Clearwire sued for throttling customers (USA)
Clearwire has been sued by customers alleging that their Internet speeds were purposely slowed down.
Claiming that the company is operating a “Ponzi Scheme”, the lawsuit alleges that the company is signing up more customers than its network can cope with, and then earning revenues by charging substantial termination fees to break contracts when customers cannot get the service they expected.
Clearwire’s practice is akin to a bandwidth Ponzi scheme in the sense that Clearwire advertises and sells a service, knowing in advance that there is no way it can provide such service on an ongoing basis — i.e., Clearwire sells subscriptions prior to build-out of sufficient infrastructure to support the “High Speed Internet” it advertises. Someday, if Clearwire sells enough subscriptions, it may have sufficient funds to go back and create the infrastructure to support its Internet service and make good on its promises.
While Clearwire has admitted to throttling the wireless broadband speeds, it states that these are temporary measures based on network performance.
Fifteen people are named in the lawsuit which seeks to be declared a class-action so that they can act on behalf of all of Clearwire’s customers.
AT&T Expands Mobile Broadband Coverage to the Mohawk Valley
As part of its continuing network investment to support growing demand for advanced mobile devices and applications, AT&T* today announced the activation of new mobile broadband cell sites in Herkimer County running through the Mohawk Valley including Danube, Little Falls, Herkimer, Mohawk, Frankfort and Ilion that will enhance coverage for area residents and businesses. With mobile broadband speeds, AT&T customers can surf the Web, download files faster, and enjoy the very latest interactive mobile applications.
The new cell sites are one part of AT&T’s ongoing efforts to drive investment and innovation to deliver the nation’s best, most advanced mobile broadband experience for customers. With the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T provides accelerated mobile data speeds and simultaneous voice and data capabilities.
“Our goal is pretty simple: We want you to have an extraordinary experience when you make a call, check e-mail, download a song or video, surf the Internet or keep your business mobile on your AT&T device,” said Robert Holliday, vice president and general manager, AT&T Upstate/Western New York. “As part of the Mohawk Valley, we’re always looking for new opportunities to provide enhanced coverage to help drive local economic growth and our investment in the local wireless network is just one way to accomplish this.”
AT&T’s mobile broadband network is based on the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) family of technologies that includes GSM and UMTS, the most widely used wireless network platforms in the world. AT&T has the best international coverage of any U.S. wireless provider, providing access to voice service in more than 220 countries and data service in more than 200 countries. AT&T also offers voice and data roaming coverage on more than 135 major cruise ships, as well as mobile broadband services in more than 130 countries.
AT&T also operates the nation’s largest Wi-Fi network** with more than 24,000 hotspots in the U.S. and provides access to more than 135,000 hotspots globally through roaming agreements. Most AT&T smartphone customers get access to our entire national Wi-Fi network at no additional cost, and Wi-Fi usage doesn’t count against customers’ monthly data plans.
For more information about AT&T’s coverage in New York State or anywhere in the United States, consumers can visit the AT&T Coverage Viewer. Using the online tool, AT&T customers can measure quality of coverage from a street address, intersection, ZIP code or even a landmark.
For updates on the AT&T wireless network, please visit the AT&T network news page.
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
** Largest based on company branded and operated hotspots. Access includes AT&T Wi-Fi Basic. A Wi-Fi enabled device required. Other restrictions apply. See www.attwifi.com for details and locations.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates AT&T operating companies are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. A leader in mobile broadband, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T |DIRECTV brands. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising.
Airtel launches 3G service in Delhi (India)
Bharti Airtel has launched 3G service in Delhi today enabling subscribers to access high speed internet and video telephony.
The company launched its 3G Mobile services on the back of a strong network powered by over 1,800 3G sites in the National Capital Region spanning Delhi, Gurgaon, Faridabad and Noida.
Bharti Airtel is the third private operator after Tata Teleservices and Reliance Communications to launch 3G services in the country. State-run BSNL and MTNL are also offering these high speed services.
According to Bharti Airtel President (Mobile Services) Atul Bindal, with just over a month since the launch, their 3G network covers around half a million customers and has 4,500 sites which is available across seven cities. The company is definitely witnessing the tipping point of non-voice and data explosion in this country and will be bringing the Airtel 3G advantage pan-India soon as promised.
Airtel 3G will allow customers to enjoy a variety of exciting service offerings including Mobile TV, Video Calls, high-speed internet and video capabilities on social networks. Further, a wide range of live and on-demand TV channels as well as shows would be available on Airtel 3G Mobile TV at an affordable price of US$0.88 for 20 minutes per week.
European government urges to introduce mobile satellite services
European Commission Vice-President for the Digital Agenda, Neelie Kroes, has issued an urgent call to twenty one EU countries to introduce all the legislative measures necessary to allow the pan-EU deployment of mobile satellite services . These services could be for high-speed internet, mobile television and radio or emergency communications to EU consumers and businesses.
