Wireless Federation

Celcom claims to have become the first operator in Malaysia to establish a single core network platform for its GSM and W-CDMA networks, using a Mobile Softswitch solution from Ericsson. The deployment also marks the first step for Celcom in migrating its core network to an all-IP architecture. Upon completion, Celcom will benefit from having a single, common infrastructure that will handle both 2G and 3G network services, including the current available voice, data and TV services such as MMS, mobile broadband and mobile TV. The common infrastructure will also enable Celcom to introduce innovative new services such as dual numbers in one SIM card or same number in multiple devices, 3G services on 2G SIM card and mobile number portability, to name a few.

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Celcom today became the first operator in Malaysia to establish a single core network platform for both GSM and WCDMA technology with the deployment of Mobile Softswitch solution from Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC), in its network.

The move is in line with Celcom’s continuous focus to modernize its network to deliver classic telephony services over a more modern and cost efficient network while creating a common foundation for new services. The deployment of Ericsson Mobile Softswitch also marks the first crucial step for Celcom in migrating its core network to an all-IP architecture.

Upon completion, Celcom will benefit from the convenience and simplicity of having a single, common infrastructure that can handle both 2G and 3G network services, including the current available voice, data and TV services such as MMS, mobile broadband and mobile TV.

The common infrastructure will also enable Celcom to be ahead of its competition in introducing innovative services such as dual numbers in one SIM card or same number in multiple devices, 3G services on 2G SIM card and mobile number portability, to name a few.

By deploying Ericsson Mobile Softswitch, Celcom is able to introduce a layered architecture design in its GSM/WCDMA mobile circuit core. Layered architecture enables separation and centralization of the equipment responsible for call control and network intelligence, enabling a reduction in the number and size of main core network sites for Celcom. This will ultimately provide significant savings for Celcom and reduces the company’s core network operating expenditures (OPEX).

“As a long-time partner to Celcom, Ericsson is excited to play a prime role in supporting Celcom’s decision to create yet another milestone in the industry. Ericsson is fully committed to ensure a smooth evolution of Celcom’s core network to an all-IP architecture.” said Krishna Kumar, President and Country Manager of Ericsson Malaysia.

Ericsson is the world’s leading provider of technology and services to telecom operators. The market leader in 2G and 3G mobile technologies, Ericsson supplies communications services and manages networks that serve more than 185 million subscribers. The company’s portfolio comprises mobile and fixed network infrastructure, and broadband and multimedia solutions for operators, enterprises and developers. The Sony Ericsson joint venture provides consumers with feature-rich personal mobile devices.

Ericsson is advancing its vision of ‘communication for all’ through innovation, technology, and sustainable business solutions. Working in 175 countries, more than 70,000 employees generated revenue of USD 27.9 billion (SEK 188 billion) in 2007. Founded in 1876 and headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, Ericsson is listed on the Stockholm, London and NASDAQ stock exchanges.

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The Telekom Malaysia Group ™ has announced the demerger of its cellular unit, Celcom, from the group’s fixed voice and broadband business. TM says this is to permit greater transparency, accountability and management focus.

Celcom will be absorbed into Telekom Malaysia International’s (TMI) umbrella of mobile assets in ten countries across the region, which is to be headed by current TM Group CEO, Dato’ Abdul Wahid Omar.

The regional and mobile-focused holding company – RegionCo – will comprise TMI and Celcom and will then be spun-off from Telekom Malaysia Berhad and be listed separately during the first half of 2008, possibly with a strategic foreign partner from the US, Europe or the Middle East.

TMI has made various acquisitions in recent years and it now owns stakes in several mobile operators across the region including PT XL (Indonesia), Dialog Telekom (Sri Lanka), Aktel
(Bangladesh), M1 (Singapore), Spice (India), TMI (Cambodia) and MTCE (Iran). The listing of TMI will allow the company greater flexibility in obtaining financial resources for expanding its regional mobile business.

TM or FixedCo is to be headed by Zamzamzairani Isa and has been identified as a participator in the Public-Private Partnership project to roll-out high speed broadband infrastructure over the next ten years.  The ecost of the xercise is believed to amount up to RM15.2 billion, with 33 per cent being contributed by the Malaysian government.

Besides touting FixedCo as focusing on domestic broadband growth, TM released a statement saying that FixedCo remains focused in enhancing international connectivity within the region. This , it says, will help establish Malaysia as a regional Internet Protocol hub, serving as a digital gateway for Southeast Asia. FixedCo is described as the second largest ISP in south east Asia.

