity solutions.

Glo 1 makes inroads into Nigeria’s oil sector

Android - Adult App Mart can be used for in-app payments for "adult" uncensored purchases or time-limited leases of content

2011-08-03T00:57:00.000-07:00

[prweb] The newly launched Android app marketplace, Adult App Mart, is increasing the earning potential for app developers by improving and facilitating the way end users buy their products with in-app billing capabilities.

For Adult App Mart’s customers, the main function of in-app billing is to provide support for purchases -- giving Android users the option to buy content immediately and effortlessly, without having to exit the app.

For app developers, incorporating this payment feature into their creation serves the end user with convenience, which in turn, encourages return customers. Through a simple import, developers will find the integration of in-app billing into their Android projects effortless, needing only a unique token to identify particular features within their app along with a price in Adult App Mart credits.

Additionally, the in-app purchase function also supports rental purchases that specifies and tracks how many hours an in-app item will be owned once it is purchased. When the time expires, the in-app item will be available again for purchase. This feature alleviates the developer and user from having to track the elapsed time since the purchase. The remaining time is retrieved via the in-app billing library using the purchase check feature.

Adult App Mart account holders are provided with easy login and logout methods. Users that are already taking advantage of Adult App Mart’s wide-ranging, uncensored offerings have the benefit of having their existing login credentials automatically loaded into the billing platform for speedy, safe app purchases. Newcomers, however, also can take advantage of the ease of use offered by in-app billing to create an Adult App Mart account directly from its library.

Frequent Android app consumers are embracing Adult App Mart’s in-app billing capability because of the security it offers. End users no longer have to leave the developer’s app in order to add credits into his or her account.

With accessibility in mind, Adult App Mart’s in-app billing encourages freedom in mobile content consumption. Adult App Mart continues to grow with uncensored apps, including videos, dating and games, catering to various niches.

Adult App Mart In-App Billing Simplifies Purchases: Delivers Maximum Earning Potential for Developers and Ease of Use for Consumers

USA - Large operators have proposed reforms of the Universal Service Fund and intercarrier compensation system

2011-08-02T15:19:00.000-07:00

[totaltele.com] AT&T, Verizon among six service providers to submit proposals to FCC in bid to overhaul Universal Service Fund, intercarrier compensation system.
Six U.S. telcos have joined forces to submit proposals to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on how to extend broadband services to 4 million rural end users.

Called America's Broadband Connectivity Plan, the six companies – AT&T, Verizon CenturyLink, Fairpoint, Frontier and Windstream – aim to overhaul the country's $4.5 billion Universal Service Fund (USF) and the intercarrier compensation (ICC) system, which sets out rules on how much service providers charge for carrying one another's traffic, in a bid to provide the entire population with a minimum connection speed of 4 Mbps within five years.

"After years of debating and discussing how to update the universal service and intercarrier compensation programs for the broadband era, a workable framework has emerged," said Hank Hultquist, vice president of AT&T's federal regulatory activities, in a statement late last week.

"To truly bring broadband services to all Americans, the rules of the road for the black rotary phone desperately needed to be updated for today's competitive, high-speed communications networks," he said.

The proposals would change the USF over a period of five years into one with an exclusive focus on rolling out broadband networks, called the Connect America Fund (CAF). The CAF would identify areas where it is more costly to deploy broadband networks and where there is no business case for offering services, and provide support to a single telco in each area.

The plan would also see termination rates for intercarrier compensation fall to $0.0007 per minute over a five-to-eight-year timeframe.

"This proposal modernises the USF and ICC mechanisms as our industry migrates toward a broadband-oriented future," said Mike Rhoda, senior vice president at Windstream's government affairs department, who said the plan also provides an adequate time period for carriers to transition to the proposed framework.

"We worked hard to reach consensus on a workable framework, and each of our companies was dedicated to producing a sound proposal that will benefit consumers and the industry," added Kathleen Grillo, senior vice president of federal regulatory affairs at Verizon. "We are hopeful that this framework will gain even more industry support."

Indeed, a number of industry associations have already pledged their support for the telcos' reform proposals, including the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association, the Organization for the Promotion and Advancement of Small Telecommunications Companies, and the Western Telecommunications Alliance.

