- September 26th, 2007
- 10:28 am
The total Dutch consumer telephony market grew by 2,000 connections during the second quarter of this year to 5.999 million, despite a 3.6 percent drop in PSTN/ISDN connections to 3.8 million. The number of Dutch consumer VoIP subscriptions grew 7.1 percent during the second quarter to 2.2 million on 30 June. However, the quarterly growth was lower than during the first quarter due to KPN’s decision to limit the weekly intake of InternetPlusBellen VoIP customers to 5,000. DSL-based VoIP subscriptions grew at a slower rate than cable VoIP subscriptions: 5.7 percent compared with 8.3 percent. DSL VoIP ended the quarter with 1.095 million connections, adding only 65,000 customers, while cable-based VoIP subscriptions grew by 82,600 to end the quarter with 1.076 million customers, passing the 1 million users milestone. KPN is the largest VoIP provider, with a market share of more than 31 percent on the Dutch digital telephony market, followed by UPC (19.2%) and Casema (12.3%). The quarterly growth for the remaining quarters of 2007 is expected to be around 13 percent, or 250,000 net additions, driven by the cable network operators. This will lead to around 2.8 million VoIP users at the end of this year.
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News
Turk Telecom will roll out an IP network and expand its coverage footprint over the next three years at a cost of USD3.4 billion. It states that the fibre-optic lines to be installed by the telco will increase network capacity by 1,000 times. An additional project aims to provide services such as DSL, VoIP and IPTV for 4.3 million people living in rural parts of the country by November 2008.
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News
Ericsson and CYTA, an operator in Cyprus, have Wednesday signed a contract for a Fiber-To-The-Home network based on Ericsson’s GPON (Gigabit Passive Optical Network) solution.CYTA has started to provide advanced broadband services, such as High Definition TV (up to two channels per home), games, on-demand services, Voice over IP (VoIP) while there is also the option of Surveillance and Security services.
The contract includes delivery of central office optical equipment and devices for the homes, EDA1200 and EDA1500, and passive infrastructure such as fiber systems and cables.
Apart from the GPON network (point-to-multipoint configuration), the pilot project includes also a point-to-point network, using Ericsson’s equipment (switches and CPEs).
The contract also encompasses a comprehensive portfolio of Services, such as education and knowledge transfer, business consultancy, network design and supervision.
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News
TeliaSonera AB said it has signed an agreement to acquire up to 100 pct of the outstanding shares in MCT Corp, a US-based company with majority, controlling shareholdings in three Eurasian GSM operators in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan and a minority interest in the leading GSM operator in Afghanistan.
The acquisition price was not disclosed.
The four GSM operators are: The Uzbek-American Joint Venture Coscom LLC, the third-largest mobile operator in Uzbekistan, where MCT has a 99.97 pct interest; CJSC Indigo Tajikistan and CJSC Joint Venture Somoncom, which combined is the second-largest mobile operation in Tajikistan and in which MCT has 60.0 pct and 59.4 pct respectively; and Telecom Development Co Afghanistan Ltd (Roshan), the largest mobile operator in Afghanistan, in which MCT has a 12.25 pct interest.
TeliaSonera said it expected the deal to close during the third quarter.
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News
Turk Telekom has unveiled plans for rolling out an IP network and expanding its coverage footprint. The national operator will invest USD 3.4 billion in the plans over the next three years, from a presentation on the Transformation TT-NGN Program and the Rural Transformation Project. The company aims to increase network capacity by 1,000 times by installing fibre-optic lines. It has divided the country into 26 regions for the project, with 17 companies hired to work on the contract. The second project, which focuses on rural transformation, aims to provide broadband access for 4.3 million people living in the rural areas of Turkey. The project is forecast to cost TRY 240 million and make available services such as DSL, VoIP and IPTV. It should be completed by November 2008.
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News
Motorola Inc. and Vietnam Datacommunications Company (VDC), a company within the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) has signed an agreement to commence a technical and commercial WiMAX trial in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the nation’s two largest citiesIt is anticipated that the deployment of Motorola’s wi4 WiMAX will allow VDC to reach a wider subscriber base, help meet the demand for broadband, as well as roll out IP services such as VoIP without the need for wired infrastructure.
