[business standard] The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on Friday evening decided to withdraw its order imposing restrictions on SMS services in Jammu and Kashmir.
In a statement issued here, the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology stated : “The press release issued earlier during the day by PIB on the subject, “DoT ISSUES DIRECTIVES TO UAS/CMTS SERVICE PROVIDERS IN J and K”, therefore, stands withdrawn.”
Earlier in the day, the DoT banned short message service (SMS) for post-paid subscribers in Jammu and Kashmir with effect from Friday midnight.
The DoT’s decision left only prepaid customers to enjoy the SMS facility.
The Government’s decision came in the backdrop of increased security concerns.
The DoT had asked all the 12 operators including the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL),Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Essar, to withdraw text message service from their postpaid users in the State.
"In case of existing post-paid users, the service should be withdrawn immediately," a statement from DoT said.
In case of prepaid subscribers, the facility has been restricted to 10 SMSes per day per subscriber.
"SMS messages originated outside J and K service area in India and from the networks of International Long Distance (ILD) operators should not be delivered to mobile subscribers in J and K service area," the statement said.
The DoT had also asked all operators to immediately stop tariff packages offering free SMS service.
SMS back in Kashmir, DoT withdraws its order
Sunday, April 18, 2010
China's ZTE expects export growth to pick up-chairman
[reuters] ZTE said revenue jumped 36 percent to 60.3 billion yuan ($8.8 billion) in 2009, following a 3G spending binge in China. But its international sales rose by a more modest 11.3 percent to 29.9 billion yuan, accounting for just under half of its total revenue.
"This year we hope exports will grow faster than last year," Chairman Hou Weigui, one of ZTE's founders, told Reuters on Friday, in his first interview with a foreign wire service.
He predicted that faster growth in exports would push foreign sales back above half of ZTE's total this year, after the figure slipped below 50 percent last year as foreign markets pulled back during the global downturn, and China spent more as its companies built 3G networks.
China's ZTE expects export growth to pick up-chairman
"This year we hope exports will grow faster than last year," Chairman Hou Weigui, one of ZTE's founders, told Reuters on Friday, in his first interview with a foreign wire service.
He predicted that faster growth in exports would push foreign sales back above half of ZTE's total this year, after the figure slipped below 50 percent last year as foreign markets pulled back during the global downturn, and China spent more as its companies built 3G networks.
China's ZTE expects export growth to pick up-chairman
Egypt - two bids for licences for residential compounds
[ameinfo] Egypt's telecom regulator has received bids by two consortiums for two licences to supply cable, voice and Internet services to residential compounds, Reuters has reported. "We have received two bids from consortiums and will study them technically and the NTRA board will make a decision sometime in May," Amr Badawi, the executive president of the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA), told the news service.
Two bids received for Egypt telco licences
Two bids received for Egypt telco licences
[ameinfo] Egypt's telecom regulator has received bids by two consortiums for two licences to supply cable, voice and Internet services to residential compounds, Reuters has reported. "We have received two bids from consortiums and will study them technically and the NTRA board will make a decision sometime in May," Amr Badawi, the executive president of the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA), told the news service.
Two bids received for Egypt telco licences
Two bids received for Egypt telco licences
Be There or Be Square: The Rise of Location-based Social Networking
[wharton] To find the hottest restaurant, bar or concert venue in town, many young adults are no longer checking in with their friends. They're "checking in" virtually via Foursquare, a location-based social networking site. Participants log onto the site and "check in" via smartphone to let contacts who are fellow users know where they are. At the same time, they learn what those users are doing -- whether a co-worker is eating at the restaurant next door, or if friends are gathering at a nightclub across town. As "check in" alerts are traded between phones, the people attached to them instantly become aware of the spots that are popular in their social circles.
Foursquare, which was founded by Dennis Crowley and Naveen Selvadurai, was introduced at the March 2009 South by Southwest music and interactive media festival in Austin, Texas. In recent weeks, the New York-based company has made headlines by gaining about 100,000 users in 10 days during this year's South by Southwest event. Web traffic to Foursquare has increased by 400% since October 2009, according to the research firm Hitwise -- and that doesn't even count users who access the service via third party mobile applications.
Be There or Be Square: The Rise of Location-based Social Networking
Foursquare, which was founded by Dennis Crowley and Naveen Selvadurai, was introduced at the March 2009 South by Southwest music and interactive media festival in Austin, Texas. In recent weeks, the New York-based company has made headlines by gaining about 100,000 users in 10 days during this year's South by Southwest event. Web traffic to Foursquare has increased by 400% since October 2009, according to the research firm Hitwise -- and that doesn't even count users who access the service via third party mobile applications.
Be There or Be Square: The Rise of Location-based Social Networking
Thursday, April 15, 2010
What's the Value of a 'Fan' on Social Media?
[brandweek] Brands have rushed to Facebook to build fan bases, with some amassing millions of connections. The nagging question has been: What is the monetary value of these fans?
Social media specialist Vitrue, which aids brands in building their customer bases on social networks, tried to put a media value on such communities.
The firm has determined that, on average, a fan base of 1 million translates into at least $3.6 million in equivalent media over a year.
The company's findings are based on impressions generated in the Facebook news feed, the stream of recent updates from users' networks.
Vitrue analyzed Facebook data from its clients -- with a combined 41 million fans -- and found that most fans yielded an extra impression. That means a marketer posting twice a day can expect about 60 million impressions per month through the news feed.
"It's important to understand that once you build that fan base, you want to make sure you're leveraging it," said Michael Strutton, chief product officer at Vitrue.
Not all brands are created equal. Vitrue found wildly divergent impression-to-fan ratios. Some marketers generated just .44 impressions per fan, while another saw 3.6 impressions. Strutton chalked that up to sexier brands having more engaged connections, giving them access to the news feed more often. The impressions are not unique.
Vitrue arrived at its $3.6 million figure by working off a $5 CPM, meaning a brand's 1 million fans generate about $300,000 in media value each month. Using Vitrue's calculation, Starbucks' 6.5 million fan base -- acquired in part with several big ad buys -- is worth $23.4 million in media annually.
"It helps [marketers] justify the spend they're making, especially in acquiring a fan base and engaging that fan base," Strutton said.
Of course, the figures don't include perhaps the most powerful incentive for brands building fan bases: social customer-relationship management. Marketers often use their Facebook hubs to inform fans of new products, services and promotions.
"When you start to [add] engagement value, it goes higher," said Strutton. "We were trying to get an easy-to-understand valuation terminology."
What's the Value of a 'Fan' on Social Media?
see also Virtue
Social media specialist Vitrue, which aids brands in building their customer bases on social networks, tried to put a media value on such communities.
The firm has determined that, on average, a fan base of 1 million translates into at least $3.6 million in equivalent media over a year.
The company's findings are based on impressions generated in the Facebook news feed, the stream of recent updates from users' networks.
Vitrue analyzed Facebook data from its clients -- with a combined 41 million fans -- and found that most fans yielded an extra impression. That means a marketer posting twice a day can expect about 60 million impressions per month through the news feed.
"It's important to understand that once you build that fan base, you want to make sure you're leveraging it," said Michael Strutton, chief product officer at Vitrue.
Not all brands are created equal. Vitrue found wildly divergent impression-to-fan ratios. Some marketers generated just .44 impressions per fan, while another saw 3.6 impressions. Strutton chalked that up to sexier brands having more engaged connections, giving them access to the news feed more often. The impressions are not unique.
Vitrue arrived at its $3.6 million figure by working off a $5 CPM, meaning a brand's 1 million fans generate about $300,000 in media value each month. Using Vitrue's calculation, Starbucks' 6.5 million fan base -- acquired in part with several big ad buys -- is worth $23.4 million in media annually.
"It helps [marketers] justify the spend they're making, especially in acquiring a fan base and engaging that fan base," Strutton said.
Of course, the figures don't include perhaps the most powerful incentive for brands building fan bases: social customer-relationship management. Marketers often use their Facebook hubs to inform fans of new products, services and promotions.
"When you start to [add] engagement value, it goes higher," said Strutton. "We were trying to get an easy-to-understand valuation terminology."
What's the Value of a 'Fan' on Social Media?
see also Virtue
Facebook - Value of a 'Fan' on Social Media: $3.60
[adweek] Brands have rushed to Facebook to build fan bases, with some amassing millions of connections. The nagging question has been: What is the monetary value of these fans?
Social media specialist Vitrue, which aids brands in building their customer bases on social networks, tried to put a media value on such communities.
The firm has determined that, on average, a fan base of 1 million translates into at least $3.6 million in equivalent media over a year.
The company's findings are based on impressions generated in the Facebook news feed, the stream of recent updates from users' networks.
Vitrue analyzed Facebook data from its clients -- with a combined 41 million fans -- and found that most fans yielded an extra impression. That means a marketer posting twice a day can expect about 60 million impressions per month through the news feed.
"It's important to understand that once you build that fan base, you want to make sure you're leveraging it," said Michael Strutton, chief product officer at Vitrue.
Not all brands are created equal. Vitrue found wildly divergent impression-to-fan ratios. Some marketers generated just .44 impressions per fan, while another saw 3.6 impressions. Strutton chalked that up to sexier brands having more engaged connections, giving them access to the news feed more often. The impressions are not unique.
Vitrue arrived at its $3.6 million figure by working off a $5 CPM, meaning a brand's 1 million fans generate about $300,000 in media value each month. Using Vitrue's calculation, Starbucks' 6.5 million fan base -- acquired in part with several big ad buys -- is worth $23.4 million in media annually.
"It helps [marketers] justify the spend they're making, especially in acquiring a fan base and engaging that fan base," Strutton said.
Of course, the figures don't include perhaps the most powerful incentive for brands building fan bases: social customer-relationship management. Marketers often use their Facebook hubs to inform fans of new products, services and promotions.
"When you start to [add] engagement value, it goes higher," said Strutton. "We were trying to get an easy-to-understand valuation terminology."
Value of a 'Fan' on Social Media: $3.60
Social media specialist Vitrue, which aids brands in building their customer bases on social networks, tried to put a media value on such communities.
The firm has determined that, on average, a fan base of 1 million translates into at least $3.6 million in equivalent media over a year.
The company's findings are based on impressions generated in the Facebook news feed, the stream of recent updates from users' networks.
Vitrue analyzed Facebook data from its clients -- with a combined 41 million fans -- and found that most fans yielded an extra impression. That means a marketer posting twice a day can expect about 60 million impressions per month through the news feed.
"It's important to understand that once you build that fan base, you want to make sure you're leveraging it," said Michael Strutton, chief product officer at Vitrue.
Not all brands are created equal. Vitrue found wildly divergent impression-to-fan ratios. Some marketers generated just .44 impressions per fan, while another saw 3.6 impressions. Strutton chalked that up to sexier brands having more engaged connections, giving them access to the news feed more often. The impressions are not unique.
Vitrue arrived at its $3.6 million figure by working off a $5 CPM, meaning a brand's 1 million fans generate about $300,000 in media value each month. Using Vitrue's calculation, Starbucks' 6.5 million fan base -- acquired in part with several big ad buys -- is worth $23.4 million in media annually.
"It helps [marketers] justify the spend they're making, especially in acquiring a fan base and engaging that fan base," Strutton said.
Of course, the figures don't include perhaps the most powerful incentive for brands building fan bases: social customer-relationship management. Marketers often use their Facebook hubs to inform fans of new products, services and promotions.
"When you start to [add] engagement value, it goes higher," said Strutton. "We were trying to get an easy-to-understand valuation terminology."
Value of a 'Fan' on Social Media: $3.60
Mobile Operators Need New Metrics to Assess Customer Churn
[pr newswire] s mobile customer retention remains a key focus in both developed and emerging markets, operators should assess the value of churn within the context of key segments, according to a new report from Pyramid Research.
Mobile Customer Churn: Why It Matters Less in Some Emerging Markets looks at the value of churn as an indicator and analyzes the strength in the value between emerging markets, such as Africa and Asia, and that of other countries. This 16-page report looks at the development of churn rates in highly prepaid markets in Africa and developing Asia. Four case studies examine Vodacom Tanzania, Idea Cellular, Banglalink, and Vodacom South Africa.
"Churn rates have been an important performance indicator in the wireless industry; some operators believe its value has lessened in recent years, given changing market dynamics, such as the high incidence of multi-SIM ownership and the provision of free SIMs and airtime," says Jan ten Sythoff, analyst-at-large for Pyramid Research. "For example, the main trend for churn rates in developing prepaid markets, such as many in Africa and Asia, is upward, driven predominantly by the arrival of new entrants. In other countries, by contrast, market maturity, competitive stability and improved subscription management is bringing churn rates down."
"For churn to continue to remain relevant, it needs to be reprioritized within organizations and it should not be discarded as an indicator altogether," ten Sythoff explains. "Intense levels of competition do mean that its priority should be lowered, but this is likely to be a temporary situation as markets mature and consolidate. Moreover, churn remains a key parameter of a subscription's overall lifetime value when tracking high-value segments, particularly when high subsidies are involved in order to acquire the customer, as well as in the evaluation of services and pricing options for operators."
Mobile Operators Need New Metrics to Assess Customer Churn, Pyramid Research Finds
Mobile Customer Churn: Why It Matters Less in Some Emerging Markets looks at the value of churn as an indicator and analyzes the strength in the value between emerging markets, such as Africa and Asia, and that of other countries. This 16-page report looks at the development of churn rates in highly prepaid markets in Africa and developing Asia. Four case studies examine Vodacom Tanzania, Idea Cellular, Banglalink, and Vodacom South Africa.
"Churn rates have been an important performance indicator in the wireless industry; some operators believe its value has lessened in recent years, given changing market dynamics, such as the high incidence of multi-SIM ownership and the provision of free SIMs and airtime," says Jan ten Sythoff, analyst-at-large for Pyramid Research. "For example, the main trend for churn rates in developing prepaid markets, such as many in Africa and Asia, is upward, driven predominantly by the arrival of new entrants. In other countries, by contrast, market maturity, competitive stability and improved subscription management is bringing churn rates down."
"For churn to continue to remain relevant, it needs to be reprioritized within organizations and it should not be discarded as an indicator altogether," ten Sythoff explains. "Intense levels of competition do mean that its priority should be lowered, but this is likely to be a temporary situation as markets mature and consolidate. Moreover, churn remains a key parameter of a subscription's overall lifetime value when tracking high-value segments, particularly when high subsidies are involved in order to acquire the customer, as well as in the evaluation of services and pricing options for operators."
Mobile Operators Need New Metrics to Assess Customer Churn, Pyramid Research Finds
Caribbean - Cable & Wireless Communications wins legal war with Digicel
[the guardian] Cable & Wireless Communications has won a three-year legal fight with bitter rival Digicel that looks likely to land Irish entrepreneur Denis O'Brien with a legal bill of up to £25m.
Digicel, which O'Brien set up almost a decade ago, had accused C&W of impeding its entry into the Caribbean telecoms market. The international arm of C&W, which recently demerged as Cable & Wireless Communications (C&WC), is the former monopoly player in many markets in the region.
But after a three-year legal tussle, culminating in a 77-day trial in London, a high court judge has dismissed all but one of Digicel's claims. Even in the one area where the judge did find C&W at fault, in the Turks and Caicos islands, the judge awarded damages understood to be a mere £2.
"This is a resounding victory for Cable & Wireless Communications," said Tony Rice, its chief executive. "This case has been a pointless waste of time and money. I am delighted we have won and are now free from this unnecessary distraction."
When he launched the case Denis O'Brien, best known in the UK for his long-running feud with Anthony O'Reilly and his son Gavin over the future of Independent News & Media, was claiming damages in excess of £300m. After the judgment, C&WC will make a claim for costs and together with O'Brien's own legal fees the bill could be as high as £25m.
The allegations centred on problems that Digicel claimed it had experienced when trying to connect to C&W's network when it moved into new markets between 2002 and 2006.
Connecting to an existing operator is crucial for any new entrant, which needs to be able to allow customers to call and be called by people on other networks. Digicel, which has 10.7 million customers in 32 markets, also claimed that there was a conspiracy to keep it out of some Caribbean territories and was claiming for lost earnings.
The case involved claims that C&WC broke the law in six Caribbean territories: Barbados, Cayman, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada and the Turks and Caicos islands. Similar allegations were also made against TSTT, the Trinidad and Tobago-based telecom operator, the government-controlled telecoms company in which C&WC is a shareholder.
