Batelco cancels plans to sell tower in Bahrain, Jordan (Bahrain)
Bahrain Telecommunications (Batelco) has cancelled plans to sell its transmitter towers in Bahrain and Jordan and will instead look to share infrastructure with rival operators, said chief exective, Sheikh Mohamed Al-Khalifa.
Reuters had revealed in December that Batelco was considering a sale and lease back deal for its towers in the two countries, with funds raised earmarked for future acquisitions. Al-Khalifa said that Batelco has decided not to proceed with any tower sale in Bahrain and Jordan as various sale and lease back proposals did not create sufficient, long-term economic value.
Batelco will instead look to share towers and other infrastructure with rival operators. Sheikh Mohamed added that as more towers, rooftops and indoor solutions will be required in the future, such co-operation between operators will increase.
Verizon to cancel unlimited data plans with discounted handsets (USA)
Verizon Wireless has been considering the launch of shared data price plans which will enable consumers to use one data plan across different devices such as their smartphone, iPad and tablet. However, according to a recent report by TechCrunch, Verizon CFO Fran Shammo said that every one of their customers would be on one of the carrier’s new data share plans.
This announcement has got consumers on Verizon’s unlimited data plans concerned. Subscribers who have just upgraded from a 3G to a 4G device with that older data plan intact will be able to hang on to it until the time they upgrade their smartphone.
Furthermore, as per the report, customers who pay the full outright price for their handsets will be able to keep their unlimited plans as well. Verizon said that when they introduce their new shared data plans, unlimited data will no longer be available to customers when purchasing handsets at discounted pricing.
Airtel cuts 3G data prices by 70 percent (India)
In a revolutionary move in mobile data price plans, leading telecom operator Bharti Airtel has reduced the price for 3G data plans by 70 percent. As per a company statement, volume based browsing rate on 3G is down from $0.0018 per 10kb to $0.0005 per 10kb. This will be applicable for 3G non-pack users with effect from May 17, 2012.
The company revealed that the new data plan for pre-paid customers would start at $0.18 for 30 minutes of usage over a one-day validity, $0.82 for 150 MB data valid for 7 days and will go till $27.3 for 10 GB data valid for 30 days. On the other hand, for post-paid customers, the plans start at $1.8 with a 300 MB data and 30 days validity, and goes till $27.3 for 10 GB data valid for 30 days.
Airtel also said that with Airtel 3G Smartbytes, post-paid mobile customers will have uninterrupted access to high speed browsing on their mobile devices even after exhausting their monthly data limits. The Smartbytes additional data usage packs will be available in a range of pre-determined price options that allow Airtel 3G customers to choose a plan that suits their needs.
SingTel plans acquisition in China and US (Singapore)
Leading telecom operator in Singapore, SingTel has hinted towards acquiring businesses in China or US, to make up or slow growth in its domestic market.
As per a statement made by the company, SingTel may raise its stakes in associates in Asia and Africa and make other strategic investments. The company reported a 30 percent jump in fourth-quarter profit. Net income climbed to $1 billion in the three months ended March 31.
Chief Executive Officer Chua Sock Koong, said that when they look at acquiring the technology know how in the start up space, they could be looking at quite a few different places. She added that it could be startups in Silicon Valley, California or in countries such as India and China.
The company added that group revenue at the Singapore and Australia operations are forecast to grow at low single-digit rates this year while earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization may be stable. Further, dividends from associates in Asia and Africa are expected to grow.
Safaricom announces 10 percent raise in dividend (Kenya)
Safaricom Ltd. has raised its dividend by 10 percent after full year profit beat analyst estimates, causing the share price to climb 3 percent to $0.5. Chief Executive Officer Bob Collymore, said that net income fell 4 percent to $151 million, in the 12 months through March.
Collymore told BN in an interview that profit declined as a result of unrealized foreign-exchange losses amounting to $13.05 million and an increase in interest payments by $7.12 million. Sales rose 13 percent to $1.27 billion, as the number of customers increased 11 percent to 19 million.
As per the report, the company increased call charges on Oct. 1 for the first time in 11 years amid a weakening currency and rising inflation in East Africa’s biggest economy. Rates increased an average of $0.01 per minute after the company reported a 47 percent plunge in first-half profit amid a price war with competitors.
Collymore added that business improved in the second half as increased tariffs boosted voice revenue and the shilling recovered against the dollar after hitting a record low.
Talking about the future profit growth, Collymore said that both data penetration and usage in Kenya are still low and the company will boost that by providing more affordable smartphones to its customers.
The company plans capital expenditure of $250 million in the financial year ending March 2013, with most of that being spent on its fiber-optic network, Collymore revealed in the interview. Investment last year was $300 million.
Safaricom aims to reduce capex to 20 percent of sales from about 24 percent now, Collymore said, without giving a timeframe.
Vodafone India plans IPO roll-out (India, UK)
British telecom major Vodafone Group plans to list its Indian venture on local exchanges but hasn’t set any date yet, as said by unit Chief Executive Marten Pieters, as reported by WSJ.
In April 2011, parent Vodafone Group’s chief executive, Vittorio Colao, told a television station that it may consider an initial public offering for the India unit.
