Bouygues Telecom selects Acme Packet for IMS network (France, USA)

Acme Packet, the leader in session delivery networks, announced that Bouygues Telecom, a leading fixed and mobile service provider in France, is deploying Acme Packet Net-Net Session Director session border controllers (SBCs) in its IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network, supplied and integrated by Alcatel-Lucent. Acme Packet’s SBCs fulfill numerous IMS functions at both the access and interconnect borders, ensuring security, interoperability, and quality in the network.

Bouygues Telecom is deploying IMS to support multiple services, including migration of existing residential voice to voice over IP (VoIP), interconnecting with other service providers and launching new services, such as visual voice mail.

The Net-Net Session Director fulfills critical IMS functional requirements at the access and interconnect borders of Bouygues Telecom’s network. In the access network, SBCs provide the critical Proxy-Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) and IMS-Access Gateway Function (AGW) for securing, interoperating, and controlling all SIP-based services to subscribers. The Net-Net Session Director provides Interconnect Border Control Function (I-BCF) and the Transition Gateway (TrGW) for controlling fixed and mobile SIP traffic at interconnect borders, encompassing both internal interconnection between Bouygues’ fixed and mobile networks as well as between the IMS network and other service providers.

Bouygues Telecom is using Acme Packet’s interoperability feature set that includes SIP normalization and SIP to SIP-I interworking that helps accelerate time-to-market and reduce operational costs as the network expands. Net-SAFE®, Acme Packet’s security framework, provides denial of service (DoS) attack prevention, topology hiding, and access control to protect Bouygues Telecom’s IMS network and ensure service availability. Other key features include accounting for billing and traffic planning, as well as admission control, routing, and quality of service marking for service level agreement assurance.

Jean-Paul Arzel, Bouygues Telecom networks director, said that Acme Packet’s SBC is a key part of their IMS network, built to enable innovative services and deliver enhanced customer experience to their fixed and mobile customers. They chose the Acme Packet solution due to their culture of innovation, the rich functionality and scalability of its session border controllers, and the company’s impressive track record in enabling trusted, high-quality VoIP, and IP interactive communication services.

Mario Oliveira, Acme Packet’s vice president of Europe, Middle East, and Africa, and Caribbean and Latin America sales, said that Acme Packet brings extensive experience in helping their customers build next generation communications networks. Their IMS solution portfolio delivers the security, interoperability, and quality functionalities that Bouygues Telecom and leading service providers demand to be successful in their migration to end-to-end IP communications.

Google and Motorola Mobility close $12.5 billion deal (USA)

Google Inc. completed its $12.5 billion acquisition of Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. and named a new executive to lead the smartphone maker, according to a report by DJN.

Dennis Woodside, a Google executive involved with planning for the acquisition and formerly the president of Google’s Americas region, was named Chief Executive of Motorola Mobility. Woodside was one of a handful of names reported to be up for the job, according to recent news reports.

He replaces Sanjay Jha, who first arrived at the former Motorola Inc. in 2008. Motorola in early 2011 spun off the higher-profile mobile-devices and TV-set-top-box operations into Motorola Mobility.

As per the report, Google will run Motorola Mobility as a separate business. Motorola already produces a number of phones and tablets based on Google’s Android mobile software.

Huawei announces managed services agreement with Telefonica UK (UK, China)

Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, announced the signing of a five-year managed services agreement with Telefónica UK. Under the agreement, Huawei will be responsible for planning and managing Telefónica UK’s core transmission, mobile access and network construction in the multivendor core network.

Victor Zhang, Chief Executive Officer of Huawei UK, said that they are very pleased to announce their first major managed services agreement with Telefónica UK. Having collaborated with Telefónica in a number of markets around the world, this agreement, which focuses on building world-class managed services capabilities in the UK, is no doubt an important step in extending our relationship with Telefónica UK.

As part of the agreement, 56 Telefónica UK employees will transfer to Huawei and work for Huawei’s managed services business in order to implement the planning and building of the core network. In addition, 62 contractors will also be transferred. These transfers will comply with the terms and conditions outlined in the Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment (TUPE) regulations.

Mr. Zhang added that he is also glad to welcome 56 new employees to Huawei from Telefónica UK. Their skills and experience will be invaluable to Huawei as we seek to develop their managed services capabilities in the UK, as well as managing Telefónica UK’s core network. This agreement, indeed, further underlines their long-term commitment and investment in the UK market.

