Wireless Federation

Orange to offer free Wikipedia access in Africa and the Middle East (Europe, Africa, Middle East)

On 01.27.12, In Mobile, By Editor

Telecommunications operator Orange has entered into an agreement with the Wikimedia Foundation to provide over 70 million Orange customers in Africa and the Middle East (AMEA) with mobile access to Wikipedia, without incurring data usage charges.

The move comes in an attempt to make knowledge more easily available to Orange mobile customers, in both remote and urban areas, throughout Africa and the Middle East. According to a company report, this new partnership will be gradually launched throughout 2012 across 20 African and Middle Eastern countries where Orange operates, with the first markets launching early in the year. The initiative is part of the Wikimedia Foundation’s mobile strategy that aims to reach the billions of people around the world who access the internet solely through mobile devices.

The report reveals that any customer with an Orange SIM and mobile internet enabled phone will be able to access the Wikipedia site either through their browser or an Orange widget. They can access the Wikipedia encyclopaedia services for as many times as they like at no extra charge as long as they stay within Wikipedia’s pages.

Sue Gardner, Executive Director, Wikimedia Foundation said that Wikipedia is an important service, a public good, and so they want people to be able to access it for free, regardless of what device they’re using. Further, this partnership with Orange will enable millions of people to read Wikipedia, who previously couldn’t.

Marc Rennard, Group Executive Vice President of Orange, Africa, the Middle-East and Asia, commented, in countries where access to information is not always readily available, they are making it simple and easy for our customers to use the world’s most comprehensive online encyclopaedia. It is the first partnership of this kind in the world where they are enabling customers to access Wikipedia without incurring any data charges; and shows Orange’s ability, once again, to innovate in Africa and the Middle East, and bring more value to their customers.

Bharti Airtel contemplates mobile service launch in South Africa and Cameroon (Africa)

On 01.02.12, In Mobile, By Editor

India’s leading telecommunications operator Bharti Airtel may be planning to expand its network in South Africa and Cameroon, as learned through industry sources. Airtel is a dominant player in the mobile industry with operations in 19 countries across Asia and Africa.

Mobile penetration has steadily been increasing in African countries, and with most of the global markets being saturated, emerging markets such as Africa provide mobile operators with new opportunities to increase their subscriber base and enhance their revenue.

Currently Airtel offers services in Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Chad, Congo Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Madagascar, Niger, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. By adding South Africa and Cameroon, two of Africa’s fastest growing mobile economies to the list, Airtel aims to strengthen its position in Africa.

Airtel is the leading mobile operator in India and is well known for its innovative and competitive tariff pricing. The operator’s entry into these new markets is expected to take the mobile industry by storm and introduce an unprecedented level of competition.

Airtel presently offers services in 15 cities in India and with the population of one Indian city being similar to that of one African country, South Africa and Cameroon have the potential to be extremely lucrative for Bharti Airtel.

Further, sources claim that rival operators currently offering services in these economies such as MTN, Vodacom and Orange are already working on strategies to maintain their market share and offer stiff competition to Airtel.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Bharti Airtel • Burkina Faso • Cameroon • Chad • Congo Brazzaville • Gabon • Ghana • India • Kenya • Madagascar • Malawi • MTN • Niger • Nigeria • Orange • Seychelles • Sierra Leone • South Africa • Tanzania • Uganda • Vodacom • Zambia

Everything Everywhere plans US$ 2.35 billion network upgrade (UK)

On 12.09.11, In Mobile, By Editor

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.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: 2G • 3G • Everything Everywhere • Network Upgrade • Orange • T-Mobile

Orange and O2 lead Ofcom’s mobile satisfaction survey (UK)

On 12.02.11, In Mobile, By Editor

A new survey by the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries, Ofcom, reveals that Orange and O2 have emerged as the most appreciated mobile networks by users in UK. According to reports, as many as 72 percent of the subscribers gave positive feedback for these operators with 10 percent giving a negative feedback and 18 percent maintaining a neutral stand.

Further, as per sources, T-Mobile accounted for 12 percent of unsatisfied customers followed by Vodafone which received positive feedback by 66 percent users. Reports reveal that as per the survey mobile operator 3 accounted for 60 percent satisfied customers.

Industry analysts have reportedly cited high speed broadband connection and improved network quality as the prime reasons for the success of Orange and O2.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: 3 • O2 • Ofcom • Orange • T-Mobile • Vodafone

KPN to decide between retention and sale of French unit (Europe)

On 12.02.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Leading Dutch telecommunications and ICT service provider, Royal KPN is expected to take a decision regarding its French business in the next six months. According to reports, amidst increasing competition in the French wireless market, the company will decide if it would sell its business in France or work towards strengthening its presence in the market.

