Bangladesh to auction 3G license in 2010
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: In a bid to invite billions of dollars of investment, 3G auction will be organized by Bangladesh’s telecom regulator this year. A number of top telecom companies have already indicated their interest in the four slots of bandwidth that will be sold off at open auction by the end of 2010.
According to Zia Ahmed, head of Bangladesh Telecommunications and Regulatory Commission, BTRC would open up its international telecommunications gateway to the private sector, which would for the first time allow operators to lay underwater cables and connect terrestrial lines with India.
The announcement has come after Bharti Airtel’s deal while U.K. mobile phone giant Vodafone had approached the commission for a 3G license. Last year, Japan’s NTT DoCoMo Inc bought a 30% stake in operator AKTEL.
In 2005, Singtel bought a 45% stake in Bangladesh Telecom and in 2004, Egyptian Orascom took over Sheba. However, lack of infrastructure investment has slowed down the growth in Bangladesh’s mobile market thus inviting the moves to attract investment for 2010.
S Tel mobile service launched in Orissa
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: S Tel launched its service in Orissa, India, with a tariff plan of INR 0.01 per second and INR 0.5 per minute for STD and local outgoing calls respectively. The company expects to cover 90 percent of Orissa towns by 2010.
The operator also has ISP license for other states like Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam, North East, Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. It is also planning to expand its operations in six category C circles of the country.
Bihar and Jharkhand will also receive S Tel’s mobile services by the year end. Assam and North East can access the service by first quarter of 2010
STel’s mobile service launched in India
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Bahrain operator Batleco and Chennai-based Siva Group’s joint venture S Tel officially launched its mobile services in Himachal Pradesh. In a few days the service will also be launched in Bihar and Orissa. S Tel has licences for Himachal Pradesh, Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir and Assam circles.
According to Group CEO Peter Kaliaropoulos, initiatives are undertaken to start the service in three more circles by the end of Q1 2010. Besides, the company is also exploring its participation in the forthcoming auction for 3G mobile spectrum.
Siva group holds 51 percent while Batelco has a 49 percent stake in S Tel.
iPhone arrives in Korea. SKT and KT Corp discussing potential partnerships with Apple.
South Korea’s telecommunications regulator has given the green flag to apple to launch the iPhone in Korea.
The Korea Communications Commission made an exception to a rule that requires cellphones sold in the country to use domestic technology for location-based services. The commission’s action comes after months of consumer pressure.
This move is likely to create a stir among the dominant domestic manufacturers – Samsung and LG.
This development comes a month after Apple managed to clear its entry in China too. China Unicom, Apple’s partner in China will start selling the iPhone in the fourth quarter.
Lauren Kim, a spokesperson for SK Telecom Co. and Yeom Woo-jong, a spokesperson for KT Corp both admitted to being in discussion with Apple.