As the fastest growing managed services provider in the world, Huawei currently collaborates with operators on over 240 agreements in more than 60 countries, providing first-class network products and support to operators.

Svein Aaser elected new Chairman of the Board of Telenor (Norway)

Svein Aaser has been elected as the new Chairman of the board for mobile operator Telenor. Svein Aaser was CEO of Den norske Bank and DnB NOR from 1998 to 2007. He was previously CEO of Nycomed from 1987 to 1996. He has also been the CEO of Storebrand Skade, Nora Matprodukter and Stabburet Nora. He has served as president of The Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO) and as Chairman of Finance Norway (FNO). Today, Aaser is the Chairman of the Board of Statkraft and Det Norske Oljeselskap.

In a comment Svein Aaser said he is looking forward to working with the Board and management team at Telenor ASA. He said Telenor is among the largest mobile operators in the world and they have achieved a strong market position in a short period of time, both in Europe and in Asia. He looks forward to learning more about the organisation and its markets.

The Corporate Assembly also elected Anders Skjævestad to succeed Jan Erik Korssjøen as Chairman of the Corporate Assembly and thus Chairman of the Nomination Committee. Skjævestad has been member of the Corporate Assembly and the Nomination Committee since 2009.

Vodafone India may delay IPO plans till after 2012 (India)

Mobile operator Vodafone India has hinted at delaying its IPO plans which were earlier scheduled for 2012. According to reports, Vodafone India Managing Director and Chief Executive Marten Pieters, said that it is highly unlikely that they are able to do an IPO in the middle of so many spectrum auctions. It depends on what the final decision on auction of spectrum will be.

Regarding the conflict with the Indian tax authorities, Pieters said that Vodafone India is not in a position to comment on changes to legislation set out in the Finance Bill. It would not be appropriate for Vodafone India to discuss any dispute between Vodafone Group Plc and the Indian tax authorities. Any questions related to such issues should be directed to Vodafone Group Plc.

He added that Trai recommendations are economically unattractive and that the regulatory scenario is changing on a day-to-day basis, which is creating a lot of pressure on us. Further, if the Trai recommendations happen, then the IPO for sure would be difficult to do this year.

Pieters said that Trai views on spectrum refarming are against public interest and public policy objectives; also contrary to license conditions; no study of impact of refarming , not in line with international practice. He said that despite average of 26 MHz being available in each circle, only 5 MHz/10 MHz are being recommended for auction, creating artificial scarcity, which will distort auction prices to unsustainable levels licence extension.

Mobile Money covers 16% population in sub-Saharan Africa (Africa)

Money transfer via mobile phones has expanded to 16 percent of the total population in sub-Saharan Africa, according to a new World Bank study, as reported by Mobile Money Africa. The Global Financial Inclusion Database, or Global Findex, has found only 3 percent of the population in the rest of the world take advantage of money transfers through mobile phones.

As per the report, in sub-Saharan Africa, take-up of mobile money services, pioneered by Kenya-based Safaricom’s M-Pesa service, has been boosted by the fact that traditional banking is hampered by transportation and other infrastructure problems.

A statement issued by World Bank claims that money transfers through mobile phones is a form of increasingly nontraditional banking that often doesn’t require users to travel or set up an account at a brick-and-mortar bank. Further, such mobile banking allows account holders to pay bills, make deposits or conduct other transactions via text messaging. Kenya, where 68 percent of adults report using a mobile phone for money transactions, has seen particularly impressive growth in this market.

As revealed in the report, said Asli Demirguc-Kunt, the Bank’s director of development policy and chief economist of the Finance and Private Sector Network, said that nearly two-thirds of the unbanked cite poverty as the obstacle to financial access, but about a third also blame the cost of opening and maintaining an account or the bank’s being too far away, which means long bus rides for many.

In markets like Uganda, mobile money transfer services have become a revenue generator, with players hotly competing for users as margins on voice services have been driven down over the years. MTN Uganda, for example, has more than 2 million registered customers after launching in March 2009. MTN reported recently that US$100 million gets transferred over the service every month.

The four mobile money offerings in Uganda including MTN Mobile Money, Airtel Money, Warid-Pesa and Uganda Telecom’s M-Sente are largely similar, allowing registered users to load money into their accounts, make transfers to other users, buy recharge vouchers as well as withdraw money.