The judge was scathing about the situation in Trinidad and Tobago, describing senior executives of TSTT and its contractor, Nortel, as acting "contrary to honest practices". Digicel blamed the loss of its case on "the weak regulatory frameworks in place in these Caribbean jurisdictions". "As a champion of competition for the good of consumers, Digicel believes that Cable & Wireless Communications should be brought to book," Digicel added in a statement. As a result it will be asking the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad & Tobago (TATT) to conduct a full inquiry into the actions of TSTT.
Cable & Wireless Communications wins legal war with Digicel
Digicel, which O'Brien set up almost a decade ago, had accused C&W of impeding its entry into the Caribbean telecoms market. The international arm of C&W, which recently demerged as Cable & Wireless Communications (C&WC), is the former monopoly player in many markets in the region.
But after a three-year legal tussle, culminating in a 77-day trial in London, a high court judge has dismissed all but one of Digicel's claims. Even in the one area where the judge did find C&W at fault, in the Turks and Caicos islands, the judge awarded damages understood to be a mere £2.
"This is a resounding victory for Cable & Wireless Communications," said Tony Rice, its chief executive. "This case has been a pointless waste of time and money. I am delighted we have won and are now free from this unnecessary distraction."
When he launched the case Denis O'Brien, best known in the UK for his long-running feud with Anthony O'Reilly and his son Gavin over the future of Independent News & Media, was claiming damages in excess of £300m. After the judgment, C&WC will make a claim for costs and together with O'Brien's own legal fees the bill could be as high as £25m.
The allegations centred on problems that Digicel claimed it had experienced when trying to connect to C&W's network when it moved into new markets between 2002 and 2006.
Connecting to an existing operator is crucial for any new entrant, which needs to be able to allow customers to call and be called by people on other networks. Digicel, which has 10.7 million customers in 32 markets, also claimed that there was a conspiracy to keep it out of some Caribbean territories and was claiming for lost earnings.
The case involved claims that C&WC broke the law in six Caribbean territories: Barbados, Cayman, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada and the Turks and Caicos islands. Similar allegations were also made against TSTT, the Trinidad and Tobago-based telecom operator, the government-controlled telecoms company in which C&WC is a shareholder.
The judge was scathing about the situation in Trinidad and Tobago, describing senior executives of TSTT and its contractor, Nortel, as acting "contrary to honest practices". Digicel blamed the loss of its case on "the weak regulatory frameworks in place in these Caribbean jurisdictions". "As a champion of competition for the good of consumers, Digicel believes that Cable & Wireless Communications should be brought to book," Digicel added in a statement. As a result it will be asking the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad & Tobago (TATT) to conduct a full inquiry into the actions of TSTT.
Cable & Wireless Communications wins legal war with Digicel
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Business Professionals Can’t Live Without Sex or Smartphones Business Professionals Can’t Live Without Sex or Smartphones
[mashable] Smartphones tied with sex as the number one thing that business professionals can not live without in a study from cloud-based business phone system provider, RingCentral. In a survey among RingCentral’s small to medium-sized business customers in the US, the importance of the smartphone in daily and business life was reiterated over and over again.
The study, which surveyed nearly 400 customers, showed that smartphones are taking on the defacto role in business communication.
Here are some highlights:
* 79% of respondents use their smartphones to conduct most business calls, versus an office phone or home phone.
* 34% use a smartphone more than a computer for business. 7% even said they don’t take their laptops with them when they travel for business if they have a smartphone.
* 48% of respondents said that at least two-thirds of their phone communication is via smartphone.
* Smartphones and intimate relationships tied at 40% for the number one thing respondents can’t live without.
None of this data is particularly surprising, except for the shift to using a smartphone as a primary business device. Thanks to platforms like Android and the iPhone, you really can do a lot of work from your mobile device.
Business Professionals Can’t Live Without Sex or Smartphones
The study, which surveyed nearly 400 customers, showed that smartphones are taking on the defacto role in business communication.
Here are some highlights:
* 79% of respondents use their smartphones to conduct most business calls, versus an office phone or home phone.
* 34% use a smartphone more than a computer for business. 7% even said they don’t take their laptops with them when they travel for business if they have a smartphone.
* 48% of respondents said that at least two-thirds of their phone communication is via smartphone.
* Smartphones and intimate relationships tied at 40% for the number one thing respondents can’t live without.
None of this data is particularly surprising, except for the shift to using a smartphone as a primary business device. Thanks to platforms like Android and the iPhone, you really can do a lot of work from your mobile device.
Business Professionals Can’t Live Without Sex or Smartphones
Harris Poll Finds that Email Remains the Primary Method of Collaboration in the Workplace, but it's Time for Email to Evolve
[cisco] Examining the ever-changing landscape of collaboration, and assessing the growth of social networks, Cisco today announced findings from a study performed in January 2010 about end users' collaboration usage and preferences in the workplace. The poll found that out of the respondents using social networking for work, fifty-nine percent say that their usage of social networking has increased over the past year. The study also found the most frequently used application for collaborating with others is email (91%), but that what people want from their email is changing. The findings highlight that an evolution of email is warranted.
The study, conducted by Harris Research, polled more than 1,000 end-users from across the United States and found that email is the preferred collaboration application at work for a variety of reasons. Respondents like the fact that email provides an easily-accessible record of communication and the ability to communicate with many people at once. Users also rank email prominently among various collaboration tools because there is a high level of comfort in using the application to easily communicate with others inside and outside their organizations. However, the poll showed there are many pain points associated with the way most email solutions function today.
Facts/Highlights:
* While email remains the preferred method of collaboration, many respondents complained they receive too much irrelevant email (40%) and that they lack the ability to collaborate in real time (32%). End users also dislike the fact that they have very limited storage (25%) and that large volumes of email come into their inbox with no organizational structure (21%).
* In addition to email, the Harris poll found that other applications being used by respondents to collaborate with others in the workplace include shared spaces (66%), voice calls and teleconferencing (66%), web conferencing (55%), video conferencing (35%), instant messaging (34%), and social networking (17%).
* Half of those using social networking for work by-pass IT restrictions to do so. The study participants who prefer to use social networks indicated they would like to have control over who sees their content as well as be able to share with groups of users using different tools. The respondents also indicated the desire to collaborate in real time without having to open up an additional application.
* To address the needs of end users, Cisco is focused on providing an integrated collaboration experience between its recently announced hosted email solution and a variety of the company's other collaboration offerings including enterprise social software, unified communications, IP telephony, instant messaging, and presence. This seamless collaboration platform combines various data sources and allows communications to turn into shared content with a few clicks of the mouse. This new type of collaboration plus the evolution of email helps enable better teamwork, whether ad-hoc or formal, internal or external, and will deliver improved inbox efficiency, via topic organization, to accommodate growing email volume.
Harris Poll Finds that Email Remains the Primary Method of Collaboration in the Workplace, but it's Time for Email to Evolve
The study, conducted by Harris Research, polled more than 1,000 end-users from across the United States and found that email is the preferred collaboration application at work for a variety of reasons. Respondents like the fact that email provides an easily-accessible record of communication and the ability to communicate with many people at once. Users also rank email prominently among various collaboration tools because there is a high level of comfort in using the application to easily communicate with others inside and outside their organizations. However, the poll showed there are many pain points associated with the way most email solutions function today.
Facts/Highlights:
* While email remains the preferred method of collaboration, many respondents complained they receive too much irrelevant email (40%) and that they lack the ability to collaborate in real time (32%). End users also dislike the fact that they have very limited storage (25%) and that large volumes of email come into their inbox with no organizational structure (21%).
* In addition to email, the Harris poll found that other applications being used by respondents to collaborate with others in the workplace include shared spaces (66%), voice calls and teleconferencing (66%), web conferencing (55%), video conferencing (35%), instant messaging (34%), and social networking (17%).
* Half of those using social networking for work by-pass IT restrictions to do so. The study participants who prefer to use social networks indicated they would like to have control over who sees their content as well as be able to share with groups of users using different tools. The respondents also indicated the desire to collaborate in real time without having to open up an additional application.
* To address the needs of end users, Cisco is focused on providing an integrated collaboration experience between its recently announced hosted email solution and a variety of the company's other collaboration offerings including enterprise social software, unified communications, IP telephony, instant messaging, and presence. This seamless collaboration platform combines various data sources and allows communications to turn into shared content with a few clicks of the mouse. This new type of collaboration plus the evolution of email helps enable better teamwork, whether ad-hoc or formal, internal or external, and will deliver improved inbox efficiency, via topic organization, to accommodate growing email volume.
Harris Poll Finds that Email Remains the Primary Method of Collaboration in the Workplace, but it's Time for Email to Evolve
Mexico Mobile Carriers Get More Time to Confirm Users
[business week] Mexico’s government is allowing America Movil SAB, Telefonica SA and other mobile-phone carriers time to process millions of users who registered for a national government database so they won’t lose service.
The users complied with the law by signing up for the registry and shouldn’t have their lines disconnected, Raul Marin, spokesman for the Federal Telecommunications Commission, said today. Wireless customers were required to add their names to the registry by April 10.
Some carriers may need until April 14 to work through lists of users who registered on time, Marin said. The decision helps America Movil and Telefonica avoid losing some of the 25 million users who were missing from the database, aimed at tracking crime, as of yesterday.
About 70 percent of Mexico’s 83 million mobile-phone customers are registered, the government said. The telecommunications agency will ask carriers today to submit plans for how they’ll begin to disconnect lines, and the process will be “gradual,” Marin said.
America Movil, which has 71 percent of the nation’s wireless users, said last week it would comply with the law and disconnect unregistered users. Telefonica, with 21 percent of the market, announced April 10 that it would obey Mexican law, after previously saying it would fight to keep unregistered users.
The registry is designed to prevent criminals from using mobile phones in extortion and kidnapping schemes, allowing law enforcement to use the database to track calls. Mexico City- based America Movil and Madrid-based Telefonica said they will reconnect users after they register.
America Movil rose 5 centavos to 31.24 pesos at 4 p.m. New York time in Mexico City trading. Telefonica rose 0.5 percent to 18.02 euros in Madrid.
Mexico Mobile Carriers Get More Time to Confirm Users
The users complied with the law by signing up for the registry and shouldn’t have their lines disconnected, Raul Marin, spokesman for the Federal Telecommunications Commission, said today. Wireless customers were required to add their names to the registry by April 10.
Some carriers may need until April 14 to work through lists of users who registered on time, Marin said. The decision helps America Movil and Telefonica avoid losing some of the 25 million users who were missing from the database, aimed at tracking crime, as of yesterday.
About 70 percent of Mexico’s 83 million mobile-phone customers are registered, the government said. The telecommunications agency will ask carriers today to submit plans for how they’ll begin to disconnect lines, and the process will be “gradual,” Marin said.
America Movil, which has 71 percent of the nation’s wireless users, said last week it would comply with the law and disconnect unregistered users. Telefonica, with 21 percent of the market, announced April 10 that it would obey Mexican law, after previously saying it would fight to keep unregistered users.
The registry is designed to prevent criminals from using mobile phones in extortion and kidnapping schemes, allowing law enforcement to use the database to track calls. Mexico City- based America Movil and Madrid-based Telefonica said they will reconnect users after they register.
America Movil rose 5 centavos to 31.24 pesos at 4 p.m. New York time in Mexico City trading. Telefonica rose 0.5 percent to 18.02 euros in Madrid.
Mexico Mobile Carriers Get More Time to Confirm Users
China - Smartphone sales to top 100 million in 2013
[digitimes] Additionally, the market value of handset applications in the China market will reach 11.09 billion yuan (US$1.62 billion) in 2013, increasing 15 fold from 2009, Huang said, citing an internal estimate of China Mobile. Huang was in Taipei recently.
Sales of Ophones, which are built to support China Mobile's Open Mobile System (OMS), will also gain momentum in China along with the growing popularity of smartphones, according to industry sources in Taiwan.
China Mobile has stepped into the development of 3D technology and gaming engines for the Ophone, aiming to compete with iPhones, the sources revealed.
More than 20 hardware device makers, including Acer, Asustek Computer, Lenovo, Motorola, Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics (LGE), Dell and Sony Ericsson, have already joined the supply chain of Ophones, said the sources, noting that a total of about 35 Ophone models are expected to launch in 2010.
The ASPs (average selling prices) of Ophones are expected to drop from about 4,000 yuan in 2009 to 2,000 yuan in 2010, and further decline to 1,000 yuan by year-end 2011, estimated the sources.
China market: Smartphone sales to top 100 million in 2013, says China Mobile executive
Sales of Ophones, which are built to support China Mobile's Open Mobile System (OMS), will also gain momentum in China along with the growing popularity of smartphones, according to industry sources in Taiwan.
China Mobile has stepped into the development of 3D technology and gaming engines for the Ophone, aiming to compete with iPhones, the sources revealed.
More than 20 hardware device makers, including Acer, Asustek Computer, Lenovo, Motorola, Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics (LGE), Dell and Sony Ericsson, have already joined the supply chain of Ophones, said the sources, noting that a total of about 35 Ophone models are expected to launch in 2010.
The ASPs (average selling prices) of Ophones are expected to drop from about 4,000 yuan in 2009 to 2,000 yuan in 2010, and further decline to 1,000 yuan by year-end 2011, estimated the sources.
China market: Smartphone sales to top 100 million in 2013, says China Mobile executive
China - Mobile users nearly 766 million in February 2010
[digitimes] There were 765.97 million subscribers of mobile communication services in China as of the end of February 2010, up 1.24% on month and 16.10% on year, with a user density of 56.3%, according to statistics from China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).
Mobile phone subscribers in China sent 71.16 billion short messages, averaging 3.34 short messages per phone number a day during the month.
In February there were 310.26 million subscribers of fixed telecommunication networks in China with a user density of 23.6%.
xDSL 87.56 million (Y/Y 23.97%)
China market: Mobile phone users increase to nearly 766 million in February, says MIIT
Mobile phone subscribers in China sent 71.16 billion short messages, averaging 3.34 short messages per phone number a day during the month.
In February there were 310.26 million subscribers of fixed telecommunication networks in China with a user density of 23.6%.
xDSL 87.56 million (Y/Y 23.97%)
China market: Mobile phone users increase to nearly 766 million in February, says MIIT
Switzerland - Orange and Sunrise merge to become the second ranked mobile operator
[zdnet] Grâce à cette opération, Orange devient le premier opérateur alternatif en Suisse pour 1,5 milliard d'euros face au leader Swisscom.
Les grands projets se concrétisent chez Orange. Après la finalisation de la fusion de ses activités britanniques avec T-Mobile (Deutsche Telekom), créant le numéro 2 du mobile dans le pays, l'opérateur annonce ce lundi que le rapprochement de sa filiale suisse avec celle du danois TDC est bouclé.
Le nouvel ensemble constitué d'Orange Suisse et Sunrise, devient aujourd'hui le premier opérateur alternatif suisse face au leader Swisscom avec 3,4 millions de clients en téléphonie mobile (38% de parts de marché) et 1,1 million de clients en téléphonie fixe et Internet haut débit (13% de PDM) pour un chiffre d'affaires total de 2 milliards d'euros.
Suisse : la fusion entre les filiales d'Orange et de TDC est bouclée
Les grands projets se concrétisent chez Orange. Après la finalisation de la fusion de ses activités britanniques avec T-Mobile (Deutsche Telekom), créant le numéro 2 du mobile dans le pays, l'opérateur annonce ce lundi que le rapprochement de sa filiale suisse avec celle du danois TDC est bouclé.
Le nouvel ensemble constitué d'Orange Suisse et Sunrise, devient aujourd'hui le premier opérateur alternatif suisse face au leader Swisscom avec 3,4 millions de clients en téléphonie mobile (38% de parts de marché) et 1,1 million de clients en téléphonie fixe et Internet haut débit (13% de PDM) pour un chiffre d'affaires total de 2 milliards d'euros.
Suisse : la fusion entre les filiales d'Orange et de TDC est bouclée
Symantec State of Spam and Phishing Report - April 2010
[prwire] A close observation of spam and phishing tactics in Asia Pacific this month revealed some interesting highlights:
* With no additional natural disasters to exploit after the tragic earthquakes in Haiti and in Chile, spammers instead focussed on seasonal events such as Easter to deliver spam messages
* Symantec observed that spam is an economic indicator, with many spam topics adapting to current events such as the global economic crisis
* There was a mass phishing attack on two major retail electronic payment brands, with phishers initiating an attack that made up 4.4 percent of all unique phishing websites in March
* Symantec noted a number of phishing websites aimed at luring Indian job seekers in an attempt to steal their credentials, then spam genuine employers for financial gain
* The sharp decline in spam containing .cn URLs continued during March and messages with .ru domains are continuing to increase dramatically
* Overall, spam made up 89.34 percent of all messages in March, compared with 89.99 percent in February
* A nine percent decrease was observed in non-English phishing sites from the previous month, due to a fall in the number of French and Italian phishing attacks.
