www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The monthly line rental fees has been planned to be raised by France Telecom (FT) for the operators accessing its networks by EUR1 (USD1.39). The proposal is currently assessed by Arcep.
Operators such as SFR (including neuf Cegetel) and Iliad (Free) would be affected by the move as both of them use the networks for broadband services.
Arcep will meet with members of the government to examine the issue in the coming days.
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Under the ‘Programa Banda Larga Popular’ project, 60,000 to 100,000 low-cost broadband lines could be sold by Telefonica de Brazil (including Telesp) this year. The project is designed to provide inexpensive high speed internet access to lower income households throughout the Sao Paulo state.
The commercial launch of the new service would begin on February 24 and BRL29.80 (USD16) per month would be charged for a line giving a 256kbps connection in the city of Sao Paulo as well as certain cities across the state. The service will be offered via cable and wireless technology.
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: By offering its Liveradio service via Microsoft’s Windows Live Messenger, Orange seems to be gearing up to cash-in on the popularity of Microsoft product.
21 million users in France access Windows Live Messenger, making it the most popular instant messenger program in the country.
7,000 online radio stations and 11,000 podcasts could be accessed by the users through a Liveradio icon situated at the bottom of their chat windows.
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: In an effort to ramp up sales of Google Apps, an online store is being developed by Google to sell business software from its partners. Calling it a solutions marketplace, Google offers a site where users of Google Apps can find a variety of add-ons, tools and support services.
The intention of the store is to provide better integration with Google’s partners and make it easier for users to buy add-ons and services.
The new store represents the next step in Google’s strategy to work with business partners to promote Google Apps.
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The board of directors of France Telecom will be asked by its Chairman and CEO Didier Lombard to February 24 to separate the functions of chairman and CEO from 1 March. The position of the Chairman will be kept by Lombard with responsibility for the definition of group strategy and technological operations.
Stephane Richard, the current CEO delegate will become CEO, with management responsibility for group operations. New industrial projects and the new social contract with the workforce, set to be presented in the next few weeks will be looked after by Richard.
Initially, Lombard was due to leave France Telecom in the spring of 2011 but his internal position and public image were compromised by a wave of employee suicides last year.
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Samsung Electronics and Dominican Republic-based Wind Telecom have signed an agreement to build up a mobile WiMAX network in Dominican Republic. As per the partnership agreement, WiMAX systems, terminals, training, and engineering services will be provided by Samsung.
Santo Domingo and Santiago are the two cities of Dominican Republic where Wind plans to launch mobile WiMAX services in the third quarter.
Gradually the mobile WiMAX service coverage will be expanded to the other cities across the countries. Installation and deployment of the WiMAX network is scheduled for roll-out in this year’s second quarter.
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: With the re- launch of its mobile discount brand, o.tel.o, Vodafone Germany is ready to offer low-cost prepaid services through minute/SMS fee of EUR 0.09 for calls/messages within Germany.
EUR 0.09 per minute will be charged for calling fixed networks in 32 countries around the world and EUR 0.09 per minute is the amount to be paid while accessing mobile internet within Germany.
O.tel.o Prepaid is marketed via its website or retail partners offering a starter package for EUR 9.95 including SIM card with EUR 10 call credit.
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: A five-year multi-million pound managed services contract has been signed between O2 UK and BT Wholesale. With this contract O2 UK aims to consolidate its mobile and fixed core networks into a single, cost-effective network using the BT 21CN platform.
A range of next-generation communications services for customers would be delivered and the capital expenditure would be reduced through a single, consolidated network.
O2 already receives a range of services from BT Wholesale including core network management support for O2’s mobile customers as well as a managed network service that is enabling O2 to serve the UK business market with fixed and broadband services.
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: TeliaSonera’s stake in Uzbekistani mobile operator Ucell has been raised from 74 percent to 94 percent after the former acquired 20 percent of the shares in the jointly owned TeliaSonera Uzbek Telecom from Takilant Limited.
TeliaSonera paid SEK 1.550 billion (USD 220 million) for the acquisition.
TeliaSonera Uzbek Telecom is a Dutch holding company owning 100 percent of Ucell in Uzbekistan.
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: With an investment of USD 75 million, 18% stake in Atlantique Telecom has been acquired by UAE-based operator Etisalat, thus increasing its shareholding to 100 percent.
82 percent in the African company Atlantique Telecom has already been held by Etisalat while the former holds controlling stakes in telecom operators in Ivory Coast, Benin, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Niger, Togo and Central Africa Republic.
Atlantique Telecom has been operated by Etisalat under the 10-year management contract ending in April 2015.
