Idea Cellular cuts 3G tariffs by 70 percent (India)
Indian telecom operator Idea Cellular seems to be following Bharti Airtel’s footsteps by announcing a reduction of 70 percent in its 3G tariff plans. As per a company statement, Idea decided to cut 3G tariffs to widen the new-age offering by making it accessible to one and all.
The company said that under the new plan, Idea’s pre-paid and post-paid customers will pay $0.0005 for 10 kb of data, a reduction of 70 per cent from the earlier levels of $0.0018. Further, Idea said that 3G services are offered in 3,207 towns across the country and it has 2.7 million active users with an average usage of 330 MB per month.
Idea also said that it has introduced various packs such as sachet packs, regular packs and unlimited packs, priced in a way to accommodate users from different segments. The lowest of the sachets will be sold for $0.18 and offer 30 minutes of high speed internet surfing on 3G enabled handsets.
T-Mobile introduces no annual contract mobile broadband service passes (USA)
T-Mobile USA, Inc. announced that its new, flexible and worry-free No Annual Contract mobile broadband service passes will debut May 20, making it easier for customers to enjoy access to high-speed Internet on the go whenever they want. With T-Mobile’s new, more affordable No Annual Contract data passes, customers can experience T-Mobile’s blazing-fast 4G network speeds across a variety of mobile broadband devices including tablets, mobile hotspots and laptop sticks – with no strings attached.
Starting at just $15, T-Mobile’s lineup of No Annual Contract mobile broadband passes delivers a pay-in-advance, overage-free solution that offers an allotment of mobile data, making it possible for customers to choose a pass that best fits their data needs without committing to a two-year contract: 300MB 1-week pass for $15, 1.5GB 1-month pass for $25, 3.5GB 1-month pass for $35 and 5GB 1-month pass for $50.
Jeremy Korst, vice president of marketing, T-Mobile USA, said that although most of their mobile broadband customers choose postpaid rate plans for the best device prices and data rates, they know that many of their customers want the flexibility to be able to experience mobile broadband without committing to an annual contract up front. With better pricing and new features like an auto-refill option and a simpler purchase experience, T-Mobile’s No Annual Contract mobile broadband passes make it easier and more affordable than ever to experience high-speed Internet on the go on a range of devices.
T-Mobile offers a variety of 4G mobile broadband devices that, when connected to T-Mobile’s high-speed 4G network, offer customers fast access to the Web, e-mail, gaming, movies and more, while on-the-go.
T-Mobile’s lineup of mobile, connected tablets, including the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus and the T-Mobile SpringBoard with Google, deliver a premium on-the-go entertainment and Web experience, making it possible to stream movies on a road trip or shop online while the kids play at the park.
The T-Mobile Sonic 4G Mobile Hotspot and the T-Mobile 4G Mobile Hotspot are ideal for staying connected on-the-go with colleagues and clients or providing Internet on the go for the family on vacation. Providing simultaneous access to T-Mobile’s 4G network for up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices, customers can use their mobile hotspots to connect their iPad devices, laptops, music players, portable gaming devices and e-readers, among other devices, to T-Mobile’s high-speed 4G network.
T-Mobile’s laptop sticks, including the HSPA+ 42-enabled Rocket 3.0 USB Laptop Stick, are perfect for customers looking for a blazing-fast mobile Internet connection on their laptop.
Airtel selects Huawei for 4G network contract in Karnataka (India)
Indian telecom operator Bharti Airtel has awarded Huawei a contract to plan, design, supply and deploy LTE network to offer fourth-generation (4G) mobile broadband services in Karnataka. According to reports, Huawei will deliver LTE network infrastructure and devices which offers high-speed internet access on the go.
Sanjay Kapoor, chief executive officer for India & South Asia, Bharti Airtel, said that with the pioneering launch of 4G LTE, Airtel has paved the way for data revolution in the country by being at the forefront of India’s telecom revolution once again. Further, mobile data traffic in the country will increase nearly 100-fold by 2015 and consumers will stream nearly 600 hours of video content.
This is the third region where Airtel has launched 4G services in India, following Kolkata and Maharashtra. Airtel is also the first operator to offer 4G services in India.
Umniah begins preperation for 3G launch (Jordan)
Umniah, the leading telecom operator in Jordan and a subsidiary of Bahrain’s Batelco Group, has announced that it was gearing up for the rollout of 3G services across the kingdom in the coming months, according to a report by TradeArabia.
As per ther report, Umniah said preparations were underway for the completion of the newest 3G network in the Kingdom. The company confirmed that it is in the process of finalizing the network in order to meet the growing demands for high-speed Internet in the Jordanian market.
The operator announced that it had signed key agreements with Huawei and ZTE to assist in the technical requirements related to the building of the 3G network for Umniah’s corporate and individual subscribers.
Umniah CEO Ihab Hinnawi said that they are expecting to launch their 3G services in the coming few months. Further, the market has shown a number of indications that signify its readiness for 3G services as they have seen an increased demand for broadband Internet services, an increase in smartphone penetration rates, an improvement in purchasing power as well as a rise in content and applications that are suited to our community and lifestyle.
Hinnawi said Umniah had invested $70.4 million in January for a 3G licence and dedicated additional amounts towards infrastructure and network expenses.
As per the report, the telecom group had also acquired 2.1 GHz of spectrum from the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC), preparing it to move forward with the rollout of the advanced 3.75G services to its growing customer base, he stated.
Umniah currently serves more than 2.3 million customers in the Kingdom, giving it a 31 per cent market share, he added.
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.
