Etisalat looks to expand in Nigeria (UAE, Africa)
Etisalat Nigeria plans to invest $194 million in network expansion, according to a report by GTB. The operator aims to deploy 1,000 additional base transceiver stations by December to boost network coverage in Nigeria and enhance the quality of services offered, as highlighted by the report, according to Steve Evans, CEO of Etisalat Nigeria. This target will increase the total number of Etisalat base stations in Nigeria to 4,000.
Evans said that the cell site project is a big civil engineering machine that they have put in place and they have also partnered with companies helping them to put the concrete on the site, helping them to build the towers, putting the telecommunications equipment on those towers, connecting the towers, testing them and optimising them.
As per the report, UAE-based operator Etisalat launched operations in Nigeria with the acquisition of 40 percent stake in Nigerian operator EMTS, Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services.
Airtel Africa extends partnership with Google (Africa)
Airtel Africa has extended its existing partnership with global technology leader Google, with an aim to make internet products accessible to a greater number of consumers in Africa. The two companies have teamed up to launch Google+ and Chat SMS features across the 16 markets in which Airtel operates and have plans to continue deepening the strategic relationship to increase affordable and ubiquitous access to the Internet and Google products for its end users.
The two companies have teamed up to bring the value of Google products to SMS users. Users can now use Google+ Messenger and Google Chat to communicate between all mobile phones and platforms, even if they are offline or have an SMS and voice only phone. With Google+ SMS notifications and ability to post status updates via SMS, users are always connected with the people in their circles.
Andre Beyers, Chief Marketing Officer, Airtel Africa, has said that they are extremely excited about taking this mutually-beneficial relationship to the next level. By extending their already existing relationship into the future, both Airtel and Google will work together to ensure that they can provide consumers with access to innovative products that will have a positive impact on how they experience the internet.
Mr. Beyers goes on to say that the telco is in the process of building the largest 3G network across the continent – which will directly support the partnership. 3G will transform how subscribers experience the web on internet-enabled cell phones.
Willie Ellis, Group Products & Innovations Director, Airtel Africa, has said that Airtel has always been committed to providing consumers with relevant and innovative products and services. Strategic partnerships – such as this one – will allow them to continue delivering mobile solutions that will improve customers’ internet experience.
There are currently about 400 million mobile subscribers in Africa, according to data from McKinsey & Co. Telecommunications is one of the continent’s fastest growing industries with a rapidly expanding cellular phone market that now includes internet access, mobile banking and mobile commerce.
With this in mind, the telco has remained committed to deepening its network coverage, bringing communication opportunities to rural populations that, until now, have been left out of the telecommunications boost. The telco will work in tandem with Google to provide consumers with internet solutions and products that will help bridge the digital divide.
AT&T and Verizon’s price plans for Apple’s new 4G iPad (USA)
Apple’s new 4G iPad went on sale two days back, and it has been discovered that the AT&T network can also be used on the Verizon iPad. The users are required to change the SIM and the carrier settings to use AT&T services on the iPad.
Both AT&T and Verizon have introduced different price plans for users. AT&T offers its users three plans, such as; US$ 14.99 for 250 MB, US$ 30 for 3 GB data and US$ 50 for 5 GB data. On the other hand, Verizon Wireless has introduced four price plans, such as, US$ 20 for 1 GB data, US$ 30 for 2 GB, US$ 50 for 5 GB data and US$ 80 for 10 GB data.
Further, Verizon Wireless also offers users the option use the iPad as a hotspot, a feature not yet available with AT&T. Another point favouring Verizon is the extent of its network coverage, which is considered to be much wider than AT&T.
Airtel appoints Nokia Siemens Networks to manage 4G network (India, Finland)
Leading telecom operator in India, Bharti Airtel, has selected Nokia Siemens Networks to build and operate its TD-LTE (time division duplex long term evolution) network in Maharashtra, one of the country’s largest telecom circles. TD-LTE is a 4G mobile broadband technology that delivers instant internet access and can support video streaming and high-definition video conferencing. The launch of commercial TD-LTE services later this year will offer Bharti Airtel subscribers in Maharashtra a much improved experience when using bandwidth-intensive applications, with more consistent network coverage and faster response times.
Bharti Airtel will deploy its TD-LTE network in the 2.3 GHz frequency band allocated by the Indian government for broadband wireless access technologies.
Sanjay Kapoor, CEO Bharti Airtel (India & South Asia) said that in the next five years, data will be the main thrust in India, riding on the waves of 3G or 4G technologies. As per industry estimates, mobile data traffic in the country will increase nearly 100-fold by 2015 and consumers will stream nearly 600 hours of video content – every second, thus paving way for the ensuing data revolution. LTE provides ultra high speed data access, in conjunction with 3G, this will lead the data revolution and drive fundamental changes in individual lifestyles, businesses and the society at large. He added that they look forward to the advent of 4G technology which will be launched in India at the same time, as the rest of the world.
Being part of India’s large-scale 4G commercial rollout, Nokia Siemens Networks will deliver the TD-LTE network and end-user data devices that can provide data speeds of upto 100 megabits per second (Mbps) as specified by 3GPP. The company will use its newly introduced and industry’s first TD-LTE 6 pipes radio. This integrated solution considerably reduces site space and the operator’s total cost of ownership per site compared to the traditional approach of using one remote radio head per sector. Nokia Siemens Networks is widely deploying this TD-LTE solution to commercial customers in Russia, Brazil and Saudi Arabia.
Nokia Siemens Networks’ NetAct operations support system will enable effective and consolidated monitoring, management and optimization of Bharti Airtel’s GSM and TD-LTE networks. Nokia Siemens Networks will provide network design, integration, commissioning and optimization services to the operator for rapid roll-out of the network and full set of care services including hardware, software and competence development services. It will use its Global Network Solutions Center at Noida, India that is already supporting TD-LTE networks globally, to remotely deliver services for improved efficiency and network performance.