The year long trial is expected to begin in October 2007. Phase one will cover an urban area in Hanoi and the second phase will cover a similar urban area in Ho Chi Minh City.
“Using WiMAX for wireless broadband access is key to a market such as Vietnam where wired broadband penetration is low,” said Jay Andersen, vice president for sales, South and East Asia, Home and Networks Mobility, Motorola. “It has the potential to enable the country to leap frog current wired technologies so that a larger population in Vietnam’s rapidly growing market can be connected quickly and affordably.”
“We see a future where wireless broadband can truly enhance the way of life in Vietnam and add its people to the knowledge economy,” said Pham Long Tran, Chairman, VNPT Group. “Adopting an open standard like WiMAX is the best way to serve our customers and future subscribers.”
“We are proud to be part of VNPT¡¯s first mobile WiMAX trial in Vietnam,” said David Knapp, general director, Motorola Vietnam. “This marks a true milestone for this maturing country and demonstrates the foresight and dedication of VNPT to improving the nation’s infrastructure.”
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News
RTX Network Systems has announced a new contract for a complete wireless IP Network System infrastructure and a full range of customer terminals (cordless handsets, repeaters, wireless adapters for analog telephones, fax machines and modems), featuring VoIP telephony via DECT/SIP and data access via 802.11g (Wi-Fi). The first of three systems is to be implemented by Skycom Technologies in Pretoria Region, South Africa, by mid-September 2007.
The RTX Wireless IP Network System brings with it the promise of helping teleoperators in developing and developed countries to establish an organized telecommunication infrastructure, which provides complete wireless voice and data connectivity within a region. The Wireless IP Network System offers a unique solution for a new market opportunity that is not being met by existing fixed line and cellular network alternatives.
“This is the first of three projects we are planning to deploy already within this year. With the Wireless IP Network System from RTX Network Systems we can supply a competitive public phone service in selected clusters of households with coverage in a whole county,” said Martin Botha, Chairman of the Skycom Group of Companies. Skycom is also committed to provide low cost telephony services and solutions to the previously disadvantaged market, especially where fixed-line communications have proven to be troublesome for the current fixed-line and mobile solutions market.
Based on IP, VoIP, DECT and WLAN technology the Wireless IP Network System solution offers teleoperators and end-users a middle-ground to fixed line and mobile cellular services by extending mobility to the fixed line at a lower cost point, while also enabling the advantages of an IP-based, softswitch driven wireless network with cellular capabilities and high-speed broadband WLAN based (802.11g) internet access.
“We are very pleased with the new partnership with Skycom Technologies as this shows that we have a very mature and complete telephony and wireless broadband system with Quality of Service and low cost per subscriber,” said Tage Rasmussen, CEO, RTX.
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News
ECI Telecom Ltd has announced that Digicel has chosen its optical and Ethernet solution to expand its broadband services enabled by WiMAX technology. Digicel is the first GSM mobile provider in the Caribbean to offer broadband wireless services via WiMAX to business and residential subscribers.
This win demonstrates ECI’s growing momentum in the converged optical and Ethernet market. Digicel deployed ECI’s XDM Multi-Service Transport Platform (MSTP). Digicel’s next generation network will offer cost-effective fixed and mobile voice and data communications solutions to corporate customers, including VoIP. In the Caribbean, and more specifically in Jamaica, previous broadband offerings relied on fixed lines limiting services offered to subscribers. Most recently, Digicel purchased new XDM nodes to increase bandwidth to support the growing broadband wireless backhaul traffic islandwide into Kingston.
Digicel selected the XDM because of its efficient multi-degree flexibility that enables several network layers on one platform including WDM, Ethernet and SONET. In addition, the XDM’s All-Range WDM optics support a full range of distances from metro access to regional and long haul, providing Digicel with easy and cost effective options for network expansion in new regions to support new subscribers and services, while maintaining reliability.
