Norwegian firm Telenor enters India with 29p per minute plan
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Moving one step ahead of the pay per second system, Norway-based firm Telenor, entered Indian market with 29 paise per minute plan under the brand name Uninor. The company has tied up with India’s Unitech Group and will be launched in seven circles — UP (East), Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, UP (West) and Bihar.
According to the CEO and President of Telenor group, Jon Fredrik Baksaas, the new plan offers more value for money to the users as the consumers want something more than the usual features. The pay per second billing was first launched by TATA DoCoMo, followed by other operators.
According to Unitech Wireless Managing Director Stein-Erik Vellan, the company’s target is to occupy 8% of the market share by 2018 and operate cash-flow break-even in five years.
Besides, the company also expects that the average revenue per user (ARPU) becomes lower than the industry level in the near term. However, Unitech is susceptible about bidding in the 3G auction but at the same time it has made it clear that it will surely not bid for an all India license.
Pay mobile bills of TATA DoCoMo network via SMS (India)
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Facilitating payment of the mobile bill for its customers, Tata DoCoMo and ItzCash signed an agreement wherein the users can pay their bills via SMS using an ItzCash card.
The company also said that there are no hidden costs, charge-backs and reversals and the consumers can also utilize the full value of the card with all transactions confirmed in real time.
As per the service, users of TATA DoCoMo will have to SMS the keyword ‘PAYBILL’, amount to be paid, account number of the ItzCash and password and send it to 121.
ItzCash Card is available at ItzCash franchisees in denominations ranging from Rs. 100 to Rs. 10,000. Orders for the card can be placed online by the customers.
BSNL puts Zain purchase on hold.
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has put its plan to be a part of the consortium looking to buy a stake in Kuwait’s Mobile Telecommunications Co, on hold. The decision was taken as the information sorted by Vavasi Group has still not been received.
Vavasi Group which is not yet listed in India had tied up with Al-Bukhary group of Malaysia to buy a 46% stake in Zain. It was trying to add state-owned Indian telecommunications firm like BSNL and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd., to the consortium. By joining the consortium, BSNL and MTNL seek to widen its horizon beyond India.
Earlier, Gurudas Kamat, India’s junior telecom minister had said that both MTNL and BSNL are not very serious about joining the consortium.
The state owned telecom companies are facing stiff competition from private sector companies. According to BSNL Chairman Kuldeep Goyal, BSNL’s revenue is going to be severely hit by the latest tariff war in the current financial year.
The company is planning to add 20 million working lines to its present 50 million on the global system for mobile communication platform, over the next six months. Besides, it is also planning to spend INR140 billion in the current fiscal year to expand its mobile services.
Taiwan launches 3G network using Chinese technology
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: China lauded the successful launch of 3G mobile network using Chinese TD-SCDMA technology in Taiwan. It considered it as a successful display of the technological partnership of the two countries.
After several trips made by officials from China to Taiwan, the launch of the network was possible. Chairman of the world’s largest mobile network operator, China Mobile, spent several days in Taipei to promote TD-SCDMA.
Vibo Telecom, a 3G mobile operator in Taiwan launched the TD-SCDMA trial network on Tuesday in Taipei and became one of the few companies running a TD-SCDMA trial outside of China.
According to China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, by the trial of TD-SCDMA network in Taiwan, local handset makers and network equipment developers will get a good place to test TD-SCDMA devices. The ministry also said that Taiwanese and Chinese companies can research ways to install WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) technology alongside TD-SCDMA technology thus gaining experience in dual-network compatibility.
Loxley partners MPG for wireless broadband service on TOT (Thailand)
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: In order to enhance the operation of its mobile virtual network, Loxley announced its partnership with UK-based Mobile Partners Group (MPG). MPG will provide 3G-2.1GHz wireless broadband service on TOT’s network in greater Bangkok.
Established in 2006, MPG’s purpose was to simplify mobile-service set-ups with selected partners. At present, it also enables brand names or companies that want to enter the mobile business as either an SP (service provider) or MVNO (mobile virtual network operator).
Loxley, 365 Communication, Samart I-Mobile (SIM), IEC and M Consultant were selected by TOT to provide 3G-service on an MVNO basis for its Bangkok network.
Loxley is investing Bt40 million on related systems and will run the service under i-KooL 3G brand. The company aims to lure about 30,000 customers as well as break even within 18 months.
According to executive vice president of Loxley, Suroj Lamsam, Loxley’s 3G services would enhance its close-circuit TV system management, existing IT solutions on fleet management, as well as electricity including water-meter management. All these services are offered to state and private enterprises.
Indian mobiles set to get 11 digit numbers
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Get ready to add one more digit to your already difficult to remember mobile number from January next year. National Numbering Plan 2003 has been amended by Department of Telecommunications (DoT), migrating the current 10 digit numbers to an 11-digit numbering plan in mobile services.
As per the amendment, an extra ‘9′ would be prefixed to the existing two-digit PLMN Access Code. According to an internal DoT note, the proposed migration may be implemented from January 10, 2010.
Earlier, number ‘2′ was prefixed to all BSNL and MTNL fixed-line phones across the country a few years ago to accommodate more connections.
Every service provider has its own PLMN, identified by Mobile Country Code (MCC) and the Mobile Network Code (MNC). The PLAM connects with internet service providers for data and internet access and interconnects with other PlAMs and public switched telephone networks (PSTNs) for telephone communications.
The unexpected growth in India’s mobile subscribers has made this numbering plan imminent. With 10-14 million mobile subscribers added to the list every month, the wireless subscriber base has already crossed 500 million, making it compulsory for DoT to re-examine plans in order to accommodate more subscribers.
No Chinese equipment for border areas- Indian Govt to BSNL.
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: India’s government run telecom company, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) will not be able to procure Chinese telecom equipment as proposed by the Indian Government.
These equipments will not be bought in the border areas considered to be sensitive. Indian states bordering Pakistan, China, Bangladesh and Myanmar have been declared as sensitive by communications ministry in the Parliament.
The lawmakers were told that that the telecom companies are expressing concern over the plan which is still under consideration.
3 and Vodafone launch their official AFL app (Australia)
By Editor on December 3, 2009 · Leave a Comment
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: After Telstra which already has an official AFL app, Vodafone and 3 have joined the league by releasing their official cricket app. The application which can be downloaded at $1.19 allows the customers to watch live matches for $2.50 a day on their iPhone’s screen.
Even if the customers are on a different network, they can still buy the app but without added video goodness. The Live Summer App of Vodafone and 3 gives access to cricket TV channel featuring live streaming action including exclusive video highlights from Cricket Australia and Channel Nine.
The customers can also avail the facilities of getting live scores for every match, ball-by-ball text commentary, Face book, twitter & email in-app sharing• Full match schedules and reminders and latest cricket news stories are also available.
Filed under Mobile · Tagged with AFL, ASIA, Australia, channel nine, email, iPhone, Network, Summer App, Telstra, text commentary, twitter, video highlights, Vodafone