US telcos team up on rural broadband plan

India - DoT is to set a common tax rate of 8.5% for mobile operators, replacing variable rates of 6-10%

2011-08-02T15:17:00.000-07:00

[cellular news] India's Telecom Commission has approved plans to change the current annual levy on the mobile networks from a variable rate to a flat rate for all telecom operators.

Currently, the operators pay between 6-10 percent of their annual revenues as a license fee. This is to be standardised at a flat rate of 8.5 percent. The industry regulator, the TRAI had lobbied for the rate to be lowered across the board to 6 percent.

The move will benefit primarily the networks covering the major cities as they currently pay the higher rate, but the larger national operators are unlikely to see much difference as the rate cut for cities will be offset by rises in the rate paid for rural areas.

In addition, Internet Service Providers and Long Distance landline networks will have to pay more as they currently pay only 6 percent of their revenues to the government.

India to Level the Annual Revenue Levy on Telecom Networks

UK - Alpha Mobile has launched a pre-paid SIM card with unlimited local and international calls for STG 30/month

2011-08-02T14:58:00.000-07:00

[totaltele.com] Alpha Mobile's prepaid SIM service offers unlimited local, international calls for £30 per month.

Alpha Telecom on Monday launched a new prepay MVNO that offers unlimited U.K. and international calls to both fixed-lines and mobile phones for £30 per month.

"£30 buys 30 days of unlimited calls – subject to a fair use policy – to landlines in more than 75 countries, [and] mobiles in selected locations, including Australia, Hong Kong, India and the USA," a spokesman for Alpha Mobile told Total Telecom in an email on Monday.

Alpha Mobile's SIM card can be used as a standard prepay SIM that charges 5p for local calls, and 10p for U.K. mobile calls when topped up with any value below £30, according to the company's Website. However, "once you top this amount up [to £30], you then receive your free international and U.K. calls," the spokesman explained.

Alpha Mobile said it aims to offer its new prepaid SIM in over 90,000 retail outlets by the end of 2011, including "Costcutter, Londis, Booker, Spar, Martin McColl and any stores with the PayPoint and PrePay logos," the spokesman added.

The MVNO is another company that uses Vodafone's infrastructure, joining other MVNOs such as Tru, Just Mobile, and Gamma Telecom.

However, Alpha Mobile has not ruled out buying spectrum and deploying its own network.

"Alpha Telecom is always building its infrastructure and investing in innovative technology to stay in line with the market," said Zafar Mirza, CEO of Alpha Mobile, in an email to Total Telecom.

The launch of Alpha Mobile comes at a time when the cost of calling abroad from a mobile is under the spotlight, particularly in Europe.

New regulations proposed in July by European Commissioner Neelie Kroes aim to enable subscribers to sign up to a dedicated roaming provider that would allow them to cut the cost of using their handset while abroad without having to change their phone number or swap their SIM card.

Alpha Telecom launches UK MVNO

Rwanda - Rwandatel is meeting creditors over its liquidation over substantial debts

2011-08-02T14:56:00.000-07:00

[cellular news] Rwandan telco, Rwandatel has confirmed that it will be meeting with its creditors after a local court ordered the company to liquidate its assets to repay debts.

The company is estimated to have debts of nearly US$89 million, but assets of just US$50 million. The company was ordered to shut-down its GSM network earlier this year following claims by the regulator that it had missed license obligations.

Rwandatel's Administrator, Richard Mugisha, told the Business Times that as provided by law, the company is mandated to meet with its creditors to agree on resolutions and approve a managerial team to oversee the company during the process.

"When the company's assets are successfully sold off, we shall discuss with the different institutions and individuals whom we owe, when and how the payment process will be implemented."

The telecom company is partially owned by Libyan investment group - LAP Green - with an 80% stake and the Social Security Fund of Rwanda (SSFR) which has 20 percent.

Rwandatel to Meet Creditors Following Court Ordered Liquidation

Zambia - Zamtel has launched its 3G service following a network upgrade

2011-08-02T14:55:00.000-07:00

[cellular news] Zambian mobile network operator, Zamtel has launched its 3G network following a US$37 million upgrade.

Zamtel chief commercial officer Amon Jere said the 3G technology will be first switched on along the line of rail and North-western province, Copperbelt province, Lusaka, Choma, Mazabuka and Livingstone.

