Huawei B593 TD-LTE router to be launched in October (Asia)
Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider aims to launch the Huawei B593 TD-LTE wireless broadband router through Saudi Arabian operator Mobily in October this year. With the increasing consumer base accessing the internet through their mobile handsets and streaming music and videos constantly, even the 3G networks are facing difficulties in managing the large volume of data flow.
The router is expected to support LTE TDD and FDD and provide access to up to 32 WiFi devices. According to reports, Hu Guangping, head of Mobile Broadband LTE division, Huawei Device said that this product will provide operators the ability to provide the consumers superfast internet access without the need for fixed network infrastructure enabling them to expand their subscriber base in a more flexible and cost-effective way.
Mobily, a subsidiary of Etisalat seeks to use the product in scarcely-populated areas in West Asia where infrastructure costs are very high with a slow return-on-investment.
3G network in time for 14th Pacific Games in New Caledonia
The New Caledonian government has partnered with Ericsson to launch the 3G network in time for the 14th Pacific Games in New Caledonia in the South Pacific. The 3G network built by the Post & telecommunications Office of New Caledonia (OPT-NC) and Ericsson will provide athletes and sports fans easier access to services, multimedia and communications during the sporting contest.
The Pacific Games founded in 1962 and held every fourth year in one of the South Pacific Islands will feature 28 sporting events and host over 5000 athletes from 22 countries. Reportedly, Harold Martin, Chairman of OPT-NC first announced the arrival of 3G in New Caledonia at the Annual General Meeting of the Pacific Islands Telecommunications Association (PITA) in April 2011. Since then, Ericsson has deployed its RBS 6000 radio technology, in partnership with the Caledonian IT consulting & engineering firm, API.
Asiacell to provide mobile solutions in Northern Iraq using the Altobridge lite-site solution
Asiacell, the first telecom company to provide coverage for all 18 provinces in Iraq, is reportedly planning to roll out mobile voice, broadband and SMS services in remote areas across Iraq, with the help of the Altobridge lite-site solution. Initially, the solution will be deployed in communities in Sulaimaniya in Northern Iraq.
As per reports, Dr. Diar Ahmed Asiacell CEO, claims that the Altobridge lite-site is a cost-effective and energy-efficient solution that helps optimize capital budgets while minimizing backhaul. Further, Mike Fitzgerald, Chief Executive Officer at Altobridge, says that their solution is optimized for solar power, thereby removing the high cost barriers of diesel generators.
If sources are to be believed, the Altobridge lite-site, which combines the 2G/3G and VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) technologies, uses 50% less backhaul than competing optimized solutions and offers quick and easy deployment with the compact, all-in-one design of the altoPod.
TCS and HCL Tech look to acquire Comviva as Bharti plans to sell (India)
Bharti Enterprises may sell off a majority of its stake in Comviva, a leading company specializing in providing value added services (VAS) for mobile handsets. Sources claim large IT companies such as TCS and HCL Technologies are competing to acquire the same and a deal might be in the pipeline. Reportedly, Bharti aims to receive between $300 and 350 million for sale of its non-core business.
The youth segment provides for a large consumer base demanding quick downloads for music, video clips and sports updates among others, enabling VAS to become a good revenue stream for mobile service providers. With competition causing voice tariffs to be priced at very low rates, mobile operators are increasingly turning to VAS for better revenue generation.
Services such as SMS account for half the VAS revenues, while caller tunes and mobile applications for radio, live score update and mobile gaming downloads are increasingly gaining popularity. For some mobile companies, VAS accounts for as much as 7-10 percent of their revenues.
With mobile players working to provide various new services on their 3G network and innovations like mobile banking on the rise, VAS revenues are expected to rise significantly.
Aircel signs deal with Virtela offering Indian businesses Cloud services
In a one of its kind venture, mobile service provider Aircel has signed a deal with Denver based Virtela to provide its business customer base with cloud services that will enable Indian companies to compete with large global corporations. Under the terms of this agreement, Virtela’s Enterprise Service Cloud (ESC) services will be available to Indian businesses through Aircel.
Virtela ESC has a breakthrough architecture that is open at every level, locally distributed around the world, and optimized for virtual devices to support various applications, including delay-sensitive applications. This service is beneficial for enterprises with distributed workforces that need fast and secure access to centralized applications globally.
Reportedly, Virtela’s ESC gives enterprises an inherently higher performing, more resilient and cost-effective alternative to traditional carrier networks. Further, the cloud-based application acceleration service that runs via 50 Local Cloud Centers (LCC) enables enterprises to speed up business applications up to 25 times faster. The innovative technology will help businesses reduce their capital expenditure by allowing them to upload their information into the cloud while the per-hour cost to costumer will start at 0.50 cents per hour. Sources claim that the two have already signed up their first customer but have not yet provided a name.