Symantec State of Spam and Phishing Report - April 2010
* With no additional natural disasters to exploit after the tragic earthquakes in Haiti and in Chile, spammers instead focussed on seasonal events such as Easter to deliver spam messages
* Symantec observed that spam is an economic indicator, with many spam topics adapting to current events such as the global economic crisis
* There was a mass phishing attack on two major retail electronic payment brands, with phishers initiating an attack that made up 4.4 percent of all unique phishing websites in March
* Symantec noted a number of phishing websites aimed at luring Indian job seekers in an attempt to steal their credentials, then spam genuine employers for financial gain
* The sharp decline in spam containing .cn URLs continued during March and messages with .ru domains are continuing to increase dramatically
* Overall, spam made up 89.34 percent of all messages in March, compared with 89.99 percent in February
* A nine percent decrease was observed in non-English phishing sites from the previous month, due to a fall in the number of French and Italian phishing attacks.
Symantec State of Spam and Phishing Report - April 2010
India - Olive Triple SIM Phone Unveiled
[india server] Olive Telecommunications has introduced the first ever triple SIM phone, V-Wiz GC800 in India. This is projected to catch the trend of the multi-SIM handset market in the country.
By introducing the triple SIM V-Wiz GC800 for the Indian customers, the handset maker has also recorded its name as the first handset manufacturer to bring the triple SIM phones to India.
The V-Wiz GC800 phone sports a 5.58 cm color screen and is featured with QWERTY keyword, 2 MP camera, WAP/MMS/GPRS. Bluetooth with A2DP and access to social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, MSN and Yahoo in IM. The handset is incorporated with opera mini for enabling a faster browsing experience to the user.
Apart from that, there are three colour options for the back panel like yellow, silver and black which are changeable and can be customized. There is also a 4GB microSD slot to suffice the data storage requirement. Built in FM radio, Stereo headset, Speaker phone, Music Player and Video Player with Recording are some other regular features that can be seen in this triple SIM phone.
According to the company, the V-Wiz GC800 handset would be available at Rs 6000 for the Indian customers. However, there is no word about its launch date in India till now.
Olive Triple SIM Phone Unveiled In India
By introducing the triple SIM V-Wiz GC800 for the Indian customers, the handset maker has also recorded its name as the first handset manufacturer to bring the triple SIM phones to India.
The V-Wiz GC800 phone sports a 5.58 cm color screen and is featured with QWERTY keyword, 2 MP camera, WAP/MMS/GPRS. Bluetooth with A2DP and access to social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, MSN and Yahoo in IM. The handset is incorporated with opera mini for enabling a faster browsing experience to the user.
Apart from that, there are three colour options for the back panel like yellow, silver and black which are changeable and can be customized. There is also a 4GB microSD slot to suffice the data storage requirement. Built in FM radio, Stereo headset, Speaker phone, Music Player and Video Player with Recording are some other regular features that can be seen in this triple SIM phone.
According to the company, the V-Wiz GC800 handset would be available at Rs 6000 for the Indian customers. However, there is no word about its launch date in India till now.
Olive Triple SIM Phone Unveiled In India
China Mobile to trial TD-LTE networks in 3 China cities in 2H10
[digitimes] China Mobile will trial its TD-LTE networks in three cities in China in the second half of 2010, company vice president Sha Yuejia said at a technology seminar held in Taipei recently.
China Mobile plans to install 100 TD-LTE base stations in each of the cities, said Sha, without naming the cities.
Additionally, China Mobile, together with telecom equipment suppliers, is pushing TD-LTE technology to overseas markets, and prospects are high for non-China-based carriers to adopt TD-LTE as a 4G standard, according to Mohammad Akhtar, vice president and general manager, Networks, Motorola Asia Pacific.
With the support of equipment vendors and telecom carriers, the TD-LTE ecosystem is growing rapidly, said Akhtar, adding that TDD (time division duplexing) operators can fully leverage the spectrum advantages to build up their TD-LTE networks and therefore, accelerate the roll-out of TD-LTE infrastructures.
In other news, China Mobile had a total of 4.28 million 3G subscribers as of the end of February 2010, accounting for less than 1% of its 532 million total subscribers, Sha noted.
China Mobile posted net profits of NT$115.2 billion yuan (US$16.88 billion) on revenues of 452.1 billion in 2009, Sha revealed.
China Mobile to trial TD-LTE networks in 3 China cities in 2H10
China Mobile plans to install 100 TD-LTE base stations in each of the cities, said Sha, without naming the cities.
Additionally, China Mobile, together with telecom equipment suppliers, is pushing TD-LTE technology to overseas markets, and prospects are high for non-China-based carriers to adopt TD-LTE as a 4G standard, according to Mohammad Akhtar, vice president and general manager, Networks, Motorola Asia Pacific.
With the support of equipment vendors and telecom carriers, the TD-LTE ecosystem is growing rapidly, said Akhtar, adding that TDD (time division duplexing) operators can fully leverage the spectrum advantages to build up their TD-LTE networks and therefore, accelerate the roll-out of TD-LTE infrastructures.
In other news, China Mobile had a total of 4.28 million 3G subscribers as of the end of February 2010, accounting for less than 1% of its 532 million total subscribers, Sha noted.
China Mobile posted net profits of NT$115.2 billion yuan (US$16.88 billion) on revenues of 452.1 billion in 2009, Sha revealed.
China Mobile to trial TD-LTE networks in 3 China cities in 2H10
UK - Bribery Act has received the Royal Assent
[Bribery Act 2010] Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same ...
Offences of bribing another person
Offences relating to being bribed
Bribery of foreign public officials
Bribery Act
Offences of bribing another person
Offences relating to being bribed
Bribery of foreign public officials
Bribery Act
Monday, April 12, 2010
Sudan - Socio-Economic Impact of Mobile Communications
[zawya] Zain, the leading provider of mobile telecommunication in the Middle East and Africa, in association with the global telecom equipment supplier Ericsson, commissioned and published a groundbreaking report highlighting the social and economic impact of mobile communications in Sudan, where Zain is the biggest operator with a customer market share of 60%.
Titled 'Socio-Economic Impact of Mobile Communications in Sudan', the report that builds on two years of research and covers four basic areas: Khartoum, Juba in the South, in Darfur, and in the North. The study is comprised of three separate sub reports, covering many dimensions of social and economic development:
1. "The Nile Connection" which examined the social and anthropological factors around how people have traditionally, and today, communicate in Sudan (de Bruijn and Brinkman)
2. "Economic Impact of Mobile Communications in Sudan" - a financial analysis of the economic factors, considering both supply and demand side effects (Deloitte)
3. "Sudan: Mobile Communication a driver for growth?" A survey to assess the needs of mobile customers in Sudan, with more than 1000 survey respondents from the four different areas (Majanen and Kruse)
Mobile telephony in Sudan has gone through a period of substantial development and change. The reports highlight that in 2008, the total economic benefit of the mobile industry to the Sudanese economy contributed SDG 5.4 billion (US$2.4 billion) to the Sudanese economy, at the time 4% of GDP with a possible additional 1% in hidden impact.
Also the report draws attention to the fact that as well as providing over 40,000 jobs, the sector can claim to be responsible for a 0.12% growth in GDP for every 1% increase in market penetration. Given also that at the end of 2008, market penetration was still only at 28% or roughly 10 million customers, there is much potential for growth for the sector and for the benefit of the Sudanese economy as a whole. It is worth noting that the penetration rate at the end of 2009 exceeded 42% or 15 million customers. The mobile phone is also an important bridge to the Sudanese Diaspora worldwide with a highly significant, if not precisely calculable, contribution to GDP.
Zain Group Chief Executive, Mr Nabeel Bin Salamah hailed the report's findings as evidence Zain's commitment to good business practice allied to socio-economic advancement. "Once again, Zain has shown that we are genuine partners with the nations in which we operate," said Bin Salamah. "It also demonstrates how blessed we are in that what we do not only satisfies our stakeholders and delivers technological advancement, it has the power to change how we live. Wherever the Zain logo is present there is a hope for human improvement and this show that we deliver on our promise of 'A wonderful world'.
Ericsson's Vice President for Sustainability & Corporate Responsibility Mrs Elaine Weidman-Grunewald said, "Mobile communications has been proven to help in the development and prosperity of societies, especially in developing countries. As part of our commitment to making communications more affordable and accessible for all, we undertook this study together with Zain to quantify the key economic and social impact s that communications is having to the Sudanese society , one of Africa's fastest growing mobile markets . The study finds that mobile communications is greatly aiding the micro-economic activities of traders and entrepreneurs in Sudan, as well as helping families remain in contact across the rural-urban divide of the country.
The main thrust of the report however demonstrates how mobile telephony has not only created direct employment within the telecom sector itself, but has also had a major impact on Sudanese agriculture, the nation's largest industry, not least by providing valuable weather updates and warnings, and support a mobile marketplace by linking produce buyers to sellers, providing up to date market pricing, and supporting auctions and bidding.
On a social level, as networks extend beyond the Khartoum region to include South Sudan and even conflict-ridden Darfur, mobile telephony has also allowed families to stay in contact in time of conflict, migration, and large population displacements. It has also been invaluable in supporting health, education, and family, especially in the refugee camps.
The scale of mobile sector investment within total foreign investment is substantial. Leading international consulting firm, Deloitte, estimates that in 2008, mobile network operators invested over SDG 242 million (US$108 million) in new capital equipment, while foreign ownership of the fixed operators has also driven further inward investment especially on mobile network technology.
The findings also drew praise from Jeffrey D. Sachs, the Director of the Earth Institute, and Special Advisor to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. "The report underscores the central fact that mobile telephony offers a remarkable, indeed unique, tool for economic development, and can even reach the poorest of the poor through creative approaches by the providers and users," said Professor Sachs, who has described mobile telephony as 'the single most transformative technology development' of recent times.
Changing how we live: New research report highlights the socio-economic impact of mobile telephony in Sudan
see also Socio-Economic Impact of Mobile Communications in Sudan
Titled 'Socio-Economic Impact of Mobile Communications in Sudan', the report that builds on two years of research and covers four basic areas: Khartoum, Juba in the South, in Darfur, and in the North. The study is comprised of three separate sub reports, covering many dimensions of social and economic development:
1. "The Nile Connection" which examined the social and anthropological factors around how people have traditionally, and today, communicate in Sudan (de Bruijn and Brinkman)
2. "Economic Impact of Mobile Communications in Sudan" - a financial analysis of the economic factors, considering both supply and demand side effects (Deloitte)
3. "Sudan: Mobile Communication a driver for growth?" A survey to assess the needs of mobile customers in Sudan, with more than 1000 survey respondents from the four different areas (Majanen and Kruse)
Mobile telephony in Sudan has gone through a period of substantial development and change. The reports highlight that in 2008, the total economic benefit of the mobile industry to the Sudanese economy contributed SDG 5.4 billion (US$2.4 billion) to the Sudanese economy, at the time 4% of GDP with a possible additional 1% in hidden impact.
Also the report draws attention to the fact that as well as providing over 40,000 jobs, the sector can claim to be responsible for a 0.12% growth in GDP for every 1% increase in market penetration. Given also that at the end of 2008, market penetration was still only at 28% or roughly 10 million customers, there is much potential for growth for the sector and for the benefit of the Sudanese economy as a whole. It is worth noting that the penetration rate at the end of 2009 exceeded 42% or 15 million customers. The mobile phone is also an important bridge to the Sudanese Diaspora worldwide with a highly significant, if not precisely calculable, contribution to GDP.
Zain Group Chief Executive, Mr Nabeel Bin Salamah hailed the report's findings as evidence Zain's commitment to good business practice allied to socio-economic advancement. "Once again, Zain has shown that we are genuine partners with the nations in which we operate," said Bin Salamah. "It also demonstrates how blessed we are in that what we do not only satisfies our stakeholders and delivers technological advancement, it has the power to change how we live. Wherever the Zain logo is present there is a hope for human improvement and this show that we deliver on our promise of 'A wonderful world'.
Ericsson's Vice President for Sustainability & Corporate Responsibility Mrs Elaine Weidman-Grunewald said, "Mobile communications has been proven to help in the development and prosperity of societies, especially in developing countries. As part of our commitment to making communications more affordable and accessible for all, we undertook this study together with Zain to quantify the key economic and social impact s that communications is having to the Sudanese society , one of Africa's fastest growing mobile markets . The study finds that mobile communications is greatly aiding the micro-economic activities of traders and entrepreneurs in Sudan, as well as helping families remain in contact across the rural-urban divide of the country.
The main thrust of the report however demonstrates how mobile telephony has not only created direct employment within the telecom sector itself, but has also had a major impact on Sudanese agriculture, the nation's largest industry, not least by providing valuable weather updates and warnings, and support a mobile marketplace by linking produce buyers to sellers, providing up to date market pricing, and supporting auctions and bidding.
On a social level, as networks extend beyond the Khartoum region to include South Sudan and even conflict-ridden Darfur, mobile telephony has also allowed families to stay in contact in time of conflict, migration, and large population displacements. It has also been invaluable in supporting health, education, and family, especially in the refugee camps.
The scale of mobile sector investment within total foreign investment is substantial. Leading international consulting firm, Deloitte, estimates that in 2008, mobile network operators invested over SDG 242 million (US$108 million) in new capital equipment, while foreign ownership of the fixed operators has also driven further inward investment especially on mobile network technology.
The findings also drew praise from Jeffrey D. Sachs, the Director of the Earth Institute, and Special Advisor to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. "The report underscores the central fact that mobile telephony offers a remarkable, indeed unique, tool for economic development, and can even reach the poorest of the poor through creative approaches by the providers and users," said Professor Sachs, who has described mobile telephony as 'the single most transformative technology development' of recent times.
Changing how we live: New research report highlights the socio-economic impact of mobile telephony in Sudan
see also Socio-Economic Impact of Mobile Communications in Sudan
Iraq - Asiacell plans to change the currency in tariff prices from US Dollars
[zawya] As part of its ongoing commitment to contributing to the development of the Iraqi economy, and within its aim to advance the financial situation in Iraq, Asiacell - the largest private Iraqi company and the first and only mobile telecommunications company to provide coverage for all of Iraq - announced its plans to change the currency it uses in all its dealings and tariff prices from US dollar (USD) to Iraqi dinar (IQD).
Asiacell's decision to implement this currency switch is based on the Iraqi Government's request for telecom companies to use Iraqi dinars instead of US dollars in all their transactions and dealings. The company's plan also reflects Asiacell's efforts towards developing the Iraqi telecom sector and bolstering the nation's economy, which would positively impact both the nation and its citizens.
Within this context, Mr. Faruk Mustafa Rasool, Asiacell's Chairman, said: "Asiacell is a leading national company in the Iraqi telecom sector, and is an authentic Iraqi investment that adheres to national policies aimed at serving the nation and its people. As such, we proudly bear our responsibility towards driving the country's economic development, overcoming all economic obstacles, and contributing to restoring the domestic currency. Our decision confirms our ongoing dedication to enhancing the trust our customers have placed in us in order to remain as their number one choice for telecom services in Iraq and contribute to supporting the collective developmental efforts towards building the new Iraq."
Asiacell Plans to Change the Currency Used In All Its dealings and tariff prices from US Dollar to Iraqi Dinar
Asiacell's decision to implement this currency switch is based on the Iraqi Government's request for telecom companies to use Iraqi dinars instead of US dollars in all their transactions and dealings. The company's plan also reflects Asiacell's efforts towards developing the Iraqi telecom sector and bolstering the nation's economy, which would positively impact both the nation and its citizens.
Within this context, Mr. Faruk Mustafa Rasool, Asiacell's Chairman, said: "Asiacell is a leading national company in the Iraqi telecom sector, and is an authentic Iraqi investment that adheres to national policies aimed at serving the nation and its people. As such, we proudly bear our responsibility towards driving the country's economic development, overcoming all economic obstacles, and contributing to restoring the domestic currency. Our decision confirms our ongoing dedication to enhancing the trust our customers have placed in us in order to remain as their number one choice for telecom services in Iraq and contribute to supporting the collective developmental efforts towards building the new Iraq."