KPN currently operates as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) under the brand ‘Simyo’ via the networks of Orange and Bouygues Telecom. Further, sources claim that competition is expected to intensify even more with the addition of mobile operator Iliad SA to the wireless market which currently includes Orange, SFR and Bouygues Telecom.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Bouygues Telecom • France • Iliad • Orange • Royal KPN • SFR • Simyo

Orange and BNP Paribas launch m-banking services (France)

On 11.25.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Leading telecommunications operator Orange France has reportedly launched the first mobile banking service in the country in collaboration with BNP Paribus. According to reports, the service enables users to manage their accounts as well as make payments through a number of applications using their mobile phones. As per sources the smartphones offer with the service include the Acer Liquid Express, BlackBerry Curve 9360 and Samsung Galaxy Cityzi phones, among others.

Reports reveal that Francois Villeroy de Galhau, head of retail banking, BNP Paribas had said at the time of the agreement that through this partnership they would create a new way of managing bank transactions. Further, Orange’s expertise will enable them to offer all their customers mobile banking making BNP Paribas the first mobile bank in France.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Blackberry • BNP Paribas • France • France Telecom • Mobile Banking • Orange

Ortel Mobile ties up with Orange for MVNO services (France)

On 11.21.11, In Mobile, By Editor

KPN owned virtual operator Ortel Mobile has reportedly tied up with Orange to use its network for new customers. According to reports, a spokesperson for KPN has said that they’ve added Orange as a network operator in an effort to reduce dependence on a single supplier – Bouygues Telecom. However, Orange has reportedly claimed that the move comes in an effort to improve the quality of the service offered.

As per sources, all the new SIM cards will be issued on the Orange network; however, there will be no change for the existing customers who will continue with Bouygues Telecom. Further, Ortel Mobile has been using Bouygues Telecom’s network since it launched services in France in early 2010. The SIM cards issued to the old customers are locked to the Bouygues network which is not expected to be switched to Orange.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Bouygues Telecom • France • KPN • MVNO • Orange • Ortel Mobile

Orange to launch new Facebook-button phones in Europe and Africa

On 11.17.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Orange, a key brand of France Telecom, is reportedly planning to launch three phones which will give users direct access to social networking site, Facebook, in Europe and Africa, inclusive of free Facebook data in the package. According to reports, the new phones will have a Facebook button, and will be focused primarily on Romania and Poland in Europe along with Tunisia and Egypt in North Africa.

As per sources, Patrick Remy, Vice President (Devices), Orange has said that Orange Romania will sell the 3G version of the Facebook phone, an Android device made by TCL Communication in Shenzhen, China, for approximately US$ 135. He added that the package will include 60 minutes of voice, a bit of data and unlimited access to Facebook.

Remy also said that the phone has 3G at up to 7.2 megabits a second download, and the non-Facebook data limit will be 60 megabytes a month before extra charges start. Further, the other two models, also made by TCL, are 2G only and will mainly be aimed at emerging markets.

Remy has also reportedly said that 10-15 percent of the terminals in use on Orange networks have the Orange brand and the company hopes to push that to 20 percent in 2012.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: 3G • China • Egypt • Facebook-button phone • France • Oman • Orange • Patrick Remy • Poland • Romania • Tunisia

France Telecom to roll out optical fibre network along with SFR (France)

On 11.16.11, In Mobile, By Editor

France Telecom’s subsidiary Orange has reportedly entered into an agreement with telecom operator SFR in order to provide optical fibre technology across many households in the scarcely populated regions of France. According to company reports, the agreement between the two operators is expected to cover as many as 9.8 million homes.

As per sources, SFR will be required to serve 2.3 million of these households while Orange will serve the remaining 7.5 million according to the terms of the agreement. Industry reports suggest that this investment is a part of Orange’s aim to expand fibre technology to reach as much as 60 percent of the French households by 2020, for which the operator reportedly plans to spend US$ 2.7 billion.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: fibre technology • France • France Telecom • Orange • SFR

Telefonica to launch cheaper tariffs to reduce churn (Spain)

On 11.08.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Telefónica, a leading integrated operator in the telecommunication sector, is reportedly launching cheaper and more user friendly tariffs in an attempt to reduce loss of customers to rival operators. According to reports, the telecom company has said that it hopes to use the economic crisis as an opportunity to boost efficiency.

As per sources, Spanish unit head, Luis Miguel Gilperez said a series of flat tariffs would be offered from this week to Spanish customers, including a $6.90 per month discount if they are ADSL customers as well. He added that this was not just about cutting prices but is also a way of focussing on customer needs.

According to industry reports, as many as half a million mobile customers have switched to cheaper rival operators such as France Telecom’s Orange and TeliaSonera’s Yoigo, in this year. Further, the company has also lost out on the ADSL market share which fell from 52.7 percent in last December to 50.36 percent this August.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Churn • France • Orange • Spain • Telefonica • TeliaSonera Yoiga