Cellcom signs agreement with Home Center Mobile (Israel)
Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) Home Center Mobile, a unit of DIY chain Home Center has signed a deal with leading Israeli cellular provider, Cellcom Israel Ltd. Under this agreement Home Center Mobile, a customer of Cellcom, will sell mobile phones and offer discounted tariff plans in an attempt to compete with other mobile carriers.
This deal is the latest in the list of agreements being signed between a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) and a mobile carrier. Past agreements of a similar nature include Alon Cellular Ltd. who signed a deal with Partner Communications Ltd., while Rami Levi Ltd., Ituran Location and Control Ltd., and Free Telecom Ltd. have signed agreements with Pelephone Communications Ltd. However, of these only Ituran has begun operations and the sale of services.
Airtel Zambia to enter remote areas of Western Province (Zambia)
In an effort to target the large base of rural subscribers in Zambia, southern African mobile operator Airtel Zambia has begun infrastructure work in the remote areas of its western province. With this move, Airtel aims to maintain its market share by bringing connectivity to people living in rural areas accessible only by water. As per reports, Airtel Zambia managing director Mr. Fayaz King said that they would first be entering areas such as Mutomena, Lukena, Liuwa, Libonda Palace and Mishulundu in Western Zambia. He further stated that the network expansion comes as part of the initiative taken up by the company over the past 10 months in order to provide services to some of the most remote areas of the country.
According to reports, rural areas covered by Airtel in the last 10 months are in Luapula, Northern, North-Western, Eastern, Southern, Central and some rural parts of the Copperbelt like Lufwanyama, Masaiti, and Mpongwe districts. So far 88 isolated rural areas and communities have been connected by Airtel in Zambia .
3G services now launched in Kenya by Telkom Kenya (Orange)
Telkom Kenya, the largest provider of integrated communications solutions in Kenya, has launched 3G services in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu, providing subscribers with an internet speed of 21 Mbps. The service provider operating under the flagship of Orange plans to expand the service to other regions as well in order to cater to the ever increasing demand for data related services.
According to reports, Mickael Ghossein CEO Telkom Kenya states that a new internet era has begun where Orange will steadily take the lead in offering innovative products and services while providing simplicity through customer experience and maintaining value proposition to the customer. He also confirmed that users would be able to browse for as low as 0.40 cts per MB, with these rates being applicable across all its internet platforms.
Orange also unveiled a 3G shared broadband WIFI router which will allow upto 10 users to connect to the internet simultaneously, thus minimizing cost. As per reports, Ghossein stated that the service would be using multiple pole technology which separates voice and data channels, assuring users that the quality of data will remain unaffected even when there are multiple subscribers using voice services. This service also comes with parental control software enabling customers to manage internet abuse.
Vodafone New Zealand signs multi-million dollar contract with Pacific Fibre (New Zealand)
Mobile operator Vodafone New Zealand, a unit of the Vodafone Group PLC has entered into a contract with Aukland based private company Pacific Fibre to supply international bandwidth connecting Sydney (Australia) and Aukland (New Zealand) with Los Angeles (USA). Currently, New Zealand’s connection relies solely on Southern Cross cable allowing the owners Telecom NZ, SingTel Optus and Verizon Business to differentiate prices for retailers. Pacific Fibre aims to provide a solution for the increasing demand for international connectivity by building two subsea cables with a combined length of 12,750 kilometers by 2014.
As per reports, the 10 year multi-million dollar deal will make Vodafone the largest New Zealand customer for Pacific Fibre, who has also signed a deal with the New Zealand government company, Research and Education Advanced Network New Zealand Ltd. (REANNZ).
According to reports, Mark Rushworth, Pacific Fibre CEO says that foundation customers such as Vodafone and REANNZ have championed the cause of ensuring international bandwidth competition. Their commitment will help break the monopoly on capacity pricing into and out of New Zealand by have a direct impact on bringing faster service and better rates to the region.
TeleFonica’s unit Movistar may shell out US $830 million for renewal of Operating Licence (Peru)
Movistar, a subsidiary of the Spanish telecommunications company Telefonica, might be required to pay US $830 million to get its operating licence renewed, as per reports. The Peruvian regulatory authority, Osiptel, made this recommendation to the Ministry of Transportation and Communication, who will be the final deciding authority. According to Guillermo Thornberry, President Osiptel, the value for the licence in the capital city Lima is valuated at US $319 million.
This however, did not go down well with the Telefonica officials who have reportedly claimed that under the current legislation in Peru, the company is not required to pay for having its licence renewed. The Spanish giant Telefonica is a dominant player in the telecommunication sector with a subscriber base of 290 million as on March 2011.
