Wireless Federation

Dutch rail NS launches 100th intercity train with Wi-Fi (Netherlands)

On 03.30.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Dutch rail NS has launched its 100th intercity train equipped with Nomad Digital’s Wi-Fi system.

NS launched its Wi-Fi service less than a year ago and is intending for 365 intercity trains equipped with Wi-Fi by December 2013. Currently over 200,000 sessions per month are being reported.

The five year contract with Nomad Digital also provides real time travel information, presented via a variety of passenger information screens, both on the train and trackside.

Nomad has also just received a purchase order from the NS worth around US$11.30 million to launch the new VIRM fleet.

KPN terminates DVB-H mobile TV ( Netherlands)

On 03.30.11, In Mobile, By Editor

KPN from June 1 will stop offering mobile TV via the DVB-H standard.

According to the operator, standard did not really develop into a global standard and so it was probably not worthwhile to continue supporting the technology. MobielTV made its debut on the Dutch market in 2008, with KPN offering three devices supporting the DVB-H standard: the Nokia N96, the Samsung P960 and the LG KB620. The devices made it possible for subscribers to watch live TV on ten channels and two pay-TV premium channels.

Within one year, KPN registered 40,000 customers for its mobile TV services; subscriber numbers began declining as no new phones were introduced. There are currently 20,000 customers. These customers will receive a letter informing them that KPN is ending the MobielTV service.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Dutch • DVB-H • KPN • Mobile TV • operator

KPN selects ZTE for HSPA+, LTE trials in Belgium, Germany (Netherlands)

On 02.17.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Dutch operator, KPN has announced a joint development programme with ZTE focusing on the application of LTE technology in Germany and Belgium.

KPN Mobile International and ZTE have scheduled a field trial program for 2011 to investigate the capabilities of ZTE’s commercial equipment.

The co-operation gives KPN the flexibility to upgrade quickly its network equipment to LTE in the future, depending on the demand. KPN has already worked with ZTE on its HSPA networks in Germany and Belgium, started last year.

Under the latest agreement, ZTE will help transform KPN networks in Germany and Belgium over a three-year period using ZTE’s SDR technology to provide HSPA+ data services. This will mean that customers at Base in Belgium and E-Plus in Germany will have access to mobile broadband at up to 21.6Mbps.

The initial agreement between ZTE and KPN involved the provision of access network technology, but the deal was extended to cover end-to-end solutions including core network and wireless access technologies and Android handsets. The packet-based core network equipment deployed in Germany is now in commercial use.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Belgium • Dutch • E-Plus • Germany • HSPA • KPN • KPN Mobile International • LTE • Mobile • SDR technology • Technology • ZTE

TomTom to expand workforce to meet rising demand (Dutch)

On 12.27.10, In Mobile, By Editor

Dutch navigation equipment maker TomTom NV’s Chief Executive Harold Goddijn has stated that the company will expand its workforce next year to meet growing demand from the car industry and emerging markets.

Goddijn revealed that TomTom will increase its workforce to 4,000 people from 3,500. The company needs to expand their leading position and the company will mainly focus on growing in Asia.

Godijn added that he expects to sign more deals with car manufacturers, in addition to current deals with companies such as Renault SA and Mazda Motor Corp. The acquisition of digital mapmaker TeleAtlas in 2008 was a good decision. Tele Atlas is the core of their business. It fits in their strategy to become less dependent on personal navigation devices and expand to the automotive industry.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: ASIA • Chief Executive Harold Goddijn • Dutch • Dutch navigation equipment maker • Mazda Motor Corp. • Mobile • Renault SA • TeleAtlas • TomTom

Vodafone wants to settle tax row out of court

On 11.15.10, In Mobile, By Editor

If reports are to be believed, India’s government has been approached by its Dutch counterpart on behalf of Vodafone Group Plc to settle a three-year dispute involving a tax claim of more than $2.5 billion.

According to reports, Netherlands has written to India asking it to consider an alternate dispute resolution that will run parallel to the ongoing court process through a so-called Mutual Agreement Procedure (MAP).

According to sources, India would examine the request and take a decision in accordance with the provisions of the India-Netherlands double tax avoidance agreement (DTAA).

MAP is an alternate process of dispute resolution, and is an option available to a taxpayer in addition to and concurrent with the appellate process. However, under MAP, once the proceedings are initiated, it is possible to obtain a stay on the tax demand provided one gives a bank guarantee.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Court • DTAA • Dutch • India • Map • Mobile • Netherlands • tax row • Vodafone

T-Mobile Netherlands Launches Prepaid service on Elephant Talk Communications

On 09.22.10, In Mobile, By Editor

Elephant Talk Communications Inc., an international provider of business software, has announced its Mobile Virtual Network Operating (MVNO) hosting agreement with T-Mobile Netherlands BV.

T-Mobile is launching new prepaid services under its own Ben brand through various distribution channels, along with other increased functionalities to the Dutch consumer market. The new plan of T-Mobile Netherlands operates on Elephant Talk’s Mobile Virtual Network Enabling (MVNE) platform.

According to Steven van der Velden, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Elephant Talk, within just a few months of announcing the company’s hosting agreement with T-Mobile Netherlands the project is introducing a full range of very attractive services to the Dutch market, demonstrating the effectiveness and flexibility for which the Elephant Talk’s mobile convergent platform had been selected by T-Mobile.