Asiacell Plans to Change the Currency Used In All Its dealings and tariff prices from US Dollar to Iraqi Dinar
Yalta des mobiles : l'amende d'Orange en partie invalidée en Cassation
[zdnet] L'amende de 41 millions d'euros infligée à l'opérateur historique aurait été insuffisamment motivée. Son montant va donc être à nouveau examiné par la Cour d'appel.
Nouveau rebondissement dans l'interminable dossier du Yalta des mobiles. Petit rappel pour ceux qui n'ont pas suivi ce feuilleton débuté en 2005.
Cette année là , Bouygues Telecom, Orange et SFR sont condamnés à 534 millions d'euros d'amende par l'ex-Conseil de la concurrence pour avoir pratiqué entre 1997 et 2002 des échanges réguliers d'informations et établi un accord secret portant sur une stabilisation, au cours des années 2000 à 2002, de leurs parts de marché autour d'objectifs définis en commun.
Des pratiques d'entente qualifiées de "particulièrement graves" qui ont entraîné "un dommage à l'économie très important". Malgré leurs dénégations, les trois opérateurs ont vu leur condamnation validée en appel.
Yalta des mobiles : l'amende d'Orange en partie invalidée en Cassation
Nouveau rebondissement dans l'interminable dossier du Yalta des mobiles. Petit rappel pour ceux qui n'ont pas suivi ce feuilleton débuté en 2005.
Cette année là , Bouygues Telecom, Orange et SFR sont condamnés à 534 millions d'euros d'amende par l'ex-Conseil de la concurrence pour avoir pratiqué entre 1997 et 2002 des échanges réguliers d'informations et établi un accord secret portant sur une stabilisation, au cours des années 2000 à 2002, de leurs parts de marché autour d'objectifs définis en commun.
Des pratiques d'entente qualifiées de "particulièrement graves" qui ont entraîné "un dommage à l'économie très important". Malgré leurs dénégations, les trois opérateurs ont vu leur condamnation validée en appel.
Yalta des mobiles : l'amende d'Orange en partie invalidée en Cassation
Mobile - Beware the femtocell con game
[connectedplanetonline] There is something terribly wrong with the current femtocell business models. The Big 3 all have some kind of femto offering, but they all seem to be making the same huckster proposition: Got lousy indoor coverage? Well, for an investment of $150 or more you can have four bars in your home or business all the time. For a lot of Americans that doesn’t sound like a bad deal — until you realize that the reason you signed up for wireless service in the first place was to have ubiquitous coverage. Apparently the term “nationwide” doesn’t apply to your patio.
At a femtocell round table at CTIA Wireless last month, Rob Riordan, executive vice president for Cellcom, summed up the irony of the situation best: Carriers are saying “Buy my femtocell services because I built a crappy network.” The concept doesn’t sit well with customers, and it doesn’t sit well with Cellcom, a small wireless provider serving Michigan and Wisconsin.
To make the femtocell business model feasible, operators have to offer some kind of tit for tat — a benefit or service that compensates the customer for subsidizing the build out of the carrier’s network. I’m sorry, but $20 unlimited voice plans don’t count. (They add insult to injury actually. By taking all that voice traffic off the macro radio and backhaul networks, you’re really doing the operators a favor.) Cellcom has something else in mind: femto applications. If you can give customers something above and beyond mere home coverage, then a femtocell becomes a legitimate service rather than just a Band-Aid for the network.
The concept of femto applications is nothing new. The Femto Forum and femto-makers for some time have been promoting the idea of the “femto hub,” which could act as a central fixed/mobile convergence gateway for any manner of applications: the automatic synchronization of media between home network and mobile device, home security, and family tracking capabilities. The femtocell, in essence, functions as private cellular network and could be used to link the phone to the stereo, TV, digital video recorder, even kitchen appliances.
The problem is that the femtocells are still in the early stages of development. The Femto Forum just succeeded in getting femto interfaces standardized last year. The guts of the femtocell are a different story, each with its own proprietary operating system and widely divergent computing capabilities. The Femto Forum is working on developing a common set of application programming interfaces that would allow for the creation of femto services across platforms, but the development of a common operating system, on which to hook a developer community, is probably a long way out.
But Riordan said Cellcom isn’t deterred. The femtocells can be opaque as long as their interfaces are clear. Network-based applications, such as the presence-based apps Cellcom supplier Airvana demoed at CTIA, work independently of any femto platform. The femtocell would detect when a family member or guest entered the femto zone, then signal the network, which would send off SMS messages to parents telling them the kids are back from soccer practice, etc. “We plan on fully taking advantage of presence,” Riordan said. “It’s the easiest because presence is only a trigger.”
Beware the femtocell con game
At a femtocell round table at CTIA Wireless last month, Rob Riordan, executive vice president for Cellcom, summed up the irony of the situation best: Carriers are saying “Buy my femtocell services because I built a crappy network.” The concept doesn’t sit well with customers, and it doesn’t sit well with Cellcom, a small wireless provider serving Michigan and Wisconsin.
To make the femtocell business model feasible, operators have to offer some kind of tit for tat — a benefit or service that compensates the customer for subsidizing the build out of the carrier’s network. I’m sorry, but $20 unlimited voice plans don’t count. (They add insult to injury actually. By taking all that voice traffic off the macro radio and backhaul networks, you’re really doing the operators a favor.) Cellcom has something else in mind: femto applications. If you can give customers something above and beyond mere home coverage, then a femtocell becomes a legitimate service rather than just a Band-Aid for the network.
The concept of femto applications is nothing new. The Femto Forum and femto-makers for some time have been promoting the idea of the “femto hub,” which could act as a central fixed/mobile convergence gateway for any manner of applications: the automatic synchronization of media between home network and mobile device, home security, and family tracking capabilities. The femtocell, in essence, functions as private cellular network and could be used to link the phone to the stereo, TV, digital video recorder, even kitchen appliances.
The problem is that the femtocells are still in the early stages of development. The Femto Forum just succeeded in getting femto interfaces standardized last year. The guts of the femtocell are a different story, each with its own proprietary operating system and widely divergent computing capabilities. The Femto Forum is working on developing a common set of application programming interfaces that would allow for the creation of femto services across platforms, but the development of a common operating system, on which to hook a developer community, is probably a long way out.
But Riordan said Cellcom isn’t deterred. The femtocells can be opaque as long as their interfaces are clear. Network-based applications, such as the presence-based apps Cellcom supplier Airvana demoed at CTIA, work independently of any femto platform. The femtocell would detect when a family member or guest entered the femto zone, then signal the network, which would send off SMS messages to parents telling them the kids are back from soccer practice, etc. “We plan on fully taking advantage of presence,” Riordan said. “It’s the easiest because presence is only a trigger.”
Beware the femtocell con game
Monetizing mobile data remains a challenge
[connected planetonline] Operators may be on a slippery slope in terms of profitability if all-you-can-eat mobile data pricing continues without regard for profit margins and the real threat of “over-the-top” (OTT) video and content players, according to a new white paper from Telcordia.
The whitepaper -- “Mobile Broadband: Surf the Broadband Wave with a Customer-Centric Business Model” -- acknowledges that the data average revenue per user (ARPU) has quadrupled over the past six years (now nearly half of voice ARPU), but Telcordia warns that fact distracts from the “serious, long-term challenges,” particularly in terms of the burden on the network.
"Operators should do what they can to become value-added players that capture revenue from OTT personalization services,” said Pat McCarthy, vice president of marketing for service delivery solutions for Telcordia.
For instance, service providers can provide payments as a service, thus allowing users to pay for services and products using their (prepaid or postpaid) mobile phone account. This, the whitepaper says, would be particularly useful in markets where other payment mechanisms (e.g., credit cards and banks) are in short supply or with customers who cannot access them (e.g., teenagers).
The paper also looks at the first-generation of mobile broadband tariffs, which offer little to address the challenge created by peak-hour traffic. Though this is being managed through monthly usage limits for postpaid and daily usage, the whitepaper urges that operators distinguish between different types of traffic and properly prioritize them. It recommends, for example, prioritization of personalized end-user services that generate revenue, while zero-revenue OTT content should be managed with tiered-bandwidth management solutions.
The paper also goes into policy-based bandwidth management and real-time charging as the means for keeping reasonable. The end-goal, according to Telcordia, should be personalization by allowing customers to choose the QoS they want, which has the double benefit of allowing operators to reduce data traffic during peak hours (galvanized by things like discounts if customers choose to download songs and other bandwidth-intensive applications during off-peak periods).
Telcordia: Monetizing mobile data remains a challenge
The whitepaper -- “Mobile Broadband: Surf the Broadband Wave with a Customer-Centric Business Model” -- acknowledges that the data average revenue per user (ARPU) has quadrupled over the past six years (now nearly half of voice ARPU), but Telcordia warns that fact distracts from the “serious, long-term challenges,” particularly in terms of the burden on the network.
"Operators should do what they can to become value-added players that capture revenue from OTT personalization services,” said Pat McCarthy, vice president of marketing for service delivery solutions for Telcordia.
For instance, service providers can provide payments as a service, thus allowing users to pay for services and products using their (prepaid or postpaid) mobile phone account. This, the whitepaper says, would be particularly useful in markets where other payment mechanisms (e.g., credit cards and banks) are in short supply or with customers who cannot access them (e.g., teenagers).
The paper also looks at the first-generation of mobile broadband tariffs, which offer little to address the challenge created by peak-hour traffic. Though this is being managed through monthly usage limits for postpaid and daily usage, the whitepaper urges that operators distinguish between different types of traffic and properly prioritize them. It recommends, for example, prioritization of personalized end-user services that generate revenue, while zero-revenue OTT content should be managed with tiered-bandwidth management solutions.
The paper also goes into policy-based bandwidth management and real-time charging as the means for keeping reasonable. The end-goal, according to Telcordia, should be personalization by allowing customers to choose the QoS they want, which has the double benefit of allowing operators to reduce data traffic during peak hours (galvanized by things like discounts if customers choose to download songs and other bandwidth-intensive applications during off-peak periods).
Telcordia: Monetizing mobile data remains a challenge
OECD - The Economic and Social Role of Internet Intermediaries
[oecd] Internet intermediaries give access to, host, transmit and index content originated by third parties or provide Internet-based services to third parties. This reports develops a common definition and understanding of what Internet intermediaries are, of their economic function and economic models, of recent market developments, and discusses the economic and social uses that these actors satisfy. It is Part I of the Committee’s larger project on the role of Internet intermediaries in advancing public policy objectives.
The Economic and Social Role of Internet Intermediaries
The Economic and Social Role of Internet Intermediaries
ZTE's Net Profit Up 48% on Domestic Demand
[wsj] Chinese telecommunications equipment maker ZTE Corp. said Thursday its 2009 net profit rose 48% because of robust demand for third-generation telecommunications equipment in China.
China issued licenses for third-generation mobile services in early 2009, which led to stronger demand for ZTE's products.
ZTE's Net Profit Up 48% on Domestic Demand
China issued licenses for third-generation mobile services in early 2009, which led to stronger demand for ZTE's products.
ZTE's Net Profit Up 48% on Domestic Demand
USA - Needs clearer laws to regulate internet access
[the economist] ON APRIL 6th the District of Columbia court of appeals ruled that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has no authority to regulate how internet service providers manage traffic to their customers. The decision was narrow and appropriate, but it nevertheless leaves Americans without any kind of internet regulator. They need one.
In 2007 several of Comcast’s customers noticed that the company had slowed their access to “peer-to-peer” sites, which allow internet users to share large files directly with each other. This violated the internet principle of “net neutrality”, which says that all packets of digital information should be treated equally (and consequently requires that access to content providers, such as Google, should not be restricted by broadband providers). Several advocacy groups complained to the FCC, and Comcast stopped the practice. The FCC then ordered Comcast to disclose details of its change of heart. Comcast complied but then, in a fit of defiance, challenged the commission’s authority to issue the order at all. So the case went to court.
The FCC was a reluctant regulator to begin with. In the past decade, many European telecoms regulators forced unwilling incumbents to accept open-access policies: telecoms operators had to sell access to their network infrastructure to market entrants, to ensure healthy competition on speed and price. As America’s cable companies rolled out broadband access, they argued, curiously, that a connection to the internet was not a telecommunications service, but an information service, and thus (under America’s arcane telecoms rules) not subject to open-access regulation. In 2002 the FCC agreed, and in 2005 the Supreme Court upheld its authority to agree. Comcast, on that occasion, did not dispute the FCC’s authority.
The distinction between information and telecommunications is important. Comcast offers its customers a variety of bundled services: connection to the internet, cable television, telephony and video on demand. There’s no reason why it shouldn’t, but the FCC’s 2002 decision has left America with a patchwork of local cable monopolies and thus no market recourse for any customer who wants the pure telecommunications service of a simple connection. In its case against the FCC, Comcast argued that peer-to-peer file-sharing was hogging bandwidth. It was. But the most efficient way to allocate bandwidth among customers is to charge heavy users higher prices, which Comcast chose not to do. The real sin, then, was that the file-sharers wanted a service that Comcast did not care to provide. This is not a moral issue, but a market failure.
America needs competition among its high-speed internet providers. Open access has proved to be an effective way to do this elsewhere. Barring that, the FCC’s now-voided rules on net neutrality would have been a poor, but adequate substitute. But now America has neither. Since it is unclear whether the Supreme Court will take up the case, the FCC is left with two options. It could reconsider its stance on open access; sensing this possibility, in February a group of internet service providers (Comcast not among them) promised “years of litigation”. Or the FCC can turn to Congress for a clearer expression of authority. This would be the better course. Thomas Tauke, the head of public policy for Verizon, a telecoms operator, has compared existing regulation to a mystery house, full of empty rooms and dead-end stairwells. It is time to raze it.
America needs clearer laws to regulate internet access
In 2007 several of Comcast’s customers noticed that the company had slowed their access to “peer-to-peer” sites, which allow internet users to share large files directly with each other. This violated the internet principle of “net neutrality”, which says that all packets of digital information should be treated equally (and consequently requires that access to content providers, such as Google, should not be restricted by broadband providers). Several advocacy groups complained to the FCC, and Comcast stopped the practice. The FCC then ordered Comcast to disclose details of its change of heart. Comcast complied but then, in a fit of defiance, challenged the commission’s authority to issue the order at all. So the case went to court.
The FCC was a reluctant regulator to begin with. In the past decade, many European telecoms regulators forced unwilling incumbents to accept open-access policies: telecoms operators had to sell access to their network infrastructure to market entrants, to ensure healthy competition on speed and price. As America’s cable companies rolled out broadband access, they argued, curiously, that a connection to the internet was not a telecommunications service, but an information service, and thus (under America’s arcane telecoms rules) not subject to open-access regulation. In 2002 the FCC agreed, and in 2005 the Supreme Court upheld its authority to agree. Comcast, on that occasion, did not dispute the FCC’s authority.
The distinction between information and telecommunications is important. Comcast offers its customers a variety of bundled services: connection to the internet, cable television, telephony and video on demand. There’s no reason why it shouldn’t, but the FCC’s 2002 decision has left America with a patchwork of local cable monopolies and thus no market recourse for any customer who wants the pure telecommunications service of a simple connection. In its case against the FCC, Comcast argued that peer-to-peer file-sharing was hogging bandwidth. It was. But the most efficient way to allocate bandwidth among customers is to charge heavy users higher prices, which Comcast chose not to do. The real sin, then, was that the file-sharers wanted a service that Comcast did not care to provide. This is not a moral issue, but a market failure.
America needs competition among its high-speed internet providers. Open access has proved to be an effective way to do this elsewhere. Barring that, the FCC’s now-voided rules on net neutrality would have been a poor, but adequate substitute. But now America has neither. Since it is unclear whether the Supreme Court will take up the case, the FCC is left with two options. It could reconsider its stance on open access; sensing this possibility, in February a group of internet service providers (Comcast not among them) promised “years of litigation”. Or the FCC can turn to Congress for a clearer expression of authority. This would be the better course. Thomas Tauke, the head of public policy for Verizon, a telecoms operator, has compared existing regulation to a mystery house, full of empty rooms and dead-end stairwells. It is time to raze it.
America needs clearer laws to regulate internet access
Mexican cellphone users face sudden silence
[washington post] Martha DomÃnguez had been making calls from her cellphone for years, but Friday she faced a permanent cutoff. Midnight was the deadline for Mexicans to register their numbers with the government, and she hadn't done so.
"I was hoping there would be a reprieve," the Mexico City resident said. "Clearly, that possibility has come and gone."
In what experts say would a significant setback to Mexico's progress in acquiring world-class telecommunications, her phone -- and those of 30 million other Mexicans -- could be cut off because they are not registered.
