[the australian] LABOR has secured the passage of its National Broadband Network laws through an eleventh-hour deal that the Nationals claim could force rural and regional Australians to pay more for future internet services.
Country independents Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor yesterday agreed to a deal that stopped short of guaranteeing uniform pricing for higher speeds under the $36 billion NBN.
In a frantic bid to salvage support for the NBN, Labor wooed the pair with a written guarantee that the NBN Co would continue to offer - where possible - uniform pricing across fibre, satellite and wireless technologies for speeds above the standard 12 megabits per second. However, the Nationals accused the independents of selling out the bush because they took the government at its word and did not back an opposition amendment to enshrine uniform pricing in legislation for future higher speed broadband access.
The government's assurance to the regional independents came despite Broadband Minister Stephen Conroy last week warning parliament it "could potentially bankrupt the NBN" if the NBN Co was forced to charge the same wholesale prices across all platforms to access the same speeds above the entry-level package.
Seven per cent of all Australians, who live in outer regional and rural areas, will receive their NBN services via satellite or wireless services. These technologies are unlikely to deliver the same ultra-fast speeds in the future at the same cost available on the fibre network.
Anthony Albanese, Senator Conroy's representative in the House of Representatives, said the government had offered a guarantee to the independents that "with regard to future technologies, the principle of uniform wholesale national pricing will be applied where possible".
Senator Conroy said last night the deal cut with the independents was "entirely consistent" with the comments he made in parliament.
While the government was negotiating its deal with the regional independents, the Nationals tried to force their hand by moving an amendment in parliament to change a key piece of NBN-related legislation so all users pay the same for higher broadband speeds. Nationals MP Luke Hartsuyker, who moved the amendment, accused the independents of being duped by a government that could not keep its word over a carbon tax.
"It is vital that this uniformity be enshrined in legislation and not depend on a promise from a government that has a track record of not keeping those promises," Mr Hartsuyker said.
The regional independents hit back at the opposition, saying it had never supported the massive government-owned fibre network and was only making political mischief by entering the fray on the day parliament was recalled to force the bills through.
Mr Oakeshott said yesterday the Coalition was "dripping with shameless hypocrisy and inconsistency". He accused the opposition of moving an amendment that would push up the cost of the $36bn network despite having long argued the government was already spending too much on broadband.
Mr Windsor accused Mr Hartsuyker of trivialising the debate over the NBN, saying the network had the potential to overcome the "disadvantage of distance".
"I cannot believe that any member who represents, or purports to represent the country areas of this nation, would actually find arguments to vote against it," he said. "My question for the member for Cowper is: if I support this amendment, do you support the National Broadband Network: yes or no?"
Fellow rural independent Bob Katter also attacked the opposition's position. "I haven't heard the opposition put forward a single solitary piece of technology, and yet they think we should wait for some sort of science fiction fantasy to jump out from behind a bush and provide a service," Mr Katter said. "Well, too bad for you. We've got an offer on the table and we're going to take it."
Senator Conroy said last night: "With the agreement of independents Rob Oakeshott, Tony Windsor, Andrew Wilkie, and Greens MP Adam Bandt, the government has committed to prepare a community impact statement on all future policy decisions on technology, speed and/or price, with a view to continue the application of uniform wholesale national pricing where possible.
"It is outrageous that the opposition blocked consideration of this resolution by the house."
Opposition communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull attacked the commitment made to the independents as doing "little more than assure NBN customers of the level playing field that they have been promised since the start of the project".
Mr Turnbull said Senator Conroy's claim that uniform pricing for all higher speeds across technologies could bankrupt the NBN was an example of "such outrageous and utterly false hyperbole" that has been a "commonly used bow in his rhetorical quiver".
Nationals senator Barnaby Joyce said the government was hypocritical for cutting an agreement with the independents in the House of Representatives when it had panned a similar amendment moved by him in the Senate.
Senator Joyce also accused the independents of being "gullible" for taking the government at its word rather than forcing it to be drawn into the legislation.
"They could have forced it, but they didn't," he said. "Today the independents have failed on behalf of regional Australia."
Senator Conroy said last night the passing of the bills would ensure structural reform of the telecommunications industry and promote competition.
A spokeswoman for the NBN Co said yesterday the debate on the floor of parliament about future high-speed technologies was entirely hypothetical.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Thailand - An operator has proposed new licences all round as the solution to spectrum disputes
[bangkok post] True Move, the country's third-largest mobile operator, has reiterated its call for the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) to issue new 15-year mobile licences for all operators to end disputes over concession amendments.
Without a change in the concession system, negotiations over past amendments between private operators and the two state enterprises: TOT Plc and CAT Telecom, could not be settled, said Suphachai Chearavanont, the chief executive of True Corp.
"We will not compensate CAT for damage claimed as a result of concession amendments. We would rather negotiate under new conditions," he said.
Mr Suphachai is scheduled to meet this week with the negotiation committee, chaired by Jeerawan Boonperm, the permanent secretary of the Information and Communications Technology Ministry.
He acknowledged that True Move's concession differed from those of Advanced Info Service (AIS) and DTAC. The company operates on the 1800 MHz spectrum similar to the AIS subsidiary Digital Phone Co (DPC). The state enterprises claim the frequency allocation to True Move breached the 1992 Public-Private Joint Venture Act.
AIS and DTAC, meanwhile, are being asked to pay compensation claimed by the state enterprises for extensions of their concessions, even though the state enterprises approved the changes.
"Our standpoint on the negotiation is that we will pay compensation as the state demands if the state or the NBTC issues us a new licence for 15 years, giving us the rights to the frequency and to operate the business legitimately," said Mr Suphachai.
He said that in any case, he believed the current negotiations would not lead to a conclusion as the country is now preparing for an election in late June or early July. Consequently, politicians and civil servants alike might be reluctant to make any decision in the current political climate, he said.
True Move has reportedly submitted a proposal to compensate the state under one of the following conditions: conversion of its concession, replacing existing concessions with a new licences, extending its concession period for an additional 15 years to 2028; scrapping the condition requiring True Move to transfer all assets built from 2013-28 to CAT; and a three-year grace period before beginning revenue-sharing payments in September 2016.
True proposes new licences for all firms
Without a change in the concession system, negotiations over past amendments between private operators and the two state enterprises: TOT Plc and CAT Telecom, could not be settled, said Suphachai Chearavanont, the chief executive of True Corp.
"We will not compensate CAT for damage claimed as a result of concession amendments. We would rather negotiate under new conditions," he said.
Mr Suphachai is scheduled to meet this week with the negotiation committee, chaired by Jeerawan Boonperm, the permanent secretary of the Information and Communications Technology Ministry.
He acknowledged that True Move's concession differed from those of Advanced Info Service (AIS) and DTAC. The company operates on the 1800 MHz spectrum similar to the AIS subsidiary Digital Phone Co (DPC). The state enterprises claim the frequency allocation to True Move breached the 1992 Public-Private Joint Venture Act.
AIS and DTAC, meanwhile, are being asked to pay compensation claimed by the state enterprises for extensions of their concessions, even though the state enterprises approved the changes.
"Our standpoint on the negotiation is that we will pay compensation as the state demands if the state or the NBTC issues us a new licence for 15 years, giving us the rights to the frequency and to operate the business legitimately," said Mr Suphachai.
He said that in any case, he believed the current negotiations would not lead to a conclusion as the country is now preparing for an election in late June or early July. Consequently, politicians and civil servants alike might be reluctant to make any decision in the current political climate, he said.
True Move has reportedly submitted a proposal to compensate the state under one of the following conditions: conversion of its concession, replacing existing concessions with a new licences, extending its concession period for an additional 15 years to 2028; scrapping the condition requiring True Move to transfer all assets built from 2013-28 to CAT; and a three-year grace period before beginning revenue-sharing payments in September 2016.
True proposes new licences for all firms
Thailand - There is deadlock between parties over compensation about spectrum
[bangkok post] Preliminary negotiations on compensations for concession amendments between private mobile operators and the state telecom enterprises have ended in deadlock with key facts still in dispute.
There has been no clear indication that private telecom companies were responsible for causing damage to TOT Plc and CAT Telecom in terms of lost revenue, said Wichian Mektrakarn, the chief executive officer of Advanced Info Service.
"Following a few negotiation meetings with the state representatives, we have not been given any clear explanation of how the concession changes in past had caused damage in revenue losses to the two state telecom enterprises," he said.
"They also gave us no precise damage costs resulting from the concession amendments."
Digital Phone Co, the 1800-MHz mobile unit of AIS, has been asked to submit compensation proposals to a committee tomorrow. AIS is required to submit all of its details on April 1.
Last Tuesday, the investigative committee chaired by Jeerawan Boonperm, the ICT ministry's permanent secretary, asked CAT's president to identify compensation figures related to concession amendments of DTAC and TrueMove.
CAT is demanding 22.44 billion baht from DTAC for revenue losses and 8.2 billion baht from TrueMove.
But the talks failed to reach an agreement on the compensation figures.
All three major mobile operators _ AIS, DTAC and TrueMove _ have insisted that they will not compensate state telecom enterprises for damages claimed as a result of concession amendments, as they fear a legal domino effect that could trigger more demands.
However, the operators said they were willing to negotiate under new terms, with a possible focus on compensation for revenue losses from changes to concessions after the original pacts expired.
The original contract of AIS with TOT expired on Sept 30, 2010, while DTAC's original concession with CAT Telecom ended in September 2006. Both received extensions in 1996: AIS to 2015 and DTAC to 2018.
Concession compensation talks at impasse
There has been no clear indication that private telecom companies were responsible for causing damage to TOT Plc and CAT Telecom in terms of lost revenue, said Wichian Mektrakarn, the chief executive officer of Advanced Info Service.
"Following a few negotiation meetings with the state representatives, we have not been given any clear explanation of how the concession changes in past had caused damage in revenue losses to the two state telecom enterprises," he said.
"They also gave us no precise damage costs resulting from the concession amendments."
Digital Phone Co, the 1800-MHz mobile unit of AIS, has been asked to submit compensation proposals to a committee tomorrow. AIS is required to submit all of its details on April 1.
Last Tuesday, the investigative committee chaired by Jeerawan Boonperm, the ICT ministry's permanent secretary, asked CAT's president to identify compensation figures related to concession amendments of DTAC and TrueMove.
CAT is demanding 22.44 billion baht from DTAC for revenue losses and 8.2 billion baht from TrueMove.
But the talks failed to reach an agreement on the compensation figures.
All three major mobile operators _ AIS, DTAC and TrueMove _ have insisted that they will not compensate state telecom enterprises for damages claimed as a result of concession amendments, as they fear a legal domino effect that could trigger more demands.
However, the operators said they were willing to negotiate under new terms, with a possible focus on compensation for revenue losses from changes to concessions after the original pacts expired.
The original contract of AIS with TOT expired on Sept 30, 2010, while DTAC's original concession with CAT Telecom ended in September 2006. Both received extensions in 1996: AIS to 2015 and DTAC to 2018.
Concession compensation talks at impasse
Thailand - Continuing disputes amongst operators and concession holders over fees and compensation
[bangkok post] Rival mobile phone operators should take legal action to block a contentious deal reached between True Move and its concession holder, state-owned CAT Telecom, says the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI). Advanced Info Service and DTAC should target the acting National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) for failing to properly scrutinise the deal, said Somkiat Tangkitvanich, the TDRI vice-chairman.
He said the operators could claim the regulators were negligent under Section 157 of the Criminal Code, which deals with actions by government officials that cause damage to the state.
The True contract, hastily arranged after the company acquired the small Hutch mobile business in which CAT had been a shareholder, runs for 14 years and removed huge uncertainty about what would happen when True's existing concession with CAT expired in 2013.
Sudharm Yoonaidharm, a member of the acting NBTC, maintains it has no authority to decide on the True-CAT contract, pending a legal interpretation from the Council of State.
The acting regulator has only five members and the formal selection of the 11 members who will sit on the NBTC could take months or even years.
The NBTC law passed last year says that any decision must involve at least six members of the body.
The NBTC tentatively concluded that the True-CAT deal might fall under the 1992 Public-Private Joint Venture Act.
"The contract was considered unusual. It violated the NBTC law 2010 and Section 46 of the Spectrum Allocation Law, which says frequencies could not be transferred to other parties to operate instead," said Dr Somkiat.
AIS and DTAC had the right to petition against the acting NBTC as they stood to lose opportunities if True gained an edge in 3G mobile development, he said.
Col Natee Sukolrat, a member of the acting NBTC, said the True-CAT deal was very complicated _ involving four companies overseen by two new True subsidiaries _ and it was hard to reach a conclusion in a short time.
He said his personal view was using other frequencies to sell or provide service without developing applications would not breach Section 46 as it did not involve any management change.
TDRI urges mobile rivals to sue over True-CAT pact
He said the operators could claim the regulators were negligent under Section 157 of the Criminal Code, which deals with actions by government officials that cause damage to the state.
The True contract, hastily arranged after the company acquired the small Hutch mobile business in which CAT had been a shareholder, runs for 14 years and removed huge uncertainty about what would happen when True's existing concession with CAT expired in 2013.
Sudharm Yoonaidharm, a member of the acting NBTC, maintains it has no authority to decide on the True-CAT contract, pending a legal interpretation from the Council of State.
The acting regulator has only five members and the formal selection of the 11 members who will sit on the NBTC could take months or even years.
The NBTC law passed last year says that any decision must involve at least six members of the body.
The NBTC tentatively concluded that the True-CAT deal might fall under the 1992 Public-Private Joint Venture Act.
"The contract was considered unusual. It violated the NBTC law 2010 and Section 46 of the Spectrum Allocation Law, which says frequencies could not be transferred to other parties to operate instead," said Dr Somkiat.
AIS and DTAC had the right to petition against the acting NBTC as they stood to lose opportunities if True gained an edge in 3G mobile development, he said.
Col Natee Sukolrat, a member of the acting NBTC, said the True-CAT deal was very complicated _ involving four companies overseen by two new True subsidiaries _ and it was hard to reach a conclusion in a short time.
He said his personal view was using other frequencies to sell or provide service without developing applications would not breach Section 46 as it did not involve any management change.
TDRI urges mobile rivals to sue over True-CAT pact
UK - Regulator is to cut BT Openreach's wholesale prices by up to 9 per cent
[computer weekly] Ofcom proposes to impose real cuts of up to 9% on the wholesale price of a range of BT Openreach's products.
These products cover areas where Ofcom has found that Openreach has significant market power and therefore must accept price regulation. This consultation covers wholesale charges for BT's copper-based telephone and broadband services delivered, local loop unbundling (LLU) and wholesale line rental (WLR).
LLU allows communications providers to install their equipment in Openreach's telephone exchanges to provide broadband and telephone services to their customers; and WLR uses lines and equipment rented from Openreach.
Ofcom said the number of "unbundled" lines has increased from 123,000 in September 2005 to 7.59 million today, and there are 6.14 million WLR connections in the UK.
Ofcom to cut Openreach prices up to 9% in real terms
These products cover areas where Ofcom has found that Openreach has significant market power and therefore must accept price regulation. This consultation covers wholesale charges for BT's copper-based telephone and broadband services delivered, local loop unbundling (LLU) and wholesale line rental (WLR).
LLU allows communications providers to install their equipment in Openreach's telephone exchanges to provide broadband and telephone services to their customers; and WLR uses lines and equipment rented from Openreach.
Ofcom said the number of "unbundled" lines has increased from 123,000 in September 2005 to 7.59 million today, and there are 6.14 million WLR connections in the UK.
Ofcom to cut Openreach prices up to 9% in real terms
South Africa - i3 Africa promises FTTH to 2.5 million homes by 2016 in six major cities
[telegeography] According to TechCentral i3 Africa, a new company backed by the National Empowerment Fund, has announced plans to build a fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) network connecting up to 2.5 million homes within the next four to five years. The network, which is set to be built in six cities — Durban, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein and Pretoria — promises to provide customers with minimum connection speeds of 100Mbps. The network will operate on an 'open-access' principle, allowing third-party internet service providers (ISPs) to sell services to consumers; i3 Africa will not sell services directly to customers.
