Neotel cuts call rates by 23% (South Africa)

On 03.09.11, In Mobile, By Editor

South Africa’s second national operator, Neotel, has slashed the call rates to mobile phones by 23% in an effort to improve its market share.

The lower rates which were prompted by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa’s (ICASA) ruling on termination fees last year came into effect on  March 1.

According to Neotel’s Dr Angus Hay, Neotel continues to offer the most cost effective home phone service for consumers. For as little as US$14.4 per month rental, you can get a wireless phone – no copper wires, no waiting for installation – and these new rates make it even more compelling. Even the old landline number can be retained.

According to Neotel, calls to the MTN or Vodacom network will now cost US$0.013 (plus VAT) during peak hours, and US$0.012 (plus VAT) during off-peak hours. Calls to Cell C and 8ta will cost US$0.17 (plus VAT) during peak hours, and US$0.013(plus VAT) during off-peak hours.

Hay added that at standard rates, it is still cheaper to call a Telkom line from a Neotel phone than from a Telkom phone, and all calls between Neotel subscribers countrywide are free after hours. Now, Neotel is able to offer the best ever prices for calls to mobile phones as well.

 

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ICASA approves Cell C’s application (South Africa)

On 03.04.11, In Mobile, By Editor

South African regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has reportedly approved Cell C’s application for additional spectrum in the 2100MHz frequency band.

The spectrum will be used to boost the cellco’s HSPA+ network, which was launched in September 2010.

According to reports, Cell C CEO, Lars Reichelt has indicated that the spectrum will be used for capacity and in-fill wherever needed.

 

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Vox writes down LCR unit (South Africa)

On 11.01.10, In Mobile, By Editor

Vox Telecom expects to make earnings per share loss, after writing down its least cost routing (LCR) and Internet service provider units by US$106.78 million.

According to the company, it expects a minimum loss per share of 60.94c for the year upto August. An year ago, the company reported a gain of 5.49c per share.

According to Vox, the loss is because of goodwill and intangible asset write downs of at least US$106.78 million. This write down is mostly at its least cost routing (LCR) business, Orion, because of interconnect cuts. However, it has also made write downs at lantic Internet, which is unrelated to interconnect. Since Vox’s last financial year, the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) has issued final wholesale termination rates. Vox has been shifting its LCR business to a new platform, but is expected to see short-term pressure at the subsidiary.

The regulator on Friday issued final regulations for interconnect rates, dropping mobile termination rates to 73c at peak and 65c during off-peak times from March next year. The following year, rates will drop to 56c and 52c. However, by March 2013, wholesale mobile terminations rates will drop to 40c, regardless of the time the call is made.

According to Vox, it had made certain assumptions about future reductions in interconnection rates based on previous statements by ICASA. As a result of these changes, it revalued the least cost routing business based on certain assumptions.

As per Vox it will make a further announcement when it is able to quantify the expected basic loss per share with a greater degree of certainty. Its results are expected to be available on 24 November.

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South African Regulator Cuts MTN, Vodacom Rates

On 10.29.10, In Mobile, By Editor

MTN Group Ltd. and Vodacom Group Ltd.’s call termination rates were set at US$0.10 from March following South African government demands to bring down the world’s third-highest interconnection rates.

According to the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, the industry regulator, peak call rates for the two companies were set at 56 cents from March 2012 to February 2013 and will drop to 40 cents after that.

According to Icasa councilor Thabo Makhakhe, it is a well-known reality that South African citizens are concerned about the amount of money they spend every month on the basic necessity of electronic communications.

Vodacom, the biggest provider of mobile-phone services to South Africans, lost 0.5%, while Telkom South Africa Ltd., Africa’s largest fixed-line operator, declined 1.3%.

Minister of Communications Siphiwe Nyanda ordered Icasa a year ago to implement a directive for operators to cut rates to levels that reflect costs associated with carrying each other’s calls. The industry does not favor a regulated rate for call termination.

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MTN, Telkom interconnect dispute to be heard by the regulator, ICASA (South Africa)

On 09.08.10, In Mobile, By Editor

The telecoms regulator, Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) will hear an interconnection agreement dispute between Telkom SA and MTN today.

According to Paseka Maleka, the spokesman for the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA), apparently there’s a party that doesn’t want to ink the agreement. The authority also wants to get transparency.

According to ICASA, it had received notification on June 23 from Telkom of a dispute with MTN after they failed to agree on the terms and conditions of interconnection.

The matter was referred to ICASA’s complaints and compliance committee (CCC) for hearing and adjudication

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MTR proposal rejected by ICASA (South Africa)

On 02.04.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The proposed mobile termination rate (MTR) cuts have been rejected by South African regulator the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) which instead will impose its own regulations on the country’s telcos.

On November 13, 2009, an agreement was reached between Cell C, Vodacom and MTN to reduce MTRs from an average of ZAR1.25 (USD0.16) per minute during peak times, to peak ZAR0.89 and off-peak ZAR0.77.

According to ICASA, it aims to introduce its own proposals for MTRs in March 2010.

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MTN launches Samsung P910 with mobile TV trial

On 10.17.06, In Mobile, By Editor

MTN yesterday launched the Samsung P910, which consumers can use to participate in a MultiChoice mobile TV trial.
 
MTN yesterday launched the Samsung P910, which users can use to participate in a MultiChoice Digital Video Broadcast-Handheld (DVB-H) mobie TV trial. MTN also launched Fashion TV and CNN streamed via 3G.

Ashraff Paruk, MTN general manager of strategy and product innovation, says the launch of the phone is a partnership between MTN, Samsung, Gemalto and Irdetto, which has enabled MTN to release a SIM-based encryption device into the market.

The P910 has a 262144 colour screen which rotates sideways and receives the encrypted signal via a small pull-out antenna. What this means is that the P910 is able to receive an encrypted signal from MultiChoice. The SIM card acts like a card would in a DSTV decoder, providing a key for the decryption of the signal, enabling the user to access the 11 channels being broadcast over DVB-H by MultiChoice.

The channels available on the free MultiChoice trial include sport, news and entertainment channels like Fashion TV,??? Paruk says.

The channels have been designed for viewing on a mobile phone as the size of the smaller screen needs to be taken into consideration. Some channels are simply not suitable for a mobile phone.

Paruk says MTN is also working on a platform to enable users to switch seamlessly between DVB-H content and content streamed via 3G.

When users are watching TV an icon will appear on the screen, offering content streamed via 3G. They will then be able to switch in between the content seamlessly, he says.

However, when DVB-H will be commercially available is uncertain. MTN has not applied for a license from the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) they have left that to MultiChoice.

Paruk hopes that DVB-H will become commercially available in the first quarter of 2007. Given the track record of the granting of licenses by Icasa, this seems unlikely.

For now, DVB-H will therefore be restricted to those who can get their hands on a DVB-H phone (there is also a Sagem DVB-H handset in the market) and enjoy the free viewing from MultiChoice while it lasts.

Source- http://www.andnetwork.com
 

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