According to the timetable agreed by a Decision of the European Parliament and the EU’s Council of Ministers in 2008, Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) should be deployed in all EU Member States by May 2011 at the latest. But, more than twenty months after the Commission selected two operators to provide such pan-European services, 21 Member States have not yet adopted all the national rules needed to facilitate MSS deployment.
Vice-President Kroes recently requested two operators to step up their efforts. The key role that wireless broadband (both satellite and terrestrial) can play to ensure broadband coverage, including in remote and rural areas, is underlined in the Digital Agenda for Europe.
Bharti Airtel launches 3G services in Karnataka (India)
Bharti Airtel has launched its 3G services in Karnataka and announced that it will launch 3G services in its other circles by March this year.
3G enables customers to access high speed internet, watch videos and live TV, make video calls and perform other multimedia tasks.
The company won 3G spectrum in 13 out of the 22 telecom circles in a government-led auction.
According to Bharti Airtel’s chief executive officer (India and South Asia) Sanjay Kapoor, 3G is much more than a technology migration – it is a transformational shift and Airtel’s focus would be to bring to its customers an enriched user experience on the back of a world class delivery network.
He added that world over, ‘data traffic’ on the back of high speed internet and use of social networking has already exceeded the ‘voice traffic’. India is ushering in the domain – though later than most of the world – but no doubt we will catch up at a much faster speed.
The company has introduced innovative 3G tariffs with personalized data usage limits. Customers will be able to manage their data usage alert and prevent “bill shock” with personalized and timely data usage alerts, the statement added.
The time-based plans, where billing will be by hour-basis, will be focusing on customers who have less use of data while the flexi-shield plans, where usage and billing will be capped, is aimed at heavy users of data services.
With this launch, Bharti Airtel becomes the third private operator to launch its 3G services in the country following Reliance Communications and Tata Teleservices.
Tiffany Baehman Named Vice President and General Manager of AT&T Mobility & Consumer Markets for Greater Philadelphia Region
AT&T announced that Tiffany Baehman has been named vice president and general manager of AT&T Mobility & Consumer Markets for the greater Philadelphia region. Baehman will oversee the sales and operations for more than 1,100 employees, 89 AT&T-owned retail locations and more than 475 national retail partners and authorized resellers spread across central and eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware. She will lead a market where AT&T has invested in a vast network infrastructure and contributed to local schools and community.
Baehman is a wireless industry veteran with more than 18 years of experience with roles in marketing, sales and operations. During her tenure with AT&T, Baehman has held various positions of increasing responsibility, including serving as executive director of marketing for AT&T’s Northeast Region. Most recently, Baehman served as executive director of sales in the New York market.
“The Mobility and Consumer Markets team in greater Philadelphia has a strong tradition of exceptional work, which is why Tiffany was a natural choice to lead this group,” said Steve Hodges, regional president, AT&T Northeast. “Her operational expertise and track record of delivering positive results for our organization make her an exciting addition to our leadership team.”
“Having this leadership role in greater Philadelphia is a tremendous opportunity,” said Baehman. “I look forward to continuing the efforts delivering a premier customer experience; strengthening relationships in the community and expanding our advanced mobile broadband network that helps us mobilize everything that’s important to our customers.”
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. A leader in mobile broadband, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse(R) and AT&T | DIRECTV brands. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising. In 2010, AT&T again ranked among the 50 Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE(R) magazine.
GSM lobby agrees to Rs 2,000 cr entry fee for 3G spectrum
NEW DELHI: The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) today agreed an entry fee of Rs 2000 crore for 3G services among operators.The GSM lobby has finally agreed on the entry fee, which would be shared by all the national operators. Each operator will have to shell out around Rs 400 crore as entry fee for 3G spectrum.
3G services, a high-end valued added service, will allow operators to offer mobile broadband services like high speed internet, video, video streaming, audio among others.
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Friday in a meeting with the cellular operators had presented the option of charging the spectrum on per Mega Hertz basis. The regulator expressed that the European model could be adopted by India through which Rs 85 crore could be charged per 1 Mhz per operator per service area (PSA).
According to the telecom regulation an operator is allocated a minimum of 5 MHz of spectrum to start its operations. According to TRAI’s proposed model each operator will have to shell out Rs 425 crore PSA, which received stiff opposition from the operators.
With the GSM operators agreeing on the entry fee, it seems that the debate on the pricing would lead to an understanding soon. However, Nripendra Misra, TRAI chief had said that they would submit the recommendations on the 3G policy by September 30.
Source- http://www.ciol.com
Technorati : 3G, GSM, India, Mobile, Trai
Ice Rocket : 3G, GSM, India, Mobile, Trai