CEO Cornelius Groesbeek told TechCentral that the company will spend between ZAR5 billion (USD725.4 million) and ZAR6 billion on the network — approximately one-third of the cost usually associated with a FTTH rollout. i3 Africa plans to make savings by utilising metropolitan sewerage and water networks, negating the need for expensive civil works. i3 Africa has selected Durban to house a pilot network, and work on a 100km stretch is already underway. Upon completion, the Durban leg will consist of 2,500km worth of access fibre and a further 7,500km of FTTH/FTTB. Groesbeek commented: 'We’ve decided to focus first on Durban, which has a history of being an early adopter of innovative technologies, but we are engaging with everyone. We will have all that done during 2012, and sometime next year we will start on the core network in a second city'. A commercial rollout is planned from mid-2011.
i3 Africa announces plans to connect 2.5 million homes to fibre within five years
CEO Cornelius Groesbeek told TechCentral that the company will spend between ZAR5 billion (USD725.4 million) and ZAR6 billion on the network — approximately one-third of the cost usually associated with a FTTH rollout. i3 Africa plans to make savings by utilising metropolitan sewerage and water networks, negating the need for expensive civil works. i3 Africa has selected Durban to house a pilot network, and work on a 100km stretch is already underway. Upon completion, the Durban leg will consist of 2,500km worth of access fibre and a further 7,500km of FTTH/FTTB. Groesbeek commented: 'We’ve decided to focus first on Durban, which has a history of being an early adopter of innovative technologies, but we are engaging with everyone. We will have all that done during 2012, and sometime next year we will start on the core network in a second city'. A commercial rollout is planned from mid-2011.
i3 Africa announces plans to connect 2.5 million homes to fibre within five years
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
India - Ministry expects to send national broadband plan to cabinet in coming weeks
[the hindu] The Telecom Ministry has said that it will send the national broadband policy, aimed at setting up networks estimated to cost Rs 60,000 crore to facilitate high-speed data and e-governance, to the Cabinet in the next few weeks.
“The Telecom Department will send the national broadband policy to the Cabinet in the next few weeks before which it will be cleared by the Telecom Commission,” the Secretary, Department of Telecom, Mr R. Chandrasekhar said at a FICCI event here today.
Earlier during the day, the Telecom Minister, Mr Kapil Sibal, met various operators to discuss the national broadband policy.
In December last year, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India came out with its recommendations to set up a national broadband network which is estimated to cost about Rs 60,000 crore.
TRAI, which came up with its recommendations on the ‘National Broadband Plan’, had said the project would be financed by Universal Service Obligation (USO) fund (under the DoT) and the loans provided by the Government.
The recommendations from TRAI came amid the Government’s failure to meet its target of 20 million broadband connections by 2010.
Besides, the recommendations on ‘National Broadband Plan’ is expected to facilitate inclusive growth of the country by including large rural population in governance and decision-making process and extend to the rural areas better education, health and banking facilities.
Established in two phases, this network would be an open access optical fibre network connecting all habitation with a population of 500 and above and would be completed by 2013.
The network will provide easy access to high-speed data and information to citizens, promoting thereby efforts in the field of education, health and others, the recommendations added.
To roll-out the nationwide networks, TRAI has also recommended formation of a government-owned holding company — National Optical Fibre Agency (NOFA).
Besides, the centralised holding company, the authority has also recommended formation of — State Optical Fibre Agency (SOFA) — in every state with 51 per cent equity held by NOFA and the rest by the respective state governments. Both the government holding companies are expected to ring in an annual revenue of Rs 26,000 crore.
National broadband policy to go to Cabinet soon
“The Telecom Department will send the national broadband policy to the Cabinet in the next few weeks before which it will be cleared by the Telecom Commission,” the Secretary, Department of Telecom, Mr R. Chandrasekhar said at a FICCI event here today.
Earlier during the day, the Telecom Minister, Mr Kapil Sibal, met various operators to discuss the national broadband policy.
In December last year, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India came out with its recommendations to set up a national broadband network which is estimated to cost about Rs 60,000 crore.
TRAI, which came up with its recommendations on the ‘National Broadband Plan’, had said the project would be financed by Universal Service Obligation (USO) fund (under the DoT) and the loans provided by the Government.
The recommendations from TRAI came amid the Government’s failure to meet its target of 20 million broadband connections by 2010.
Besides, the recommendations on ‘National Broadband Plan’ is expected to facilitate inclusive growth of the country by including large rural population in governance and decision-making process and extend to the rural areas better education, health and banking facilities.
Established in two phases, this network would be an open access optical fibre network connecting all habitation with a population of 500 and above and would be completed by 2013.
The network will provide easy access to high-speed data and information to citizens, promoting thereby efforts in the field of education, health and others, the recommendations added.
To roll-out the nationwide networks, TRAI has also recommended formation of a government-owned holding company — National Optical Fibre Agency (NOFA).
Besides, the centralised holding company, the authority has also recommended formation of — State Optical Fibre Agency (SOFA) — in every state with 51 per cent equity held by NOFA and the rest by the respective state governments. Both the government holding companies are expected to ring in an annual revenue of Rs 26,000 crore.
National broadband policy to go to Cabinet soon
USA - Kickbacks and bribes were paid in a programme for reduced Internet rates for schools in Illinois
[pc world] The former owner of an Illinois technology firm has pleaded guilty to providing bribes and kickbacks to school districts in exchange for networking contracts that were part of a U.S. government program designed to bring Internet services to schools and libraries in poor areas.
Tyrone Pipkin, a former co-owner of Global Networking Technologies in Illinois, pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana to participating in a conspiracy to defraud the U.S. Federal Communication Commission's E-Rate program, the U.S. Department of Justice said.
Pipkin, acting on behalf of his own company and Computer Training Associates, told schools that if they chose one of the two companies for E-Rate contracts, their matching fees required by the FCC would be waived, according to court documents. Pipkin and a co-owner at Global Networking Technologies also offered bribes to school officials and employees if they circumvented the required competitive bidding process required in the E-Rate program in favor of one of the two companies, the court documents said.
Pipkin also submitted E-Rate applications to the FCC containing forged signatures of school employees, according to court documents.
Tech Firm Owner Pleads Guilty to E-Rate Conspiracy
Tyrone Pipkin, a former co-owner of Global Networking Technologies in Illinois, pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana to participating in a conspiracy to defraud the U.S. Federal Communication Commission's E-Rate program, the U.S. Department of Justice said.
Pipkin, acting on behalf of his own company and Computer Training Associates, told schools that if they chose one of the two companies for E-Rate contracts, their matching fees required by the FCC would be waived, according to court documents. Pipkin and a co-owner at Global Networking Technologies also offered bribes to school officials and employees if they circumvented the required competitive bidding process required in the E-Rate program in favor of one of the two companies, the court documents said.
Pipkin also submitted E-Rate applications to the FCC containing forged signatures of school employees, according to court documents.
Tech Firm Owner Pleads Guilty to E-Rate Conspiracy
Mauritius - Orange is testing FTTC and GPON to resorts, hotels and government offices
[balancing act] Fibre-To-The-Home is beginning to be announced in Africa's larger markets: Jamii Telecoms in Kenya, i3Africa in South Africa and Algerie Telecom has been piloting it. But for most telcos, the next stage after fibre metronets is rolling out Fibre-To-The-Cabinet.
Both offer a route for fixed line telcos to re-invent themselves and position themselves ahead of the competition but there is a need for a good combination of a strong fibre network investment and content services to deliver over the newly created network.
Mauritius is part of Africa but is very different from it. There are higher wealth levels and it is a geographically compact island with good infrastructure, including a high level of fixed line penetration.
Orange Mauritius started investing in Fibre-To-The-Cabinet with a pilot test in the west coast resort of Wolmar as far back as 2006 and by 2007 it had 15 cabinets in place and that has been built up to 77 cabinets this year. According to CEO Sarat Lallah:"We're still rolling out and want to increase the coverage so that it's island-wide. We place the cabinet on the street and the last mile is copper."
The overall objective is to give fibre coverage to all but a very small percentage of the population by 2015. Alongside this network, it has rolled out Fibre-To-The-Company:"We've deployed fibre to hotels using our GPON network and to companies in Cyber City in Ebene. All Government offices have four 100 mbps connections."
Orange Mauritius Turns IPTV And Fibre-to-the-Cabinet Into 'A Driver for Growth'
Both offer a route for fixed line telcos to re-invent themselves and position themselves ahead of the competition but there is a need for a good combination of a strong fibre network investment and content services to deliver over the newly created network.
Mauritius is part of Africa but is very different from it. There are higher wealth levels and it is a geographically compact island with good infrastructure, including a high level of fixed line penetration.
Orange Mauritius started investing in Fibre-To-The-Cabinet with a pilot test in the west coast resort of Wolmar as far back as 2006 and by 2007 it had 15 cabinets in place and that has been built up to 77 cabinets this year. According to CEO Sarat Lallah:"We're still rolling out and want to increase the coverage so that it's island-wide. We place the cabinet on the street and the last mile is copper."
The overall objective is to give fibre coverage to all but a very small percentage of the population by 2015. Alongside this network, it has rolled out Fibre-To-The-Company:"We've deployed fibre to hotels using our GPON network and to companies in Cyber City in Ebene. All Government offices have four 100 mbps connections."
Orange Mauritius Turns IPTV And Fibre-to-the-Cabinet Into 'A Driver for Growth'
Jamaica - O'Brien's Digicel is to acquire the Claro network of Carlos Slim
[ict pulse] On March 11, it was announced that Digicel had purchased Claro, the third mobile operator in Jamaica. The transaction will effectively reduce the number of mobile operators from three to two.
The extent to which competition in the mobile market will be affected by the purchase is expected to be the most crucial consideration of the regulatory review process. In any market where fair competition is desired, it is important that no one player controls the market or is unaffected by the actions of its competitors or of consumers. Currently, Digicel is reported to have the largest share of the mobile/cellular market in Jamaica. Although Claro had the smallest market share of the three operators, Digicel’s market share will undoubtedly increase thanks to the acquisition. Hence the regulators should consider the impact of this change with regard to (among other things):
- the extent to which Digicel’s market power will change
- how the market concentration will change
- the possible effects of the purchase on other operators in the market and on competition in general.
Secondly, one of the primary objectives of competition and regulation is to realise benefits to consumers. Competition is generally expected to drive down rates, and to improve access to and the availability of a broad range of telecoms services. Hence another matter that must be considered is whether or not, or the extent to which, the acquisition is in the long-term interest of end-users.
Further, the regulators should attempt to determine whether competition in the mobile market will be substantially lessened if the purchase were approved. Digicel’s acquisition of Claro will decrease the number of players on the market from three to two.
Finally, there has been a history of rivalry between the two mobile operators from which consumers have benefitted, but that will no longer obtain. The regulators will need to examine these and other markers of competition to better inform their decisions and recommendations.
Is the Claro sale to Digicel good for competition in Jamaica?
The extent to which competition in the mobile market will be affected by the purchase is expected to be the most crucial consideration of the regulatory review process. In any market where fair competition is desired, it is important that no one player controls the market or is unaffected by the actions of its competitors or of consumers. Currently, Digicel is reported to have the largest share of the mobile/cellular market in Jamaica. Although Claro had the smallest market share of the three operators, Digicel’s market share will undoubtedly increase thanks to the acquisition. Hence the regulators should consider the impact of this change with regard to (among other things):
- the extent to which Digicel’s market power will change
- how the market concentration will change
- the possible effects of the purchase on other operators in the market and on competition in general.
Secondly, one of the primary objectives of competition and regulation is to realise benefits to consumers. Competition is generally expected to drive down rates, and to improve access to and the availability of a broad range of telecoms services. Hence another matter that must be considered is whether or not, or the extent to which, the acquisition is in the long-term interest of end-users.
Further, the regulators should attempt to determine whether competition in the mobile market will be substantially lessened if the purchase were approved. Digicel’s acquisition of Claro will decrease the number of players on the market from three to two.
Finally, there has been a history of rivalry between the two mobile operators from which consumers have benefitted, but that will no longer obtain. The regulators will need to examine these and other markers of competition to better inform their decisions and recommendations.
Is the Claro sale to Digicel good for competition in Jamaica?
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Syria - Attacks on offices of Syriatel, the down side of being the cousin of the President
[bbc] Syrian forces have fired tear gas at hundreds of protesters in the southern city of Deraa, reports say.
At least 61 people have died in 10 days of protests in Deraa, amid a wave of unrest that has shaken the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
Meanwhile, troops are out in force in the northern city of Latakia, after 12 people died in clashes this weekend.
An Associated Press photographer said two police cars had been smashed in the main Sheikh Daher square. The offices of SyriaTel, the mobile phone company owned in large part by a cousin of President Assad, had been burned, he said.
Syria protests: Tear gas in Deraa as army takes Latakia
At least 61 people have died in 10 days of protests in Deraa, amid a wave of unrest that has shaken the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
Meanwhile, troops are out in force in the northern city of Latakia, after 12 people died in clashes this weekend.
An Associated Press photographer said two police cars had been smashed in the main Sheikh Daher square. The offices of SyriaTel, the mobile phone company owned in large part by a cousin of President Assad, had been burned, he said.
Syria protests: Tear gas in Deraa as army takes Latakia
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Australia - Developers are to be required to make new homes network ready or face fines
[zdnet] Developers will have to ensure that their new developments are National Broadband Network-ready or risk facing penalties under legislation discussed in parliament today.
Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese told Parliament this morning that, if passed, the new rules will apply to all new developments, including broadacre estates, urban infill and urban renewal projects.
Generally, the rules that require developers to install fibre into new premises will apply to any new development in the National Broadband Network (NBN) Co's "long-term fibre footprint". It is expected to affect around 1.9 million new premises in the course of the NBN roll-out.
Albanese said developers will have to meet the cost of trenching and "passive infrastructure".
Developers are free to use other telecommunications providers, as NBN Co will remain the "fibre provider of last resort".
Telstra will be playing a transitional role to provide services to places where NBN Co may not yet have fibre.
Albanese said penalties will apply to developers who lease or sell land or a building in a new development that do not have fibre-ready facilities.
However, the actual sale or lease transaction will remain valid.
NBN Co has been the fibre provider of last resort since 1 January this year in response to industry concern over how the roll-out of the NBN will affect businesses providing fibre to new housing developments.
NBN Co will establish a panel of providers who can bid to install the fibre at these developments.
The legislation was first introduced into Parliament a year ago, but failed to pass prior to the 2010 Federal election.
Debate on the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Fibre Deployment) Bill 2011 has been adjourned.
New NBN Bills impose developer penalties
Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese told Parliament this morning that, if passed, the new rules will apply to all new developments, including broadacre estates, urban infill and urban renewal projects.
Generally, the rules that require developers to install fibre into new premises will apply to any new development in the National Broadband Network (NBN) Co's "long-term fibre footprint". It is expected to affect around 1.9 million new premises in the course of the NBN roll-out.
Albanese said developers will have to meet the cost of trenching and "passive infrastructure".
Developers are free to use other telecommunications providers, as NBN Co will remain the "fibre provider of last resort".
Telstra will be playing a transitional role to provide services to places where NBN Co may not yet have fibre.
Albanese said penalties will apply to developers who lease or sell land or a building in a new development that do not have fibre-ready facilities.
However, the actual sale or lease transaction will remain valid.
NBN Co has been the fibre provider of last resort since 1 January this year in response to industry concern over how the roll-out of the NBN will affect businesses providing fibre to new housing developments.
NBN Co will establish a panel of providers who can bid to install the fibre at these developments.
The legislation was first introduced into Parliament a year ago, but failed to pass prior to the 2010 Federal election.
Debate on the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Fibre Deployment) Bill 2011 has been adjourned.
New NBN Bills impose developer penalties
New Zealand - Regulator has retained regulation for backhaul links used for unbundled bitstream access
[comcom] The Commerce Commission today announced that no competitive services have developed for unbundled bitstream access (UBA) backhaul links. This means all UBA links will remain subject to the terms of the UBA backhaul Standard Terms Determination (STD). The decision is a result of a review by the Commission into whether Telecom faces competition for providing these services.
UBA backhaul service allows other telecommunications companies to supply broadband services to customers without the need to replicate Telecom’s copper local loop. UBA backhaul allows access to, and interconnection with, the part of Telecom’s fixed public data network that connects the customer’s building to Telecom’s first data switch (or equivalent facility).
“Competitive UBA backhaul markets have not developed because of the small number of enhanced UBA services that are being purchased from Telecom. In addition, unlike the unbundled copper local loop (UCLL) backhaul, there is no appropriate commercial service that would allow alternative backhaul providers to aggregate backhaul traffic inside the exchange,” said Dr Ross Patterson, Telecommunications Commissioner.
