Ericsson helps implement mobile ticketing service in Florence (Italy)
Azienda Trasporti dell’Area Fiorentina (ATAF, the public transport authority in Florence, Italy) has launched its Mobile Ticketing service in partnership with Ericsson and mobile operators TIM, Vodafone, Wind and 3 Italia. As per a report by the company, the service allows customers of these operators to buy public transport tickets by text message, charging the cost to their mobile account.
Through this initiative, the Italian operators are strengthening their commitment to Mobile Pay, a platform launched in May 2011 to expand the use of mobile technology as a payment method. ATAF is the first public transport administration in Italy to implement mobile payment services. The system is convenient for passengers because a mobile phone is all they need to make a payment, and the cost is charged to their existing mobile account, so no registration or credit system is necessary.
Mobile ticketing represents a new step toward the mass adoption of m-commerce, a concept that transforms mobile devices into mobile wallets to provide a new method of payment for goods and services. In a study on preferred mobile services conducted by the Politecnico di Milano (Polytechnic University of Milan) in Italy, 65 percent of respondents said they were interested in mobile ticketing.
Ericsson is the world leader in mobile charging and billing, with more than 1.6 billion subscribers using its solutions. Prior to the 2012 Mobile World Congress, held in Barcelona, Spain, Ericsson launched its new extended suite of m-commerce solutions and services, designed to accelerate access and interconnection between the emerging m-commerce ecosystem and the financial world to fast-track the next generation of mobile financial services.
Initial valuation of 4G services at US$3.3bn (Italy)
The Italian government has reportedly received early offers totaling $ 3.3 billion for its 4G mobile frequencies to be auctioned this week. 4G technology provides a comprehensive and secure IP (Internet Protocol) solution, allowing users to access high quality video streaming along with voice and data at a much higher speed than previous generations.
As per reports, some of the operators that have put in their offers include Telecom Italia SpA, Vodafone Group Plc, Wind Telecomunicazioni S.p.A of VimpelCom Ltd. and Hutchison Whampoa Ltd.’s 3 Italia.
3 Italia service revenues increase by 4% in 2010 (Italy)
3 Italia has reported that its services revenues increase by 4% in 2010 to US$2.39 billion.
Prepaid revenues plunge by 16% to US$483.42 million, while postpaid sales rose 10% to US$1.91 billion. Average revenue per user (ARPU) was almost flat year-on-year at US$33.25.
The postpaid customer base slightly decreased by 1% in 2010, while the prepaid base increased by 4%. 3 Italia served nearly 9.1 million customers at 28 March, of which 5.8 million were prepay users and 3.2 were contract subscribers. 3 Italia achieved EBIT positive operating results in the second half of 2010.
3 Italia reported turnaround of 121 percent to EBIT of US$135.26 million in 2010. Full-year total EBIT includes a one-time substantial benefit of US$205.71 million, related to the assignment of two blocks of 5MHz of 1,800 MHz spectrum.
AgCom speeds up mobile spectrum auction (Italy)
AgCom Italys’ Communications Authority has redecided to speed up the auction of the new frequencies to be allocated to mobile operators.
The Authority has adopted a draft regulation of the auction which will now be subject to public consultation. On the market, will be eventually offered 300 MHz of new frequencies, a significant portion of the band, that the regulator plans to make available to Telecom Italia, Vodafone Italia, Wind, 3 Italia and also to any new entrants.
The frequencies being auctioned will come from the so-called digital dividend i.e. frequencies to be vacated by 2012 by local TV channels.
Antitrust fines 3 Italia for $2,12,580 (Italy)
Italy’s competition regulator has fined H3G (3 Italia) US$2,12,580 over excessively complex and confusing contractual terms.
According to the watchdog, the restrictions or conditions of use for the services provided by the mobile operator are laid down in its contract in a way that is likely to confuse and mislead consumers.
The penalty was due to insufficient information provided to customers during the implementation of new tariff plans introduced from December 2007.
Italy telcos ink MOU for High-Speed broadband infrastructure company
As per Industry Minister, Paolo Romani, Italian telecoms operators have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the formation of a new company to build a high-speed broadband infrastructure.
According to Romani, the new company will be responsible for building a basic fiber-optic infrastructure, avoiding duplications and coordinating investments by Italy’s seven leading operators. The companies include Italy’s largest operator Telecom Italia SpA, Fastweb SpA, Wind SpA, Vodafone Italia, Tiscali SpA, BT Group PLC’s Italian unit, and 3 Italia.
The new company, which will be based on both public and private funds, will have an executive committee chaired by the Industry ministry and will include one representative from each of the seven telecoms operators. The committee will be in charge of defining the new company’s governance and business plan within the next three months.
Romani confirmed that state-controlled fund Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) will play a role in the new broadband infrastructure company, providing the company’s capital or loans.
Telecom Italia , Chief Executive Franco Bernabe has welcomed the agreement among the operators stating that it will contribute to the re-launch of broadband in Italy.
According to Fastweb’s board member Stefano Parisi, the new company was an important step forward, but added its success will be influenced by the action of Italy’s telecoms regulator AGCOM, which will have to set clear rules.
Telefonica says EU tariff reforms to leave a hole in investment budget
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: According to Telefonica’s COO, the tariff cut by European Union regulators will reportedly burn a multi-billion-euro hole in the telecoms sector’s investment budget. It was on 1 July, that EU implemented new series of mobile roaming tariffs.
“Those two measures alone will cut investments by 6 billion euros ($8.57 billion),” COO Julio Linares.
As far as revenues are concerned, the cuts to roaming tariffs will have a impact of 6 billion euros and European operators will lose a further 34 billion from the decrease in call termination rates, Linares said.
3 Ireland awarded mobile TV licence
Mobile operator 3 Ireland has been awarded a licence to trial broadcast TV over mobile phones from market regulator ComReg. The one-year licence will allow 3 to test DVB-H technology, building on services already developed by its sister company 3 Italia. Three Ireland already offers some video content via a streaming service.
Source- http://www.telecompaper.com
Technorati : 3 Ireland, Mobile
Ice Rocket : 3 Ireland, Mobile