Vodafone has been battling Indian tax authorities since it bought Hutchison Whampoa Ltd.’s 67 percent stake in its India venture for $11.2 billion in 2007.
India plans to demand about $3.75 billion in taxes from Vodafone, a senior government official said on May 10. The British company says it isn’t liable to pay taxes on the deal as it was conducted overseas.
Mobily announces award of MVNE solution and services contract to XIUS (Saudi Arabia, India)
Mobily, the fastest growing mobile communications and technology provider in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced the award of its MVNE solution and services contract to XIUS, an Operating Brand of Megasoft Limited Hyderabad, India.
XIUS is providing MVNE/MVNO network infrastructure and operations managed services as well as MVNE back-office services required for the qualification and launching of MVNO on the Mobily network and MVNE platform and ultimate offering to potential MVNO subscribers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. XIUS is employing its Mobile Services Platform infrastructure and framework, currently deployed in multiple global locations, which will provide MVNO with its own separate network components and flexible capabilities for service offerings to its targeted subscribers.
GV Kumar, Managing Director and CEO of XIUS, said that they are very proud and excited to be working with Mobily on their foray into the MVNO market in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. As well, their Mobile Services Platform provides Mobily, and the MVNO it serves, with a flexible suite of network components, OSS/BSS, and VAS solutions that will be leveraged by the MVNO to offer distinct, separate, and compellingly different subscriber offerings.
Dr. Eyas Al-Hajery, Mobily’s Senior Executive Vice President for Wholesale and Carrier Services, said that they have chosen XIUS Mobile Services Platform after an exhaustive selection process that includes an extensive list of vendors. The platform will enable Mobily to provide carrier class comprehensive MNO/MVNE services to potential MVNOs.
The MVNO will be able to focus on its identified market target segment, develop unique plans and service offerings, and bring new and different value added solutions without dependence on the mobile network operator, utilizing the XIUS Mobile Services Platform being installed solely for the use and utilization of the MVNO.
Telefonica launches single pan-European mobile data tariff (Europe)
Telefónica banishes bill shock with the announcement of its first standard pan-European data roaming tariff – giving smartphone customers 25MB of high-speed Internet usage anywhere across the 27 European Union member states for just $2.54 a day.
Telefónica’s EU-wide tariff means mobile customers – on Movistar or O2 networks – will no longer have to worry about the cost of sending or receiving emails, updating their Facebook status or browsing the web on their smartphones when travelling or holidaying abroad.
For $2.54 a day, Telefónica is giving its smartphone customers travelling in the EU a data volume of 25 Megabytes – which translates to 250 visits to essential websites like Facebook, Twitter, Google or BBC Online and up to 500 emails.
Additionally, customers will only pay for days they choose to use data, and will not be charged should they wish to switch off their phone.
The Telefónica tariff weighs in at a fraction of new price caps announced by the European UnionFacebook, Twitter, Google – which ruled that as of 1 July, one data megabyte should cost no more than $0.9, or $22.25 for 25 MB. On a per megabyte basis, Telefónica’s European tariff works out considerably cheaper than the EU’s regulated rate.
José María Álvarez-Pallete, Chairman and CEO of Telefónica Europe, said that users no longer need to switch off their smartphones when travelling within the EU, and neither do they need to worry about bill shock when they get home. Further, their European data tariff gives smartphone customers great value while allowing them to do what really matters – to stay connected wherever they are in a simple and transparent way and with complete peace of mind.
Smartphone customers use on average around 6MB in a day, but any Telefónica customers exceeding 25 MB will be immediately notified. The Pan-European tariff launched in Germany in May and will be available this summer to O2 and Movistar customers in Spain, United Kingdom, Ireland, Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Apple’s new iPhone may feature a 4 inch display screen (USA)
Rumours surrounding Apple’s new iPhone continue to do the rounds, with latest news revealing that the US giant has begun placing orders for the new displays from suppliers in South Korea and Japan, according to a report by ET.
As per the report, Apple plans to increase the size of the screen by around 30 percent, offering users a display screen of 4 inches from corner to corner. Early production of the new screens has begun at three suppliers: Korea’s LG Display Co Ltd, Sharp Corp and Japan Display Inc, a Japanese government-brokered merger combining the screen production of three companies.
A prime reason for the increased screen size is said to be a competitive response to rival Samsung, which recently launched the Galaxy SIII in London, featuring a 4.8 inch display screen.
Apple places chips contract with Elpida, Samsung loses $10 billion market value (USA, South Korea)
US giant Apple has placed huge chip orders with Japanese maker Elpida, causing Samsung shares to dip 6 percent resulting in a market value loss of $10 billion, according to a report by ET.
As per the report, Apple recently placed large mobile dynamic random access memory (DRAM) orders with Elpida’s 12-inch plant in Hiroshima, Japan, securing around half the facilities total chip production. Following this news Samsung’s shares, the world’s biggest DRAM maker, tumbled 6.2 per cent to a 9-week low of $1,100 – the stock’s biggest daily fall in nearly four years.
Analysts claim that this move came as Apple doesn’t want to see Samsung and hynix dominate the chip market. Apple wants to maintain its bargaining power by keeping Elpida running.
Samsung is yet to make an official statement regarding the same.