Where the Commission finds that there is competition on a link, the terms of the UBA backhaul STD will not apply. By contrast, where Telecom is found to face limited competition on a link, the terms of the UBA backhaul STD will apply.
The Commission intends to complete a review of all UBA backhaul links annually.
Competitive services have not developed for UBA backhaul links, says Commerce Commission
see also full report
UBA backhaul service allows other telecommunications companies to supply broadband services to customers without the need to replicate Telecom’s copper local loop. UBA backhaul allows access to, and interconnection with, the part of Telecom’s fixed public data network that connects the customer’s building to Telecom’s first data switch (or equivalent facility).
“Competitive UBA backhaul markets have not developed because of the small number of enhanced UBA services that are being purchased from Telecom. In addition, unlike the unbundled copper local loop (UCLL) backhaul, there is no appropriate commercial service that would allow alternative backhaul providers to aggregate backhaul traffic inside the exchange,” said Dr Ross Patterson, Telecommunications Commissioner.
Where the Commission finds that there is competition on a link, the terms of the UBA backhaul STD will not apply. By contrast, where Telecom is found to face limited competition on a link, the terms of the UBA backhaul STD will apply.
The Commission intends to complete a review of all UBA backhaul links annually.
Competitive services have not developed for UBA backhaul links, says Commerce Commission
see also full report
South Africa - Telkom continues to see strong links to the Government as a major shareholder
[times LIVE] Government will continue to be consulted on key issues regarding Telkom because it remains a significant shareholder in the listed telecommunication company.
Telkom chair Lazarus Zim said this week, following the announcement that Nombulelo "Pinky" Moholi had been appointed as CEO, that the company was run by its management and board, but that government was a "strong ally'' in the process.
Government is the biggest shareholder in Telkom, with a direct interest of 39.8%. However, government's special class-A or "golden" share, which gave it the right to appoint five of the company's 12 directors, including its chairman, expired on March 5.
Zim was appointed shortly before the expiration, leading to speculation on his appointment being an attempt by government to retain some influence over the board.
When asked about the speculation, Zim questioned why he was suddenly seen as a representative of government.
"I have been in the telecommunication sector before, I spent most of my career in the ICT sector and I am not new to Telkom," he said.
Regarding the timing of his appointment, he said government had to appoint a new chair at the time as the term of the previous chair (Jeff Molobela) has expired.
"We now have a CEO who was appointed after the golden shares expired."
Zim is reported to have close business ties with the Gupta family and Duduzane Zuma, President Jacob Zuma's son.
He said rumours about these relationships helping him to clinch deals did not bother him.
"Why should it bother me?" he asked.
"I am here to do a job at Telkom and my track record speaks for itself."
Moholi's appointment comes after acting CEO Jeffrey Hedberg said in January he would not renew his contract when it expired at the end of this month.
He will stay on in an advisory capacity until the end of June. When Moholi takes over on April 1 she will be the company's fifth CEO since its listing in 2003.
Hedberg's decision not to stay on at Telkom was seen as a blow for the troubled company, but Moholi's appointment was widely welcomed.
As a telecommunications and Telkom veteran she was seen as a the front-runner for the job for the past two weeks.
Zim said this week the process to appoint a chief financial officer was on the go and that a "good shortlist" had been compiled. "We had to wait for the CEO to come into place as we have to make the decision with her," he said.
"We cannot appoint a CFO without a CEO. The normal business rules apply. I do not know why you would expect Telkom to behave differently."
Moholi said there was no denying the challenges at Telkom, especially with regard to leadership. The challenges were the consequences of some bad investments by the company, she said.
"But there is also a lot of value in the company, the biggest of which is its world-class network," she said.
"The economy of this country runs on Telkom networks. Therefore if Telkom fails, the country fails."
On retrenchment plans - Telkom is said to be up to 20% overstaffed - Moholi said Telkom had offered voluntary separation packages. She said as there were areas in the company with skills shortages, a "responsible citizen would have to look at retraining people and move them into the areas of the future".
State a 'strong ally' to Telkom - Zim
Telkom chair Lazarus Zim said this week, following the announcement that Nombulelo "Pinky" Moholi had been appointed as CEO, that the company was run by its management and board, but that government was a "strong ally'' in the process.
Government is the biggest shareholder in Telkom, with a direct interest of 39.8%. However, government's special class-A or "golden" share, which gave it the right to appoint five of the company's 12 directors, including its chairman, expired on March 5.
Zim was appointed shortly before the expiration, leading to speculation on his appointment being an attempt by government to retain some influence over the board.
When asked about the speculation, Zim questioned why he was suddenly seen as a representative of government.
"I have been in the telecommunication sector before, I spent most of my career in the ICT sector and I am not new to Telkom," he said.
Regarding the timing of his appointment, he said government had to appoint a new chair at the time as the term of the previous chair (Jeff Molobela) has expired.
"We now have a CEO who was appointed after the golden shares expired."
Zim is reported to have close business ties with the Gupta family and Duduzane Zuma, President Jacob Zuma's son.
He said rumours about these relationships helping him to clinch deals did not bother him.
"Why should it bother me?" he asked.
"I am here to do a job at Telkom and my track record speaks for itself."
Moholi's appointment comes after acting CEO Jeffrey Hedberg said in January he would not renew his contract when it expired at the end of this month.
He will stay on in an advisory capacity until the end of June. When Moholi takes over on April 1 she will be the company's fifth CEO since its listing in 2003.
Hedberg's decision not to stay on at Telkom was seen as a blow for the troubled company, but Moholi's appointment was widely welcomed.
As a telecommunications and Telkom veteran she was seen as a the front-runner for the job for the past two weeks.
Zim said this week the process to appoint a chief financial officer was on the go and that a "good shortlist" had been compiled. "We had to wait for the CEO to come into place as we have to make the decision with her," he said.
"We cannot appoint a CFO without a CEO. The normal business rules apply. I do not know why you would expect Telkom to behave differently."
Moholi said there was no denying the challenges at Telkom, especially with regard to leadership. The challenges were the consequences of some bad investments by the company, she said.
"But there is also a lot of value in the company, the biggest of which is its world-class network," she said.
"The economy of this country runs on Telkom networks. Therefore if Telkom fails, the country fails."
On retrenchment plans - Telkom is said to be up to 20% overstaffed - Moholi said Telkom had offered voluntary separation packages. She said as there were areas in the company with skills shortages, a "responsible citizen would have to look at retraining people and move them into the areas of the future".
State a 'strong ally' to Telkom - Zim
USA - The regulator has approved Qwest's purchase of Century-Link
[omaha] The Qwest-CenturyLink merger took a big step toward becoming official Friday as the Federal Communications Commission approved the deal.
In doing so, the FCC imposed a number of broadband requirements, including access for low-income consumers and increased capacity, along with protections for competitors. The combined company will be required to offer qualifying households in its 37-state footprint broadband access for less than $10 per month, and a computer for less than $150.
The company also will need to spread broadband speeds of 4 megabits per second to 4 million homes and businesses and 20,000 institutions like schools and libraries.
Oregon is the only remaining state yet to give the deal the go-ahead.
The companies expect to close the merger on April 1.
FCC approves Qwest merger
In doing so, the FCC imposed a number of broadband requirements, including access for low-income consumers and increased capacity, along with protections for competitors. The combined company will be required to offer qualifying households in its 37-state footprint broadband access for less than $10 per month, and a computer for less than $150.
The company also will need to spread broadband speeds of 4 megabits per second to 4 million homes and businesses and 20,000 institutions like schools and libraries.
Oregon is the only remaining state yet to give the deal the go-ahead.
The companies expect to close the merger on April 1.
FCC approves Qwest merger
Internet - a new gTLD is to be created for sex sites as .XXX
[LA Times] Call it the red light district of the Internet.
The aptly named .xxx domain for adult-content websites was approved Friday by the Internet Corp. for Assigned Names and Numbers, the group that manages the creation and distribution of Web addresses, despite fierce opposition from established porn stars and others in the industry who argued the decision would lead to censorship.
Florida-based company ICM Registry proposed the domain name .xxx in 2004 with plans to sell Web addresses, and a horde of adult-content websites and publications are now expected to register their brands lest they get snapped up by others. The triple-x domain suffix will not, however, be required by law for websites featuring ribald material.
“For the first time, there will be a clearly defined Web address for adult entertainment, out of the reach of minors and as free as possible from fraud or malicious computer viruses,” ICM Chief Executive Stuart Lawley said in a statement.
Lawley said that his company has already been flooded by thousands of requests to reserve more than 200,000 domain names.
Critics of the move, which include Los Angeles-based adult video producer Vivid Entertainment and the Free Speech Coalition, a trade association for the adult industry, have argued that the domain-suffix would create a virtual, stigmatized section of the Internet that would ultimately curb free speech and be easier to censor.
Lawley has previously talked about his plans to build a "PayPal for porn" system that could process more than a $1 billion in transactions a year.
Adult content websites get .xxx domain
The aptly named .xxx domain for adult-content websites was approved Friday by the Internet Corp. for Assigned Names and Numbers, the group that manages the creation and distribution of Web addresses, despite fierce opposition from established porn stars and others in the industry who argued the decision would lead to censorship.
Florida-based company ICM Registry proposed the domain name .xxx in 2004 with plans to sell Web addresses, and a horde of adult-content websites and publications are now expected to register their brands lest they get snapped up by others. The triple-x domain suffix will not, however, be required by law for websites featuring ribald material.
“For the first time, there will be a clearly defined Web address for adult entertainment, out of the reach of minors and as free as possible from fraud or malicious computer viruses,” ICM Chief Executive Stuart Lawley said in a statement.
Lawley said that his company has already been flooded by thousands of requests to reserve more than 200,000 domain names.
Critics of the move, which include Los Angeles-based adult video producer Vivid Entertainment and the Free Speech Coalition, a trade association for the adult industry, have argued that the domain-suffix would create a virtual, stigmatized section of the Internet that would ultimately curb free speech and be easier to censor.
Lawley has previously talked about his plans to build a "PayPal for porn" system that could process more than a $1 billion in transactions a year.
Adult content websites get .xxx domain
USA - The Economist comes down against the AT&T acquisition of T-Mobile USA
[the economist] BEWARE of habitual monopolists bearing gifts—especially if they operate in shamefully uncompetitive markets. AT&T’s proposed $39 billion takeover of T-Mobile USA would create a dominant mobile-phone operator, with a 39% market share in America, and a near-duopoly with Verizon, the current market leader: together their combined share would be 70%. It is a mark of the mess that the United States has made of telecoms not just that such a deal is being considered, but also that a duopoly might actually bring genuine short-term benefits. All the same, it would be far better if the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Department of Justice blocked the T-Mobile merger—and tried to reform the market instead.
Not so fast, Ma Bell
Not so fast, Ma Bell
Africa - Increasing competition in international links with more cables coming into service
[business daily africa] Competition within the international fibre optic segment is set to intensify in coming months as new players enter the market and existing projects move to consolidate on their regional presence.
Kenyan firms will soon enjoy increased access to the Internet through an expanded number of fibre optic cable providers within the next six months, a factor that analysts say could push pricing for data products down in the next year.
The privately owned Seacom project is one of three international fibre cables that connects directly to Kenya’s coast, carrying high-speed data connectivity to the countries within the region.
“The latest developments are integral to the continued development and expansion of networks in Africa and in particular to countries that have had limited access to broadband connectivity,” said Suveer Ramdhani, Seacom’s Head of Product Strategy.
Seacom, alongside the government-led TEAMs and operator-run EASSy projects, provide the region with cheaper and more reliable internet and telephony connectivity.
International fibre operator Seacom recently announced that it has extended its network deepening competition in the fibre segment as operators race to connect the eastern seaboard of Africa.
The company said it had added Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe to its network, saying the move was part of an ongoing focus to connect the continent.
All three projects are likely to compete with a new entrant in the form of France Telecom, which recently announced that it was committing Sh1.5 billion (14 million euros) to extend the “Lower Indian Network 2” (LION 2) submarine cable to the LION cable to Kenya via Mayotte.
With the LION and LION2 cables, France Telecom will have access to three telecommunication highways, enabling it to route voice and data telecommunications via La Réunion and Mauritius.
Fibre optic firms flood Kenyan coast
Kenyan firms will soon enjoy increased access to the Internet through an expanded number of fibre optic cable providers within the next six months, a factor that analysts say could push pricing for data products down in the next year.
The privately owned Seacom project is one of three international fibre cables that connects directly to Kenya’s coast, carrying high-speed data connectivity to the countries within the region.
“The latest developments are integral to the continued development and expansion of networks in Africa and in particular to countries that have had limited access to broadband connectivity,” said Suveer Ramdhani, Seacom’s Head of Product Strategy.
Seacom, alongside the government-led TEAMs and operator-run EASSy projects, provide the region with cheaper and more reliable internet and telephony connectivity.
International fibre operator Seacom recently announced that it has extended its network deepening competition in the fibre segment as operators race to connect the eastern seaboard of Africa.
The company said it had added Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe to its network, saying the move was part of an ongoing focus to connect the continent.
All three projects are likely to compete with a new entrant in the form of France Telecom, which recently announced that it was committing Sh1.5 billion (14 million euros) to extend the “Lower Indian Network 2” (LION 2) submarine cable to the LION cable to Kenya via Mayotte.
With the LION and LION2 cables, France Telecom will have access to three telecommunication highways, enabling it to route voice and data telecommunications via La Réunion and Mauritius.
Fibre optic firms flood Kenyan coast
Thursday, March 24, 2011
New Zealand - Leaks about the faster broadband network reveal wholesale prices
[NZ herald] Leaked documents show that New Zealand's new ultra-fast broadband network will come with a variety of options and moderate prices, with connections starting at an estimated $47 a month.
The Herald has obtained a "price book" revealing the wholesale charges set by the Government agency in charge of the UFB, Crown Fibre Holdings.
The wholesale charges are for the Local Fibre Companies bidding on UFB contracts around the country, and will be set at different levels for the next ten years.
While retail costs for UFB plans remain unclear as of now, they can be estimated by adding an 18 per cent retail margin as defined by the Commerce Commission previously, and GST.
Leaked Govt broadband plan comes in for criticism
The Herald has obtained a "price book" revealing the wholesale charges set by the Government agency in charge of the UFB, Crown Fibre Holdings.
The wholesale charges are for the Local Fibre Companies bidding on UFB contracts around the country, and will be set at different levels for the next ten years.
While retail costs for UFB plans remain unclear as of now, they can be estimated by adding an 18 per cent retail margin as defined by the Commerce Commission previously, and GST.
Leaked Govt broadband plan comes in for criticism
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Internet - 300 TB of data on real connection speeds with locations provided by Google
[ars technica] How fast is your broadband? M-Lab, a partnership between the New America Foundation and Google meant to measure Internet connections, has given Google two years worth of actual broadband connection data, as measured by users. That's more than 300TB of data, which Google has imported into its Public Data Explorer for easy viewing and analysis. The results are remarkable.
Measuring Internet access has been tricky for years. Sascha Meinrath of the New America Foundation told Ars back in 2009, when M-Lab got underway, that detailed network data about speeds, latency, jitter, and more used to be in the public domain until the government-run NSFnet was privatized in the earlier 1990s. Today, though, it's hard to know what speeds ISPs are actually offering (knowing what speeds they advertise, by contrast, is simple).
M-Lab has distributed testing tools for two years now and its servers have recorded data on the results. One of the most basic measurements is pure speed, measured in megabits per second. When these real-world speeds are charted on a map, they make Internet speed differences obvious in a way often obscured by simple lists and numbers. For instance, the two images below compare Internet download speeds in US states to Internet download speeds in European countries (many of which are the same size as US states). Speeds are medians.
Google maps 300TB of real-world Internet speed data
Measuring Internet access has been tricky for years. Sascha Meinrath of the New America Foundation told Ars back in 2009, when M-Lab got underway, that detailed network data about speeds, latency, jitter, and more used to be in the public domain until the government-run NSFnet was privatized in the earlier 1990s. Today, though, it's hard to know what speeds ISPs are actually offering (knowing what speeds they advertise, by contrast, is simple).
M-Lab has distributed testing tools for two years now and its servers have recorded data on the results. One of the most basic measurements is pure speed, measured in megabits per second. When these real-world speeds are charted on a map, they make Internet speed differences obvious in a way often obscured by simple lists and numbers. For instance, the two images below compare Internet download speeds in US states to Internet download speeds in European countries (many of which are the same size as US states). Speeds are medians.
