Kcell to expand 3G network (Kazakhstan)
Kazakhstani mobile operator, Kcell, is planning to expand its 3G network to new regions.
The company launched 3G services in the cities of Astana and Almaty at the end of last year.
The company will now expand the network to Shymkent, Aktau, Karaganda, Pavlodar, Taldykorgan, Kostanay, Kokshetau, Semey, Ekibastuz, Ust-Kamenogosrk, Talgar, Kaskelen, and Kapshagay.
Orange Armenia totals 555k subscribers
Orange Armenia Chief Executive Officer Bruno Duthoit has announced that the company has now signed up 555,000 mobile subscribers, up from 306,000 at the end of September 2010.
According to the CEO, the cellco is now looking to increase in 3G network capacity by 30% this year. The capacity increase will hopefully redress recent issues experienced by subscribers to its mobile internet services. He confirmed that whilst some users may be having technical problems, on the whole, the network is performing satisfactorily.
Vodafone Albania launches its 3G network
Vodafone Albania has launched the country’s first 3G network with coverage initially available in the capital city-Tirana and its suburbs. By starting the 3G operations initially in Tirana and soon in other cities, Vodafone will provide Internet speed of up to 14.4 Mbps.
According to Mr. Haris Broumidis, CEO of Vodafone Albania the company is pleased to offer to the inhabitants of Tirana the 3G technology experience, which will provide them fast access to internet, a number of new services and the most advantageous tariff plans. Vodafone Albania as the leading and most innovative telecommunications company in the country, believes that 3G will revolutionize the way Albanian families and businesses use their mobiles and access to internet.
After Tirana, 3G services will be extended to all current and new Vodafone customers across the country within 18 months.
DoCoMo launched LTE in Japan
NTT DoCoMo has launchecd its LTE service on Christmas Eve. DoCoMo launched the service, branded Xi†(pronounced crossyâ€), in the urban centers of Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka, with data speeds up to 37.5 Mbps for the downlink and 12.5 Mbps for the uplink outdoors, and up to 75 Mbps downlink speeds for indoor users.
Users traveling out of LTE range will be handed over seamlessly to DoCoMo’s 3G network.
However, the service is only being offered as a data-only service for laptop users. DoCoMo stated that it plans to introduce LTE-compatible handsets, including voice service over its 3G network, by March 2012.
In the case of Xi, DoCoMo revealed that it will have spent over $400 million on its LTE network by March this year, by which time it will cover 7% of the population with about 1,000 base stations.
DoCoMo plans to spend over $3.6 billion on network build-out by March 2013, with 15,000 base stations serving 40% of the population, and 70% coverage planned by March 2015.
DoCoMo also revealed that it expects 25% of its 3G user base (around 15 million subscribers) to migrate to Xi by March 2015.
On the other hand, DoCoMo is also banking on LTE and subsequent new content services like cloud computing and augmented reality apps to boost its data revenues well beyond voice. The operator aims to hit a consolidated operating income target of at least $10 billion by the end of its fiscal year ending in March 2013.
Vodafone Albania plan for 3G launch
Vodafone Albania has announced that its 3G network will be available initially in the capital city Tirana with other cities such as Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Shkodra and Vlora following over an 18-month period.
Under the terms of its licence, Vodafone Albania is obliged to cover 36% of the Albanian population within six months, rising to 65.5% after a year and 85.6% after 18 months.
Huawei wins Copaco 3G network deployment (Paraguay)
Paraguayan state-owned operator Copaco has selected Huawei for the deployment of a 3G network. The amount offered was $ 12 million, the lowest cost submitted at the auction.
The deal is valued at USD12 million, lower than the competing offers made by ZTE (USD13 million) and Ericsson (USD47 million), but this did not pass the first stage of pre-qualification.
Huawei will begin launching the network in January with a view to a commercial launch by June or July.
SK Telecom to commence Femtocell Installation (South Korea)
SK Telecom has announced that it will establish 1,000 data femtocell zones this year and will expand it to 10,000 by next year.
According to the company, different from Wi-Fi, the data femtocell is designed to work well in small areas like a home, school and workplaces, and support up to about 20 network users. A data femtocell is especially well-suited for high-traffic and crowded small areas that require mobility. In contrast, Wi-Fi is better utilized for large-scale traffic flow at a fixed spot.
SK Telecom added that with its use of the 3G network, a data femtocell is more secure than Wi-Fi and supports handover for seamless connectivity. At a femtocell zone, the data transmission speed is over double that of a regular 3G network because only the selected users will use the data service.
NSN wins Indian 3G Contract
Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) has won a 3G network contract from India’s Idea Cellular covering four circles – Uttar Pradesh (East), Uttar Pradesh (West), Kerala and Haryana.
Nokia Siemens Networks is currently a major GSM vendor for the operator and the deal will strengthen this relationship with an overlay of 3G on the existing GSM network.
The contract covers about 40% of Idea’s base station portfolio. Nokia Siemens Networks will also supply unified network management, monitoring and optimization based on its NetAct system.
In addition, Nokia Siemens Networks will apply its domain expertise in 3G network operations to provide support to the operator in managing its 3G network.
No financial or timeline details were disclosed.
Digitel plans to expand 3G network in Caracas (Venezuela)
Alberto Sosa, CEO of Venezuelan cellco Digitel has stated that CAPEX for 2011 will match the US$100 million spent in 2010, while it plans to expand its 3G network to Caracas, in the first quarter of 2011, and subsequently all areas of the country.
During 2010 the company expanded 3G across central and eastern states, and is planning to install 180 base stations in 2011, double its 2010 total.
Established on August 31, 1987, Digital Telecommunications Phils., Inc. (DIGITEL ) is 47.45% owned by JG Summit Holdings Inc. or JGSHI, one of the largest and most diversified conglomerates in the Philippines. DIGITEL is part of the JG Summit Conglomerate, which has business interests in Air Transportation, Banking, Food Manufacturing, Hotels, Petrochemicals, Power Generation, Publishing, Real Estate and Property Development, and Telecommunications among others.
