Axiata may be looking to acquire stake in Tikona (Asia)
Leading telecommunications company Axiata is reportedly looking to buy a stake in Indian internet service provider, Tikona Digital, in an attempt to increase its presence in the Indian broadband market. According to reports, the Malaysian telecom operator has been holding discussions with Tikona’s main shareholders comprising of Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Oak Investment Partners and Everstone Capital Advisors Ltd.
As per industry reports, Tikona acquired broadband spectrum in five circles including Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh (East and West), for US$ 206 million, during the 2010 auctions.
In the event that the deal goes through, it is likely to intensify competition in one of the world’s largest telecom market with a huge potential for data revenue. With voice and text revenues steadily declining, operators have been turning towards data services to maintain their profit margins.
The company is yet to make an official statement concerning the same.
Aptilo networks to deploy WiMAX in Guyana (USA)
Aptilo Networks has accelerated the deployment of a WiMAX network in South America’s Guyana on behalf of the internet service provider, E-Networks.
WiMAX is now available in the capital city Georgetown and surrounding areas. The launch is part of a broader strategy by the company, working with Huawei to roll out the services countrywide.
According to Aptilo, the service was deployed in record time thanks to its WiMAX CSN System, a pre-integrated wireless broadband solution with Mobile WiMAX AAA Server, prepaid system, hotlining portal, policy management and service control. With Aptilo’s solution, E-Networks’ customers can buy a prepaid voucher to sign-up for packages over the WiMAX network and use the remaining balance to top-up or upgrade packages to suit their personal needs.
According to Vishok Persaud, Founder and Managing Director, E-Networks Inc, Aptilo’s pre-integrated approach allowed them to launch the service in just seven days which reduced costs and positions them well to deploy throughout the rest of the country quickly. It also gives them the flexibility to create tailor-made service plans utilized by Aptilo’s built-in WEB portals, prepaid system and payment modules to make Internet accessible and affordable to all Guyanese customers.
Vox writes down LCR unit (South Africa)
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.
Indian mobiles set to get 11 digit numbers
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Get ready to add one more digit to your already difficult to remember mobile number from January next year. National Numbering Plan 2003 has been amended by Department of Telecommunications (DoT), migrating the current 10 digit numbers to an 11-digit numbering plan in mobile services.
As per the amendment, an extra ‘9′ would be prefixed to the existing two-digit PLMN Access Code. According to an internal DoT note, the proposed migration may be implemented from January 10, 2010.
Earlier, number ‘2′ was prefixed to all BSNL and MTNL fixed-line phones across the country a few years ago to accommodate more connections.
Every service provider has its own PLMN, identified by Mobile Country Code (MCC) and the Mobile Network Code (MNC). The PLAM connects with internet service providers for data and internet access and interconnects with other PlAMs and public switched telephone networks (PSTNs) for telephone communications.
The unexpected growth in India’s mobile subscribers has made this numbering plan imminent. With 10-14 million mobile subscribers added to the list every month, the wireless subscriber base has already crossed 500 million, making it compulsory for DoT to re-examine plans in order to accommodate more subscribers.
New players enter the mobile market in New Zealand
The mobile phone market is in for a shake up with three new players on the scene.
Orcon Internet, Compass Communications, and the Australian-based M2 Telecommunications have signed wholesale agreements to use the Vodafone network.
M2 currently has a fixed-line agreement with Telecom and is using Vodafone wholesale for its mobile offerings.
Vodafone’s Commercial Development Manager, Tom Chignall, says the company is not scared of the new competition to which it has opened itself up. He says Vodafone has also had inquiries from Internet Service Providers.
One of the mobile phone newcomers, Orcon Internet, hopes to be running by Christmas or early next year.
Its General Manager, Scott Bartlett, says he has no idea how big a market share it might be able to corner. The news deals double the number of mobile operators – joining established players Telecom, Vodafone and TelstraClear. Ernie Newman of the Telecommunication Users Association says consumers can reasonably hope for price cuts closing the gap with costs in
Australia.
Source- http://tvnz.co.nz
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