Google maps 300TB of real-world Internet speed data
Monday, March 21, 2011
Solomons Islands - New licences to be issued by the regulator
[radio australia] A new type of telecommunications licence is to be introduced in Solomon Islands allowing local businesses into the industry for the first time.
The class licences, as they are called, will be available by the end of April.
The authorities hoped the licences will lead to big improvements in the availability of internet services, especially in the rural areas.
New telecommunications licences for Solomons business
The class licences, as they are called, will be available by the end of April.
The authorities hoped the licences will lead to big improvements in the availability of internet services, especially in the rural areas.
New telecommunications licences for Solomons business
UK - Regulator has slashed mobile termination rates of the four mobile operators
[reuters] British telecoms regulator Ofcom will reduce the amount mobile operators can bill for connecting to their networks, cutting charges by 80 percent over four years among the main players.
Ofcom said that from April 1 the four national network operators 3UK (0013.HK), O2 (TEF.MC), Everything Everywhere (DTEGn.DE)(FTE.PA) and Vodafone (VOD.L) faced a reduction in so-called termination rates -- the wholesale charges that mobile operators impose to connect calls to their networks.
The changes would, among other things, reduce the cost to landline companies of connecting calls to mobile networks, the regulator said on Tuesday.
"Ofcom expects these savings to be passed on to consumers in the competitive UK landline market," it said in a statement. "Some operators have already promised to lower their charges."
Ofcom said the new rules should also result in more choice, introducing more pricing flexibility into the market and resulting in a greater range of packages available to customers.
For the four main operators, Ofcom said it would set rates by only taking into account the costs incurred directly from accepting calls from other networks. For 28 other smaller providers or new-entrants, Ofcom said it would set rates on a "fair and reasonable" basis.
For the leading operators, the current cap will drop from as much as 4.48 pence per minute to 2.66 pence per minute from April 1 and to 0.69 pence by 2014/2015.
UK cuts cost of connecting calls across networks
Ofcom said that from April 1 the four national network operators 3UK (0013.HK), O2 (TEF.MC), Everything Everywhere (DTEGn.DE)(FTE.PA) and Vodafone (VOD.L) faced a reduction in so-called termination rates -- the wholesale charges that mobile operators impose to connect calls to their networks.
The changes would, among other things, reduce the cost to landline companies of connecting calls to mobile networks, the regulator said on Tuesday.
"Ofcom expects these savings to be passed on to consumers in the competitive UK landline market," it said in a statement. "Some operators have already promised to lower their charges."
Ofcom said the new rules should also result in more choice, introducing more pricing flexibility into the market and resulting in a greater range of packages available to customers.
For the four main operators, Ofcom said it would set rates by only taking into account the costs incurred directly from accepting calls from other networks. For 28 other smaller providers or new-entrants, Ofcom said it would set rates on a "fair and reasonable" basis.
For the leading operators, the current cap will drop from as much as 4.48 pence per minute to 2.66 pence per minute from April 1 and to 0.69 pence by 2014/2015.
UK cuts cost of connecting calls across networks
UK - Inflation calculations now include the cost of smartphones in the basket of prices
[bloomberg] The price of smartphones and dating-agency fees will help determine Britain’s inflation rate after the Office for National Statistics added them to the list of goods and services it monitors to gauge living costs.
They will be included for the first time in the basket of about 650 goods and services that make up the consumer prices index and the retail prices index, the agency said in an e-mailed statement released in London today. The revised basket will be incorporated into February’s inflation data, due to be released on March 22.
The list is reviewed annually to ensure it represents consumer spending, with changes made for reasons ranging from improved technology to popularity. The changes announced today reflect “new trends” in spending habits, the ONS said. As well as smartphones, the software applications that run on them will replace mobile-phone downloads such as ringtones and wallpaper images, it said.
“Many of these new items show the way technology is changing our lives,” ONS statistician Phil Gooding said in the statement. “Powerful smartphones and the applications that run on them have become essential for many when communicating or seeking information. Likewise, increasing numbers of people now seek a partner via internet dating sites.”
The ONS will also add sparkling wines and remove vending- machine cigarettes and replace pork-shoulder joints with oven- ready joints. Television prices will now be collected differently, with the price of televisions bigger than 32 inches (81 centimeters) being measured separately to reflect the trend of households now setting up “home-cinema” systems, it said.
They will be included for the first time in the basket of about 650 goods and services that make up the consumer prices index and the retail prices index, the agency said in an e-mailed statement released in London today. The revised basket will be incorporated into February’s inflation data, due to be released on March 22.
The list is reviewed annually to ensure it represents consumer spending, with changes made for reasons ranging from improved technology to popularity. The changes announced today reflect “new trends” in spending habits, the ONS said. As well as smartphones, the software applications that run on them will replace mobile-phone downloads such as ringtones and wallpaper images, it said.
“Many of these new items show the way technology is changing our lives,” ONS statistician Phil Gooding said in the statement. “Powerful smartphones and the applications that run on them have become essential for many when communicating or seeking information. Likewise, increasing numbers of people now seek a partner via internet dating sites.”
The ONS will also add sparkling wines and remove vending- machine cigarettes and replace pork-shoulder joints with oven- ready joints. Television prices will now be collected differently, with the price of televisions bigger than 32 inches (81 centimeters) being measured separately to reflect the trend of households now setting up “home-cinema” systems, it said.
Germany - Telekom's boss praised for selling US subsidiary
[reuters] Rene Obermann can finally bask in rare praise, after more than five years trying to get investors on his side.
Obermann's decision to draw a line under Deutsche Telekom's global ambitions by selling T-Mobile USA -- a quarter of the company -- to U.S. operator AT&T for $39 billion appears to have redefined external perceptions of him overnight.
As chief executive his image has been of a low-key and somewhat uninspiring leader, eager to keep unions and politicians happy and wary of taking big strategic decisions.
The AT&T deal has forced people to revise that view of Obermann, a German born in March 1963, not least because few had expected such a decisive break with the past.
"You could say he has put his mark on the company," Silvia Quandt analyst Jacques Abramovicz said.
Ending Telekom's U.S. odyssey earns Obermann praise
Obermann's decision to draw a line under Deutsche Telekom's global ambitions by selling T-Mobile USA -- a quarter of the company -- to U.S. operator AT&T for $39 billion appears to have redefined external perceptions of him overnight.
As chief executive his image has been of a low-key and somewhat uninspiring leader, eager to keep unions and politicians happy and wary of taking big strategic decisions.
The AT&T deal has forced people to revise that view of Obermann, a German born in March 1963, not least because few had expected such a decisive break with the past.
"You could say he has put his mark on the company," Silvia Quandt analyst Jacques Abramovicz said.
Ending Telekom's U.S. odyssey earns Obermann praise
USA - Consumer groups see AT&T/T-Mobile merger as unthinkable
[the hill] There is no ambiguity about how consumer groups will view the proposed merger of T-Mobile USA and AT&T: "Unthinkable," said Public Knowledge President Gigi Sohn.
"We think that U.S. regulators should take a page out of Reed Hundt's playbook and declare this merger 'unthinkable' (as he did when it was rumored that AT&T would merge w. SBC in 1987)," Sohn said.
"The proposed merger shows how desperately the U.S. needs both strong network neutrality rules and competition policy that requires dominant broadband providers to make their networks available to competitors," she said.
Further statements from consumer groups are on the way, and the general tilt of those comments can be expected to reverberate in remarks from congressional Democrats.
AT&T will likely have to look to House Republicans to hold the torch for this merger, but even ubiquitous backing from the GOP is hardly certain as the party has repeatedly turned to antitrust as a way to ensure healthy competition.
Consumer groups: AT&T + T-Mobile is 'unthinkable'
"We think that U.S. regulators should take a page out of Reed Hundt's playbook and declare this merger 'unthinkable' (as he did when it was rumored that AT&T would merge w. SBC in 1987)," Sohn said.
"The proposed merger shows how desperately the U.S. needs both strong network neutrality rules and competition policy that requires dominant broadband providers to make their networks available to competitors," she said.
Further statements from consumer groups are on the way, and the general tilt of those comments can be expected to reverberate in remarks from congressional Democrats.
AT&T will likely have to look to House Republicans to hold the torch for this merger, but even ubiquitous backing from the GOP is hardly certain as the party has repeatedly turned to antitrust as a way to ensure healthy competition.
Consumer groups: AT&T + T-Mobile is 'unthinkable'
USA - Chairman of regulator says it has a laser focus on broadband, despite distractions
[executivegov] Despite being mired in mud fights with Congress over net neutrality, the Federal Communications Commission main point of focus may well be its national broadband plan.
A National Journal report evaluating the plan’s goals against what the agency has implemented after about a year finds room for both those who tout success as well as those who discuss their doubts.
About 10 percent of the plans 200 proposals are complete, about 56 percent are “in progress” and 34 percent remain “untouched,” according to National Journal.
Factor in the 10-year timeline for reaching those goals and “that puts the FCC roughly on track,” National Journal said.
FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski has sought to pivot from the red-hot net-neutrality debate to focus on the broadband issue, which is more likely to foster political consensus.
At a recent conference, Genachowski said the agency was “focused like a laser” on the issue, National Journal reported.
Successes include the FCC’s spectrum auctions, which leverage unused broadcast TV spectrum to bolster wireless networks as well as the E-rate program extending access to schools and libraries.
However, skeptics argue FCC is moving too slowly on its initiatives, such as a national public safety communications network and a restructuring of the Universal Service fund to bring broadband coverage to rural areas.
Genachowski: FCC ‘Focused Like a Laser’ on Broadband
A National Journal report evaluating the plan’s goals against what the agency has implemented after about a year finds room for both those who tout success as well as those who discuss their doubts.
About 10 percent of the plans 200 proposals are complete, about 56 percent are “in progress” and 34 percent remain “untouched,” according to National Journal.
Factor in the 10-year timeline for reaching those goals and “that puts the FCC roughly on track,” National Journal said.
FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski has sought to pivot from the red-hot net-neutrality debate to focus on the broadband issue, which is more likely to foster political consensus.
At a recent conference, Genachowski said the agency was “focused like a laser” on the issue, National Journal reported.
Successes include the FCC’s spectrum auctions, which leverage unused broadcast TV spectrum to bolster wireless networks as well as the E-rate program extending access to schools and libraries.
However, skeptics argue FCC is moving too slowly on its initiatives, such as a national public safety communications network and a restructuring of the Universal Service fund to bring broadband coverage to rural areas.
Genachowski: FCC ‘Focused Like a Laser’ on Broadband
USA - Obama's regulators face significant challenges in deciding the AT&T acquisition of T-Mobile USA
[wsj] AT&T Inc.'s proposed $39 billion acquisition of T-Mobile USA is as much a wager on the political environment in Washington as it is a bet on the future of the U.S. wireless market.
The phone giant's proposed acquisition represents a challenge to the Obama administration Justice Department, which has signaled it will police mergers more aggressively than under the prior Republican administration.
It also comes as the Federal Communications Commission, which also can effectively veto the deal, is wrestling with how to widen access to mobile broadband services, and preparing to issue a report that raises fresh concerns about competitiveness in the wireless market.
On AT&T's side of the ledger is a long history as one of the top-spending lobbying operations and campaign contributors in Washington, ties to influential lawmakers and policy makers in both parties, and the backing of the Communications Workers of America, the union that represents thousands of AT&T workers.
Experience WSJ professional
Editors' Deep Dive: Telecom Deals Face Antitrust Concerns
*
COMMUNICATIONS DAILY
AT&T Buy of Spectrum Faces Critics
*
Caixin Online
Industry Rattled by Uncertainty in Nokia Ruling
*
The Oregonian
FCC Approves Qwest, CenturyLinkmerger
Access thousands of business sources not available on the free web. Learn More
Since 1989, AT&T has been the top corporate donor to members of Congress, shelling out more than $46 million in campaign contributions to both Republicans and Democrats, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Last year, the company spent $15.4 million on lobbying in Washington. It had 93 lobbyists working on its behalf, federal lobbying records show.
The head of the Justice Department's antitrust division, Christine Varney, promised early in her tenure to more aggressively review mergers to assure they don't hurt competition. Before taking her current job, Ms. Varney was a partner at the law firm Hogan & Hartson, and specialized in technology antitrust matters.
But so far, the Obama Justice Department hasn't blocked a large, high-profile deal outright. Two controversial deals—Ticketmaster's acquisition of Live Nation Inc. and Comcast Corp.'s purchase of NBC-Universal—were both allowed to proceed, albeit with significant conditions.
Antitrust lawyers say AT&T's bid is riskier because it's largely a "horizontal" deal in which a company buys a direct competitor. The deals for Live Nation and NBCU were largely "vertical" deals involving companies operating at different stages of the distribution chain.
"This is the standard horizontal merger where, unless they can spinoff enough market share, I would expect a challenge," said Spencer Waller, an antitrust law professor at Loyola University Chicago
AT&T Deal Is Key Test for Obama Regulators
The phone giant's proposed acquisition represents a challenge to the Obama administration Justice Department, which has signaled it will police mergers more aggressively than under the prior Republican administration.
It also comes as the Federal Communications Commission, which also can effectively veto the deal, is wrestling with how to widen access to mobile broadband services, and preparing to issue a report that raises fresh concerns about competitiveness in the wireless market.
On AT&T's side of the ledger is a long history as one of the top-spending lobbying operations and campaign contributors in Washington, ties to influential lawmakers and policy makers in both parties, and the backing of the Communications Workers of America, the union that represents thousands of AT&T workers.
Experience WSJ professional
Editors' Deep Dive: Telecom Deals Face Antitrust Concerns
*
COMMUNICATIONS DAILY
AT&T Buy of Spectrum Faces Critics
*
Caixin Online
Industry Rattled by Uncertainty in Nokia Ruling
*
The Oregonian
FCC Approves Qwest, CenturyLinkmerger
Access thousands of business sources not available on the free web. Learn More
Since 1989, AT&T has been the top corporate donor to members of Congress, shelling out more than $46 million in campaign contributions to both Republicans and Democrats, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Last year, the company spent $15.4 million on lobbying in Washington. It had 93 lobbyists working on its behalf, federal lobbying records show.
The head of the Justice Department's antitrust division, Christine Varney, promised early in her tenure to more aggressively review mergers to assure they don't hurt competition. Before taking her current job, Ms. Varney was a partner at the law firm Hogan & Hartson, and specialized in technology antitrust matters.
But so far, the Obama Justice Department hasn't blocked a large, high-profile deal outright. Two controversial deals—Ticketmaster's acquisition of Live Nation Inc. and Comcast Corp.'s purchase of NBC-Universal—were both allowed to proceed, albeit with significant conditions.
Antitrust lawyers say AT&T's bid is riskier because it's largely a "horizontal" deal in which a company buys a direct competitor. The deals for Live Nation and NBCU were largely "vertical" deals involving companies operating at different stages of the distribution chain.
"This is the standard horizontal merger where, unless they can spinoff enough market share, I would expect a challenge," said Spencer Waller, an antitrust law professor at Loyola University Chicago
AT&T Deal Is Key Test for Obama Regulators
USA - AT&T CEO claims LTE infrastructure is "critical" to success of economy
[wsj] AT&T Inc. (T) Chief Executive Randall Stephenson said that a super-fast wireless network covering a majority of the country is critical to the U.S. economy, making a case for why his company should be allowed to acquire T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom AG.
Stephenson, speaking to analysts on a conference call, said that he plans to work closely with regulators to get approval for the deal, and is confident of its prospects.
Stephenson said his early read on the deal is that no divestitures are required to complete the deal, but noted that the stance may change after discussions with regulators.
AT&T CEO: LTE Infrastructure Critical To US Economy
Stephenson, speaking to analysts on a conference call, said that he plans to work closely with regulators to get approval for the deal, and is confident of its prospects.
Stephenson said his early read on the deal is that no divestitures are required to complete the deal, but noted that the stance may change after discussions with regulators.
AT&T CEO: LTE Infrastructure Critical To US Economy
Hong Kong - PCCW may spin off telecoms business because of poor performance on stock exchange
[bloomberg] PCCW Ltd. (8), billionaire Richard Li’s flagship listed company, is considering spinning off telecommunications assets after its shares lagged behind other Hong Kong phone operators this year.
PCCW has started talks with regulators in Hong Kong on the possible spinoff, it said in a statement to the city’s stock exchange today. Plans for the possible transaction are at a preliminary stage, it said.
