Canada next-Gen networks to propose increased capacity (N America)
A new research report has revealed that the LTE deployments planned in coming years will give operators the necessary bandwidth to allow for more mobile data devices on networks, including smartphones, tablets and notebook/netbook connectivity devices.
The research also indicates that with a mobile penetration rate of 72%, Canada has a sizable untouched market opportunity compared with other mature markets of its size. Over 9.5 million Canadians go without mobile service. Other than subscriber growth, mobile data is the main opportunity for operators to grow revenue, the study shows.
Moving forward, continued growth in smartphones and mobile devices, such as eReaders and tablets, is expected to contribute to the growth in data ARPS, reaching nearly 40 percent of total ARPS by 2015. Canadian operators are expected to focus on FTTx and LTE rollouts over the next several years. LTE deployments planned in coming years will give operators the necessary bandwidth to allow for more mobile data devices on networks, including smartphones, tablets and notebook/netbook connectivity devices.
BroadHop and Saudi Telecom Present on Unique Policy 2.0 Service Deployment at Management World Middle East
BroadHop, Inc., the leader in next generation policy control platforms for telecom operators and Saudi Telecom Company (STC), the leading Middle East telecommunications operator, will present a real world success story on how implementing a Policy 2.0-based value added service improves customer experience, reduces churn and increases loyalty, at this year’s TM Forum Management World Middle East held March 22-23, 2011 at the Hilton Jumeirah, Dubai.
Ahmed Alshaia, Section Head, Data and Broadband VAS, STC and Kishen Mangat, Vice President of Solutions and Co-founder, BroadHop, Inc., will present on Wednesday, March 23 at 9:25 a.m. as part of the Customer Experience track. Session attendees will hear about STC’s unique and highly personalized ‘Prayer Time’ service and how BroadHop’s Quantum Network Suite – enables the delivery of more innovative services and capabilities, including real time parental control, granular content filtering, and flexible pricing.
As a key operator in the region, STC offers a diversified set of network access capabilities to its customers via xDSL, FTTx, WiMAX and GPRS/3G and upcoming LTE services. By using Policy 2.0, STC has been able to monetize subscriber traffic streams, enhance the subscriber user experience, offer personalized services as well as control the explosion of bandwidth growth within its network. Mr. Kishen Mangat and Mr. Ahmed Alshaia will cover the key areas of how Policy 2.0 addresses today’s operator needs including:
- Service velocity
- Complexity in delivering innovative services
- Back end monetization gap
- Integration challenges
- Scalability & Performance — enabling service complexity, while protecting the control plane
Arcep reports 21.3 mn fixed broadband connections (France)
French telecoms regulator, Arcep has revealed that the country has recorded 21.3 million high speed and ultra-high speed fixed broadband connections at the end of 2011. It recorded a net increase of 440,000 subscriptions on the end of the third quarter, and 7% higher year-on-year.
The watchdog’s findings show that 19.9 million (or 93%) were xDSL lines, 460,000 were FTTx and the remainders were for other technologies such as cable, wireless or satellite.
TeliaSonera to invest $52m in Stockholm FTTx expansion (Sweden)
TeliaSonera has revealed that it is planning to invest around US$52.5 million in expanding its residential direct fibre (FTTx) broadband access network to ten additional municipalities in Stockholm County and Metropolitan Region.
An additional 33,000 households in Alta, Botkyrka, Danderyd, Djursholm, Haninge, Huddinge, Lidingo, Sundbyberg, Trangsund and Vendelso will will gain access to fibre broadband with speeds of up to 100Mbps via the project, due for completion by 2013.
In addition to the city centre, TeliaSonera’s residential ‘Telia Broadband FiberLan’ FTTx services in the Stockholm region currently cover apartments in the Metropolitan municipalities of Taby and Nacka, with faster speeds of up to 1Gbps promised ‘soon’.
Hong Kong operators focus on innovation in mature market
New research reports has revealed that given Hong Kong’s market maturity and high penetration levels, researchers expect that the focus of operators to continue shifting from subscriber acquisition to subscriber retention, an effort to be pursued by increasing investment in service innovation.
It is expected that the Hong Kong telecom market to generate $4.8 billion in 2010, recovering to 2008 levels after a revenue decrease to $4.6 billion in 2009. In 2010, however, solid growth in mobile data usage and a recovery in mobile voice revenue due to increased usage levels will lead the market to renewed growth. The growth will continue over the next five years, when the territory’s total telecom services market revenue will advance at a 2.8% CAGR to reach $5.5 billion in 2015.
Data and content services will be the main growth drivers, with mobile data services rising at a 10% CAGR between 2010-2015 on the strength of increased adoption of data-centric devices, such as 3G data cards and smartphones. To that end, mobile operators have been very aggressive, introducing smartphone models, data cards, and embedded devices, most of which have been successful in encouraging higher levels of data usage.
Hong Kong’s broadband and mobile penetration rates are among the highest in Asia, respectively at 94% of households and 144% of the population at year-end 2010. Operators must give special attention to creating innovative content and value-added services because broadband connectivity is reaching saturation levels. They must also pay special attention to bandwidth capacity to avoid overload.
Mobile data growth will be driven by the efforts of operators, such as 3, PCCW, and SmarTone, which are aggressively offering mobile data cards, netbook data card bundles, and smartphones with unlimited data access plans. Pay-TV growth will benefit from operators’ bundled offerings for both new and existing customers, as well as by attractive pricing plans and FTTx expansion.
Maxis communication and Huawei sign FTTx pact
Maxis Communications, Malaysia has signed a deal with Chinese vendor Huawei to act as the exclusive supplier for its next generation high speed internet infrastructure. Under the deal it includes the construction and management of a full service FTTx network using GPON technology.
The affiliation between the companies was officially made on 19 August. Huawei consenting to deliver an end-to-end turnkey services package that comprises active and passive equipment, holistic Optical Distribution Network designs and construction management.
The Next Generation High-Speed Internet network is part of Maxis’ commitment to provide over 12 million customers, and is vital to deliver a range of products and services which will reach into the areas of commerce, education, health, entertainment and so much more.
Maxis anticipates to start offering commercial services over the new infrastructure in the Klang Valley, and has already opened registrations for the customers interested in signing up for such services.