"We expect to finish the first phase in October while the second phase will see us switch on all provincial capitals."

Libya's Lap Green Networks bought a 75% stake in the company last year for US$257 million and promised to invest US$127 million into the company, partly as recapitalisation and partly on network upgrades.

Zamtel Switches on 3G Network

Caribbean - Digicel is to provide a remittance service from the USA for its customers

2011-08-02T14:52:00.000-07:00

[cellular news] Digitalk says that it has won a contract from Pan-Caribbean mobile network operator, Digicel for its Multiservice Platform for its prepaid services throughout the USA and Caribbean islands.

Digicel has been providing prepaid calling card and pre/post paid PINless services to Diaspora communities in the USA, particularly in Miami, Florida using a white label hosted service. The move to in-house management and operations of the platform architecture aims to offer Digicel greater control over distribution, pricing and promotions, and supports its plans to introduce services in other countries.

Digicel will migrate all its existing services over to the Digitalk Prepaid Consumer Platform initially, and then support the roll-out of services to other countries with significant Diaspora communities from the Caribbean Islands, including the UK and France.

Justin Norris, CEO of Digitalk noted "We've managed a number of large-scale deployments this side of the Atlantic now and are very pleased that our reputation as leaders in prepaid consumer platforms in our traditional European Markets has stood the test in the Americas and Caribbean."

Digicel Upgrades PrePay Platform for its Diaspora Customers

Mobile broadband - Assigning more spectrum would generate substantial jobs and investment

2011-08-02T14:49:00.000-07:00

[prnewswire] Today, Mobile Future, David Sosa, Ph.D. and Marc Van Audenrode, Ph.D. of the Analysis Group released a new study, Private-Sector Investment and Employment Impacts of Reassigning Spectrum to Mobile Broadband in the United States, which reveals the crucial role mobile broadband can play in boosting the nation's economy if additional spectrum is allocated for wireless networks.

The paper explains how robust private sector investment leading to substantial job creation, can be further stimulated by the reassignment of spectrum to mobile broadband. Between 2002 and 2010 alone, capital spending in the wireless industry exceeded $185 billion, creating roughly 420,000 jobs throughout the economy.
Reassigning an additional 300 MHz of spectrum to mobile broadband over five years, the report concludes, will spur $75 billion in new capital spending, creating more than 300,000 jobs and $230 billion in additional GDP. The release of an additional 200 MHz of new spectrum after five years will create an additional 200,000 jobs and increase GDP by an additional $155 billion.

U.S. mobile networks, however, currently are operating at 80 percent of capacity, well above the aggregate utilization rate of 65 percent for all countries worldwide. Drs. Sosa and Audenrode conclude that while "mobile broadband is a critical platform for future innovation, the U.S. wireless industry currently faces severe spectrum constraints, limiting the ability of companies to develop new mobile broadband products and services. Facilitating the reallocation of underutilized spectrum can create a favorable environment for private sector investment in critical wireless infrastructure that will create jobs, spur demand and encourage innovation. And that's just the tip of the iceberg in terms of long-run economic benefits. The sooner that spectrum is reassigned to mobile broadband, the sooner we'll see private sector investment and job creation."

The report stresses that the release of additional spectrum requires no handouts from the U.S. Treasury and will generate substantial spillover effects as innovative companies rush to create new mobile broadband products and services. Emerging wireless technologies and applications have the capacity to alter economic relationships, lead to productivity and gains, and ultimately boost employment and GDP.

"The future of innovation is powered by wireless technology," said Mobile Future chair Jonathan Spalter. "Reallocating underutilized spectrum is absolutely critical to growing an extensive and robust mobile broadband ecosystem that will create jobs, spur consumer demand and facilitate innovation and economic opportunities. This new data is particularly timely as Congress continues its important work to provide more mobile spectrum for American consumers."

Mobile Future is a coalition of cutting-edge American technology and communications companies, consumers and a diverse group of non-profit organizations, working to support an environment which encourages investment and innovation in the dynamic wireless sector. Our mission is to help inform and educate the public and key decision makers in business and government on the broad range of wireless innovations that are transforming our society and the nation's economy.