SmarTone Telecommunications Holdings Ltd. and Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings Ltd. (215) have outperformed the city’s benchmark Hang Seng Index this year, while Li’s phone unit has fallen 4.7 percent. Telecommunications generates most of the company’s revenue and earnings.
PCCW spokeswoman Anita Choi couldn’t immediately comment on which of the company’s telecommunications businesses will be included in the proposed business trust.
PCCW shares rose 3.7 percent to HK$3.40 in Hong Kong trading as of 9:34 a.m. The stock has declined 1.7 percent this year.
SmarTone, controlled by Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd. (16), has surged 79 percent this year, while Hutchison Telecommunications has gained 13 percent
PCCW may list the telecommunications operations as a business trust, the company said. Li Ka-shing, Hong Kong’s richest man and the PCCW chairman’s father, spun off some container-terminal operations from Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. (13) earlier this month. The newly-formed entity, Hutchison Port Holdings Trust, fell 5.9 percent on its first day of trading on March 18.
In October 2008, PCCW scrapped the proposed sale of as much as 45 percent of its HKT Group Holdings Ltd. unit, owner of the company’s main telecommunications and pay-television businesses, citing a lack of attractive offers.
Richard Li’s PCCW May Spin Off Telecommunications Business
PCCW has started talks with regulators in Hong Kong on the possible spinoff, it said in a statement to the city’s stock exchange today. Plans for the possible transaction are at a preliminary stage, it said.
SmarTone Telecommunications Holdings Ltd. and Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings Ltd. (215) have outperformed the city’s benchmark Hang Seng Index this year, while Li’s phone unit has fallen 4.7 percent. Telecommunications generates most of the company’s revenue and earnings.
PCCW spokeswoman Anita Choi couldn’t immediately comment on which of the company’s telecommunications businesses will be included in the proposed business trust.
PCCW shares rose 3.7 percent to HK$3.40 in Hong Kong trading as of 9:34 a.m. The stock has declined 1.7 percent this year.
SmarTone, controlled by Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd. (16), has surged 79 percent this year, while Hutchison Telecommunications has gained 13 percent
PCCW may list the telecommunications operations as a business trust, the company said. Li Ka-shing, Hong Kong’s richest man and the PCCW chairman’s father, spun off some container-terminal operations from Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. (13) earlier this month. The newly-formed entity, Hutchison Port Holdings Trust, fell 5.9 percent on its first day of trading on March 18.
In October 2008, PCCW scrapped the proposed sale of as much as 45 percent of its HKT Group Holdings Ltd. unit, owner of the company’s main telecommunications and pay-television businesses, citing a lack of attractive offers.
Richard Li’s PCCW May Spin Off Telecommunications Business
Australia - Govt is to introduce legislative amendments to address problems with potential "cherry picking" with NBN
[zdnet] The Federal Government has announced plans to introduce a number of amendments to National Broadband Network legislation to address industry concerns around cherry-picking provisions for fibre network providers.
In the Senate this morning during debate on the National Broadband Network Companies Bill 2010 and the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (NBN Measures — Access Arrangements) Bill 2010, Labor Senator Mark Arbib, speaking on behalf of Communications Minister Stephen Conroy, indicated that the Federal Government would introduce amendments to cherry-picking provisions in the legislation after engaging with industry.
"[The government will introduce] a series of amendments [that] clarifies the operation of the level playing field provisions, ensuring they are focused more tightly on local access networks targeting residential and small business customers and that minor extensions to existing super-fast networks and connections of new customers to existing networks will not be subject to the provisions," Arbib told the Senate. "As indicated last December, the government will also propose amendments to the level playing field provisions to add a wholesale-only requirement."
NBN Co cross-subsidises the cost of providing access to regional and remote areas, with the lower costs of providing access to metropolitan areas. The anti-cherry-picking provisions in the access legislation are designed to prevent fibre providers building new networks in areas of the country with a high population and then providing access to consumers at less than that offered by NBN Co.
In a submission to a Senate inquiry into the two Bills, fibre network provider TransACT raised concerns that its existing network would be subject to the cherry-picking provisions in the legislation, which would adversely affect its business.
Telstra proposed in its submission that the provisions be removed entirely. Greens Communications Spokesperson Scott Ludlam said that this proposal showed why the provisions should stay.
"It's the strongest confirmation that we have yet that the provisions should stay as they are," he told the Senate this morning.
Ludlam had, just prior to the government announcement, expressed concern about the cherry-picking provisions, but said that the Greens could not give full approval to the Bills until the party had a chance to examine the detail of the government's proposed amendments.
Coalition Senators Simon Birmingham and Mary Jo Fisher both raised other matters, airing concerns that the NBN would never be privatised under the legislation and NBN Co might be engaged in mission creep if it is able to offer services directly to utilities as set out in one provision.
Arbib said the government rejected all of the Coalition's proposed amendments around these issues, stating that the proposals would "allow a future coalition government to sell off the NBN as soon as possible" and that removing the cherry-picking provisions as suggested would result in many communities only being able to get a "non-NBN" broadband service from a single vertically integrated provider.
Arbib also rejected the proposal to prevent NBN Co from offering services directly to utilities.
"Banning this, as the Coalition proposes, could inhibit the deployment of smart infrastructure," he said.
Govt to change NBN cherry-picking law
In the Senate this morning during debate on the National Broadband Network Companies Bill 2010 and the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (NBN Measures — Access Arrangements) Bill 2010, Labor Senator Mark Arbib, speaking on behalf of Communications Minister Stephen Conroy, indicated that the Federal Government would introduce amendments to cherry-picking provisions in the legislation after engaging with industry.
"[The government will introduce] a series of amendments [that] clarifies the operation of the level playing field provisions, ensuring they are focused more tightly on local access networks targeting residential and small business customers and that minor extensions to existing super-fast networks and connections of new customers to existing networks will not be subject to the provisions," Arbib told the Senate. "As indicated last December, the government will also propose amendments to the level playing field provisions to add a wholesale-only requirement."
NBN Co cross-subsidises the cost of providing access to regional and remote areas, with the lower costs of providing access to metropolitan areas. The anti-cherry-picking provisions in the access legislation are designed to prevent fibre providers building new networks in areas of the country with a high population and then providing access to consumers at less than that offered by NBN Co.
In a submission to a Senate inquiry into the two Bills, fibre network provider TransACT raised concerns that its existing network would be subject to the cherry-picking provisions in the legislation, which would adversely affect its business.
Telstra proposed in its submission that the provisions be removed entirely. Greens Communications Spokesperson Scott Ludlam said that this proposal showed why the provisions should stay.
"It's the strongest confirmation that we have yet that the provisions should stay as they are," he told the Senate this morning.
Ludlam had, just prior to the government announcement, expressed concern about the cherry-picking provisions, but said that the Greens could not give full approval to the Bills until the party had a chance to examine the detail of the government's proposed amendments.
Coalition Senators Simon Birmingham and Mary Jo Fisher both raised other matters, airing concerns that the NBN would never be privatised under the legislation and NBN Co might be engaged in mission creep if it is able to offer services directly to utilities as set out in one provision.
Arbib said the government rejected all of the Coalition's proposed amendments around these issues, stating that the proposals would "allow a future coalition government to sell off the NBN as soon as possible" and that removing the cherry-picking provisions as suggested would result in many communities only being able to get a "non-NBN" broadband service from a single vertically integrated provider.
Arbib also rejected the proposal to prevent NBN Co from offering services directly to utilities.
"Banning this, as the Coalition proposes, could inhibit the deployment of smart infrastructure," he said.
Govt to change NBN cherry-picking law
Sunday, March 20, 2011
USA - Merger of AT&T and T-Mobile (pre-empting a bid by Sprint) means only three big operators
[the economist] COULD this be the end of the line for T-Mobile USA? On March 20th AT&T, an American telecoms giant, launched an eye-watering $39 billion bid for its smaller competitor, which is owned by Germany's Deutsche Telekom.
If approved, the acquisition would leave America with only three sizeable operators in the wireless-telecom business: AT&T, Verizon and Sprint. For this reason, the deal is likely to meet stiff opposition from consumer groups and other telecoms firms, who worry that AT&T will use its extra muscle to crush competition further. A study by the General Accounting Office (GAO), an arm of Congress, found that America's four big wireless carriers already control 90% of the national market. Indeed, there had been much speculation that AT&T would buy a big company in a foreign market such as India rather than splash out at home, given the risks of a prolonged anti-trust investigation there. But rumours that Sprint was also sniffing around T-Mobile probably encouraged it to make its move.
AT&T bids for T-Mobile USA - A very big call
If approved, the acquisition would leave America with only three sizeable operators in the wireless-telecom business: AT&T, Verizon and Sprint. For this reason, the deal is likely to meet stiff opposition from consumer groups and other telecoms firms, who worry that AT&T will use its extra muscle to crush competition further. A study by the General Accounting Office (GAO), an arm of Congress, found that America's four big wireless carriers already control 90% of the national market. Indeed, there had been much speculation that AT&T would buy a big company in a foreign market such as India rather than splash out at home, given the risks of a prolonged anti-trust investigation there. But rumours that Sprint was also sniffing around T-Mobile probably encouraged it to make its move.
AT&T bids for T-Mobile USA - A very big call
USA - Proposed merger of T-Mobile and AT&T would have 130m customers and would be larger than Verizon
[the guardian] In what would be one of the biggest deals since the financial crisis broke, the US telecoms giant AT&T has agreed to buy T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom for $39bn (£24bn), creating the biggest mobile operator in the US.
The deal would bring together the second and third largest mobile groups in the US and will thus face intense regulatory scrutiny. If approved, the merger would shrink the number of major national wireless operators in the US to three from four.
Last May, telecoms regulator the Federal Communications Commission warned against growing concentration among mobile providers. The agency would have to approve the transfer of T-Mobile's spectrum licences to AT&T.
AT&T will pay $25bn in cash for T-Mobile USA and the rest in stock, giving T-Mobile's German parent an 8% stake in AT&T. The agreement has been approved by the boards of directors at both AT&T and Deutsche Telekom.
Together, AT&T and T-Mobile would have nearly 130m customers, about a third more than current market leader Verizon Wireless, a joint venture between the UK's Vodafone and Verizon. The combined firm would be more than twice the size of the third largest carrier, Sprint Nextel.
"This transaction represents a major commitment to strengthen and expand critical infrastructure for our nation's future," said Randall Stephenson, AT&T chairman and chief executive. "It delivers significant customer, shareowner and public benefits that are available at this level only from the combination of these two companies with complementary network technologies, spectrum positions and operations."
Deutsche Telekom chairman and chief executive René Obermann said: "After evaluating strategic options for T-Mobile USA, I am confident that AT&T is the best partner for our customers, shareholders and the mobile broadband ecosystem. Our common network technology makes this a logical combination and provides an efficient path to gaining the spectrum and network assets needed to provide T-Mobile customers with 4G LTE and the best devices. Also, the transaction returns significant value to Deutsche Telekom shareholders and allows us to retain exposure to the US market."
In a press release, AT&T set out the argument it is likely to take to the regulators in favour of a merger. The firm claims the US wireless industry is "one of the most fiercely competitive markets in the world and will remain so after this deal. The US is one of the few countries in the world where a large majority of consumers can choose from five or more wireless providers in their local market. For example, in 18 of the top 20 US local markets, there are five or more providers." AT&T also argued that jointly the firms would provide a better wireless broadband service to rural areas, an Obama administration priority.
The combined company is expected to earn back the price of the deal in the next three years as it makes more money from customers and reduces costs by closing retail outlets and cutting back office, technical and call centre staff.
AT&T and T-Mobile merger to create largest mobile provider in US
The deal would bring together the second and third largest mobile groups in the US and will thus face intense regulatory scrutiny. If approved, the merger would shrink the number of major national wireless operators in the US to three from four.
Last May, telecoms regulator the Federal Communications Commission warned against growing concentration among mobile providers. The agency would have to approve the transfer of T-Mobile's spectrum licences to AT&T.
AT&T will pay $25bn in cash for T-Mobile USA and the rest in stock, giving T-Mobile's German parent an 8% stake in AT&T. The agreement has been approved by the boards of directors at both AT&T and Deutsche Telekom.
Together, AT&T and T-Mobile would have nearly 130m customers, about a third more than current market leader Verizon Wireless, a joint venture between the UK's Vodafone and Verizon. The combined firm would be more than twice the size of the third largest carrier, Sprint Nextel.
"This transaction represents a major commitment to strengthen and expand critical infrastructure for our nation's future," said Randall Stephenson, AT&T chairman and chief executive. "It delivers significant customer, shareowner and public benefits that are available at this level only from the combination of these two companies with complementary network technologies, spectrum positions and operations."
Deutsche Telekom chairman and chief executive René Obermann said: "After evaluating strategic options for T-Mobile USA, I am confident that AT&T is the best partner for our customers, shareholders and the mobile broadband ecosystem. Our common network technology makes this a logical combination and provides an efficient path to gaining the spectrum and network assets needed to provide T-Mobile customers with 4G LTE and the best devices. Also, the transaction returns significant value to Deutsche Telekom shareholders and allows us to retain exposure to the US market."
In a press release, AT&T set out the argument it is likely to take to the regulators in favour of a merger. The firm claims the US wireless industry is "one of the most fiercely competitive markets in the world and will remain so after this deal. The US is one of the few countries in the world where a large majority of consumers can choose from five or more wireless providers in their local market. For example, in 18 of the top 20 US local markets, there are five or more providers." AT&T also argued that jointly the firms would provide a better wireless broadband service to rural areas, an Obama administration priority.
The combined company is expected to earn back the price of the deal in the next three years as it makes more money from customers and reduces costs by closing retail outlets and cutting back office, technical and call centre staff.
AT&T and T-Mobile merger to create largest mobile provider in US
Monday, March 14, 2011
UK - Rural broadband in England to have a STG 20 million fund to help reduce digital divide, especially in upland areas
[computer weekly] News that the government may be giving serious thought to a "last mile first" approach when it comes to spending public money on broadband projects emerged this week to a cautious response from industry.
The government, through the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) and Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK), is to set up a £20m fund for rural community broadband projects. The aim is to help end the digital and social divide faced by farmers, especially in upland areas.
Communications secretary Jeremy Hunt said the new fund would bring broadband to some of the most remote communities in England. "Remote and rural areas have the most to gain from access to broadband but these are the communities currently missing out," he said.
It is unclear who will disburse the money. BDUK, which is managing bids for the four rural pilot studies in Cumbria, North Yorkshire, Scotland and Hereford, has said it will work through local county councils and development agencies.
This is wise, according to Lloyd Fenson, director of County Broadband, a specialist community network supplier. "You'd have to question BDUK's ability to manage 3,000 rural broadband projects," he said.
Fenson added that local funders had to comply with strict standards before the money would come through. Projects had to show in detail how they fitted in with countrywide network schemes, who would benefit and what those benefits would be, plus lots of demographic and other detail.
"They don't have to do this for the whole county, but they do have to show how it fits in with the county plan," he said.
Some smaller network operators believe the procurement processes used by local authorities favours BT. They point to Cornwall, where BT was the only firm to submit a bid, and Lancashire, where bidders must prove £100m turnover to qualify.
Fenson said BT clearly had a role to play. "But is it the only one that should?" he asked.
He added that it would be helpful to know which street cabinets would not form part of BT's £2.5bn next-generation broadband roll-out. Firms such as his could then plan with a degree of confidence their ability to achieve a fair payback without having to compete with BT.
Chris Conder, who runs a fibre and wireless community network in rural Lancaster, said the money should be spent on an innovative scheme in a rural area to prove what could be done once and for all.
"If the £750,000 for the Lancaster RDPE pilot had not been appropriated by the county for an urban scheme we would already have a rural community network up and running," she said. "I fear this £20m will go the same way as all the rest - straight into the hands of funders who don't understand physics, who will hand it over to the incumbent telco in the same way that Cornwall and Lancashire are doing."
Conder said the UK was falling behind competitor countries because the authorities were falling for the "myth" that copper could deliver next-generation access to all.
She predicted that the shortcomings of copper would be self-evident in a few years. "By then, the JFDI brigade will have started to prove their point," she said, citing a new network in Salkeld in Cumbria that was copying the Ashby de la Launde model. "These little community networks are the shining jewels in the crown and will show that cabinets have no place in a future digital Britain. Fibre is the answer."
Guy Jarvis, who runs NextGenUs and is installing a 100Mbps fibre/wireless network in Salkeld, Cumbria, said, "If funding helps to further FTTH [fibre to the home] faster for the rural areas where copper won't cut it, then this is good news. If the promise of funding serves to delay matters, create uncertainty and generally chill and distort the market, then it's a bad idea."