According to Hendrik Kasteel, Marketing Director of T-Mobile Netherlands, Elephant Talk’s mobile telecom platform is an integrated system that is cost-effective, simple and flexible to operate. Enabling prepaid services through multiple distribution channels with new recharge options, promotions and bundles, has proven to be possible on the Elephant Talk platform. This is what the company envisioned when contracting Elephant Talk for Ben Prepaid. And it is just the beginning of what this partnership will bring to the market.

Martin Zuurbier, Chief Technical Officer of Elephant Talk Communications, explained that the company is very pleased to see that the strategy meets the expectations of T-Mobile. Although it created many client specific features, the company’s convergent Mobile platform shows itself to be a truly flexible framework for configuring a variety of bespoke service combinations. The company believes it will help Ben Prepaid gain significant market share in The Netherlands. The platform also proves that an MVNE platform is not only there to support MVNOs but also to help out the MNOs. Elephant talk communication expects that the collaboration with T-Mobile Netherlands will lead to increased hosting services of the different MNO products and services.

Mr. Zuurbier noted since announcing Elephant Talk’s hosting agreement with T-Mobile Netherlands in May 2010 that other MNO’s have shown serious interest in using the flexible, fully integrated solutions that are provided by the company’s MVNE platform and expects to announce more new initiatives in the near future.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Ben Prepaid • Dutch • Elephant Talk Communications Inc. • MNO • Mobile • MVNE • MVNO • Netherlands • T-Mobile Netherlands BV

EC decision gives another blow to mobile sector

On 05.21.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Digital Agenda, part of the Europe 2020 strategy has been presented by the European Commission and increasing access to broadband services, including possible state aid for remote areas, and spectrum harmonization has been projected as important elements for the telecom sector. Willingness for a certain amount of government intervention has already being shown by ICT commissioner Neelies Kroes.

Countries like the Netherlands are already well on the way to meeting the goals and here 50Mbps is already available to around 90 percent of the population. 100 percent Broadband might not be possible but the target does not seem to be too far. One cannot consider the target of universal access to at least 30Mbps by 2020, with at least half of households on 100Mbps as ambitious.

In the statement, by 2015, the international roaming prices should be so low that a mobile user doesn’t even notice when it crosses a border at least, not from the mobile prices. Artificially high tariffs and subsidizing mobile with fixed networks soon will be things of the past.

While announcing its Q1 results, Dutch telco KPN estimated that mobile termination rate cuts cost the company EUR 55 million in revenues and EUR 20 million in EBITDA. KPN’s market expectations centre on a small revenue decline this year to EUR 13.4 billion from EUR 13.5 billion in 2009. Small increase in 2011 and 2012 to EUR 13.45 billion (both years) has been estimated by the market currently.

But if the national regulators and the EC actions are taken into consideration, it’s highly questionable whether this growth will materialize already in 2011.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Dutch • EBITDA • Europe • European Commission • KPN • Mobile • Mobile Termination Rate • Netherland • Netherlands

Pursway Influencer Solution moves to Dutch

On 04.12.10, In Mobile Marketing, By Editor

Influencer Marketing Management from Pursway solution has been selected by T-Mobile Netherlands to help the operator improve customer relationship strategies and engage with hard-to-reach customers.

According to Aswyn Saktoe-Veenenbos, VP Marketing Database Intelligence at T-Mobile Netherlands, consumers are flooded with marketing messages and are increasingly tuning out of vendor communication.

In his opinion, tapping into the power of social influence gives them a whole new way to interact with their customers. It enables them to reach an audience that was otherwise difficult to communicate with, let alone get them to act.

Pursway provides them with a scalable method to reach customers in a manner that works best for them, through the people they trust.

Filed under:Mobile Marketing Tagged with: Dutch • Mobile • Netherland • Netherlands • Pursway • T-Mobile • T-Mobile Netherlands

KPN to move court to block Dutch spectrum auction

On 03.25.10, In Mobile, By Editor

Royal KPN NV, Telecommunications Company is all set to move the court to change the rules of the upcoming Dutch wireless spectrum auction. According to the company, the auction allows the new entrants to the market to acquire more spectrum than the existing operators.

The company is determined to seek an injunction against the auction. KPN is in favor of competition that provides long-term stimuli to the market but is of the opinion that this is insufficiently safeguarded by the current auction mechanism.

Ever since its first launch in 2007, the auction of 2.6 gigahertz frequency spectrum has already been delayed several times as the Dutch government has amended the tender.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Dutch • KPN • Royal KPN

Excessive handset subsidies in Netherlands come to an end

On 05.15.06, In Mobile, By Editor

Following T-Mobile’s recent announcement, market leader KPN has also decided to cut the commissions it pays to retailers for selling mobile services in The Netherlands. From September, KPN will gradually reduce handset subsidies and sales commissions. The handset subsidies and excessive sales commissions have been a thorn in the side of operators in recent years amid an increasingly saturated Dutch mobile market. The handset subsidies and sales commission contribute to very high churn rates, reaching 30 percent, but do not add to service revenue growth, putting pressure on profit margins. A reduction was inevitable, but the question was which operator dared to take the first step and risk giving the competition an advantage? The first move by T-Mobile and the recent success of E-Plus in Germany may have helped KPN take the decision to pull the plug on handset subsidies in The Netherlands.

Source- http://www.telecompaper.com

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Advantage • Churn • CHURN Rate • Commission • Competition • Dutch • Dutch mobile • Dutch Mobile Market • E-Plus • First • Germany • Growth • Handset Subsidies • Margins • Mobile market • Netherland • Netherlands • Rates • Reduce • Reduction • Retailers • Revenue Growth • September • Service Revenue • Subsidies • The Netherlands