"In technological terms, it would put us back in the Stone Age," said Ernesto Piedras, head of a Mexico City-based telecommunications consultancy.
The deadline stems from a presidential decree and legislation passed last year as part of an effort to crack down on organized crime, in particular kidnapping. Cellphones, the thinking went, were an indispensable tool for criminals: Register the lines, and you would hamper their efforts to break the law.
A year later, it appears that the legislation is creating more problems than it is solving. Given the potential for chaos, several cellphone operators said they planned to defy the deadline.
"The consequences of suspending the service would be immense," said Tomás Lajous, head of UBS Mexico Strategy and Research. "It would damage the companies and the users even more, and the onus is on the authorities to protect the latter."
Mexican cellphone users face sudden silence
"I was hoping there would be a reprieve," the Mexico City resident said. "Clearly, that possibility has come and gone."
In what experts say would a significant setback to Mexico's progress in acquiring world-class telecommunications, her phone -- and those of 30 million other Mexicans -- could be cut off because they are not registered.
"In technological terms, it would put us back in the Stone Age," said Ernesto Piedras, head of a Mexico City-based telecommunications consultancy.
The deadline stems from a presidential decree and legislation passed last year as part of an effort to crack down on organized crime, in particular kidnapping. Cellphones, the thinking went, were an indispensable tool for criminals: Register the lines, and you would hamper their efforts to break the law.
A year later, it appears that the legislation is creating more problems than it is solving. Given the potential for chaos, several cellphone operators said they planned to defy the deadline.
"The consequences of suspending the service would be immense," said Tomás Lajous, head of UBS Mexico Strategy and Research. "It would damage the companies and the users even more, and the onus is on the authorities to protect the latter."
Mexican cellphone users face sudden silence
India - Nine Companies Bid for India Bandwidth
[wsj] The bidding for radio bandwidth to offer third-generation mobile-telephone services across India resumed for a second day on Saturday, with the price for one slot touching 40.85 billion rupees ($925 million).
Friday's starting price was 35 billion rupees.
Delhi remained one of the most sought-after service areas at the end of a total of 10 rounds. It received bids from four competitors for the three available slots, attracting the highest price among all service areas at 3.92 billion rupees, the Telecommunications Department said
Nine Companies Bid for India Bandwidth
Friday's starting price was 35 billion rupees.
Delhi remained one of the most sought-after service areas at the end of a total of 10 rounds. It received bids from four competitors for the three available slots, attracting the highest price among all service areas at 3.92 billion rupees, the Telecommunications Department said
Nine Companies Bid for India Bandwidth
USA - Ex-Obama advisor calls on FCC to reclassify internet for the sake of Net Neutrality
[examiner] Michigan professor and former Obama advisor Susan Crawford remarked in Sunday’s New York Times: “The [FCC] should state its case, relabel high-speed Internet access as a ‘telecommunications service,’ and take back the power to protect American consumers.” If the FCC is able to accomplish such a reclassification the government agency would gain complete control over the service. In her opinion column entitled: “An Internet for Everybody” Crawford then summarizes the dialectical legal journey the internet has taken since its mainstream acceptance.
Initially classified as a “telecommunications service” in the era of dial-up, the FCC possessed authority to regulate the Internet as decreed by several provisions, or “titles”, in the Telecommunications Act of 1996. According to Crawford this regulation “allowed innumerable online businesses –Ebay, Google, Amazon, your local knitter – to start up without asking permission from the phone and cable companies.”
Ex-Obama advisor calls on FCC to reclassify internet for the sake of Net Neutrality
Initially classified as a “telecommunications service” in the era of dial-up, the FCC possessed authority to regulate the Internet as decreed by several provisions, or “titles”, in the Telecommunications Act of 1996. According to Crawford this regulation “allowed innumerable online businesses –Ebay, Google, Amazon, your local knitter – to start up without asking permission from the phone and cable companies.”
Ex-Obama advisor calls on FCC to reclassify internet for the sake of Net Neutrality
Wednesday, April 07, 2010
More than 1 in 10 Mobile Subscribers To Use Mobile Ticketing in 2014 Globally
[prweb] A new study by Juniper Research has forecast that more than 1 in 10 mobile subscribers will either have a ticket delivered to their mobile phone or buy a ticket with their phone by 2014. This represents a five-fold growth over the next five years.
The Mobile Ticketing report found that services are developing fastest in the transport sector, with SMS, bar code and, increasingly, app driven services being offered by rail & metro companies and airlines.
The potential for rail, metro & bus mobile ticketing is shown by early adopter market hotspots such as Japan, Scandinavia and Austria. Global impetus is being added by the rapidly growing number of airlines offering not only mobile boarding passes but ticket booking and payment as well. Beyond transport, mobile ticketing is already seeing traction across a wide range of sporting and entertainment venues including baseball, concerts and movies.
Report author Howard Wilcox stated: “Our research established that ticketing providers are exploiting apps to deliver innovative offerings - not just on smart phones either. One of the keys to widespread acceptance is going to be the ease for users of “silent” equipping via pre-installation. Telecom Italia’s new SIM cards for 2010 are a good example.”
Juniper Research gained unique market insight on top trends, issues and likely future developments directly from the heart of the market through its primary research interviews with leading mobile ticketing operators, application developers, consultants and vendors. The report includes a detailed five market forecasting suite covering key market parameters.
Further key findings from the report include:
* Europe, Far East & China & North America regions are all forecast to see double digit penetration by 2014
* Growth constraints include multiple ticket scheme environments such as certain transport markets, with their potential resulting user issues such as support and help
More than 1 in 10 Mobile Subscribers To Use Mobile Ticketing in 2014 Globally, Says New Juniper Report
The Mobile Ticketing report found that services are developing fastest in the transport sector, with SMS, bar code and, increasingly, app driven services being offered by rail & metro companies and airlines.
The potential for rail, metro & bus mobile ticketing is shown by early adopter market hotspots such as Japan, Scandinavia and Austria. Global impetus is being added by the rapidly growing number of airlines offering not only mobile boarding passes but ticket booking and payment as well. Beyond transport, mobile ticketing is already seeing traction across a wide range of sporting and entertainment venues including baseball, concerts and movies.
Report author Howard Wilcox stated: “Our research established that ticketing providers are exploiting apps to deliver innovative offerings - not just on smart phones either. One of the keys to widespread acceptance is going to be the ease for users of “silent” equipping via pre-installation. Telecom Italia’s new SIM cards for 2010 are a good example.”
Juniper Research gained unique market insight on top trends, issues and likely future developments directly from the heart of the market through its primary research interviews with leading mobile ticketing operators, application developers, consultants and vendors. The report includes a detailed five market forecasting suite covering key market parameters.
Further key findings from the report include:
* Europe, Far East & China & North America regions are all forecast to see double digit penetration by 2014
* Growth constraints include multiple ticket scheme environments such as certain transport markets, with their potential resulting user issues such as support and help
More than 1 in 10 Mobile Subscribers To Use Mobile Ticketing in 2014 Globally, Says New Juniper Report
Why South Korea is Winning the Broadband War
[switched] It's no longer news that the U.S. has slower and more expensive Internet connections than most of the world. Being the place where the Web was invented makes that quite sad, of course, but there are legitimate reasons why a country like South Korea (which has the fastest speeds on average) is beating us in the broadband race.
For one, most countries have much more competition in the broadband provider industry than the U.S. does. Here, most locales have, at best, two choices for high speed Internet: the local cable subsidiary or the phone company. The FCC's national broadband plan aims to increase competition, but don't expect to see the market flooded with broadband providers in the near future. This lack of competition is, at least in some ways, reflective of U.S. culture and policies. South Korea has put a strong emphasis on connectivity for some time. The government provides significant subsidies to poor families to get them online, and requires that companies allow competitors access to their infrastructure (for a price).
All of these elements come together so seamlessly in South Korea thanks to a ten-year plan enacted in the '90s. While the U.S. was still regarding dial-up access to chat rooms as a luxury, the South Korean government was investing in its future, and laying out a detailed plan for connecting its citizens to the emerging global market.
Of course, there are practical concerns that are out of our control. South Korea has a much smaller population and a much higher population density than we do stateside. Connecting the vast swaths of rural America is far more difficult and expensive than linking clusters of urban high rises.
Rather than make excuses, though, the American government and companies should take this as a challenge. The FCC's national broadband plan is a good start, but, if we want to claim our rightful place at the top of the lists for various broadband metrics (speed, price, and reach), there is a lot of work still to be done.
Why South Korea is Winning the Broadband War
For one, most countries have much more competition in the broadband provider industry than the U.S. does. Here, most locales have, at best, two choices for high speed Internet: the local cable subsidiary or the phone company. The FCC's national broadband plan aims to increase competition, but don't expect to see the market flooded with broadband providers in the near future. This lack of competition is, at least in some ways, reflective of U.S. culture and policies. South Korea has put a strong emphasis on connectivity for some time. The government provides significant subsidies to poor families to get them online, and requires that companies allow competitors access to their infrastructure (for a price).
All of these elements come together so seamlessly in South Korea thanks to a ten-year plan enacted in the '90s. While the U.S. was still regarding dial-up access to chat rooms as a luxury, the South Korean government was investing in its future, and laying out a detailed plan for connecting its citizens to the emerging global market.
Of course, there are practical concerns that are out of our control. South Korea has a much smaller population and a much higher population density than we do stateside. Connecting the vast swaths of rural America is far more difficult and expensive than linking clusters of urban high rises.
Rather than make excuses, though, the American government and companies should take this as a challenge. The FCC's national broadband plan is a good start, but, if we want to claim our rightful place at the top of the lists for various broadband metrics (speed, price, and reach), there is a lot of work still to be done.
Why South Korea is Winning the Broadband War
USA - Intermission on Net Neutrality
[wsj] An appeals court decision against the Federal Communications Commission's effort to sanction Comcast for blocking some Internet traffic is welcome news. But investors can't relax. This drama is far from over.
[fccher0406] Associated Press
Indeed, the ruling was somewhat expected after the tone of a hearing several months ago. The question then was whether the court would rule the commission has no power to regulate the Internet. Initial readings of Tuesday's decision were that the court didn't go that far, instead requiring the FCC to support actions like that against Comcast with reference to specific statutory authority.
That surely complicates the FCC's ability to make "net neutrality" rules requiring equal treatment of Internet traffic. But it shouldn't provide an obvious justification for the FCC to classify broadband providers as common carriers like wired phone companies under Title II of the Communications Act, as some in the industry fear.
Such a step would allow the FCC to impose stringent regulations on Internet-service providers, such as forcing them to open networks for resale. That would clearly chill investment in broadband at the very time companies need to spend money.
Intermission on Net Neutrality
[fccher0406] Associated Press
Indeed, the ruling was somewhat expected after the tone of a hearing several months ago. The question then was whether the court would rule the commission has no power to regulate the Internet. Initial readings of Tuesday's decision were that the court didn't go that far, instead requiring the FCC to support actions like that against Comcast with reference to specific statutory authority.
That surely complicates the FCC's ability to make "net neutrality" rules requiring equal treatment of Internet traffic. But it shouldn't provide an obvious justification for the FCC to classify broadband providers as common carriers like wired phone companies under Title II of the Communications Act, as some in the industry fear.
Such a step would allow the FCC to impose stringent regulations on Internet-service providers, such as forcing them to open networks for resale. That would clearly chill investment in broadband at the very time companies need to spend money.
Intermission on Net Neutrality
USA - FCC loses appeal on net neutrality case
[telefrieden] The FCC’s attempt to sanction Comcast for interfering with subscribers’ peer-to-peer traffic absent legitimate network management requirements failed to pass muster with the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. This decision severely sidetracks the Commission’s attempt to establish binding network neutrality policies, rules and regulations absent an explicit legislative mandate.
Noting that the Commission invoked no express statutory authority, the court considered whether “barring Comcast from interfering with its customers’ use of peer-to-peer networking applications is ‘reasonably ancillary to the . . . effective performance of its statutorily mandated responsibilities.’” Notwithstanding the Supreme Court’s broad deference to the FCC’s assertion of ancillary jurisdiction in the Brand X case, where the Court affirmed the FCC’s determination that cable modem provided Internet access constitutes a lightly regulated information service, the D.C. Circuit required evidence that the FCC’s regulatory action had a direct link to its statutorily mandated responsibilities. The court vacated the FCC’s sanctioning order of Comcast based on the view that the FCC could only refer to congressional statements of policy which do not provide a precedent for creating such responsibilities and to various section of the Communications Act that the court deemed inapplicable for substantive and procedural reasons.
D.C. Circuit Reverses the FCC’s Comcast Sanctioning Decision
Noting that the Commission invoked no express statutory authority, the court considered whether “barring Comcast from interfering with its customers’ use of peer-to-peer networking applications is ‘reasonably ancillary to the . . . effective performance of its statutorily mandated responsibilities.’” Notwithstanding the Supreme Court’s broad deference to the FCC’s assertion of ancillary jurisdiction in the Brand X case, where the Court affirmed the FCC’s determination that cable modem provided Internet access constitutes a lightly regulated information service, the D.C. Circuit required evidence that the FCC’s regulatory action had a direct link to its statutorily mandated responsibilities. The court vacated the FCC’s sanctioning order of Comcast based on the view that the FCC could only refer to congressional statements of policy which do not provide a precedent for creating such responsibilities and to various section of the Communications Act that the court deemed inapplicable for substantive and procedural reasons.
D.C. Circuit Reverses the FCC’s Comcast Sanctioning Decision
Solomons Islands to Benefit from Telecommunications Project
[solomon times] Solomon Islands will benefit from a multi-million dollar telecommunications technical assistance project, aimed at assisting the newly established telecommunications commission, over a period of five years.
The project has been given approval yesterday by the World Bank, AusAid and the Pacific Regional Infrastructure Facility.
A statement announcing the approval says the project is a "milestone development for telecommunications in the country."
It says strong competition is needed if Solomon Islands are to benefit from low prices for telecommunication services.
The statement says Solomon Islands is trailing behind the rest of the Pacific in telecommunications coverage.
The telecommunication technical assistance project will address these problems through providing legal, regulatory and technical expertise to the independent telecommunications commission.
It will also help government to design a program to promote the spread of telecommunication to rural areas.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Communications and Aviation Varian Lonamei has thanked all the major donors of the project.
He says efficient, reliable and affordable communications is a key to promoting economic and social development in Solomon Islands.
Telecommunications Commissioner, Nicholas Williams says the funding should enable the commission to meet its mandate and ensure competition is fostered.
He says whilst changes cannot come overnight, the speed of change can be startling if competition is allowed to run its course.
Solomons to Benefit from Telecommunications Project
The project has been given approval yesterday by the World Bank, AusAid and the Pacific Regional Infrastructure Facility.
A statement announcing the approval says the project is a "milestone development for telecommunications in the country."
It says strong competition is needed if Solomon Islands are to benefit from low prices for telecommunication services.
The statement says Solomon Islands is trailing behind the rest of the Pacific in telecommunications coverage.
The telecommunication technical assistance project will address these problems through providing legal, regulatory and technical expertise to the independent telecommunications commission.
It will also help government to design a program to promote the spread of telecommunication to rural areas.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Communications and Aviation Varian Lonamei has thanked all the major donors of the project.
He says efficient, reliable and affordable communications is a key to promoting economic and social development in Solomon Islands.
Telecommunications Commissioner, Nicholas Williams says the funding should enable the commission to meet its mandate and ensure competition is fostered.
He says whilst changes cannot come overnight, the speed of change can be startling if competition is allowed to run its course.
Solomons to Benefit from Telecommunications Project
AT&T Plans $1 Billion Investment in 2010 in Network Capabilities, Solutions and Applications for Businesses
[AT&T] AT&T* plans to invest approximately $1 billion in 2010 to scale its delivery of applications, mobility and cloud services for global companies, to expand small business services within the United States and to continue extending its network globally.
The 2010 investment program for businesses is part of AT&T’s overall existing capital plan. With business customers seizing the opportunities created by the continued proliferation of high speed communication networks and mobile computing devices worldwide, AT&T’s 2010 program includes:
* Scaling Application Services – enhancing AT&T’s current portfolio of flexible collaboration services and applications such as managed hosting, cloud-based services, Telepresence, Unified Communications, Digital Media Solutions and security.
* Enterprise Mobility Applications – continuing AT&T’s focus on delivering mobile solutions, applications and integrated devices to companies of all sizes. This includes continued investment in LTE- and Wi-Fi-based applications to support the dramatic increase in demand for mobile broadband-based services.