Independent Network Communities Association CEO Malcolm Corbett said local communities had been setting up their own broadband networks for a long time, but faced huge cost and difficulty in getting backhaul connections.
He described the initiatives as a genuine Big Society response to the problem, which had often achieved great results with very little resource.
Corbett said the £20m was welcome but a small amount compared to the scale of the rural broadband problem. "We hope that this funding will not lead to community initiatives being excluded from larger-scale funding through BDUK's wider programme," he said.
http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2011/03/11/245850/Rural-broadband-fund-triggers-technology-tussle.htm">Rural broadband fund triggers technology tussle
The government, through the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) and Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK), is to set up a £20m fund for rural community broadband projects. The aim is to help end the digital and social divide faced by farmers, especially in upland areas.
Communications secretary Jeremy Hunt said the new fund would bring broadband to some of the most remote communities in England. "Remote and rural areas have the most to gain from access to broadband but these are the communities currently missing out," he said.
It is unclear who will disburse the money. BDUK, which is managing bids for the four rural pilot studies in Cumbria, North Yorkshire, Scotland and Hereford, has said it will work through local county councils and development agencies.
This is wise, according to Lloyd Fenson, director of County Broadband, a specialist community network supplier. "You'd have to question BDUK's ability to manage 3,000 rural broadband projects," he said.
Fenson added that local funders had to comply with strict standards before the money would come through. Projects had to show in detail how they fitted in with countrywide network schemes, who would benefit and what those benefits would be, plus lots of demographic and other detail.
"They don't have to do this for the whole county, but they do have to show how it fits in with the county plan," he said.
Some smaller network operators believe the procurement processes used by local authorities favours BT. They point to Cornwall, where BT was the only firm to submit a bid, and Lancashire, where bidders must prove £100m turnover to qualify.
Fenson said BT clearly had a role to play. "But is it the only one that should?" he asked.
He added that it would be helpful to know which street cabinets would not form part of BT's £2.5bn next-generation broadband roll-out. Firms such as his could then plan with a degree of confidence their ability to achieve a fair payback without having to compete with BT.
Chris Conder, who runs a fibre and wireless community network in rural Lancaster, said the money should be spent on an innovative scheme in a rural area to prove what could be done once and for all.
"If the £750,000 for the Lancaster RDPE pilot had not been appropriated by the county for an urban scheme we would already have a rural community network up and running," she said. "I fear this £20m will go the same way as all the rest - straight into the hands of funders who don't understand physics, who will hand it over to the incumbent telco in the same way that Cornwall and Lancashire are doing."
Conder said the UK was falling behind competitor countries because the authorities were falling for the "myth" that copper could deliver next-generation access to all.
She predicted that the shortcomings of copper would be self-evident in a few years. "By then, the JFDI brigade will have started to prove their point," she said, citing a new network in Salkeld in Cumbria that was copying the Ashby de la Launde model. "These little community networks are the shining jewels in the crown and will show that cabinets have no place in a future digital Britain. Fibre is the answer."
Guy Jarvis, who runs NextGenUs and is installing a 100Mbps fibre/wireless network in Salkeld, Cumbria, said, "If funding helps to further FTTH [fibre to the home] faster for the rural areas where copper won't cut it, then this is good news. If the promise of funding serves to delay matters, create uncertainty and generally chill and distort the market, then it's a bad idea."
Independent Network Communities Association CEO Malcolm Corbett said local communities had been setting up their own broadband networks for a long time, but faced huge cost and difficulty in getting backhaul connections.
He described the initiatives as a genuine Big Society response to the problem, which had often achieved great results with very little resource.
Corbett said the £20m was welcome but a small amount compared to the scale of the rural broadband problem. "We hope that this funding will not lead to community initiatives being excluded from larger-scale funding through BDUK's wider programme," he said.
http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2011/03/11/245850/Rural-broadband-fund-triggers-technology-tussle.htm">Rural broadband fund triggers technology tussle
Australia - Tasmanian business complain that the roll-out of the NBN has been bungled
[abc] Tasmania's main business lobby has attacked the rollout of the National Broadband Network (NBN) saying it has been bungled.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry has told a Federal Parliamentary inquiry sitting in Hobart that the NBN Co. is a secret society.
The chamber's Robert Wallace said the NBN had enormous potential for business and education but the rollout had been bungled.
Mr Wallace said the towns of Scottsdale, Smithton and Midway Point were chosen for the stage one rollout because they were in marginal seats.
He says super fast broadband has simply allowed people to download videos faster and that the uptake range would have been larger, and the opportunities maximised, if Hobart and Launceston had been connected first.
Mr Wallace told the inquiry the chamber has not had any contact with NBN Co. or Tas NBN in at least eight months because it is frustrated with what he says is a secret society.
Business slams 'bungled' broadband rollout
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry has told a Federal Parliamentary inquiry sitting in Hobart that the NBN Co. is a secret society.
The chamber's Robert Wallace said the NBN had enormous potential for business and education but the rollout had been bungled.
Mr Wallace said the towns of Scottsdale, Smithton and Midway Point were chosen for the stage one rollout because they were in marginal seats.
He says super fast broadband has simply allowed people to download videos faster and that the uptake range would have been larger, and the opportunities maximised, if Hobart and Launceston had been connected first.
Mr Wallace told the inquiry the chamber has not had any contact with NBN Co. or Tas NBN in at least eight months because it is frustrated with what he says is a secret society.
Business slams 'bungled' broadband rollout
UK - Claims that the Govt funds for broadband are insufficient for the purposes identified
[public service] Broadband has not been receiving enough money, despite another wave of funding from the Chancellor in early March, the Cloud Industry Forum has warned.
Andy Burton, who chairs the forum, said UK economic recovery would be impeded unless regional broadband coverage was improved.
He welcomed commitment and investment being made by the government but added that "the level of funding was insufficient to meet the legacy of need across the country".
Burton said small to medium sized businesses were being hampered by poor internet speeds, meaning that they could not take advantage of emerging technologies like cloud computing, ultimately hindering the UK's competitiveness.
"We cannot afford to give away our opportunity to thrive in a digital age by failing to provide the infrastructure that can harness our tremendous UK entrepreneurial capability," he said.
Burton added: "If as a nation we are going to grow out of our current financial crisis business up and down the land need to be able to operate, compete and create wealth and this can only effectively be done from a level playing field where internet connectivity is concerned."
The government has pledged to spend hundreds of millions on developing superfast broadband during the current spending review period.
£50m of this funding was allocated to "local people" and local authorities by Osborne on 4 March, with other broadband pilots announced earlier in October for North Yorkshire, Cumbria, Herefordshire and the Highlands and Islands. However, concern was expressed that despite the announced funding, no businesses or technologies have yet been chosen for the areas.
Government broadband funds 'insufficient'
See also Cloud Industry Forum
Andy Burton, who chairs the forum, said UK economic recovery would be impeded unless regional broadband coverage was improved.
He welcomed commitment and investment being made by the government but added that "the level of funding was insufficient to meet the legacy of need across the country".
Burton said small to medium sized businesses were being hampered by poor internet speeds, meaning that they could not take advantage of emerging technologies like cloud computing, ultimately hindering the UK's competitiveness.
"We cannot afford to give away our opportunity to thrive in a digital age by failing to provide the infrastructure that can harness our tremendous UK entrepreneurial capability," he said.
Burton added: "If as a nation we are going to grow out of our current financial crisis business up and down the land need to be able to operate, compete and create wealth and this can only effectively be done from a level playing field where internet connectivity is concerned."
The government has pledged to spend hundreds of millions on developing superfast broadband during the current spending review period.
£50m of this funding was allocated to "local people" and local authorities by Osborne on 4 March, with other broadband pilots announced earlier in October for North Yorkshire, Cumbria, Herefordshire and the Highlands and Islands. However, concern was expressed that despite the announced funding, no businesses or technologies have yet been chosen for the areas.
Government broadband funds 'insufficient'
See also Cloud Industry Forum
USA - Price of ultrafast broadband lags Hong Kong by a considerable margin - 1 Gbps for USD 26 per month
[broadcast engineering] When one looks at the speed and cost of broadband service in the United States, the companies providing it offer many excuses for the high subscription costs. By comparison, Hong Kong residents have astoundingly fast connections today at a very low cost.
The contrast is significant: Hong Kong Broadband Network last year introduced a new option for its fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) service that offers speeds of 1Gb/s for less than $26 a month.
The United States has nothing close to that. But, as The New York Times pointed out, Americans could have it. Verizon, the nation’s leading provider of FTTH service, doesn’t offer a gig, or even half that speed. Instead, it markets a “fastest” service that is 50Mb/s for download and 20Mb/s for upload at a price of $144.99 a month. That’s one-twentieth the speed of Hong Kong Broadband’s download service for more than five times the price.
Hong Kong Broadband is a wholly owned subsidiary of City Telecom and was willing to suffer seven years of losses while building out its fiber network before it turned profitable. Despite its low prices, Hong Kong Broadband now operates in the black.
Inexpensive pricing of gigabit broadband is also practical in American cities, however.
“This is an eminently replicable model,” Benoit Felten, a co-founder of Diffraction Analysis, a consulting business based in Paris, told the Times, “but not by someone who already owns a network, unless they’re willing to scrap the network.”
In the United States, costs would come down if several companies shared the financial burden of putting fiber into the ground and then competed on the basis of services built on top of the shared assets. That would bring multiple competitors into the picture and push down prices. But it would also require regulatory changes that the FCC has yet to approve.
Dane Jasper, the chief executive of Sonic.net, an Internet provider based in Santa Rosa, CA, said that most broadband markets in the United States today are dominated by a single phone company and a single cable company.
“Why doesn’t Verizon offer gigabit service?” Jasper asked. “Because it doesn’t have to.”
When asked about its lack of gigabit service, C. Lincoln Hoewing, Verizon’s assistant vice president for Internet and technology issues, said, “We already offer 150 megabits,” referring to a tier of fiber-based service that is marketed for $195 a month to small businesses in many of its markets. It “seems to be satisfying demand,” he added.
In a follow-up e-mail, a Verizon spokeswoman addressed the company’s lack of gigabit service by saying that it offers “speeds that exceed what customers can and do use.”
Uncompressed, broadcast-quality HD video, for example, uses 23Mb/s. But it is possible to imagine situations — for example, a doctor’s office consultation involving specialists scattered around the country, poring over the patient and her cerebral angiogram simultaneously — where multiple, two-way video feeds could demand a lot of bandwidth.
All parties would need the ultrafast connections. But that level of capacity seems distant because each party needed to make it happen, including customers, software developers and Internet providers, is waiting for the others to show up first.
Google and Sonic.net are preparing an experimental deployment of gigabit service to 850 faculty and staff homes in a Stanford University subdivision. Separately, Google plans to select one or several cities where it will offer gigabit service at what it calls “a competitive price” to at least 50,000, and potentially 500,000, people.
Hong Kong offers subscribers ultrafast broadband for less than $26/month; U.S. not even close
The contrast is significant: Hong Kong Broadband Network last year introduced a new option for its fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) service that offers speeds of 1Gb/s for less than $26 a month.
The United States has nothing close to that. But, as The New York Times pointed out, Americans could have it. Verizon, the nation’s leading provider of FTTH service, doesn’t offer a gig, or even half that speed. Instead, it markets a “fastest” service that is 50Mb/s for download and 20Mb/s for upload at a price of $144.99 a month. That’s one-twentieth the speed of Hong Kong Broadband’s download service for more than five times the price.
Hong Kong Broadband is a wholly owned subsidiary of City Telecom and was willing to suffer seven years of losses while building out its fiber network before it turned profitable. Despite its low prices, Hong Kong Broadband now operates in the black.
Inexpensive pricing of gigabit broadband is also practical in American cities, however.
“This is an eminently replicable model,” Benoit Felten, a co-founder of Diffraction Analysis, a consulting business based in Paris, told the Times, “but not by someone who already owns a network, unless they’re willing to scrap the network.”
In the United States, costs would come down if several companies shared the financial burden of putting fiber into the ground and then competed on the basis of services built on top of the shared assets. That would bring multiple competitors into the picture and push down prices. But it would also require regulatory changes that the FCC has yet to approve.
Dane Jasper, the chief executive of Sonic.net, an Internet provider based in Santa Rosa, CA, said that most broadband markets in the United States today are dominated by a single phone company and a single cable company.
“Why doesn’t Verizon offer gigabit service?” Jasper asked. “Because it doesn’t have to.”
When asked about its lack of gigabit service, C. Lincoln Hoewing, Verizon’s assistant vice president for Internet and technology issues, said, “We already offer 150 megabits,” referring to a tier of fiber-based service that is marketed for $195 a month to small businesses in many of its markets. It “seems to be satisfying demand,” he added.
In a follow-up e-mail, a Verizon spokeswoman addressed the company’s lack of gigabit service by saying that it offers “speeds that exceed what customers can and do use.”
Uncompressed, broadcast-quality HD video, for example, uses 23Mb/s. But it is possible to imagine situations — for example, a doctor’s office consultation involving specialists scattered around the country, poring over the patient and her cerebral angiogram simultaneously — where multiple, two-way video feeds could demand a lot of bandwidth.
All parties would need the ultrafast connections. But that level of capacity seems distant because each party needed to make it happen, including customers, software developers and Internet providers, is waiting for the others to show up first.
Google and Sonic.net are preparing an experimental deployment of gigabit service to 850 faculty and staff homes in a Stanford University subdivision. Separately, Google plans to select one or several cities where it will offer gigabit service at what it calls “a competitive price” to at least 50,000, and potentially 500,000, people.
Hong Kong offers subscribers ultrafast broadband for less than $26/month; U.S. not even close
USA - Smaller mobile operators have called on the regulator to settle national roaming rules, including data roaming
[daily tech dose] Smaller wireless companies called on the Federal Communications Commission Thursday to hurry up and update the nation's wireless roaming rules to include data services to reflect the growing use of mobile phones for far more than just voice communications.
They want the FCC to act on a rule that would ensure their customers can access data networks operated by other providers when outside their own network area at fair rates and terms. Companies such as Cricket Communications, Sprint and T-Mobile held a news conference to call on the FCC to include a proposed rule mandating data roaming on its April agenda.
"Regarding data roaming, there is no question that there is a severe market failure," Rural Telecommunications Group General Counsel Carri Bennet, whose group represents small wireless operators, said in a statement.
She said the rule is needed to help meet the Obama administration's goal of ensuring 98 percent of Americans have access to wireless broadband in five years. "RTG's members are willing to move forward with such deployments, provided they can assure their rural consumers that their devices will be able to access data networks outside of their rural areas on fair and equitable terms, Bennet said. "Without these data roaming agreements or assurances that these data roaming agreements will be forthcoming, President Obama's vision will not be realized."
The firms argue that AT&T and Verizon Wireless, the nation's biggest wireless providers, currently have a duopoly in providing nationwide service and that the FCC needs to step in with rules to help ensure that as they migrate to new technologies, customers of other providers can access those networks when needed. Tom Sugrue with T-Mobile argued that his firm and others "are asking for the FCC to help when we can't reach agreements on roaming."
"The current FCC roaming regulatory regime ... is still rooted in the legacy circuit switched voice environment," Sprint Vice President of Government Affairs Charles McKee said in a filing last week with the FCC. "If the commission fails to update its roaming policy and adopt a data roaming obligation that reflects this fundamental shift in the mobile marketplace, its current framework may not only become irrelevant, but may actually impede IP broadband deployment and innovation."
If the FCC fails to move forward with its rule, Bennet suggested that smaller wireless operators may need to appeal to lawmakers to act or to the Justice Department, to examine whether Verizon and AT&T are engaged in anti-competitive practices.
They've already gotten the help of some lawmakers in prodding the FCC to move forward on data roaming rules. In a letter last month to the FCC, Senate Appropriations ranking member Thad Cochran, R-Miss., noted the success of the FCC's voice roaming rules in ensuring consumers have mobile access throughout the country.
"It is now important that the FCC implement policies which would guarantee the same reliable roaming coverage with regard to data services," Cochran wrote. "Americans currently use voice and data services interchangeably, and citizens may experience critical interruption in business and personal communications when data roaming is unavailable."
In a filing Monday with the FCC, Verizon argued that "market forces" are working and those firms arguing for commission action have yet to show a "market failure exists."