Ashish Chowdhary, head of Customer Operations Asia and Middle East at Nokia Siemens Networks, has said that from networks to devices, Nokia Siemens Networks offers a full range of LTE solutions. He added that as Bharti Airtel’s long-standing partner, they are glad to be chosen for the launch of 4G services. With their expertise and focus on mobile broadband, they hope to assist the operator in taking mobile broadband experience to a completely new level for its customers.
T-Mobile and Orange partner with Nokia Siemens to improve network coverage (Poland)
Mobile operators, T-Mobile Poland and Orange Poland have partnered with Nokia Siemens Networks as one of the vendors to deploy and upgrade their GSM and HSPA networks, enable radio network sharing and prepare them for Long Term Evolution (LTE).
According to company reports, Nokia Siemens Networks will provide its Single RAN (radio access network) platform and related services to improve the network performance, reduce costs and make the shared network LTE-ready.
Milan Zika, director of the technology and networks division and Board Member, T-Mobile Poland has said that they are focused on delivering high-quality services and introducing the latest technologies in Poland. The network upgrade and development will significantly improve the performance and quality of the shared infrastructure, which will be the largest in the country, to provide an optimum end-user experience. Further, in Nokia Siemens Networks, they have a partner with a global experience of network sharing deployments and this will ensure a speedy roll-out for them.
As per the contract, Nokia Siemens Networks’ Single RAN platform, based on the compact, energy efficient Flexi Multiradio Base Stations, will replace a large part of the existing GSM and HSPA radio access sites. The platform will also allow a percentage of the existing sites to be re-used, thereby lowering costs while protecting investments. In future, it will enable a smooth transition to LTE through a simple software upgrade.
Thorsten Robrecht, head of Network Systems Product Management, Nokia Siemens Networks claims that so far, no operator has undertaken a multiradio RAN sharing initiative of such a broad scope and they are excited to be part of this implementation. Their Single RAN platform will not only enable the operators to adopt new technologies at a rapid pace and use different spectrum bands efficiently but also reduce the cost of delivering high-quality voice and mobile broadband to end-users.
AT&T to enhance HSPA+ network coverage in Connecticut (US)
AT&T plans to expand backhaul connections designed to enable HSPA+ speeds and enhanced reliability across Connecticut in 2011.
The mobile network enhancement plans are part of AT&T’s planned USD 19 billion investment in its mobile and wireline networks and other capital projects. AT&T plans the network improvements in Connecticut by deploying enhanced backhaul connections to approximately 750 mobile sites to enable HSPA+ speeds and add capacity to support mobile traffic.
It also plans to install roughly fifteen new mobile sites to improve network coverage and add spectrum carriers to around 500 mobile sites to support traffic. AT&T plans to deploy Distributed Antenna System (DAS) networks in high-traffic areas and facilities, including a planned project at Hartford’s sports and entertainment arena to enhance network coverage during events.
Tele2 Estonia expands UMTS 900 network coverage (Europe)
Tele2 Estonia has expanded its 3.5G internet network coverage with the addition of UMTS 900 base stations in various locations across the country.
The operator has launched the base stations in Narva, Kohtla-Jarve, Sirgala, Pussi, Langa, as well as in other locations. The 3G base stations in the 900MHz band enable services within a 30km radius.
Celcom Axiata plans to invest $330 mn on network (Malaysia)
The Malaysian mobile network operator, Celcom Axiata has announced that it is planning to spend US$330 million during 2011 network coverage, capacity and quality. Of the planned CAPEX, 60% will go to enhance its data network while 40% will be spent on maintaining its current network.
The company’s network modernization exercise will eventually move the mobile network towards an all-IP infrastructure, migrating all its sites to single-RAN architecture and be ready to deploy future LTE services.
According to Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Shazalli Ramly, they will embark on an aggressive network transformation exercise and the major single-RAN migration will be taken into execution as quickly as this quarter.
He added that the company would probably spend a slightly smaller amount over the next three years to prepare the network for a future LTE service, and confirmed that the company is in talks with other networks about sharing some of their network infrastructure.
Celcom has already started trials of LTE network kit supplied by both Huawei and Ericsson, while rival network, Maxis carried out trials with kit supplied by Alcatel-Lucent and Huawei.
Zantel increases Coverage with National Roaming Deal (Tanzania)
Zantel, a Tanzania based mobile network has announced a national roaming deal with Zain Tanzania that will expand its network by 236 base stations, a move that has connected its services to approximately every village in the country.
According to Zantel acting Chief Commercial Officer Nitish Malik, this extension has been made possible through an agreement Zantel has signed with Zain Tanzania to roam on its network. The new sites are in areas that Zain has exclusive network coverage. The network expansion was an ongoing exercise aimed at bringing services closer to the customers. The company has invested over US$140 million in the past two years to expand the network coverage in mainland Tanzania to ensure that the company is extending the presence and continue to grow business in untapped areas.
UAE based Etisalat is the majority shareholder in Zantel with 51% stake.
AT&T launches new iPhone application (America)
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: In order to allow the user to provide specific feedback about network coverage, American operator AT&T has launched a new iPhone application which will also capture the GPS coordinates when a call
fails, when there’s no coverage, no data service, or there’s poor voice quality.
When the user will submit its complaints, AT&T will send them an SMS, acknowledging that the event happened.The app has already received 23 comments. While most of the users have given lot of stars, there are some who have used the opportunity to show their disgust.
However, AT&T has also admitted that the company has no idea what are the holes in the network.