* Vertical Industry Focus – creating and deploying applications in the finance, manufacturing, retail, healthcare, education and government sectors, expanding its presence in emerging applications including markets such as machine-to- machine communication and rolling out fixed mobile convergence and location based solutions, along with mobile platform and portal enhancements.
* Enhancing Small Business – deploying platforms and systems across its 22-state U.S. footprint to deliver an enhanced customer experience and to accelerate the provisioning of multiple products and services. AT&T also plans to increase broadband speeds up to 24 Mbps downstream where possible in more than 120 markets across AT&T’s 22-state U.S. footprint.
* Global Network Expansion – continuing to build out its global network to deliver services and applications to the markets and geographies where multinational companies today are doing business and/or housing their operations. The AT&T network now reaches countries that represent 99% of the global economy.
“Despite the continuing challenges of today’s economic environment, we continue to deliver on our commitment to provide companies with the network-centric capabilities and applications they need to enhance their operations,” said Ron Spears, President and CEO of AT&T Business Solutions. “IP-based solutions and applications have become ever more important to companies aiming to take their productivity to a new level while transforming their operations to adapt to their customers’ changing needs.”
Including this year’s planned investment, AT&T will have invested more than $4 billion since 2006 in business-focused network, systems and applications to provide a globally consistent set of robust and highly-secure services to the more than 3.5 million business customers it serves.
AT&T Plans $1 Billion Investment in 2010 in Network Capabilities, Solutions and Applications for Businesses
The 2010 investment program for businesses is part of AT&T’s overall existing capital plan. With business customers seizing the opportunities created by the continued proliferation of high speed communication networks and mobile computing devices worldwide, AT&T’s 2010 program includes:
* Scaling Application Services – enhancing AT&T’s current portfolio of flexible collaboration services and applications such as managed hosting, cloud-based services, Telepresence, Unified Communications, Digital Media Solutions and security.
* Enterprise Mobility Applications – continuing AT&T’s focus on delivering mobile solutions, applications and integrated devices to companies of all sizes. This includes continued investment in LTE- and Wi-Fi-based applications to support the dramatic increase in demand for mobile broadband-based services.
* Vertical Industry Focus – creating and deploying applications in the finance, manufacturing, retail, healthcare, education and government sectors, expanding its presence in emerging applications including markets such as machine-to- machine communication and rolling out fixed mobile convergence and location based solutions, along with mobile platform and portal enhancements.
* Enhancing Small Business – deploying platforms and systems across its 22-state U.S. footprint to deliver an enhanced customer experience and to accelerate the provisioning of multiple products and services. AT&T also plans to increase broadband speeds up to 24 Mbps downstream where possible in more than 120 markets across AT&T’s 22-state U.S. footprint.
* Global Network Expansion – continuing to build out its global network to deliver services and applications to the markets and geographies where multinational companies today are doing business and/or housing their operations. The AT&T network now reaches countries that represent 99% of the global economy.
“Despite the continuing challenges of today’s economic environment, we continue to deliver on our commitment to provide companies with the network-centric capabilities and applications they need to enhance their operations,” said Ron Spears, President and CEO of AT&T Business Solutions. “IP-based solutions and applications have become ever more important to companies aiming to take their productivity to a new level while transforming their operations to adapt to their customers’ changing needs.”
Including this year’s planned investment, AT&T will have invested more than $4 billion since 2006 in business-focused network, systems and applications to provide a globally consistent set of robust and highly-secure services to the more than 3.5 million business customers it serves.
AT&T Plans $1 Billion Investment in 2010 in Network Capabilities, Solutions and Applications for Businesses
UK - broadband tax blocked
[bbc] The broadband tax has been scrapped in the last-minute scramble to rush key legislation through before Parliament is dissolved next week.
The tax was a key part of Labour's strategy to ensure all parts of the country get super-fast broadband.
The Conservatives have always opposed the tax, preferring to allow the market more time to roll out services before government intervention.
The levy was among three taxes in the Finance Bill to be dropped.
Super-fast broadband tax scrapped
The tax was a key part of Labour's strategy to ensure all parts of the country get super-fast broadband.
The Conservatives have always opposed the tax, preferring to allow the market more time to roll out services before government intervention.
The levy was among three taxes in the Finance Bill to be dropped.
Super-fast broadband tax scrapped
US broadband plan in 'legal limbo' after court ruling
[bbc] America's broadband plan is in "legal limbo" and on "life support" claim advocacy groups after a court ruling affecting net neutrality enforcement.
The court said the Federal Communications Commission, FCC, had no authority to sanction Comcast for slowing internet traffic to some users.
The decision is regarded as a major blow to government plans to insist all web traffic is treated equally.
US broadband plan in 'legal limbo' after court ruling
The court said the Federal Communications Commission, FCC, had no authority to sanction Comcast for slowing internet traffic to some users.
The decision is regarded as a major blow to government plans to insist all web traffic is treated equally.
US broadband plan in 'legal limbo' after court ruling
UK - Deutsche Telekom and France Telecom announce completion of merger
[DTAG] Further to announcements of 8th September 2009, and to the obtaining of all necessary approvals, Deutsche Telekom and France Telecom today announced the successful completion of the UK merger transaction and the formation of the new Joint Venture.
Tom Alexander, former CEO of Orange UK is the Chief Executive of the new Joint Venture, and Richard Moat, the former CEO of T-Mobile UK is Chief Financial Officer and Deputy CEO. A Board of Directors has also been formed, on which Tom Alexander and Richard Moat will serve as executive directors. Tim Höttges, CFO of Deutsche Telekom, will lead the board as non-executive chairman for two years. After this time, the leadership will rotate to Gervais Pellissier, Deputy CEO and CFO of France Telecom, for two years.
Also joining the six-person Board as non-executive directors are Philipp Humm, Chief Regional Officer Europe for Deutsche Telekom and Olaf Swantee, Executive Vice President Europe at France Telecom.
Deutsche Telekom and France Telecom announce completion of UK merger
Tom Alexander, former CEO of Orange UK is the Chief Executive of the new Joint Venture, and Richard Moat, the former CEO of T-Mobile UK is Chief Financial Officer and Deputy CEO. A Board of Directors has also been formed, on which Tom Alexander and Richard Moat will serve as executive directors. Tim Höttges, CFO of Deutsche Telekom, will lead the board as non-executive chairman for two years. After this time, the leadership will rotate to Gervais Pellissier, Deputy CEO and CFO of France Telecom, for two years.
Also joining the six-person Board as non-executive directors are Philipp Humm, Chief Regional Officer Europe for Deutsche Telekom and Olaf Swantee, Executive Vice President Europe at France Telecom.
Deutsche Telekom and France Telecom announce completion of UK merger
UK - Faster switching for consumers: transferring mobile phone numbers
[ofcom] Ofcom today confirmed that, subject to the outcome of a further short consultation, consumers will be able to transfer their existing mobile phone number to a new provider in just one working day rather than the current two days.
In addition, the Porting Authorisation Code (PAC) that consumers need to switch provider and keep their number will in future be issued immediately or within a maximum of two hours by text message. The time and way in which PACs are issued currently varies considerably between providers, some only issue PACs by letter, which can take several days to arrive.
Following a six week consultation on legal implementation and timing of the proposal, Ofcom expects these changes to come into effect in the first half of 2011.
Ofcom Chief Executive, Ed Richards, said "Our research shows that over 70 per cent of consumers want to keep their mobile number when they switch providers. Reducing the time it takes to transfer a mobile number to one working day, and enabling consumers to obtain a PAC quickly, means consumers will be able to switch provider more easily without the costs or inconvenience of changing their number."
Faster switching for consumers: transferring mobile phone numbers
In addition, the Porting Authorisation Code (PAC) that consumers need to switch provider and keep their number will in future be issued immediately or within a maximum of two hours by text message. The time and way in which PACs are issued currently varies considerably between providers, some only issue PACs by letter, which can take several days to arrive.
Following a six week consultation on legal implementation and timing of the proposal, Ofcom expects these changes to come into effect in the first half of 2011.
Ofcom Chief Executive, Ed Richards, said "Our research shows that over 70 per cent of consumers want to keep their mobile number when they switch providers. Reducing the time it takes to transfer a mobile number to one working day, and enabling consumers to obtain a PAC quickly, means consumers will be able to switch provider more easily without the costs or inconvenience of changing their number."
Faster switching for consumers: transferring mobile phone numbers
Facebook over takes Google as the most visited site; why?
[cap gemini] It seems fitting in a week when Facebook reportedly overtook Google as the most visited site on the Internet to try to revisit exactly why social networks are rapidly becoming the transforming force for business created by the new era of technology (whatever we define that technology era to be based on, or to include; i.e cloud, web 2.0, mobility, collaboration, etc). But first back to the report by HitWise who analyse numbers of web visits and have, by the narrowest of margins, positioned Facebook in the lead with 7.07 % over Google at 7.03%.
This also means that just these two sites - Facebook and Google - account for more than 14% of all visits on the web today. Put another way, 1 in 8 online activities is concerned with either finding content, or interacting with people, around a shared topic. In the external context of consumers deciding what to buy, the impact of how we decide what to buy from any business is reflected by the growing focus in how that business’s products and services appear in an online world. We all know that it is wise to research any significant purchase to find what is on offer, and where to buy at the best price, hence why we refer to ‘googling’, but why did Facebook grow an astonishing 185% in the year?
Facebook over takes Google as the most visited site; why?
This also means that just these two sites - Facebook and Google - account for more than 14% of all visits on the web today. Put another way, 1 in 8 online activities is concerned with either finding content, or interacting with people, around a shared topic. In the external context of consumers deciding what to buy, the impact of how we decide what to buy from any business is reflected by the growing focus in how that business’s products and services appear in an online world. We all know that it is wise to research any significant purchase to find what is on offer, and where to buy at the best price, hence why we refer to ‘googling’, but why did Facebook grow an astonishing 185% in the year?
Facebook over takes Google as the most visited site; why?
Monday, April 05, 2010
USA - Huawei to be the Potential Buyer of Motorola’s Network Services
[shenzhen post] According to foreign media reports, Motorola is currently preparing the sale of its mobile network infrastructure equipment business. At the same time, Motorola is also considering forming a joint with a rival company to transfer this business.
The U.S. mobile phone maker Motorola is planning to separate its mobile phone business and network equipment business, which is expected to work out early next year. Both of the mobile phone business and the network equipment business will be listed after they separate from each other.
China’s Huawei is clearly an appropriate choice, but any re-sale will be subject to the risk of obstruction from Washington. Investment banking analyst at Bernstein bank appraised the value of Motorola’s network equipment to be between 1 billion and 20 billion U.S. dollars. Due to the lack of business scale of Motorola’s network equipment, so analysts expect Motorola’s network equipment business will likely be sold to a larger competitor.
Currently, Huawei is keen to increase its sales in the United States. In 2006, Huawei and Motorola made a partnership on the development of the third-generation wireless technology network equipment. Huawei’s chief marketing officer Ken Hu said that Huawei will consider all acquisition opportunities. When asked whether Huawei was interested in Motorola’s network equipment business, Ken Hu highlighted their cooperation relationship in 3G equipment. He added, “We hope that Huawei and Motorola will continue to maintain a good business relationship.”
Motorola co-CEO Greg Brown told reporters, “I think the network equipment business will be able to maintain its vitality for a long time. But if there are other options or a partner to provide us with a better option, we will also consider about it.” At present, the four world’s leading mobile network equipment manufacturers are Ericsson, Huawei, Nokia Siemens and Lucent-Alcate. Motorola will only consider the choice provided by these four companies, among which Huawei and Ericsson are more powerful than the other two.
Huawei to be the Potential Buyer of Motorola’s Network Services
The U.S. mobile phone maker Motorola is planning to separate its mobile phone business and network equipment business, which is expected to work out early next year. Both of the mobile phone business and the network equipment business will be listed after they separate from each other.
China’s Huawei is clearly an appropriate choice, but any re-sale will be subject to the risk of obstruction from Washington. Investment banking analyst at Bernstein bank appraised the value of Motorola’s network equipment to be between 1 billion and 20 billion U.S. dollars. Due to the lack of business scale of Motorola’s network equipment, so analysts expect Motorola’s network equipment business will likely be sold to a larger competitor.
Currently, Huawei is keen to increase its sales in the United States. In 2006, Huawei and Motorola made a partnership on the development of the third-generation wireless technology network equipment. Huawei’s chief marketing officer Ken Hu said that Huawei will consider all acquisition opportunities. When asked whether Huawei was interested in Motorola’s network equipment business, Ken Hu highlighted their cooperation relationship in 3G equipment. He added, “We hope that Huawei and Motorola will continue to maintain a good business relationship.”
Motorola co-CEO Greg Brown told reporters, “I think the network equipment business will be able to maintain its vitality for a long time. But if there are other options or a partner to provide us with a better option, we will also consider about it.” At present, the four world’s leading mobile network equipment manufacturers are Ericsson, Huawei, Nokia Siemens and Lucent-Alcate. Motorola will only consider the choice provided by these four companies, among which Huawei and Ericsson are more powerful than the other two.
Huawei to be the Potential Buyer of Motorola’s Network Services
Thailand - NTC decides timing for 3g licensing
[the nation] The board of the National Telecommunications Commission late last week approved the time frame for granting 3G (third generation) 2.1GHz spectrum licences, which will see the awarding process take place from September to November.
An NTC source said that according to the schedule, the NTC would review the details of its existing plan from this month until June and hold public hearings on the reviewed plan in July and August.
Then it will begin a prequalification round of examining the applicants' qualifications, test the licence awarding and officially grant the licences - all of this is due to take place from September to November.
The NTC's existing 3G-licensing plan stipulates the auctioning of four licences - one featuring a 15-megahertz bandwidth and the others 10MHz - but it has yet to finalise the plan.
The NTC board also passed a resolution to order telecom operators to get the mobile number portability (MNP) system off the ground in August. If the companies fail to do so within the deadline, they will face fines.
The MNP regulations give mobile-phone users the right to retain their existing numbers when switching to a new network, a practice known as "porting". As part of the MNP system, telecom operators must set up a joint clearing house to facilitate porting and revise their internal systems to support it.
The MNP regulations require telecom operators to complete MNP system development within three months of the regulations being published in the Royal Gazette last August. The companies can seek a deadline extension if they can produce compelling reasons for doing so.
Last year, the telecom operators told the NTC they could not meet the three-month deadline, because the MNP development process is very complicated and time-consuming.
An MNP committee of private telecom operators and a representative from the NTC then discussed an appropriate extension period late last year.
The private-sector members of the committee proposed an additional 15 months from when the regulations were published, while the NTC panel member said it would be much more suitable to extend the deadline by nine months from the date on which the NTC board had approved an extension.
The NTC's MNP committee later proposed for the board's consideration extending the deadline by another nine months.
The NTC board late last week also determined the referent interconnection-charge rate between TT&T and Total Access Communication (DTAC). The rate is applicable for one year.
The interconnection regulations mandate the network of the caller to pay the interconnection fee to the network of the call receiver on the basis of mutually agreed rates.
NTC decides timing for 3g licensing
An NTC source said that according to the schedule, the NTC would review the details of its existing plan from this month until June and hold public hearings on the reviewed plan in July and August.
Then it will begin a prequalification round of examining the applicants' qualifications, test the licence awarding and officially grant the licences - all of this is due to take place from September to November.
The NTC's existing 3G-licensing plan stipulates the auctioning of four licences - one featuring a 15-megahertz bandwidth and the others 10MHz - but it has yet to finalise the plan.
The NTC board also passed a resolution to order telecom operators to get the mobile number portability (MNP) system off the ground in August. If the companies fail to do so within the deadline, they will face fines.
The MNP regulations give mobile-phone users the right to retain their existing numbers when switching to a new network, a practice known as "porting". As part of the MNP system, telecom operators must set up a joint clearing house to facilitate porting and revise their internal systems to support it.
The MNP regulations require telecom operators to complete MNP system development within three months of the regulations being published in the Royal Gazette last August. The companies can seek a deadline extension if they can produce compelling reasons for doing so.
Last year, the telecom operators told the NTC they could not meet the three-month deadline, because the MNP development process is very complicated and time-consuming.
An MNP committee of private telecom operators and a representative from the NTC then discussed an appropriate extension period late last year.
The private-sector members of the committee proposed an additional 15 months from when the regulations were published, while the NTC panel member said it would be much more suitable to extend the deadline by nine months from the date on which the NTC board had approved an extension.