Cell C and Vodacom slash rates for prepaid segment (South Africa)

Mobile operators Cell C and Vodacom have introduced new packages for the prepaid segments, with both operators offering local calls to any network for $0.12.

According to a report by iol, in a move that industry watchers believe will trigger a wave of price cuts, Cell C last week introduced its 99 cents for real tariff – slashing its rates by 34 percent. Vodacom followed suit minutes later with its “Freedom 99” plan.

The report reveals that Cell C’s prepaid plan is the cheaper of the two as customers are billed per second from the first second, while Vodacom charges $0.12 for the first minute, then in 30-second increments thereafter.

However, Vodacom offers free Vodacom-to-Vodacom calls from midnight to 5am if customers recharge with at least $1.43 on the day. Further, while Cell C will continue its plan, Vodacom said its deal would end on July 31.

Idea Cellular cuts 3G tariffs by 70 percent (India)

Indian telecom operator Idea Cellular seems to be following Bharti Airtel’s footsteps by announcing a reduction of 70 percent in its 3G tariff plans. As per a company statement, Idea decided to cut 3G tariffs to widen the new-age offering by making it accessible to one and all.

The company said that under the new plan, Idea’s pre-paid and post-paid customers will pay $0.0005 for 10 kb of data, a reduction of 70 per cent from the earlier levels of $0.0018. Further, Idea said that 3G services are offered in 3,207 towns across the country and it has 2.7 million active users with an average usage of 330 MB per month.

Idea also said that it has introduced various packs such as sachet packs, regular packs and unlimited packs, priced in a way to accommodate users from different segments. The lowest of the sachets will be sold for $0.18 and offer 30 minutes of high speed internet surfing on 3G enabled handsets.

Vodafone relies on Verizon as profit from Europe declines (USA, UK)

Telecom operator Vodafone Group Plc will have to rely on its U.S. wireless venture to meet profit estimates and cover up declining sales in the European markets, largely Spain and Italy, according to a report by BN.

Vodafone said that operating profit excluding some items may rise as much as 3.2 percent in the 12 months ending March 2013. Profit on that basis slipped 2.4 percent last year to $18 billion after the sale of a stake in its SFR French unit. Verizon Wireless, the largest U.S. mobile carrier, accounted for 42 percent of the total, an increase of 9.3 percent.

As per the report, Vodafone, which relies on western Europe for most of its revenue, is no longer the world’s biggest mobile-phone company as China Mobile Ltd. boosted sales last year to $81.7 billion. While profits and sales at Verizon Wireless are rising, Newbury, England-based Vodafone still needs to negotiate dividends every year with U.S. partner Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ), which controls 55 percent of the venture.

DoT seeks further 17% increase in 2G base price over Trai’s rate (India)

The telecom department (DoT) will press for a 17 percent increase in the base price for 2G spectrum bids over the rate proposed by Trai (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India), according to a report by ET.

As per the report, a DoT panel studying Trai’s proposals on spectrum auctions has concluded that reserve price for second-generation airwaves in the 1800 MHz band should be revised to $770.8 million per unit (on a pan-India basis), said a senior official. Trai has proposed a base rate of $658 million per unit.

Further, the report also reveals that the DoT panel has also rejected the regulator’s proposal to allow mobile phone companies to stagger their payments for spectrum bagged through the bidding process. It is also of the opinion that mobile phone companies must not be allowed to mortgage spectrum to raise funds from financial institutions.

A final decision on DoT’s position will be taken at a meeting of the Telecom Commission on Thursday. The amendments suggested by the high-powered DoT panel will come as a big blow to the telecom industry, which has lobbied hard with the government for rejecting the regulator’s recommendations.

Telcos have warned that if these proposals are accepted, call tariffs would go up between 30 percent and 100 percent, and the viability of the industry would be badly hit. Foreign players such as Norway’s Telenor and Russia’s Sistema have said they will not participate in the upcoming auctions if Trai’s proposal to auction airwaves at 13 times the price at which airwaves were awarded in 2008 is accepted.

A senior DoT official clarified that the department was not recommending a hike in the minimum price for the upcoming 2G auctions, but was only seeking to apply Trai’s formula in the right fashion.