Ericsson and Vantrix partner for video optimization
Vantrix, the global leader of mobile video optimization and delivery solutions, today announced that it has been selected by Ericsson, the world’s leading provider of technology and services to telecom operators, to be their partner in video optimization. Under the terms of the agreement, Ericsson will be bundling Vantrix Bandwidth Optimizer with its Multiservice Proxy mobile broadband traffic optimization solution.
We predict that the number of global mobile broadband subscriptions will double during 2011 to 1 billion, and that video traffic will represent significant portion of the overall mobile data trafficâ€
We predict that the number of global mobile broadband subscriptions will double during 2011, to 1 billion, and that video traffic will represent significant portion of the overall mobile data traffic,†said Sanjay Kaul, Vice President, Consumer and Business Applications at Ericsson. The partnership will address our customers’ need to efficiently manage, optimize video content delivery over mobile networks, where the quality of experience becomes key.â€
Vantrix Bandwidth Optimizer optimizes video and delivers it in real time while maintaining best-in-class Quality of Experience. Vantrix Bandwidth Optimizer provides up to 70 percent savings on network CAPEX and OPEX (RAN, backhaul and core) by dynamically monitoring network congestion and substantially reducing the size of videos.
Mobile video has become an integral part of daily life and it has transformed how consumers use their mobile phones. Over the last two years, as video has become more dominant in mobile networks, mobile subscribers have endured outages and reductions in speed, resulting in an unsatisfactory video experience,†said Allan Benchetrit, President & CEO of Vantrix. We are very proud to partner with Ericsson to provide the market with the most advanced and efficient mobile video technology. Our solution is the most advanced to control, optimize and manage the delivery of video in mobile networks, while actually improving the current viewing experience.â€
About Vantrix
Vantrix, the global leader of mobile video optimization and delivery solutions, improves mobile and converged video economics for its customers by ensuring that content is delivered cost effectively, and with the best possible user experience, regardless of the service, device or network. Vantrix solutions are deployed in over 70 networks, serving over 1 billion subscribers worldwide. Vantrix is proud to count among its customers: Sprint (NYSE:S), Orange, Telefonica (NYSE:TEF), T-Mobile, TeliaSonera (OMX:TLSN), MTS, Etisalat (ADX:ETISALAT), Saudi Telecom Company (TADAWUL:STC), and Tata Telecom. Vantrix is headquartered in Montreal with offices in London, Hong Kong and Dubai. To learn more about Vantrix, visit www.vantrix.com.
Telkom Kenya selects ZTE for 3G launch
Telkom Kenya, controlled by France Telecom’s Orange has stated that it has selected China’s ZTE Corp to launch its 3G network countrywide.
According to Telekom’s Chief Executive Mickael Ghossein, the company will invest US$46.56 million in the network to improve its market standing, and the service is expected to be up and running at the end of the first half of 2011. They expect the roll out to be complete by latest May, and the launch should be in June this year.
The company has 1,500 sites on 3G across East Africa’s biggest economy and stated its customers would enjoy speeds that could enable them download a song from the Internet in less than a minute.
Telkom aims to double its subscribers to about 4.6 million by year-end, in line with its overall goal to become the country’s No. 2 player by 2015 after market leader Safaricom.
The company acquired the 3G licence, the country’s third, for $10 million in November last year, after the country’s telecoms regulator reduced the price from $25 million.
France Telecom could face regulatory action over fibre
France Telecom could reportedly face regulatory action by the country’s competition authorities, including a breakup, to prevent its emergence as a dominant player in fiber optics.
According to reports, a breakup would involve the creation of services marketing company and an infrastructure concern open to all operators. However, the chances of action were diminished considerably when Orange, the mobile phone unit of France Telecom, signed a deal to give rival Iliad SA access to the telecom giant’s 3G mobile network.
Reports further states that the agency wants to continue monitoring the competitive situation in rural areas and would only take action as a last resort, adding that nothing justifies such a breakup at this time.
