SK Telecom reports 61 percent decline in Q4 (South Korea)
South Korean mobile operator SK Telecom has reported a 61 per cent decline in its Q4 net profit for 2011-12, as compared to the previous year. As per the company, the net profit fell from US$ 450 million in the past year to US$ 175 million this year.
The company has cited increased expenditure on upgradation of network technology and declining price plans as the major reasons for the decrease in revenue. As per sources, SK Telecom was required to reduce its mobile charges, by the government, in a bid to fight the rising inflation.
Everything Everywhere plans US$ 2.35 billion network upgrade (UK)
Mobile network operator Everything Everywhere has reportedly revealed its plans to upgrade its network over the next three years for which it will be spend approximately US$ 2.35 billion. According to reports, Olaf Swantee, CEO, Everything Everywhere has said that with mobile data increasing 250 percent over the past two years, they are making these investments in an attempt to deliver on their ambition to provide the U.K.’s most reliable, biggest and best mobile data network.
Further, as per sources, the company has also said that said it is in the final stages of enabling Orange and T-Mobile customers to use 2G and 3G signals from either of the two networks, which should improve speeds in more locations. The operator added that the customers are already benefiting from a 20 percent reduction in dropped calls in localized areas.
PTML receives US$ 182.6 from PTCL for network upgrade (Pakistan)
Pakistan Telecommunication Mobile Ltd. (PTML) has reportedly received an amount of US$ 182.6 million from parent company, Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), for development of the opertaor’s network infrastructure along with improving its marketing efforts.
According to reports, PTML is required to pay back the loan in eight quarterly installments after a period of three to four years. Sources claim that PTML has been losing its share in the market to rival operators Telenor Pakistan and CMPak (Zong). The operator hopes to upgrade its network and offer customers an improved quality of services in the future in an attempt to maintain its stronghold in the market. Further, sources claim that the increase in the operator’s operational costs have also been an added factor for the requirement of additional funds.
Orange France upgrades network for business consumers (France)
Mobile operator Orange France has reportedly upgraded its mobile network enabling speeds up to 42 Mbps in nine cities. According to reports, the operator claims that its coverage area includes the regions of Paris, Grenoble, Lens, Lille, Lyon, Marseile, Nantes, Nice and Toulon. Further, sources claim that the operator hopes to increase its population coverage from 50 percent to 60 percent by providing Bordeaux, Toulouse and Strasbourg with the upgraded network by 2013.
As per reports, the operator’s Business Everywhere Premier subscribers would automatically be upgraded to the faster download speeds, with the upload speed being increased to 5.8 Mbps. Further, the Business Everywhere customers who currently have access to a download speed of 14.4 Mbps and an upload speed of 2 Mbps will be required to pay an additional charge of US$ 5.3 per month to gain access to the upgraded service.
TRA asks operators to reduce tariff rates in UAE
The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) in UAE has reportedly said that it has presented proposals on reduction in tariff rates to both the operators – Etisalat and Du. According to reports, Mohammed Al Ghanim, Director General, TRA, has said that after nearly three years of work on the price and competitiveness issue, TRA made recommendations which are being considered by the operators. He added that they expect such recommendations to be enforced by the end of this year.
Regarding the addition of new operators in the region, the regulator has reportedly said that currently there are no new operators expected until at least 2015. As per sources, Ghanim has said that there are no plans to admit new operators to the UAE in the next four years, but they will start implementing a plan for market liberalization in 2015 following consultation with the concerned international parties, including the World Trade Organization to evaluate the local market and its need for a new operator so that they can take the right decision at the right time.
Further, reports reveal that Ghanim has also hinted at setting up a main internet server in the UAE by the end of this year in an attempt to upgrade the network to enable faster data transfer while reducing the costs incurred.
Globe expects profit decline over $790 million network-upgrade (Phillipines)
Globe Telecom Inc., a leading telecommunication operator in the Philippines, has reportedly said that the next two to three years may witness a decline in profits as the company focuses on a network upgrade worth $790 million in an attempt to increase capacity and reduce costs.
According to reports, Albert De Larrazabal, CFO, Globe Telecom has said that while they don’t envision a loss, they do expect a decline in the income. He added that they expect to invest around $640 million of the capital expenditure by 2013. He added that the company plans to borrow $590 million next year to help finance the upgrade for which it is in touch with several banks as well as China’s export-import bank to secure loans, export credit and commitments for the issuance of peso-denominated retail bonds. The company reportedly expects to secure as much as $250 million by the second quarter of 2012.
As per sources, Ernest Cu, President, Globe Telecom has said that the network modernization is the company’s most significant investment for the past two decades and should increase capacity as well as save on operating costs and capital expenditure totaling $390 million.
SFR awards network upgrade contract to NSN (France)
SFR, the French mobile network operator has awarded a network upgrade contract to Nokia Siemens Networks to build extra capacity in its existing 3G network.
