3 Macau has employed measures to prevent ‘bill shock’ for data customers, following a push by the Macau communications regulator.
The operator has set a local data ceiling charge of US$62.47 per month. For data roaming customers, 3 Macau has implemented an SMS alert service when a customer begins data roaming and when a customer’s fees exceed US$62.47, $249.86, and $624.66.
Additionally, roaming customers can easily turn data roaming on or off.
Companhia de Telecomunicacoes de Macau (CTM) has deployed various measures to help customers control their data charges when roaming overseas.
CTM has introduced a maximum data cost. Once customers reach the limit, they will be able to continue local data services without extra charges.
The maximum charges for 2G and 3G are US$ 27.48 and US$62.45, respectively. When customers use their mobile device to access the internet overseas, an SMS reminder will inform them of the roaming data charges.
Moreover, CTM is offering data usage alerts that customers can set. CTM has also implemented a data access block that customers can remotely activate to stop data usage while roaming. The measures follow a push by the telecommunications regulator to prevent ‘bill shock’ related to data roaming.
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Cable & Wireless Communications is planning asset sales and acquisitions in order to maximize cash generation and shareholder returns.
According to Tony Rice, chief executive of C&W Communications, the company would look at selling its minority stakes in overseas telecoms companies if there was no obvious path to control.
The company, which has also adopted a new brand identity to mark its independence, is all set to look at the developing regional hubs of operations in the Caribbean and Central America as well. Since it already has operations in Panama, it is planning to take part in an auction of a mobile license in Costa Rica.
Cable and Wireless Communications has telecom assets in over 38 countries. However the highest revenue generator markets are Panama, Macau, Jamaica, the Maldives and Monaco.
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: A three year contract has been signed between Ericsson and Companhia de Telecomunicaces de Macau (CTM) to supply HSPA+ network upgrade. Network coverage and capacity will be expanded and the download speed will be reached up to 21Mbps by CTM in order to meet the rising demands.
According to Vandy Poon, CEO of CTM, in order to maintain CTM’s leading role in the competitive market, the company will devote substantial investments and resources, not only to provide customers with the fastest and most reliable 3G service in the market, but also to provide the best experience they can enjoy both at work and leisure.
Through this contract, end-to-end 3G solution will be provided by Ericsson as the supplier of CTM’s 3G core network. It will also deploy and deliver the mobile soft switch and radio access network as well as carrying out related network rollout services for CTM. Besides, the landline backhaul network connecting the 3G core and the base stations will be replaced by an IP fiber network with 1000Mbps connectivity capacity to each base station.
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Vietnam leading mobile operator, Vinaphone will start international roaming service by 2010. The decision came after the company joined Conexus, an alliance of international mobile phone providers. Through
this agreement, subscribers to one of the alliance’s members and VinaPhone’s users will be permitted to use the services provided by all the other members of the alliance.
A flat rate of 0.2 USD per SMS on roaming will be charged from the customers of Conexus’ 11 members. Other support services such as handset lending, SIM card replacements overseas, making free calls to 18001091 when in Vietnam will also be provided to the subscribers.
11 members of the Conexus Mobile Alliance networks is there in growing economies such as the Republic of Korea , Japan , Hong Kong , Taiwan , Macau , India , the Philippines , Indonesia , Singapore and Thailand and boasts a combined customer base of more than 240 million mobile subscribers across the region.
Egypt’s Orascom Telecom wants to take control of Hutchison Telecommunications International Ltd (HTIL), according to a Reuters interview with Orascom chairman Naguib Sawiris. According to TeleGeography’s GlobalComms database, Orascom took a 19.3% stake in HTIL for USD1.3 billion in December 2005. HTIL holds stakes in fixed line operations in Hong Kong and mobile businesses in India, Hong Kong, Macau, Thailand, Israel, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Indonesia and Vietnam. The combined footprint of Orascom and HTIL operations includes important adjoining markets such as Orascom’s operations in Pakistan and Bangladesh, and HTIL’s businesses in India and Sri Lanka. On a combined basis, the pair control wireless operations in 15 countries covering two billion people, approximately a third of the world’s population.
According to TeleGeography’s GlobalComms database, Orascom is currently seeking approvals in each of HTIL’s constituent countries to raise its stake in HTIL by 3.7% to 23%, and Sawiris has previously signalled his intent to increase that stake further. As part of the original deal the two companies agreed a two-year standstill period after which both will have right of first refusal on any sale. Orascom also has first call if Hutchison Whampoa chooses to sell more than 10% in HTIL. When asked by Reuters what sized stake he wanted to purchase, the Orascom chairman said simply: ‘All of it,’ before adding that he wanted a controlling stake at the very least. He declined to provide a timeline or indicate how much he would be willing to pay for the shares, but revealed that he was in ‘constant talks’ regarding the price, and looking ‘to come to a price that is fair to both parties’.
Source- http://www.telegeography.com