The NTC's MNP committee later proposed for the board's consideration extending the deadline by another nine months.
The NTC board late last week also determined the referent interconnection-charge rate between TT&T and Total Access Communication (DTAC). The rate is applicable for one year.
The interconnection regulations mandate the network of the caller to pay the interconnection fee to the network of the call receiver on the basis of mutually agreed rates.
NTC decides timing for 3g licensing
Thailand - TOT and CAT asked to tally amendment damages
[bangkokpost] TOT and CAT Telecom have been asked to assess the financial damages they have incurred as a result of amendments made to their concessions with private operators.
Executives of the state telecom enterprises met yesterday with a fact-finding committee set up by the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) ministry to look into the concession changes.
Pol Col Suchart Wong-ananchai, the committee chairman, said it was looking into amendments made to mobile telephone and satellite concessions in light of the Supreme Court ruling that Thaksin Shinawatra abused his authority while prime minister to press for changes that helped affiliates of Shin Corp, which he founded and later sold to Temasek Holdings of Singapore in 2006.
However, the government has also been looking into other amendments made over the past 10 to 15 years, which benefited other companies besides Shin, at the expense of TOT and CAT.
The State Enterprise Policy Office has estimated that past concession amendments with private operators such as AIS, Thaicom, True and TT&T have caused the state damages of up to 138 billion baht.
Pol Col Suchart said committee members had not reached a conclusion on exact financial damages because both TOT and CAT have to take into consideration various aspects of business in the period after the amendments were made.
He acknowledged - as some private operators have also argued - that some of the amendments helped promote faster growth in the industry as a whole, and thus the state and the private sector benefited.
He cited the reduction in revenue-sharing payments to TOT by mobile market leader AIS to 20% from a range of 25-30%. While TOT received a smaller share of revenue, the prepaid customer base increased substantially, benefiting both sides.
He said, the committee also discussed concession amendments made for mobile operators DTAC and True Move, which bypassed the private public joint investment law process. Members believe that the amended concessions should not be invalidated but should be revised and made them correct.
He said the committee would assure fairness for both state telecoms and private operators, but whether the ministry and the government would agree with its findings was a different matter altogether.
TOT and CAT asked to tally amendment damages
Executives of the state telecom enterprises met yesterday with a fact-finding committee set up by the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) ministry to look into the concession changes.
Pol Col Suchart Wong-ananchai, the committee chairman, said it was looking into amendments made to mobile telephone and satellite concessions in light of the Supreme Court ruling that Thaksin Shinawatra abused his authority while prime minister to press for changes that helped affiliates of Shin Corp, which he founded and later sold to Temasek Holdings of Singapore in 2006.
However, the government has also been looking into other amendments made over the past 10 to 15 years, which benefited other companies besides Shin, at the expense of TOT and CAT.
The State Enterprise Policy Office has estimated that past concession amendments with private operators such as AIS, Thaicom, True and TT&T have caused the state damages of up to 138 billion baht.
Pol Col Suchart said committee members had not reached a conclusion on exact financial damages because both TOT and CAT have to take into consideration various aspects of business in the period after the amendments were made.
He acknowledged - as some private operators have also argued - that some of the amendments helped promote faster growth in the industry as a whole, and thus the state and the private sector benefited.
He cited the reduction in revenue-sharing payments to TOT by mobile market leader AIS to 20% from a range of 25-30%. While TOT received a smaller share of revenue, the prepaid customer base increased substantially, benefiting both sides.
He said, the committee also discussed concession amendments made for mobile operators DTAC and True Move, which bypassed the private public joint investment law process. Members believe that the amended concessions should not be invalidated but should be revised and made them correct.
He said the committee would assure fairness for both state telecoms and private operators, but whether the ministry and the government would agree with its findings was a different matter altogether.
TOT and CAT asked to tally amendment damages
Thailand - AIS seeks arbitration over national roaming deal with TOT
[bangkokpost] Advanced Info Service says it is ready to enter arbitration over its network roaming conflict with state concession owner TOT after it began limiting voice services for TOT's 3G subscribers to a maximum of 60,000 from the agreed 500,000 yesterday.
The country's largest mobile operator also warned it would terminate network roaming for voice services completely over the next few months if capacity is insufficient for its own customers.
The roaming limitations have made it difficult for 3G customers of TOT subsidiary Thai Mobile to make or receive calls in the provinces.
AIS chief executive Wichian Mektrakarn said AIS had notified TOT one month ago about the 60,000-subscriber cap, giving TOT time to manage its own 3G customers.
The last notification was two weeks ago but AIS has had no response from TOT, he said.
He added that AIS was ready to initiate arbitration if TOT argues that AIS's network belongs to the state, under the build-transfer-operate concession.
AIS would not alter its position, he said. "AIS will merely allow 60,000 customers to roam voice services on our network," he said.
He said TOT had known for a long time of the problem but had not tried to solve it, despite AIS's attempts to facilitate a solution.
"So we don't know how to help it because we need to retain our network standards to serve our customers first," said Mr Wichian.
AIS recruits new customers every day, he said. This diminishes its network capacity, which prompted AIS to limit customers from other operators.
The 60,000 figure was calculated from Thai Mobile's original 10,000 customers, plus the 10,000 mobile numbers TOT allocated to each of its five mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), he said.
But Mr Wichian is optimistic the move will have little impact on TOT's 3G customers because they use their phones largely for data services via aircards rather than voice.
AIS had earlier proposed that TOT offer data roaming on its 3G network in exchange for voice roaming for TOT's 3G customers, which it presented as a win-win model for both sides.
But TOT rejected this overture, saying it was too soon to allow data roaming for AIS because it would affect the marketing of the five small MVNOs. TOT said it would consider AIS's proposal over the next six months, to give the MVNOs time to sell 3G services.
To date TOT has distributed 340,000 SIM cards for 3G but only 77,000 have been activated.
AIS firm on TOT cutback
The country's largest mobile operator also warned it would terminate network roaming for voice services completely over the next few months if capacity is insufficient for its own customers.
The roaming limitations have made it difficult for 3G customers of TOT subsidiary Thai Mobile to make or receive calls in the provinces.
AIS chief executive Wichian Mektrakarn said AIS had notified TOT one month ago about the 60,000-subscriber cap, giving TOT time to manage its own 3G customers.
The last notification was two weeks ago but AIS has had no response from TOT, he said.
He added that AIS was ready to initiate arbitration if TOT argues that AIS's network belongs to the state, under the build-transfer-operate concession.
AIS would not alter its position, he said. "AIS will merely allow 60,000 customers to roam voice services on our network," he said.
He said TOT had known for a long time of the problem but had not tried to solve it, despite AIS's attempts to facilitate a solution.
"So we don't know how to help it because we need to retain our network standards to serve our customers first," said Mr Wichian.
AIS recruits new customers every day, he said. This diminishes its network capacity, which prompted AIS to limit customers from other operators.
The 60,000 figure was calculated from Thai Mobile's original 10,000 customers, plus the 10,000 mobile numbers TOT allocated to each of its five mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), he said.
But Mr Wichian is optimistic the move will have little impact on TOT's 3G customers because they use their phones largely for data services via aircards rather than voice.
AIS had earlier proposed that TOT offer data roaming on its 3G network in exchange for voice roaming for TOT's 3G customers, which it presented as a win-win model for both sides.
But TOT rejected this overture, saying it was too soon to allow data roaming for AIS because it would affect the marketing of the five small MVNOs. TOT said it would consider AIS's proposal over the next six months, to give the MVNOs time to sell 3G services.
To date TOT has distributed 340,000 SIM cards for 3G but only 77,000 have been activated.
AIS firm on TOT cutback
Friday, April 02, 2010
Global FTTH/B Subscriptions is Projected to Reach 183.9 Million by 2015
[PRWEB] Fiber is the enabler of greater bandwidth, residential high-speed video and data, and high bandwidth business services, such as IP VPNs, video, and business Ethernet at significantly lower capital and operating expenses. Requirements for advanced bandwidth to support HDTV, IPTV, multi-stream video services, high maintenance cost of copper infrastructure, enhanced FTTH interoperability, cost savings and innovations in the optical infrastructure and convergence of multiple services on to a single network are some of the prime reasons for growth of FTTH networks. Given an intensified battleground, the economic success of both existing as well as new service providers will largely depend on the ability to deliver a wide range of offerings including bundled voice, data and video services for subscribers. In an attempt to deploy attractive service packages and capture large volume of subscribers, service providers have invested heavily to replace the traditional last mile networks with an end-to-end fiber access network, in addition to investments in FTTH/B. Also, the liberalization of regulatory regimes in several foreign countries and support from governments for transition to FTTH/B bodes well for the market.
Although FTTH/B is a capital intensive and long-term strategic investment, economic slowdown will have minimal effect on deployment projects, as operators are expected to continue with scheduled network deployments. Seemingly paradoxical, the most spontaneous need to curtail costs in an unfavorable business environment is overridden with a simultaneous need to develop a platform for future growth. Additionally, the recession induced lower infrastructure costs makes an economic case for carriers and network operators to persevere with their project schedules.
Fiber-to-the-Home/Building (FTTH/B): A Global Strategic Business Report
As stated by the new market research report on Fiber to the Home/Building (FTTH/B), Asia-Pacific including Japan collectively accounts for about 82% share of the global FTTH/B market estimated in 2009. Asia will continue to be the favorable market for FTTH/B deployments during the next five years. While the boom in the Asia Pacific FTTx market over the last few years was primarily driven by mass-scale deployments in South Korea and Japan, the dynamism is now clearly pointing towards China. The number of FTTH/B subscribers in China will continue to explode with rising number of network deployments. Service providers are increasingly turning to FTTH as the next-gen residential broadband access technology, predominantly in areas where DSL penetration has reached its maturity and vendors are seeking to increase their ARPUs.
Key players dominating the marketplace include Alcatel-Lucent, Alliance Fiber Optic Products Inc, Alloptic Inc, Aurora Networks Inc, Calix Network Inc, ColorChip Limited, EMCORE Corporation, Enablence Technologies Inc, Fujikura Ltd, Sigma-Links Inc, Harmonic Inc, Hitachi Limited, Salira Systems Inc, Ikanos Communications Inc, Motorola Broadband Communications, NeoPhotonics Corporation, PacketFront Systems AB, PMC-Sierra Inc, Source Photonics Inc, Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd, Sumitomo Electric Device Innovations U.S.A. Inc, Teknovus Inc, Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson, Tellabs Inc, and ZTE Corporation, among others.
The report titled "Fiber-to-the-Home/Building (FTTH/B): A Global Strategic Business Report" announced by Global Industry Analysts, Inc., provides a comprehensive review of industry overview, product overview, product introductions/innovations, profiles of major players, and recent industry activity. The report analyzes the subscriber base for FTTH/B in major geographic markets including North America, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of World. The study further analyzes the Asian FTTH/B market by the following segments - Fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) and Fiber-to-the-building (FTTB).
Global FTTH/B Subscriptions is Projected to Reach 183.9 Million by 2015
see also market research report
Although FTTH/B is a capital intensive and long-term strategic investment, economic slowdown will have minimal effect on deployment projects, as operators are expected to continue with scheduled network deployments. Seemingly paradoxical, the most spontaneous need to curtail costs in an unfavorable business environment is overridden with a simultaneous need to develop a platform for future growth. Additionally, the recession induced lower infrastructure costs makes an economic case for carriers and network operators to persevere with their project schedules.
Fiber-to-the-Home/Building (FTTH/B): A Global Strategic Business Report
As stated by the new market research report on Fiber to the Home/Building (FTTH/B), Asia-Pacific including Japan collectively accounts for about 82% share of the global FTTH/B market estimated in 2009. Asia will continue to be the favorable market for FTTH/B deployments during the next five years. While the boom in the Asia Pacific FTTx market over the last few years was primarily driven by mass-scale deployments in South Korea and Japan, the dynamism is now clearly pointing towards China. The number of FTTH/B subscribers in China will continue to explode with rising number of network deployments. Service providers are increasingly turning to FTTH as the next-gen residential broadband access technology, predominantly in areas where DSL penetration has reached its maturity and vendors are seeking to increase their ARPUs.
Key players dominating the marketplace include Alcatel-Lucent, Alliance Fiber Optic Products Inc, Alloptic Inc, Aurora Networks Inc, Calix Network Inc, ColorChip Limited, EMCORE Corporation, Enablence Technologies Inc, Fujikura Ltd, Sigma-Links Inc, Harmonic Inc, Hitachi Limited, Salira Systems Inc, Ikanos Communications Inc, Motorola Broadband Communications, NeoPhotonics Corporation, PacketFront Systems AB, PMC-Sierra Inc, Source Photonics Inc, Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd, Sumitomo Electric Device Innovations U.S.A. Inc, Teknovus Inc, Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson, Tellabs Inc, and ZTE Corporation, among others.
The report titled "Fiber-to-the-Home/Building (FTTH/B): A Global Strategic Business Report" announced by Global Industry Analysts, Inc., provides a comprehensive review of industry overview, product overview, product introductions/innovations, profiles of major players, and recent industry activity. The report analyzes the subscriber base for FTTH/B in major geographic markets including North America, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of World. The study further analyzes the Asian FTTH/B market by the following segments - Fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) and Fiber-to-the-building (FTTB).
Global FTTH/B Subscriptions is Projected to Reach 183.9 Million by 2015
see also market research report
USA - Recession Has Cell Phone Consumers' Number, As Two Out of Three New Wireless Subscribers Go Prepaid
[PRNewswire] Penny-pinching U.S. consumers struggling to make ends meet in the ongoing recession are shunning contract-based (also known as "postpaid") cell phones in favor of less expensive prepaid cell phones, as was correctly forecast a year ago by the New Millennium Research Council (NMRC), an independent telecommunications and technology think tank.
The 4th quarter of 2009 marked the first time that the number of new prepaid wireless customers in the U.S. outnumbered new contract-based cell phone providers, according to industry data from both Ovum/Datamonitor and IDG. Based on the ongoing recession and the recent surge in attractive prepaid phone deals, NMRC expects the trend in favor of prepaid cell phone use to be evident again when industry subscription data is reported for the 1st quarter of 2010 and throughout the rest of the year.
According to the most recent available quarterly data:
* New prepaid cell phone subscribers accounted for nearly two thirds (65 percent) of the 4.2 million net subscribers added by U.S. phone carriers in the fourth quarter of 2009.
* The prepaid segment of the wireless market grew by 17 percent in the 4th quarter of 2009 to 54.4 million subscribers, up from 46.3 million in the same quarter in 2008. By contrast, contract-based cell phone service grew only 3 percent over the same period of time.
* One out of five cell phone subscribers are now using prepaid phones. The prepaid segment represents a larger proportion of subscribers in the U.S. than ever before, hitting 20 percent in the 4th quarter of 2009, up from 18 percent at the end of 2008.
* Overall, there were 285 million wireless subscribers in the U.S. at the end of 2009.
Jose Guzman, Project Coordinator, New Millennium Research Council, said: "We stand by what we forecast a year ago: The era of cell phone penny pinching is officially here. Thanks to the recession, the U.S. cell phone marketplace continues to undergo fundamental changes that will just get bigger as the economic downturn deepens. What is different from a year ago is the explosion in new 'all-you-can-eat' and unlimited prepaid deals as low as $30 and $45 that will remain attractive to consumers long after the current recession is over."
Telecommunications analyst Mark Lowenstein, Managing Director, Mobile Ecosystem, said: "Customers want greater flexibility in the relationship with their wireless operator. Pre-paid services have become more mainstream -- available at attractive prices, on the best networks, and with a competitive array of devices and features. We're also seeing the growth of various flexible pricing options with regards to data services."
Guest expert John Breyault, Vice President, Public Policy, Telecommunications and Fraud, National Consumers League, said: "We believe that in a tough economy, consumers are increasingly on the lookout for ways to cut costs to help make ends meet. In recent years, there has been a proliferation of affordable prepaid cell phone plans, with plans including unlimited voice, text and web access for as little as $45 per month. Consumers are comparing these offerings to the outrageous early termination fees, expensive bandwidth-capped data plans, and ever-increasing pay-as-you-go text messaging rates on traditional postpaid plans. As such it is little wonder that consumers are turning to prepaid in ever-greater numbers, while postpaid subscriber growth remains essentially flat."
One year ago, NMRC released a survey on March 19, 2009 of more than 2,000 Americans conducted by Opinion Research Corporation (ORC) showing that 39 percent or 60.3 million were contemplating cutting back on their cell phones to save money if the recession continued. NMRC correctly noted that the 2009 data "strongly suggest that a recession-related shift in attitudes and purchasing habits is already underway."