Under the contract, Nokia Siemens Networks will provide its Flexi Multiradio Base Station to support enhanced High Speed Packet Access (HSPA+) services.
Nokia Siemens Networks has already provided Radio Network Controllers for the operator along with Cell_PCH technology that helps protect smartphone battery life by handling signaling traffic more intelligently and decreasing signaling load on the network.
SFR will begin to launch the technology in its network from the beginning of 2011. SFR’s launch of Dual-cell HSDPA is made possible through a software upgrade to the Flexi Multiradio Base Stations. Financial details were not provided.
Orange to ink Network upgrade deal with Ericsson
Israel’s Partner Communications (trades as Orange) has announced a deal with Ericsson for the upgrade of its existing networks and the deployment of 4G network.
The Agreement incorporates the upgrade, replacement and the expansion of certain parts of the company’s existing cellular and fixed line networks and the maintenance of the networks, including enhancement of Partner’s abilities with respect to the cellular and fix line ISP services it provides. The commercial operation of the 4G network is subject to the allocation of the relevant frequencies by the Ministry of Communications.
The term of the Agreement will be effective from the date of signature and until December 31, 2014, whereas the replacement of the Company’s switches and radio equipment is scheduled to be carried out by the end of the year 2012.
The total net amount that Partner will be required to pay, in quarterly installments throughout the term of the Agreement, is approximately US$100 million.
TeliaSonera contracts Ericsson for network upgrade
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: With an aim to offer media-rich services to both its residential and business clients, Ericsson has been contracted by TeliaSonera for the up gradation of its broadband access network from ADSL to VDSL2.
EDA 1200 based on VDSL2 technology and related installation services will be delivered by Ericsson under the agreement.
TeliaSonera operations in Sweden, Denmark and Norway are covered in the contract according to which one million access lines based on VDSL2 technology will be supplied by Ericsson to the operator.
Deployment starts in Sweden and will run over the next 12 months.
Ericsson Bags $550 China Mobile Contracts, Emerges as Nokia Challenger
Move over Nokia, here comes Ericsson. Nokia (News – Alert) may believe that “Ni hao Wo-duh ming-d’zih Nokia (Hello, my name is Nokia)” has become a catch phrase in China, but Scandinavian competitor Ericsson (News – Alert) is quietly making as much headway in the world’s most populous country. The Swedish company today announced that it has bagged contracts worth $550 million with China Mobile during the first half of 2006. In a statement, Ericsson said the GSM expansion contracts include projects in 17 regions of
China. Ericsson has already started deliveries of network equipment which it claims will be able to support nearly 200 million subscribers across the 17 regions. Under the contracts, Ericsson will provide China Mobile with core and radio networks, together with related technical support and services. It will also deploy its Mobile Softswitch Solution in the contracted regions.
The statement said the expansion projects will not only allow China Mobile to boost network capacity while enhancing operational efficiency and cutting costs, but will also pave the road for future network evolution.
Mats Olsson, president of Ericsson Greater China, said: “We are very proud to be selected by China Mobile, once again, to expand its networks. China Mobile also recently named us ‘Best Partner of China Mobile GSM Target Network Upgrade Project’.” Olsson continued: “This is a clear recognition of not only our advanced technologies and solutions, but more importantly our efficient engagement with China Mobile. The expansion contracts are yet another demonstration of our commitment and capabilities in helping our customer achieve sustained business growth.” Ericsson first entered
China in 1987 when it deployed the first analog mobile communications systems in
Guangdong and
Hebei provinces. It has since become China Mobile’s long-term strategic partner in providing technology, solutions and expertise for advanced voice, data and multimedia services.
China is the world’s fastest growing telecom market. The country’s telecom market has opened up since it joined the World Trade Organization. It has more than 400 million cell phone subscribers and about 100 million mobile phones have sold in the past year. The number of subscribers is expected to rise to at least 600 million within the next three years.
Finland’s Nokia also has made quite a splash in the country, bagging major GSM and GRPS contracts despite legal problems over trademark infringements. Now, Ericsson appears to have become a major challenger.
In late July, Nokia signed an agreement with Hunan Mobile Communication Co., a local arm of China Mobile in
Hunan province, for GSM expansion.
Under the terms of the agreement, Nokia will provide Hunan Mobile Communication with a mobile softSwitch system and services-including network integration, trial operation, and training that will cover the four major cities of
Hunan
Province. Earlier in July, Nokia also signed a $150 million contract to expand GSM and GPRS networks for Henan Mobile in
Henan province. The proposed expansion is meant to significantly increase network coverage and capacity for mobile phones in the province’s rural areas. Nokia said it is deploying its NetAct network and service management system in
Henan. Under the contract, Nokia will also provide network planning, implementation, commissioning, training and care services.The company said it will start deliveries immediately and the network would be operational by the end of September.
Source- http://ipcommunications.tmcnet.com
Technorati : China Mobile, Ericsson, Mobile, Nokia
Ice Rocket : China Mobile, Ericsson, Mobile, Nokia
