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Wireless Federation » archive for 'ICT'

Telecom Regulatory Authority delays auction of second fixed licence (Egypt)

  • September 17th, 2008
  • 7:20 am

In response to the changing scenario in international market, TelephoneEgypt’s National Telecom Regulatory Authority Board of Directors has come to the decision to defer the auction of the second fixed license for a year. This decision was issued in the light of the discussions that took place between the NTRA and the 12 companies that bought the specifications handbook. The ICT international markets in Europe and the United States are facing major fluctuations due to the increasing inflation rates and the increasing prices. The ICT investments worldwide are accordingly shrinking. Therefore, the decision was taken to postpone the license until a tangible improvement in the international market is witnessed. It is worth mentioning in this regard that the investments of the second fixed license are not expected to be less than one billion dollars during the first years of operation, said, Dr. Amr Badawi, the Executive President of the NTRA. NTRA supports this decision so as to make sure the participation of more companies and therefore ensure the biggest revenue for the welfare of the state treasury.

Telecoms revenues up by 9.8% (Jordan)

  • August 18th, 2008
  • 1:55 pm

According to to Ahmad Hiyasat, CEO of the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRC), Jordan’s telecoms service providers bring in a total of USD1.3 billion in revenues last year, up by 9.8% on 2006’s figure. Hiyasat also said that Information and communications technology accounted for around 11% of gross domestic product at fixed prices in 2007, whilst estimating that total internet users in the country reached 1.2 million by the beginning of 2008. Over the last seven years, investments in the Kingdom’s telecoms sector reached JOD967 million.

Integrated CDMA network under one brand, Hutch (Thailand)

  • August 12th, 2008
  • 7:59 am

Thailand likely to have composite CDMA network under one shed, i.e. Hutch.  Currently, Most of the Bangkok area as well as the 25 central provinces have Hutch, as the service provider. Upcountry provinces are serviced by CAT’s CDMA network. According to the service agreement, Users of each brand have had the ability to cross over networks. Thailand’s ICT Ministry has decided to reduce the brand confusion, source reveal.

Comapnies previous plan has got the consent from the Ministry.  The plan is to have BFKT, a Hutch Subsidiary who currently own the infrastructure, transfer ownership of their network to CAT. Cat would then own the entire network and lease it to Hutch, who would be a service provider, would not have to deal with the maintenance and associated responsibilities with owning the hardware. With regard to the details of the Agreement they are still hazy. Talks over pricing  are yet to take place in regard to service agreement.

ICT industry official codemns Ghanaian Policies

  • August 6th, 2008
  • 11:16 am

A well Known personality from Africa ICT Industry has condemned Ghanaian Policies for dicouraging local participation in the Telecmmunication sector. Professor Nii Narku Quaynor, the convener of the African Network Operations Group said that the ratio of foreign ownership of telecommunication facilities to local ownership is 99 to one, while the current economic stability and regulatory policies in the country favor foreign investments.

MACRA awards GAIN the cellular sevices license (Malawi)

  • July 23rd, 2008
  • 1:54 pm

Malawi’s Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA), has finally awarded an individual licence to Global Advanced Integrated Networks Limited (GAIN) to provide cellular telecommunications services in the country.

Gain is the third mobile service provider alongside Celtel Malawi and Telekom Networks, and it is expected that the high cellular charges will be lower with a third competitor on the market.

According to the officials, a new mobile service provider will contribute to the promotion of the development of Information Communication Technologies (ICT) in both urban and rural areas of the country.The company will promote competition in the telecommunications industry, thereby increasing the quality and affordability of the telecommunication services for the benefit of all people in the country.

Kenya plans ICT expansion

  • June 5th, 2007
  • 1:31 pm

The Kenyan government has announced plans to invest KES7.8 billion (USD116 million) to improve the country’s information and communication systems. The Minister for Public Service, Moses Akaranga, says the plan, which has been named Kenya Transparency and Communications Infrastructure, will create digital ‘villages’ in rural and urban centres. These will be linked via the national backbone to international networks such as the East Africa Submarine System (EASSy) undersea cable. Local newspaper The East African Standard quotes Akaranga, as saying: ‘The overall effect of the project would contribute to lowering the cost of broadband capacity and extension of geographic reach of broadband networks ahead of and after arrival of the submarine connectivity.’ The project will be undertaken by the Ministry of Information and Communication.