Etisalat joins hands with Telefonica eyeing mutual broad-based cooperation
A strategic partnership agreement has been finalized by Etisalat Telefonica based in the UAE and Spain respectively. The companies are looking at establishing a mutual broad based cooperative partnership that will see both Groups collaborating on a range of strategic matters, keeping their respective capabilities and expertise in view.
As per the tenets of the Agreement, the telecom operators will look to build methods that will mutually empower them, on the back of each other’s expertise in a wide range of strategic domains; technological standardization, new global technology initiatives, R&D, and new emerging products and services included.
In addition, the companies will be taking advantage of jointly working on procurement, international capacity and wholesale services as well as offering enhanced support for multinational customers of each operator, under the ambit of the Telefónica Partners Program.
Etisalat and Telefonica are not seen competing with each other with regard to their respective operational markets. The Etisalat Group has stamped its presence in 18 countries across Africa, Asia and the Middle East while Telefónica operates in 25 markets across Europe and Latin America.
The Partnership Agreement immediately takes effect.
Impending FCC overhaul stands to color the AT&T/T-Mobile merger speculations (US)
In the wake of the impending changes with regard to the five member board at the FCC, uncertainty has been associated with AT&T taking over T-Mobile USA.
Meredith Attwell who had resigned last month to leave during the weekend under controversial circumstances, was regarded as a business friendly Republican member. She had joined Comcast soon after, following the approval of the Comcast NBC merger.
As if in a balancing act, the Democratic Commissioner Michael J. Copps is also expected to leave the telecoms regulator board later this year. Interestingly, he was the only member who voted against the Comcast NBC merger.
Now, new members filling up those vacant but opposing Commissioners, is touted to play a big role in determining the direction which way AT&T is eventually structured. Either way, the merger stands to be delayed because the appointment of the two new commissioners requires approval prior to being briefed on the merger proposal.
Despite the fact that FCC could give a thumps up or even block the ATT/T-Mobile deal with just three members on board, it is expected that the telecoms regulator would go for a full Commission in place at the time of delivering the final verdict on the matter, in the wake of the controversial nature of the merger.
MLT offers pocket friendly 3G (Tajikistan)
MLT has started offering a 3G modem for USD 8.6, for subscribers of its Internet Constructor tariff.
The offer is available for customers who top-up their balance by at leat USD 34. MLT will also give 30 days of free internet for customers buying the modem.
3G Austria to launch Samsung Galaxy S II
Hutchison 3G Austria (3 Austria) has added Samsung Galaxy S II Android smartphone to its SuperPhone range.
The phone has a super AMOLED touchscreen, 1.2 GHz Dual Core processor, HSPA+ support and will be available for free with selected tariffs from 13 May.
The operator has also announced a new certification system for is 3Superphone range. This will provide information on display size, resolution and technology; processor power and HD ability.
According to 3 Austria CEO Jan Trionow, this new system would ensure that only the best smartphones are designated 3Superphones.
Telenor launches phone recycling campaign with sport clubs (Norway)
Telenor Norway will be launching a phone recycling campaign in cooperation with around 500 local sport clubs across the country.
Selected clubs will receive bags and materials to run a door-to-door obsolete phone collecting campaign that will start in a few weeks.Telenor’s goal is to collect 200,000 used phones in 2011.
Under the terms of the campaign, clubs get US$6.46 for each mobile phone they collect. Telenor stated that the project will continue in 2012, beginning from January.
Korean operators to jointly launch Wi-Fi hotspots
If sources are to be believed, SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus have agreed to jointly launch Wi-Fi hotspots at city halls, train stations, and government agencies where customers have complained of poor connections.
Users of all three operators would be able to use the wireless network. KT currently operates Wi-Fi hotspots in 57,000 locations nationwide, while SK Telecom has 38,000 hotspots, and LG Uplus around 10,000. The operators still need to hammer out the details of the plan.
Hrvatski Telekom gives away gift vouchers with iPad 2 (Croatia)
Hrvatski Telekom has started offering a gift voucher of US$97.77 for customers who purchase the device.
The vouchers are available in selected T-Centres by signing a 24-month contract for the mobile internet services M, L or XL.
The recommended prices for the iPad 2 are as follows: US$750 for the 16 GB model Wi-Fi, US$908 for 32 GB Wi-Fi, US$1065 for 64 GB Wi-Fi, US$928 for 16 GB 3G, US$1084 for 32GB 3G, and US$1236 for 64GB 3G.
China Telecom inks cooperation agreement with 4 handset distributors
China Telecom has singed a cooperation agreements with four handset distributors, namely, China Telling, China PTAC, Putiantaili, and Coowin.
The distributors will sell China Telecom’s 3G services and eSurfing smartphones.
Tunisie Telecom offers bonus credit daily, weekly (Tunisia)
Tunisie Telecom has started offering its fixed and mobile customers bonus credit between based on daily or weekly consumption between 3 May and 5 June.
There is no charge to activate either the daily or weekly promotion, done by sending an SMS to short codes *112# and *113#, respectively.
For every Tunisian Dinar (TDT) of calls or text messaging consumed each day, people on the Ahla, Ahla Hbaybet and Sigounda prepaid services will get a free TDT of credit to be used the same night between 22:00 and 06:00. The limit is set at US$14.59 a day.
Customers on Elissa-branded service can get US$21.88 of bonus credit each week. This offer gives them a 30 percent bonus on any call or SMS consumption over US$2.18, Monday to Friday.
The bonus can be used between midnight on Saturday and midnight on Sunday.
Safaricom donates $59,455 for Heart Run (Kenya)
Safaricom has donated $59,455 towards the 2011 edition of the Mater Heart Run which takes place on 14 May.
The hospital is targeting to raise US$356,730 in aid of children with heart conditions.
The money will go to heart surgery for 230 children across the country. Last year, the event raised US$305,598, providing operations for 210 children. Over 25,000 participants took part in the walk.