TM is also leading the Asia-America Gateway consortium and it is  building an IP hub in collaboration with Verizon, both are due to be operational before the end of the year. With these two facilities in place, Malaysia will be able to peer with Tier 1 ISPs in the region, besides as well as encouraging content hosting in the capital,  Kuala Lumpur.

However, an anonymous source comments, “It would appear the AAG will fall under RegionCo (and Wahid) given the separations of the Lines of Businesses.” Other observers note that the separation of fixed and mobile businesses seems to be bucking the trend of fixed and mobile convergence seen so often elsewhere in the world.

TM says, “All FMC benefits can still be realised through arms-length agreements post-demerger.” However, splitting Celcom from TM may inevitably pose challenges for TM in attempting effectively to bundle fixed, broadband and mobile services, particularly via integrated sales, branding and customer support.

Further details such as group debt allocation between the two new entities, capital management strategies and expected capital expenditure have yet to be made public but are expected by the first quarter of 2008. When reached for comment, Dato’ Shazalli Ramly stated, “I am the status quo… still CEO of Celcom…so it’s business as usual.”

Both RegionCo and FixedCo remain state-owned with stakes of 40 per cent held by Khazanah Nasional, the Malaysian government’s investment holding arm.

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Malaysia’s Celcom reveals plans to offer mobile television service to its customers from August this year via GPRS and 3G. The service will be through a collaboration between Celcom’s subsidiary Celcom Mobile and UK-based ROK

AT&T says service plans for the much-anticipated iPhone on the AT&T wireless network will cost US consumers at least $59.99 a month. The three plans will include unlimited texting, rollover minutes and visual voicemail, the company said.

ZTE announces that it has been awarded the prestigious “Red Dot Product Design Award” for the soon-to-be-released, ZTE D90 and S900 mobile phones. The award was initiated by German association Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen.

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TheEdgeDaily writes…Telekom Malaysia Bhd’s ™ subsidiary Celcom (Malaysia) Bhd has teamed up with Thailand’s I-Mobile International Co Ltd to set up a distribution network of dealers and concept stores based on intellectual property rights owned by Celcom within Malaysia.

In a statement, TM said Celcom subsidiary CT Paging Sdn Bhd (CTP) on Jan 16 entered into a joint venture (JV) agreement with I-Mobile to form the JV vehicle C-Mobile Sdn Bhd. CTP will have a 49% stake in C-Mobile, with I-Mobile holding the balance.

TM said among other things, the concept stores would offer for retail sale, Celcom Mobile Sdn Bhd’s (CMSB) products and services, as well as Samart — i-Mobile (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd’s mobile communication, terminal devices, including mobile handsets, accessories, data cards and content.

CMSB is a subsidiary of Celcom and Samart is a subsidiary of I-Mobile, which in turn is a subsidiary of Samart I-Mobile PLC, a company listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET).

Samart -Mobile PLC is a 56.35% subsidiary of Samart Corporation PLC, which is also listed on SET. TM’s subsidiary TM International Sdn Bhd holds 18.98% in Samart Corporation and 24.42% in Samart I-Mobile PLC.

TM said the JV would improve Celcom’s distribution channels and brand visibility. It said C-Mobile’s paid-up capital would be increased to RM5 million comprising five million shares of RM1 each within 30 days.

TM said CTP had a call option of up to 11% of I-Mobile’s stake in C-Mobile, exercisable within each three calendar months from the date of C-Mobile’s published audited accounts for each financial year starting from the third, fourth, fifth and sixth financial years, respectively.

It said the option price was to be determined based either on the price earnings multiple of 10 times or 2.5 times net tangible asset of each relevant financial year.

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KUALA LUMPUR: Celcom (M) Bhd is confident its newly-launched Vodafone Mobile Connect Third Generation (3G) Broadband data cards, or Celcom 3GX, will receive overwhelming response from its local enterprise customers.

The new product and services introduced via its partnership with Vodafone are aimed at strengthening Celcom’s presence locally and establishing itself as a global telecommunications player.

Chief executive officer Datuk Shazalli Ramly said the Vodafone Mobile 3G Broadband data cards could boost high-speed data packet access (HSPDA).

It would offer Celcom customers the latest 3G technology in enabling download speeds of up to 1.8 megabits per second, as well as upload speeds of up to 384 kilobits per second.

Source- http://biz.thestar.com.my

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