New Study Finds Heightened Investments, Jobs with Reassignment of Spectrum to Mobile Broadband

Africa - Fibre optic trial succeeds at 100 Gbps over 1,732 km from Mtunzini to Johannesburg

2011-08-02T14:36:00.000-07:00

[marketwire] Infinera announced today with SEACOM, a leading pan-African telecommunications provider, the successful trial completion of five 100 Gigabit per second (100Gb/s) coherent optical signals transmitted over 1732 km. Believed to be a first of its kind in Africa, the 500Gb/s trial ran over and was looped back across SEACOM's newly built 930 km Dark Fibre Africa (DFA) fiber route which links the SEACOM Mtunzini cable landing station in KwaZulu Natal to the Teraco data center in Johannesburg.

The live demonstration today was witnessed by members of Africa's scientific, research and development community at Teraco's data center in Johannesburg. The trial used Infinera's 500Gb/s Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs), each which integrates five 100Gb/s coherent channels onto a single chip. The PICs were used for both transmitting and receiving the five 100Gb/s signals during the trial, the first time the PICs have been used to transmit and provide real time coherent processing for all 500Gb/s simultaneously on a production network. The trial also demonstrated Infinera's FlexCoherent functionality by switching between QPSK and BPSK modulation.
Infinera plans to deliver the 500Gb/s PICs as part of a system which integrates 5 Terabit per second (Tb/s) OTN switching and 100Gb/s coherent optical transmission in early 2012. Enabling seamless upgrades from existing 10Gb/s networks without having to upgrade the underlying fiber infrastructure, this technology is designed to provide SEACOM's land-based network in South Africa with a total capacity of over 8Tb/s per fiber, which is an effective 10 fold increase on its current capacity. This is in line and in support of SEACOM's plans to expand the marine portion of the cable to over 4.8Tb/s.
"The trial is a landmark achievement for SEACOM and Infinera because it demonstrates our commitment to increase the pace at which African networks are deploying cutting-edge telecommunications infrastructure technology to support Africa's rise as a primary scientific and business destination," said Brian Herlihy, SEACOM CEO.

Fibre optic transmission technologies have been developing considerably to satisfy demand for large-capacity digital transmission in public telecommunication networks worldwide. At the consumer level, the 500Gb/s PIC technology enables the download of 30 high-definition Blu-Ray™ movie files in 60 seconds, or supports the streaming of 4,000 simultaneous high definition video channels over a single optical channel.
At the network level, 100Gb/s systems based on PIC technology will have important implications for the economics of future networks. Infinera's 500Gb/s PICs incorporate more than 600 optical functions on a pair of indium phosphide chips enabling cost effective 100Gb/s coherent transmission as well as integrated OTN switching to deliver the Digital Optical Network. These industry leading capabilities provide an effective means for network operators to scale network capacity while lowering operational costs, increasing reliability and providing for superior network economics.

"With Internet traffic growing at exponential rates, driven by video, cloud computing, and mobility, the 500G PIC technology is designed to support the required growth in network capacity, while reducing the per-bit cost, space, and power consumption," said Tom Fallon, Infinera CEO. "These attributes are in-line with SEACOM's vision to providing world-class infrastructure as African traffic continues to increase at record speeds."

Infinera and SEACOM Achieve First Ever 500Gb/s Optical Network Trial in Africa Over a Distance of 1732 km

Nigeria - The inadequacy of electric power is a major challenge for the deployment of broadband

2011-08-02T14:25:00.000-07:00

[this day] The Chief Executive Officer of Main One Cable, Ms Funke Opeke , has identified inadequate power supply as the main challenge to the deployment of broadband in the country.

Opeke said in the last one year of the company's operations, power and onward distribution of capacity across the country had been very challenging.

She informed THISDAY at the one-year anniversary celebration of Main One that limited access to backbone infrastructure and limited infrastructure available for distributing the broadband traffic to consumers, who want it, had been a challenge as well.

She added that there are a lot of pent up demands by consumers by some Small Medium Enterprises (SMES), large corporations, educational institutions, and government establishment to have better access to information, but the challenge remains in getting the capacity here in Lagos to other parts of the country.

Giving insights on how the issue of power should be addressed, Opeke said that she would like to see the Federal Government eventually achieve the goals that had been set for power generation.