"Market forces continue to work to ensure that carriers that want data roaming agreements, including data roaming agreements for broadband services, are able to enter into such agreements," Verizon said in its filing.
Wireless Carriers Call On FCC To Act On Data Roaming Mandate
They want the FCC to act on a rule that would ensure their customers can access data networks operated by other providers when outside their own network area at fair rates and terms. Companies such as Cricket Communications, Sprint and T-Mobile held a news conference to call on the FCC to include a proposed rule mandating data roaming on its April agenda.
"Regarding data roaming, there is no question that there is a severe market failure," Rural Telecommunications Group General Counsel Carri Bennet, whose group represents small wireless operators, said in a statement.
She said the rule is needed to help meet the Obama administration's goal of ensuring 98 percent of Americans have access to wireless broadband in five years. "RTG's members are willing to move forward with such deployments, provided they can assure their rural consumers that their devices will be able to access data networks outside of their rural areas on fair and equitable terms, Bennet said. "Without these data roaming agreements or assurances that these data roaming agreements will be forthcoming, President Obama's vision will not be realized."
The firms argue that AT&T and Verizon Wireless, the nation's biggest wireless providers, currently have a duopoly in providing nationwide service and that the FCC needs to step in with rules to help ensure that as they migrate to new technologies, customers of other providers can access those networks when needed. Tom Sugrue with T-Mobile argued that his firm and others "are asking for the FCC to help when we can't reach agreements on roaming."
"The current FCC roaming regulatory regime ... is still rooted in the legacy circuit switched voice environment," Sprint Vice President of Government Affairs Charles McKee said in a filing last week with the FCC. "If the commission fails to update its roaming policy and adopt a data roaming obligation that reflects this fundamental shift in the mobile marketplace, its current framework may not only become irrelevant, but may actually impede IP broadband deployment and innovation."
If the FCC fails to move forward with its rule, Bennet suggested that smaller wireless operators may need to appeal to lawmakers to act or to the Justice Department, to examine whether Verizon and AT&T are engaged in anti-competitive practices.
They've already gotten the help of some lawmakers in prodding the FCC to move forward on data roaming rules. In a letter last month to the FCC, Senate Appropriations ranking member Thad Cochran, R-Miss., noted the success of the FCC's voice roaming rules in ensuring consumers have mobile access throughout the country.
"It is now important that the FCC implement policies which would guarantee the same reliable roaming coverage with regard to data services," Cochran wrote. "Americans currently use voice and data services interchangeably, and citizens may experience critical interruption in business and personal communications when data roaming is unavailable."
In a filing Monday with the FCC, Verizon argued that "market forces" are working and those firms arguing for commission action have yet to show a "market failure exists."
"Market forces continue to work to ensure that carriers that want data roaming agreements, including data roaming agreements for broadband services, are able to enter into such agreements," Verizon said in its filing.
Wireless Carriers Call On FCC To Act On Data Roaming Mandate
New Zealand - More backhaul links used for unbundled local loops are designated competitive
[commerce commission] The Commerce Commission today announced that 88 unbundled copper local loop (UCLL) backhaul links are now competitive. The decision is a result of a review by the Commission into whether Telecom faces competition in providing this service.
“The number of competitive links has increased because of UCLL unbundling and the consequent deployment of backhaul links by alternate providers,” said Dr Ross Patterson, Telecommunications Commissioner. “The Commission has also concluded that TelstraClear provides a competitive constraint on Telecom on all links where it has fibre cables within 2kms of a Telecom exchange,” said Dr Patterson.
Backhaul services provide Telecom’s competitors with access to transmission capacity on specific routes between Telecom's local exchanges and the competitors’ networks. This allows competitors to provide communication services, such as voice and broadband to households, without having to replicate Telecom’s network. Where the Commission finds that a link is competitive, the terms of the UCLL backhaul standard terms determination (STD) will not apply. By contrast, where Telecom is found to face limited competition on a link, the terms of the UCLL backhaul STD will apply.
As part of the review, the Commission considered whether the lack of the ability to aggregate backhaul for multiple providers is preventing competition from developing in the UCLL backhaul markets. “The Commission concluded that Chorus’s recently launched commercial co-location offer does not restrict competition from developing in backhaul markets,” said Dr Patterson.
More UCLL backhaul links are competitive, says Commerce Commission
“The number of competitive links has increased because of UCLL unbundling and the consequent deployment of backhaul links by alternate providers,” said Dr Ross Patterson, Telecommunications Commissioner. “The Commission has also concluded that TelstraClear provides a competitive constraint on Telecom on all links where it has fibre cables within 2kms of a Telecom exchange,” said Dr Patterson.
Backhaul services provide Telecom’s competitors with access to transmission capacity on specific routes between Telecom's local exchanges and the competitors’ networks. This allows competitors to provide communication services, such as voice and broadband to households, without having to replicate Telecom’s network. Where the Commission finds that a link is competitive, the terms of the UCLL backhaul standard terms determination (STD) will not apply. By contrast, where Telecom is found to face limited competition on a link, the terms of the UCLL backhaul STD will apply.
As part of the review, the Commission considered whether the lack of the ability to aggregate backhaul for multiple providers is preventing competition from developing in the UCLL backhaul markets. “The Commission concluded that Chorus’s recently launched commercial co-location offer does not restrict competition from developing in backhaul markets,” said Dr Patterson.
More UCLL backhaul links are competitive, says Commerce Commission
France - Competition authority invites regulator to add functional separation to its toolkit
he Autorité de la concurrence recommends that sector-specific regulatory obligations of the incumbent operator regarding broadband access in urban areas be reduced.
The Autorité also invites the French Telecommunications and Posts Regulator (Arcep) to begin preparatory work related to the implementation of a new tool: a possible functional unbundling of monopolistic activities from competitive activities
> Version française
The Autorité issues today an opinion on a project of regulatory mechanism issued by the French Telecommunications and Posts Regulator (Arcep) regarding the wholesale broadband market and the regulation of next generation access networks (NGA) for 2011-2014, in the frame of its third round market analysis1.
The success of broadband access regulation, welcomed by the Autorité, justifies reducing some obligations imposed to France Télécom
Unbundled access to the local loop in the fixed public telephone network2, imposed by a sector-specific regulation, constitutes the main means for new entrants to enter the market of broadband internet access. It fostered the development of innovative offers (triple play) at a competitive price for consumers. With regard to the dynamic of its broadband market, France is often cited as a model. In the densest areas, alternative operators' (Free, SFR) market shares are closed to the incumbent operator's (Orange) on the residential retail market and alternative operators also dominate the wholesale market, which allows new operators to commercialize offers on the retail market.
In these dense areas, where competition is now effective, the Autorité considers that the ex-ante regulation, which closely monitor France Télécom on the wholesale broadband market, should be lighter and give place to common competition law enforcement. Nevertheless, sustained regulation remains necessary in less densely populated areas and on the business segment, where the incumbent operator still holds strong positions.
The Autorité suggests introducing a mid-term clause (in 18 months) to review the efficiency of the regulatory framework regarding the deployment of fibre network
Looking forward, the metallic pair circuit of France Télécom's public telephone network will be replaced by new fibre networks connected to the consumer's premises that will provide very high speed broadband services. The conditions, in which these new networks will be rolled out, as well as their competitive environment, will be crucial regarding the future of the sector.
The Telecommunications and Posts Regulator (Arcep) is fulfilling its role when seeking a balance between economic incentives to invest in fibre infrastructures and the obligations imposed to investors3. This balance, at this stage focused on facility-based competition, must be monitored on a regular basis. A mid-term clause in 18 months (at the mid-term of the market analysis) would be necessary to monitor the efficiency of this regulatory framework. When a lack of investment by the operators in networks would be established, or when the choice offered to the final consumer would appear to be too limited, regulation could be adapted to foster service-based competition: the obligation to provide wholesale broadband access on fibre networks could cover a broader scope as today.
Moreover, the Autorité welcomes Arcep's proposals to increase bandwidth in rural areas
The longest public telephone lines, most of the time located in rural and peri-urban areas, offer a limited bandwidth. Therefore, some local authorities are considering financing the upgrade of France Télécom's network. In an opinion issued at the request of Arcep (Opinion 09 A 574), the Autorité underlined in December 2009 a range of risks that could derive from such operations : less active competition due to a decrease of local loop unbundling in these areas ; distortion of competition during the tendering processes for such public projects, due to the specific position of France Télécom on the telephone network; possible exclusion of these geographic areas from any future high speed broadband access, through discouraging new investments in fibre network.
The Autorité welcomes that Arcep has taken into account these worries. Indeed, in its proposals, Arcep intends to give local authorities the possibility to rapidly increase bandwidth in their geographical areas without hindering a competition that consumers strongly support. The scheme proposed by Arcep should in principle address the competitive worries identified by the Autorité.
The Autorité considers that, in any case, the upgrade of the fixed public telecom network is only one available tool among others to increase bandwidth. When it is viable, the roll out of a new fibre local loop remains the best solution regarding technological aspects and competition.
Functional separation of France Télécom is henceforth part of the telecommunications regulator's “toolbox”
Arcep will soon be empowered to impose to the incumbent operator a functional unbundling of monopolistic activities and competitive ones. Such measure, already existing in most of the other regulated network industries, can strongly secure the well functioning of markets and limit the regulatory burden over the regulated operator. It would be premature to tell whether such a tool has to be used or not in the electronic communications sector and the Autorité invites Arcep to begin the preparatory work related to its possible use.
Broadband and next generation access networks
The Autorité also invites the French Telecommunications and Posts Regulator (Arcep) to begin preparatory work related to the implementation of a new tool: a possible functional unbundling of monopolistic activities from competitive activities
> Version française
The Autorité issues today an opinion on a project of regulatory mechanism issued by the French Telecommunications and Posts Regulator (Arcep) regarding the wholesale broadband market and the regulation of next generation access networks (NGA) for 2011-2014, in the frame of its third round market analysis1.
The success of broadband access regulation, welcomed by the Autorité, justifies reducing some obligations imposed to France Télécom
Unbundled access to the local loop in the fixed public telephone network2, imposed by a sector-specific regulation, constitutes the main means for new entrants to enter the market of broadband internet access. It fostered the development of innovative offers (triple play) at a competitive price for consumers. With regard to the dynamic of its broadband market, France is often cited as a model. In the densest areas, alternative operators' (Free, SFR) market shares are closed to the incumbent operator's (Orange) on the residential retail market and alternative operators also dominate the wholesale market, which allows new operators to commercialize offers on the retail market.
In these dense areas, where competition is now effective, the Autorité considers that the ex-ante regulation, which closely monitor France Télécom on the wholesale broadband market, should be lighter and give place to common competition law enforcement. Nevertheless, sustained regulation remains necessary in less densely populated areas and on the business segment, where the incumbent operator still holds strong positions.
The Autorité suggests introducing a mid-term clause (in 18 months) to review the efficiency of the regulatory framework regarding the deployment of fibre network
Looking forward, the metallic pair circuit of France Télécom's public telephone network will be replaced by new fibre networks connected to the consumer's premises that will provide very high speed broadband services. The conditions, in which these new networks will be rolled out, as well as their competitive environment, will be crucial regarding the future of the sector.
The Telecommunications and Posts Regulator (Arcep) is fulfilling its role when seeking a balance between economic incentives to invest in fibre infrastructures and the obligations imposed to investors3. This balance, at this stage focused on facility-based competition, must be monitored on a regular basis. A mid-term clause in 18 months (at the mid-term of the market analysis) would be necessary to monitor the efficiency of this regulatory framework. When a lack of investment by the operators in networks would be established, or when the choice offered to the final consumer would appear to be too limited, regulation could be adapted to foster service-based competition: the obligation to provide wholesale broadband access on fibre networks could cover a broader scope as today.
Moreover, the Autorité welcomes Arcep's proposals to increase bandwidth in rural areas
The longest public telephone lines, most of the time located in rural and peri-urban areas, offer a limited bandwidth. Therefore, some local authorities are considering financing the upgrade of France Télécom's network. In an opinion issued at the request of Arcep (Opinion 09 A 574), the Autorité underlined in December 2009 a range of risks that could derive from such operations : less active competition due to a decrease of local loop unbundling in these areas ; distortion of competition during the tendering processes for such public projects, due to the specific position of France Télécom on the telephone network; possible exclusion of these geographic areas from any future high speed broadband access, through discouraging new investments in fibre network.
The Autorité welcomes that Arcep has taken into account these worries. Indeed, in its proposals, Arcep intends to give local authorities the possibility to rapidly increase bandwidth in their geographical areas without hindering a competition that consumers strongly support. The scheme proposed by Arcep should in principle address the competitive worries identified by the Autorité.
The Autorité considers that, in any case, the upgrade of the fixed public telecom network is only one available tool among others to increase bandwidth. When it is viable, the roll out of a new fibre local loop remains the best solution regarding technological aspects and competition.
Functional separation of France Télécom is henceforth part of the telecommunications regulator's “toolbox”
Arcep will soon be empowered to impose to the incumbent operator a functional unbundling of monopolistic activities and competitive ones. Such measure, already existing in most of the other regulated network industries, can strongly secure the well functioning of markets and limit the regulatory burden over the regulated operator. It would be premature to tell whether such a tool has to be used or not in the electronic communications sector and the Autorité invites Arcep to begin the preparatory work related to its possible use.
Broadband and next generation access networks
China - trans-Pacific links were quickly restored after the earthquake despite the large volumes involved
[xinhua] China's international communication connections have mostly resumed after a massive 9.0-magnitude earthquake jolted Japan, damaging undersea cables, the country's telecommunications operators said Monday.
China Telecom, China's largest fixed-line telecommunications service provider by user number, said by Monday, the company had restored 65 gigabytes of outbound circuits which were out of order after the the devastating quake took place Friday afternoon.
The company previously said the quake had damaged submarine cables in Japanese waters near the Ibaraki Prefecture, causing disruption in its 105 gigabytes of internet circuits and 7 gigabytes of privately leased circuits, which led to a speed drop when accessing to North American websites.
China Unicom, the country's second-largest mobile operator after China Mobile, said that, except for a connection to the network of Japan's NTT Communications (NTT Com), most circuits had been repaired and are operating at pre-quake levels.
A spokesman with the China Mobile said Monday that despite a surge in number of calls to Japan, most of the company's services are operating in a normal condition.
A massive 9.0-magnitude earthquake and ensuing tsunami hit Japan last Friday, causing widespread destruction.
China's int'l telecommunication connection recovered after Japan quake
China Telecom, China's largest fixed-line telecommunications service provider by user number, said by Monday, the company had restored 65 gigabytes of outbound circuits which were out of order after the the devastating quake took place Friday afternoon.
The company previously said the quake had damaged submarine cables in Japanese waters near the Ibaraki Prefecture, causing disruption in its 105 gigabytes of internet circuits and 7 gigabytes of privately leased circuits, which led to a speed drop when accessing to North American websites.
China Unicom, the country's second-largest mobile operator after China Mobile, said that, except for a connection to the network of Japan's NTT Communications (NTT Com), most circuits had been repaired and are operating at pre-quake levels.
A spokesman with the China Mobile said Monday that despite a surge in number of calls to Japan, most of the company's services are operating in a normal condition.
A massive 9.0-magnitude earthquake and ensuing tsunami hit Japan last Friday, causing widespread destruction.
China's int'l telecommunication connection recovered after Japan quake
Africa - Afinis created to serve multi-national corporations in Africa by Moncao and Cable & Wireless
[invest cote d'azur] Afinis Communications has been created through the combination of Divona and Connecteo, two African telecoms businesses owned and operated by Monaco Telecom, transformed to focus solely on serving the growing telecom needs of Africa’s largest businesses.
Operating from 8 local offices across the continent, Afinis Communications will offer African businesses highly resilient satellite and fibre-optic network communications services, from secure Internet Services to fully managed network solutions over VSAT and MPLS technologies.
These services are available from major business centres across Africa, but also remotely through tailored satellite solutions anywhere where suitable to Africa’s growing natural resources industry.
African enterprise data market is worth US 2.5billion and is expecting to record double digit growth in the next five years to reach US 4 billion in 2015*. Afinis Communications will support increasingly sophisticated requirements of pan-African companies who have been competing and rapidly expanding in Africa and extending their international footprint.
Monaco Telecom and Cable & Wireless Communications announce the launch of Afinis Communications
Operating from 8 local offices across the continent, Afinis Communications will offer African businesses highly resilient satellite and fibre-optic network communications services, from secure Internet Services to fully managed network solutions over VSAT and MPLS technologies.