“As the largest GSM service provider in the Caribbean region, we are constantly looking for innovative ways to provide our customers with new and advanced services as part of our growing portfolio of innovative products,” said Richard Brown, Head of Network Development and Rollout of Digicel Jamaica. “Out of all the companies we evaluated, ECI had the most robust and innovative solution that met our needs for deploying the backhaul required islandwide for the new WiMAX network. Moreover, we have previously worked with ECI and were pleased with our past experiences with them.”
“We are excited to support Digicel in the growth of their WiMax network. This contract truly demonstrates the benefits of our converged optical, Ethernet and SONET solution to maximize service potential and manage new expansions for a growing network like Digicel’s,” said Emanuel Nachum, ECI Telecom’s Vice President, Americas Marketing. “Digicel recognized the flexibility and cost-effectiveness of our offerings to meet their various demands for new services in any network environment.”
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News
Exit Games and Vivendi Games Mobile have announced an agreement to collaborate on next-generation mobile games. Exit Games’ Neutron technology platform will be used to deliver next-generation mobile gaming features including in-game voice, application wake-up, and advanced presence to Vivendi Games Mobile’s multiplayer portfolio.
Vivendi Games Mobile will initially leverage the Neutron technology in the latest version of Navy Battle, incorporating IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) capabilities to drive enhanced user options, such as VoIP, and other integrated data and voice features, allowing players to engage each other in turn-based naval combat.
Community features for Navy Battle, powered by Neutron, will include: in-game voice – allowing players to chat with opponents while playing against each other; application wake-up – automatically ‘wakes-up’ the mobile phone if someone on the user’s ‘friends’ list challenges them to a game; and advanced presence – a virtual ‘buddy’ list allowing players to see what their friends are playing and enabling them to send friends an invite to play.
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News
The battle between 3G and Wi-Fi for dominance of the wireless internet world will all come down to which offers the broadest benefits to individual users, analysts have predicted.
The two technologies offer a variety of different benefits and experts predict they will continue to co-exist, but competition between 3G and Wi-Fi does appear to be hotting up.
Vodafone has announced it will cut its 3G mobile broadband tariffs by almost half from 2 July, with the monthly tariff falling from £45 to £25 and 24-hour access available for £8.50.
A Vodafone spokeswoman said the changes weren’t really a reaction to anything — being more down to customer needs than competing with Wi-Fi — but it certainly makes 3G a more viable proposition than it has been previously.
Ian Fogg, analyst with JupiterResearch, suggests 3G is becoming more competitive with Wi-Fi. He said that although Wi-Fi has historically been faster than 3G, the advent of HSDPA (also known as 3.5G) means this is not so much the case any more.
Fogg said: “Vodafone is hoping that for business travellers the much greater coverage of 3G will prove attractive. By comparison the Wi-Fi network is very small.”
He added that 3G is more flexible and doesn’t come with the hassle of Wi-Fi — such as finding a hotspot or logging on — allowing people to get more done.
He added that 3G is benefiting from a “tremendous industry push” with “a lot of market traction behind it”.
However, Fogg acknowledged that Wi-Fi provides more effective coverage in buildings and offers greater bandwidth and so still has a role to play.
When asked about the role WiMax might play in the near future, Fogg said: “WiMax is a technology searching for a market. Mobile data is going to be very challenging for WiMax in Europe.”
Dean Bubley, founder of analyst house Disruptive Analysis, said: “There’s not going to any one clear winner on this.”
He added: “From Vodafone’s point of view, [tariff reduction] makes a huge amount of sense. That sounds a lot more reasonable.”
But he also suggested this doesn’t mean 3G will suddenly overtake Wi-Fi. He said: “3G is patchy and will stay patchy.”
Bubley also raised the issue of possible restrictions with 3G, such as the total amount of data that can be transferred or whether it can offer VPN and VoIP, as Wi-Fi does.
He added: “The main difference about Wi-Fi is that you can own it.”
As for the likely winner, Bubley said: “It’ll come down to the individual users.”
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News
Dutch VoIP growth slows down, despite 1 mln cable VoIP users (Netherlands)