She reiterated that if by the end of 2011, a lot more power is generated, and effectively distributed and reliance on generator goes down from 100 per cent to about 25 per cent, it would save the firm tremendous amount of money and millions of naira.

She expressed the hope that power plants as mapped out by the FG would actually be achieved and that Nigerians would all benefit from lower cost of power and stability would be attained.

Opeke stressed that "We have seen the broadband revolution. We have seen reduction in prices of Internet; we have seen lower cost of international calls. The challenge of the global opportunity is really now to take more of these capacities to the hinterland and also to people in the large urban areas, so that they would have more access to Internet information".

Opeke had recently called for the formulation of a national policy on broadband to accelerate rapid penetration of broadband, lower cost of telecommunications and to speed up economic and social development.

She stressed that national broadband policy will establish the strategic framework for the industry operators and stakeholders. "We think that with increasing demand for broadband accessibility by Nigerians, the time has come for the government and key players in the sector to articulate and develop a policy framework which regulates broadband service delivery and lays out a pragmatic roadmap on how we can get the capacity which is now available across the shoreline to the hinterlands", she said.

Ms. Opeke stated further that there are some key issues impeding broadband penetration which should form the thrust of the national broadband policy. "We have identified issues such as a review of the national backbone, network availability, access and interconnection. In addition, NCC needs to look at matters of spectrum, frequency and distribution and try to review how they are allocated and utilized to improve telecommunications in the country", she added.

Reviewing Main One's performance in the last one year following its successful commencement of operations in July, 2010, Ms. Opeke said the company was proud to be West Africa's first wholesale broadband company and driving the broadband revolution across the sub region.

According to her, "Main One has transformed the telecommunication landscape of Nigeria and West Africa. We have done a great job of maintaining an extremely reliable network; a network which has remained 100 per cent available to our customers since we launched a year ago".

She said Main One's has created footprints on the telecommunications industry and will continue to do its best to satisfy the yearnings of its customers.

"We brought a big cable with a lot of capacity to the market which has seen a reduction in price points. We have seen call rates drop, internet costs reduced while access to broadband and speed has increased. This is part of the impact we have created as we continue to develop the broadband market", she added.

Main One Identifies Power As Challenge to Broadband

Sierra Leone - Parliamentary Cttee has visited the future cable landing station at Lumley Beach

2011-08-02T14:23:00.000-07:00

[concord times] The parliamentary oversight committee on information and communication has made a familiarization visit to the proposed site for the landing of the Fibre Optic Cable at Atlantic, Lumley Beach.

Minister of Information and Communications Alhaji Ibrahim Ben Kargbo assured the committee that the Fiber Optic Cable, which will run from France through South Africa, will land in the country at the end of this year. "We are very clear the Fibre Optic will land this year," he reiterated.

The minister disclosed that the ECOWAS Wide Area Network project (ECOWAN) has been ratified by parliament to meet the West African Policy of connectivity in the sub-region. He stated that the project is sponsored by the World Bank but completely owned by the government of Sierra Leone.

The minister said the fibre optic cable will be connected to a terrestrial backbone to give neighbouring countries the opportunity to hook up with the system, noting that countries like Senegal will also benefit from it.

Mr. Kargbo told the committee that equipment for the revival of the government Printing Department has arrived from Ghana, adding that the department will be capacitated to be able to adequately perform the functions for which it was established.

He said the Indian government has agreed to fix the traditional land lines in the country so that people will once again begin to use the land line system. He lauded the efforts of the oversight committee for collaborating with his ministry in their activities. He assured the lawmakers that the time table of achievements of the ministry will be kept intact.

Chairman of the committee, Hon. Ibrahim Sorie, assured the minister that the committee was ready to give their support to improve communications in the country, thus underscoring the need for communication saying that "communication is power".

He said he was impressed with the engineering design at the proposed site of the landing of the cable where construction was ongoing. He applauded the minister for being assiduous and referred to him as one who was result oriented.

Hon. Ibrahim Sorie said the committee has visited virtually all the departments of the ministry and was about to write its session report, noting that the committee serves as a bridge between the ministry and parliament and monitors the operations of the ministry.

The Project Manager SIS/LIKUSASA TURNKEY Projects, Neil Freemantle, assured the committee that the construction on the site will be completed before the Fibre lands.

Parliament Visits Fibre Landing Station