On October 15, 2009, NMRC issued a follow-up statement that the explosion over the summer and early fall in increasingly inexpensive and diverse prepaid wireless cell phone plans represented a likely "tipping point" in consumer habits.
NMRC: Recession Has Cell Phone Consumers' Number, As Two Out of Three New Wireless Subscribers in U.S. Go Prepaid
The 4th quarter of 2009 marked the first time that the number of new prepaid wireless customers in the U.S. outnumbered new contract-based cell phone providers, according to industry data from both Ovum/Datamonitor and IDG. Based on the ongoing recession and the recent surge in attractive prepaid phone deals, NMRC expects the trend in favor of prepaid cell phone use to be evident again when industry subscription data is reported for the 1st quarter of 2010 and throughout the rest of the year.
According to the most recent available quarterly data:
* New prepaid cell phone subscribers accounted for nearly two thirds (65 percent) of the 4.2 million net subscribers added by U.S. phone carriers in the fourth quarter of 2009.
* The prepaid segment of the wireless market grew by 17 percent in the 4th quarter of 2009 to 54.4 million subscribers, up from 46.3 million in the same quarter in 2008. By contrast, contract-based cell phone service grew only 3 percent over the same period of time.
* One out of five cell phone subscribers are now using prepaid phones. The prepaid segment represents a larger proportion of subscribers in the U.S. than ever before, hitting 20 percent in the 4th quarter of 2009, up from 18 percent at the end of 2008.
* Overall, there were 285 million wireless subscribers in the U.S. at the end of 2009.
Jose Guzman, Project Coordinator, New Millennium Research Council, said: "We stand by what we forecast a year ago: The era of cell phone penny pinching is officially here. Thanks to the recession, the U.S. cell phone marketplace continues to undergo fundamental changes that will just get bigger as the economic downturn deepens. What is different from a year ago is the explosion in new 'all-you-can-eat' and unlimited prepaid deals as low as $30 and $45 that will remain attractive to consumers long after the current recession is over."
Telecommunications analyst Mark Lowenstein, Managing Director, Mobile Ecosystem, said: "Customers want greater flexibility in the relationship with their wireless operator. Pre-paid services have become more mainstream -- available at attractive prices, on the best networks, and with a competitive array of devices and features. We're also seeing the growth of various flexible pricing options with regards to data services."
Guest expert John Breyault, Vice President, Public Policy, Telecommunications and Fraud, National Consumers League, said: "We believe that in a tough economy, consumers are increasingly on the lookout for ways to cut costs to help make ends meet. In recent years, there has been a proliferation of affordable prepaid cell phone plans, with plans including unlimited voice, text and web access for as little as $45 per month. Consumers are comparing these offerings to the outrageous early termination fees, expensive bandwidth-capped data plans, and ever-increasing pay-as-you-go text messaging rates on traditional postpaid plans. As such it is little wonder that consumers are turning to prepaid in ever-greater numbers, while postpaid subscriber growth remains essentially flat."
One year ago, NMRC released a survey on March 19, 2009 of more than 2,000 Americans conducted by Opinion Research Corporation (ORC) showing that 39 percent or 60.3 million were contemplating cutting back on their cell phones to save money if the recession continued. NMRC correctly noted that the 2009 data "strongly suggest that a recession-related shift in attitudes and purchasing habits is already underway."
On October 15, 2009, NMRC issued a follow-up statement that the explosion over the summer and early fall in increasingly inexpensive and diverse prepaid wireless cell phone plans represented a likely "tipping point" in consumer habits.
NMRC: Recession Has Cell Phone Consumers' Number, As Two Out of Three New Wireless Subscribers in U.S. Go Prepaid
Mobile Operators See Big Potential in IP Service Assurance
[prnewswire] Mobile network operators are poised to increase their investment in mobile IP service assurance technologies as a way not only to improve quality of service (QoS), but also to stem revenue erosion from a variety of sources, including over-the-top services, according to the latest report from Heavy Reading Mobile Networks Insider.
The Business Case Builds for Mobile IP Service Assurance identifies and analyzes key issues that are driving network operators to deploy mobile IP service assurance tools. It looks at how carriers can use service assurance to save money and create new revenue streams, including offering tiered services in which customers pay a premium for QoS and bandwidth guarantees. The report profiles 16 leading service assurance vendors, offering insight into which companies are best positioned to remain or emerge as key players in this market.
"With service assurance tools, carriers can expand QoS beyond being just a money saver, such as in terms of reduced churn and customer-care costs, and into a money maker," notes Tim Kridel, research analyst with Heavy Reading Mobile Networks Insider and author of the report. "Service assurance is one of the few ways to escape the current race to the bottom in terms of data pricing and QoS, which will suffer even more when there is less money to pay for additional infrastructure and spectrum."
Service assurance tools can identify and resolve problems before they become noticeable to customers, as well as speed resolution of inbound customer-care calls, Kridel says. "Reducing the expense of managing subscriber data complaints is a major part of the business case for service assurance tools," he adds. "One wireline operator used service assurance tools to collect information detailed enough to improve the efficiency of service calls and truck rolls, saving $3.7 million per month."
Key findings of The Business Case Builds for Mobile IP Service Assurance include:
* Wireless carriers are investing in IP service assurance because they are increasingly dependent on non-voice revenue
* Service assurance is a powerful way for carriers to add value and avoid being marginalized as dumb pipes
* Carriers can use service assurance to co-opt the threat of over-the-top (OTT) services, such as mobile VoIP
* Business development and marketing staff can employ service assurance tools to provide strategic insights
* Enterprises and B2C companies use service assurance tools to verify wireless QoS
* The booming market for mobile IP service assurance is drawing attention from enterprise IT vendors
Mobile Operators See Big Potential in IP Service Assurance
The Business Case Builds for Mobile IP Service Assurance identifies and analyzes key issues that are driving network operators to deploy mobile IP service assurance tools. It looks at how carriers can use service assurance to save money and create new revenue streams, including offering tiered services in which customers pay a premium for QoS and bandwidth guarantees. The report profiles 16 leading service assurance vendors, offering insight into which companies are best positioned to remain or emerge as key players in this market.
"With service assurance tools, carriers can expand QoS beyond being just a money saver, such as in terms of reduced churn and customer-care costs, and into a money maker," notes Tim Kridel, research analyst with Heavy Reading Mobile Networks Insider and author of the report. "Service assurance is one of the few ways to escape the current race to the bottom in terms of data pricing and QoS, which will suffer even more when there is less money to pay for additional infrastructure and spectrum."
Service assurance tools can identify and resolve problems before they become noticeable to customers, as well as speed resolution of inbound customer-care calls, Kridel says. "Reducing the expense of managing subscriber data complaints is a major part of the business case for service assurance tools," he adds. "One wireline operator used service assurance tools to collect information detailed enough to improve the efficiency of service calls and truck rolls, saving $3.7 million per month."
Key findings of The Business Case Builds for Mobile IP Service Assurance include:
* Wireless carriers are investing in IP service assurance because they are increasingly dependent on non-voice revenue
* Service assurance is a powerful way for carriers to add value and avoid being marginalized as dumb pipes
* Carriers can use service assurance to co-opt the threat of over-the-top (OTT) services, such as mobile VoIP
* Business development and marketing staff can employ service assurance tools to provide strategic insights
* Enterprises and B2C companies use service assurance tools to verify wireless QoS
* The booming market for mobile IP service assurance is drawing attention from enterprise IT vendors
Mobile Operators See Big Potential in IP Service Assurance
Millicom shares up on cell phone growth prospects
[wireless week] Shares of Millicom International Cellular SA rose Thursday after an analyst upgraded the stock on growth prospects for its cell phone business, especially in Africa and South America.
Shares of the international cell phone operator, based in Luxembourg, were up $1.97, or 2.2 percent to $91.12 in midday trading and earlier reached $92.78, a 52-week high.
JPMorgan analyst Jean-Charles Lemardeley upgraded the stock to "Overweight" from "Neutral" and raised his target price to $110 from $91.
"Millicom is poised to significantly outperform consensus estimates again in 2010 and 2011," he said in a research note.
He expects Millicom's business to show modest growth in Central America, which accounts for about half of segment profit. Millicom holds a 53 percent market share in the region.
Growth in Africa and South America should be more robust going forward.
In Africa, Millicom increased its market share to 30.8 percent in the fourth quarter from 28 percent in the same quarter a year earlier. In South America, Millicom holds a 16.3 percent share, up from 15.5 percent.
Lemardeley credits a strong management team at Millicom for the market share gains.
Millicom operates in 16 countries in Central and South America, Africa and Asia.
Millicom shares up on cell phone growth prospects
Shares of the international cell phone operator, based in Luxembourg, were up $1.97, or 2.2 percent to $91.12 in midday trading and earlier reached $92.78, a 52-week high.
JPMorgan analyst Jean-Charles Lemardeley upgraded the stock to "Overweight" from "Neutral" and raised his target price to $110 from $91.
"Millicom is poised to significantly outperform consensus estimates again in 2010 and 2011," he said in a research note.
He expects Millicom's business to show modest growth in Central America, which accounts for about half of segment profit. Millicom holds a 53 percent market share in the region.
Growth in Africa and South America should be more robust going forward.
In Africa, Millicom increased its market share to 30.8 percent in the fourth quarter from 28 percent in the same quarter a year earlier. In South America, Millicom holds a 16.3 percent share, up from 15.5 percent.
Lemardeley credits a strong management team at Millicom for the market share gains.
Millicom operates in 16 countries in Central and South America, Africa and Asia.
Millicom shares up on cell phone growth prospects
Thursday, April 01, 2010
Bharti Gets Indemnities Against Any Disputes Over Zain Deal
[wsj] Bharti Airtel Ltd. has secured indemnities and warrants to deal with any potential disputes related to its acquisition of Kuwait-based Mobile Telecommunications Co.'s most assets in Africa, a senior executive at the Indian telecommunications company said Wednesday.
"Now, we are ready for the closure" of the deal, Manoj Kohli, chief executive of international operations at Bharti Airtel, told Dow Jones Newswires. "The Zain Group had assured us that all approvals required will be in hand pretty soon."
Under the $9 billion cash deal signed Tuesday, Bharti will buy the assets of Zain in 15 African countries, including Nigeria and Gabon, as the Indian company tries to expand its business to offset the effects of stiff competition at home.
Two minority shareholders of Zain Nigeria--Econet Wireless Holdings Ltd., a South African telecommunications company that holds 5%, and Broad Communications Ltd. with a 14% stake--have filed suits challenging Zain's 65% ownership in the Nigerian unit.
Also, media reports earlier this week cited the Gabonese government as saying it disapproves the sale by Zain of its Gabonese assets to Bharti and reserves the right to take "all necessary measures."
Zain Gabon hadn't complied with local telecommunications regulations, the reports said, citing a government statement.
Bharti Gets Indemnities Against Any Disputes Over Zain Deal
"Now, we are ready for the closure" of the deal, Manoj Kohli, chief executive of international operations at Bharti Airtel, told Dow Jones Newswires. "The Zain Group had assured us that all approvals required will be in hand pretty soon."
Under the $9 billion cash deal signed Tuesday, Bharti will buy the assets of Zain in 15 African countries, including Nigeria and Gabon, as the Indian company tries to expand its business to offset the effects of stiff competition at home.
Two minority shareholders of Zain Nigeria--Econet Wireless Holdings Ltd., a South African telecommunications company that holds 5%, and Broad Communications Ltd. with a 14% stake--have filed suits challenging Zain's 65% ownership in the Nigerian unit.
Also, media reports earlier this week cited the Gabonese government as saying it disapproves the sale by Zain of its Gabonese assets to Bharti and reserves the right to take "all necessary measures."
Zain Gabon hadn't complied with local telecommunications regulations, the reports said, citing a government statement.
Bharti Gets Indemnities Against Any Disputes Over Zain Deal
UK - Cheaper calls for UK consumers
[ofcom] Ofcom has today published proposals which will make it cheaper for you to call mobile phones from your landline.
The consultation proposes slashing mobile termination rates, which are the wholesale charges that operators make to connect calls to each others’ networks.
Under Ofcom’s plans, these wholesale rates would fall from around 4.3p per minute today, to 0.5p per minute by 2015.
This would lead to cheaper calls to mobiles for the 32.7 million UK homes and businesses with a landline.
Cheaper calls for UK consumers
see also Consultation documents
The consultation proposes slashing mobile termination rates, which are the wholesale charges that operators make to connect calls to each others’ networks.
Under Ofcom’s plans, these wholesale rates would fall from around 4.3p per minute today, to 0.5p per minute by 2015.
This would lead to cheaper calls to mobiles for the 32.7 million UK homes and businesses with a landline.
Cheaper calls for UK consumers
see also Consultation documents
UK - Ofcom reduces cost of regulation for 6th consecutive year
[ofcom] Ofcom today announced the sixth consecutive cut in its underlying operating budget, as part of its drive to reduce regulatory costs on licensees and taxpayers.
3.6% lower budget
For 2010/11 Ofcom's total budget is 142.5m. This includes funding for a number of new responsibilities required by government and also deficit repair payments to the pension schemes of the legacy regulators that Ofcom was required to take on by Parliament.
Excluding the additional items, Ofcom's core operating budget is 127.5m. On a like-for-like basis this is 3.6% lower in real terms than its budget for 2009/10, with further planned operational efficiency savings relating to property, IT services and procurement.
Annual Plan for 2010/11
Ofcom has today also published its Annual Plan which sets out its priorities for 2010/11. They are:
Consumer and Citizen
* Make progress on broadband and mobile phone not-spots.
* Encourage consumers to take up and use broadband by supporting the Digital Participation Consortium.
* Ensure consumers can switch communications providers by removing unnecessary barriers.
* Update content regulation to meet the changing needs of audiences.
Competition
* Implement regulation to support effective competition and efficient investment in super-fast broadband.
* Ensure fair and effective competition in pay TV.
Infrastructure and spectrum
* Start successful clearance of the 800MHz band to create opportunities for new services.
* Prepare plans for the release of spectrum for mobile broadband.
* Ensure wireless services for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be delivered.
Ofcom reduces cost of regulation for 6th consecutive year
See also Ofcom's annual plan for 2010/11
3.6% lower budget
For 2010/11 Ofcom's total budget is 142.5m. This includes funding for a number of new responsibilities required by government and also deficit repair payments to the pension schemes of the legacy regulators that Ofcom was required to take on by Parliament.
Excluding the additional items, Ofcom's core operating budget is 127.5m. On a like-for-like basis this is 3.6% lower in real terms than its budget for 2009/10, with further planned operational efficiency savings relating to property, IT services and procurement.
Annual Plan for 2010/11
Ofcom has today also published its Annual Plan which sets out its priorities for 2010/11. They are:
Consumer and Citizen
* Make progress on broadband and mobile phone not-spots.
* Encourage consumers to take up and use broadband by supporting the Digital Participation Consortium.
* Ensure consumers can switch communications providers by removing unnecessary barriers.
* Update content regulation to meet the changing needs of audiences.
Competition
* Implement regulation to support effective competition and efficient investment in super-fast broadband.
* Ensure fair and effective competition in pay TV.
Infrastructure and spectrum
* Start successful clearance of the 800MHz band to create opportunities for new services.
* Prepare plans for the release of spectrum for mobile broadband.
* Ensure wireless services for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be delivered.
Ofcom reduces cost of regulation for 6th consecutive year
See also Ofcom's annual plan for 2010/11
Zain - African sale profit is $3.3 billion after debt payments
[business week] Zain, Kuwait’s biggest mobile phone company, expects a profit of $3.3 billion from the sale of its African assets after settling debt and provisions.
The gain expected to be reflected in Zain’s second-quarter financial statement, according to a company statement to the Kuwait bourse today.
Bharti Airtel Ltd. of India yesterday agreed to buy the African assets of Zain, also known as Mobile Telecommunications Co., for $9 billion in cash. Bharti will also assume $1.7 billion of Zain’s debt as part of the deal.
Zain African Sale Profit Is $3.3 Billion After Debt Payments
The gain expected to be reflected in Zain’s second-quarter financial statement, according to a company statement to the Kuwait bourse today.
Bharti Airtel Ltd. of India yesterday agreed to buy the African assets of Zain, also known as Mobile Telecommunications Co., for $9 billion in cash. Bharti will also assume $1.7 billion of Zain’s debt as part of the deal.
Zain African Sale Profit Is $3.3 Billion After Debt Payments
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