These services are available from major business centres across Africa, but also remotely through tailored satellite solutions anywhere where suitable to Africa’s growing natural resources industry.
African enterprise data market is worth US 2.5billion and is expecting to record double digit growth in the next five years to reach US 4 billion in 2015*. Afinis Communications will support increasingly sophisticated requirements of pan-African companies who have been competing and rapidly expanding in Africa and extending their international footprint.
Monaco Telecom and Cable & Wireless Communications announce the launch of Afinis Communications
Egypt - Broadband is forecast to be the revenue driver after the revolution
[it news africa] Egypt’s broadband development could be key to revenue generation of the the country’s telecommunications sector, a new report published by Pyramid Research stated. It said that with the post-revolution atmosphere possibly bringing about a more stable country, it could “nurture market growth.”
The Egyptian telecom sector generated $6.4 billion in revenue last year and has grown by nearly 25 percent in the past two years, the consultancy company said.
“While this period represents the peak growth phase … the country will remain one of the fastest growing markets in Africa and the Middle East going forward.”
It said this is mainly due to the increase of mobile phone usage in Egypt and the infrastructure development of the Internet, including mobile television and banking.
”As a result of the recent political instability that led to the overthrow of President Mubarak’s regime, telecom use increased and was heavily utilized to gather the masses,” said Pyramid Senior Analyst Hussam Barhoush in a statement.
“The interim military rulers have promised elections and a return to civilian rule in September,” he continues. “It is therefore critical that the upcoming elections bring to power a strong government prepared to implement economic and policy reforms that lead to market liberalization, increased competition and strong growth.”
According to Pyramid’s report, mobile penetration has increased from 23 percent in 2006 to nearly 80 percent by the end of last year and the consultancy sees it expanding to over 100 percent by the end of 2015.
Egypt: Broadband optimism on the rise
The Egyptian telecom sector generated $6.4 billion in revenue last year and has grown by nearly 25 percent in the past two years, the consultancy company said.
“While this period represents the peak growth phase … the country will remain one of the fastest growing markets in Africa and the Middle East going forward.”
It said this is mainly due to the increase of mobile phone usage in Egypt and the infrastructure development of the Internet, including mobile television and banking.
”As a result of the recent political instability that led to the overthrow of President Mubarak’s regime, telecom use increased and was heavily utilized to gather the masses,” said Pyramid Senior Analyst Hussam Barhoush in a statement.
“The interim military rulers have promised elections and a return to civilian rule in September,” he continues. “It is therefore critical that the upcoming elections bring to power a strong government prepared to implement economic and policy reforms that lead to market liberalization, increased competition and strong growth.”
According to Pyramid’s report, mobile penetration has increased from 23 percent in 2006 to nearly 80 percent by the end of last year and the consultancy sees it expanding to over 100 percent by the end of 2015.
Egypt: Broadband optimism on the rise
India - McKinsey asks whether the country can be a leader in the mobile Internet, despite lagging China
[mckinsey quarterly] Almost 1,500 years ago, Indian mathematicians, including Aryabhata, Brahmagupta, and Pingala, transformed mathematics by conceiving the rules of the binary numeral system. While those rules today lie at the heart of the code powering the Internet, India has relatively few Internet users: just 7 percent of its population is connected to the Web, compared with 32 percent in China and 77 percent in the United States.
Yet India has an opportunity to lead the world once again by becoming the first truly mobile digital society. All the elements are in place: the cost of network access and handsets is going down, wireless networks are going up, and Indian consumers already display an insatiable appetite for digital services. In addition, bypassing the personal computer—moving straight to widespread mobile access—simply makes sense. It would sidestep a host of hurdles associated with delivering affordable Internet services to a population that is geographically dispersed and relatively poor, in a country where infrastructure development can be problematic.
Can India actually transform itself from an Internet laggard into a world leader? The trail the country would blaze could serve as a model for other developing markets. But much depends on whether India can rediscover its revolutionary spirit and garner unprecedented cooperation and commitment from both the private and public sectors.
Can India lead the mobile-Internet revolution?
Yet India has an opportunity to lead the world once again by becoming the first truly mobile digital society. All the elements are in place: the cost of network access and handsets is going down, wireless networks are going up, and Indian consumers already display an insatiable appetite for digital services. In addition, bypassing the personal computer—moving straight to widespread mobile access—simply makes sense. It would sidestep a host of hurdles associated with delivering affordable Internet services to a population that is geographically dispersed and relatively poor, in a country where infrastructure development can be problematic.
Can India actually transform itself from an Internet laggard into a world leader? The trail the country would blaze could serve as a model for other developing markets. But much depends on whether India can rediscover its revolutionary spirit and garner unprecedented cooperation and commitment from both the private and public sectors.
Can India lead the mobile-Internet revolution?
USA - Senate Cttee will study antitrust and consumer issues of search engines and broadband markets
[pc world] A U.S. Senate subcommittee focused on antitrust and consumer-protection issues will investigate competition in the search-engine and broadband markets over the next two years, the subcommittee chairman announced.
Senator Herb Kohl, a Wisconsin Democrat, listed search and broadband competition among the top issues that the antitrust subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary will explore between now and the end of 2012.
"Millions of consumers rely every day on competitive markets to keep prices low, and quality of goods and services high," Kohl, the subcommittee's chairman, said in a statement this week. "On the antitrust subcommittee we have found, in industry after industry, that the best way to ensure full and fair competition is through the vigorous enforcement of antitrust law. We will continue to work on the subcommittee to ensure that antitrust law is strongly applied."
Kohl's focus on search-engine competition comes after complaints from some websites about the fairness of Google rankings. Kohl has also questioned the search-engine giant's recent acquisitions, including a planned purchase of travel and airline vendor ITA Software. In December, Kohl urged the U.S. Department of Justice to carefully review the ITA acquisition.
"Participants in the on-line travel industry are concerned that Google could refuse to make the key components of ITA software available on reasonable terms to other online travel industry participants by raising the price for a renewed license or refusing to license improvements to the software," Kohl wrote to the DOJ. "As a result, consumers would suffer harm if there is less price transparency from competing air travel search providers, which would harm consumers' ability to obtain the lowest airfares."
The antitrust subcommittee will focus on Google acquisitions and on general competition in the search industry, Kohl said in a press release.
"As the Internet continues to grow in importance to the national economy, businesses and consumers, the subcommittee will strive to ensure that this sector remains competitive, that Internet search is fair to its users and customers, advertisers have sufficient choices, and that consumers' privacy is guarded," he said in the press release. "We will closely examine allegations raised by e-commerce websites that compete with Google that they are being treated unfairly in search ranking, and in their ability to purchase search advertising."
A Google spokesman declined to comment on Kohl's agenda. The subcommittee has not scheduled hearings on search competition.
Senator Michael Lee of Utah, the ranking Republican on the antitrust subcommittee, called for hearings on Google's dominance in the search market. "The powerful position Google occupies in the general search arena creates myriad opportunities for anticompetitive behavior," Lee said in a letter to Kohl released Friday.
Google's access to personal data through products such as Gmail and Google Checkout also raises privacy concerns, Lee said.
"Google's powerful position as an Internet gatekeeper reduces the company's incentive to compete with other search engines by providing enhanced privacy protection for consumers," Lee said.
In the broadband industry, the subcommittee will look into the link between competition and net neutrality, Kohl said.
"Maintaining competitive choices in this industry is crucial to consumers and the health of the national economy," he said in the press release. "We will also examine the issue of network neutrality principles and monitor whether consumers continue to have the freedom to access the internet content they wish without interference from their Internet service provider."
Other priorities for the subcommittee include competition in the cable and satellite TV industries, the airline industry and the pharmaceutical industry, Kohl said.
Grant Gross covers technology and telecom policy in the U.S. government for The IDG News Service. Follow Grant on Twitter at GrantGross. Grant's e-mail address is grant_gross@idg.com.
See more like this: search, broadband, web legal issues
Antitrust Subcommittee to Investigate Search, Broadband
Senator Herb Kohl, a Wisconsin Democrat, listed search and broadband competition among the top issues that the antitrust subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary will explore between now and the end of 2012.
"Millions of consumers rely every day on competitive markets to keep prices low, and quality of goods and services high," Kohl, the subcommittee's chairman, said in a statement this week. "On the antitrust subcommittee we have found, in industry after industry, that the best way to ensure full and fair competition is through the vigorous enforcement of antitrust law. We will continue to work on the subcommittee to ensure that antitrust law is strongly applied."
Kohl's focus on search-engine competition comes after complaints from some websites about the fairness of Google rankings. Kohl has also questioned the search-engine giant's recent acquisitions, including a planned purchase of travel and airline vendor ITA Software. In December, Kohl urged the U.S. Department of Justice to carefully review the ITA acquisition.
"Participants in the on-line travel industry are concerned that Google could refuse to make the key components of ITA software available on reasonable terms to other online travel industry participants by raising the price for a renewed license or refusing to license improvements to the software," Kohl wrote to the DOJ. "As a result, consumers would suffer harm if there is less price transparency from competing air travel search providers, which would harm consumers' ability to obtain the lowest airfares."
The antitrust subcommittee will focus on Google acquisitions and on general competition in the search industry, Kohl said in a press release.
"As the Internet continues to grow in importance to the national economy, businesses and consumers, the subcommittee will strive to ensure that this sector remains competitive, that Internet search is fair to its users and customers, advertisers have sufficient choices, and that consumers' privacy is guarded," he said in the press release. "We will closely examine allegations raised by e-commerce websites that compete with Google that they are being treated unfairly in search ranking, and in their ability to purchase search advertising."
A Google spokesman declined to comment on Kohl's agenda. The subcommittee has not scheduled hearings on search competition.
Senator Michael Lee of Utah, the ranking Republican on the antitrust subcommittee, called for hearings on Google's dominance in the search market. "The powerful position Google occupies in the general search arena creates myriad opportunities for anticompetitive behavior," Lee said in a letter to Kohl released Friday.
Google's access to personal data through products such as Gmail and Google Checkout also raises privacy concerns, Lee said.
"Google's powerful position as an Internet gatekeeper reduces the company's incentive to compete with other search engines by providing enhanced privacy protection for consumers," Lee said.
In the broadband industry, the subcommittee will look into the link between competition and net neutrality, Kohl said.
"Maintaining competitive choices in this industry is crucial to consumers and the health of the national economy," he said in the press release. "We will also examine the issue of network neutrality principles and monitor whether consumers continue to have the freedom to access the internet content they wish without interference from their Internet service provider."
Other priorities for the subcommittee include competition in the cable and satellite TV industries, the airline industry and the pharmaceutical industry, Kohl said.
Grant Gross covers technology and telecom policy in the U.S. government for The IDG News Service. Follow Grant on Twitter at GrantGross. Grant's e-mail address is grant_gross@idg.com.
See more like this: search, broadband, web legal issues
Antitrust Subcommittee to Investigate Search, Broadband
UK - ISPs have agreed a code of practice on transparency of traffic management or net neutrality
[think broadband] Some of the UK's major ISPs have agreed on a voluntary code of practice (COP) for transparency on traffic management on broadband services. The code has been put together by the Broadband Stakeholder Group in collaboration with BT, O2, Sky, TalkTalk, Three, Virgin Media and Vodafone to try and clarify for end users what traffic management is in place, and the affects this will have on a users broadband connection.
Traffic management has previously been hidden within cloudy phrases, with some providers not owning up to the practice being in use, or not explaining how their system actually works. The code being introduced tries to standardise how information is made available to users with ISPs enrolled expected to publicise this by June 2011.
The code will require providers to provide some specific information to consumers:
a description of traffic management practices
how traffic management may affect the internet experienced for different types of traffic
any changes made to traffic management policies which could have a significant affect on a broadband product
details of usage caps or upload/download limits
ISPs shall also have good practice principles on transparency that will be:
Understandable - ISPs will use non-technical language that consumers can understand to describe traffic management.
Appropriate - ISPs will ensure that the details included are adequate to meet the needs of different consumers. This would allow basic headline information to be displayed as well as more detailed info for consumers.
Accessible - ISPs will make the information easy to find and access.
Current - Any changes with a significant impact will be notified to customers as quickly as possible. ISPs will endeavour to offer real-time information where appropriate and practicable.
Comparable - Information will be made available in a consistent, comparable way with a key indicator table to summarise that traffic management details used on the broadband products marketed.
Verifiable - ISPs will support an independent assessment of their policies to give consumers assurance that information provided is robust.
ISPs agree voluntary code of practice on traffic management
Traffic management has previously been hidden within cloudy phrases, with some providers not owning up to the practice being in use, or not explaining how their system actually works. The code being introduced tries to standardise how information is made available to users with ISPs enrolled expected to publicise this by June 2011.
The code will require providers to provide some specific information to consumers:
a description of traffic management practices
how traffic management may affect the internet experienced for different types of traffic
any changes made to traffic management policies which could have a significant affect on a broadband product
details of usage caps or upload/download limits
ISPs shall also have good practice principles on transparency that will be:
Understandable - ISPs will use non-technical language that consumers can understand to describe traffic management.
Appropriate - ISPs will ensure that the details included are adequate to meet the needs of different consumers. This would allow basic headline information to be displayed as well as more detailed info for consumers.
Accessible - ISPs will make the information easy to find and access.
Current - Any changes with a significant impact will be notified to customers as quickly as possible. ISPs will endeavour to offer real-time information where appropriate and practicable.
Comparable - Information will be made available in a consistent, comparable way with a key indicator table to summarise that traffic management details used on the broadband products marketed.
Verifiable - ISPs will support an independent assessment of their policies to give consumers assurance that information provided is robust.
ISPs agree voluntary code of practice on traffic management
India - Airtel launched TV over broadband for INR 99 per month incl. VOD and movie channels
[economic times] Telecom major Bharti airtel today announced the launch of its 'airtel broadband TV', which will allow its broadband users to watch live TV on their computers for a monthly rental of Rs 99.
With the service, airtel broadband subscribers will be able to access 28 Live TV channels including UTV Bindass, UTV Movies, Bloomberg UTV, TLC, Animal Planet, all Discovery channels, Sakshi TV, Live India and Tarang Music.
"This initiative is part of our commitment to offer enhanced broadband experience to our customers. We will soon add more content under news, soap and infotainment categories," Bharti airtel Chief Marketing Officer Telemedia Services Girish Mehta told PTI.
The company also plans to offer 19 Video-on-demand (VOD) channels and 12 movies channels as per the chosen subscription plan.
The service will work on Wi-Fi networks as well, Mehta added.
Airtel, which has about 1.3 million broadband users in India, will introduce three monthly subscription plans -- Gold Pack with all Live and VOD channels and movies for Rs 99, Night Pack (all channels and movies from 9 PM to 9AM) for Rs 49 and My Pack (any 3 chosen channels) for Rs 49.
Asked if consumers will have to pay extra for the data usage, Mehta said, "Customers will not have to pay extra for data usage, except for users in Noida and Punjab."
He added, "We will make sure that quality of service is maintained even in lower bandwidth (speed) plans."
Bharti airtel provides mobile voice and data services, fixed line, broadband, IPTV and DTH services in the country.
Bharti airtel to offer broadband TV for Rs 99
With the service, airtel broadband subscribers will be able to access 28 Live TV channels including UTV Bindass, UTV Movies, Bloomberg UTV, TLC, Animal Planet, all Discovery channels, Sakshi TV, Live India and Tarang Music.
"This initiative is part of our commitment to offer enhanced broadband experience to our customers. We will soon add more content under news, soap and infotainment categories," Bharti airtel Chief Marketing Officer Telemedia Services Girish Mehta told PTI.
The company also plans to offer 19 Video-on-demand (VOD) channels and 12 movies channels as per the chosen subscription plan.
The service will work on Wi-Fi networks as well, Mehta added.
Airtel, which has about 1.3 million broadband users in India, will introduce three monthly subscription plans -- Gold Pack with all Live and VOD channels and movies for Rs 99, Night Pack (all channels and movies from 9 PM to 9AM) for Rs 49 and My Pack (any 3 chosen channels) for Rs 49.
Asked if consumers will have to pay extra for the data usage, Mehta said, "Customers will not have to pay extra for data usage, except for users in Noida and Punjab."
He added, "We will make sure that quality of service is maintained even in lower bandwidth (speed) plans."
Bharti airtel provides mobile voice and data services, fixed line, broadband, IPTV and DTH services in the country.
Bharti airtel to offer broadband TV for Rs 99
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