Everything Everywhere market share to increase (UK)
A new research report has revealed that both O2 and Vodafone are expected to lose market share to a more competitive Everything Everywhere – the merged T-Mobile and Orange. As Everything Everywhere enjoys strong customer additions, they expect market share declines at O2 and Vodafone over the next eight quarters.
According to researchers, given the latest quarter numbers, they expect that the number of mobile subscriber connections in the UK will rise to 88.8 million in 2012. In the UK market where prepaid is widely accepted as a payment model rather than an option for the credit-unworthy, the majority of the mobile subscriber connections is prepaid. Researchers expect that about 55% of the total number of connections will continue to be prepaid over the next two years.
Market dynamics are changing rapidly especially with the increasing presence of Everything Everywhere. It is believed that Everything Everywhere’s market share will increase to 38.5% by the end of 2012.
Despite the expected market share loss, smartphones are driving Vodafone UK’s revenue growth; it is expected that Vodafone’s profitability will remain higher than that of Everything Everywhere. They also forecast that EBITDA margins at Vodafone and Everything Everywhere will be approximately 26% and 20% respectively in 2012.
O2 says no plans to sell iPad 2 (UK)
Telefonica O2′s UK network has stated that it has no plans to sell Apple’s iPad 2, although it was the preferred network when Apple first launched the original iPhone in the country. Rival networks, T-Mobile and Orange (now a merged company) have confirmed that they will be selling the tablet computer when it is released later this month.
According to O2, it would support the device with data specific tariffs, but that it would not subsidize the tablet with formal contract tariffs.
As per O2 spokesperson, although they will not be selling iPad 2 with subsidy, O2 micro-SIMs with their great value iPad tariffs are still available for customers who have purchased the device elsewhere.
T-Mobile and Orange will sell Apple’s iPad 2 (UK)
T-Mobile in partnership with Orange will be stocking Apple’s iPad 2 when it will come to the UK later this month.
Apple’s latest device was revealed by the company’s CEO Steve Jobs yesterday as a thinner and lighter device that has a dual core processor, front and back cameras and a new version of IOS. A Wi-Fi and 3G model will be available that has got mobile operators interested, with T-Mobile and Orange saying they will both stock the 3G enabled iPad 2 when it arrives in the UK.
Jobs announced that the UK will be receiving the iPad 2 two weeks after the device makes its US debut, claiming prices will remain exactly the same as the first generation model. It is likely that mobile operators will heavily discount first generation iPads to clear their stock.
At present, only T-Mobile and Orange have confirmed that they will be flogging the iPad 2.
Orange launches HSPA+ DC in Poland
Orange Poland has launched wireless broadband services using HSPA+ DC technology in 24 cities and towns across the country.
With the launch, the operator is offering up to 42 Mbps download capacity to subscribers. The service is currently accessible in Poznan, Wroclaw, Katowice and Szczecin, covering 12% of the population.
The operator is also planning to raise coverage to 60% by the end of the year. The services will in the future also be launched in Warsaw, Lodz, Bydgoszcz, Torun, Bialystok and Lublin.
‘Everything Everywhere’ reports customer and revenue declines (UK)
Everything Everywhere, the entity formed by the merging of France Telecom’s Orange and Deutsche Telekom’s T-Mobile has posted weak results for the last quarter.
Company’s revenue dropped 2% in the nine months from April last year when the merger went through from US$8.77 billion to US$8.60 billion. Underlying profit was US$1.62 billion, decresed from US$1.78 billion.
Mobile service revenues grew upto 1.3% in the quarter. However, it lagged behind Vodafone, which saw mobile service revenues jump 7% in the same period. O2 is also expected to show it grew at a faster rate when it reports its fourth quarter results on Friday.
According to sources,’ Everything Everywhere’ has invested heavily in bringing customers from pay as you go packages to contracts.
It added 300,000 contract customers in the fourth quarter but lost out on 187,000 pay as you go users, leaving net adds of 113,000 compared to 195,000 at Vodafone. The group stated that it was on track to deliver US$8.77 billion of planned savings by 2014.
