MTS adds 105 million subscribers by February (Russia)

On 03.23.11, In Mobile, By Editor

MTS has announced that it has consolidated a subscriber base of 104.11 million by the end of February, an increase of 6.5% year-on-year and 0.5% more than  in January.

In Russia, the subscriber base grew by 3.9% year-on-year and 0.5% month-on-month to 71.86 million. The number increased to 18.27 million in Ukraine, an increase of5.1% from a year earlier and 0.29% more than in January.

The subscribe base reached 9.11 million in Uzbekistan, which grew by 25% year-on-year and up by 1.1% month-on-month. The number totaled 2.39 million in Turkmenistan, or 31.2% more than February 2010 and a drop of 0.7% from the previous month. The subscriber base grew to 2.49 million in Armenia, an increase of 18.5%year-on-year and up by 0.1% month-on-month. In Belarus, MTS increased its base 4.3% year-on-year and by 0.2% from January.

 

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Vodafone Roaming Services teams up with BICS

On 03.03.11, In Mobile, By Editor

BICS and Vodafone Roaming Services are pooling their resources to connect their two communities and achieve greater efficiencies.

BICS consists of Belgacom, Swisscom and South Africa’s MTN and it will initially use the partnership to manage their roaming traffic with Vodafone operators.

According to Daniel Kurgan, CEO of BICS, this cooperation is a major step for the mobile industry to guarantee seamless roaming for all mobile users when they cross national borders. It is a direct response to the expansion of the mobile environment globally in terms of subscribers, networks, technologies and applications.

 

 

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Sistema Shyam (MTS) to invest USD 55 Mn

On 05.13.10, In Mobile, By Editor

Sistema Shyam TeleServices Limited (SSTL), a joint venture company between Russia’s Sistema and Shyam Group of India, will be investing USD 55 Mn to expand its code division multiple access (CDMA) network in one of the southern states in India (Andhra Pradesh) by the end of this year.

MTS India has successfully launched in 12 circles now and MTS India CEO, Vsevolod Rozanov,  said the plan for this year was to complete all the 22 circles with an investment of over USD 1.1 Bn.

Currently, MTS India has 4.5 million subscribers, including 72,000 for high-speed data services. Data is the future of our company and is clearly a differential business model than other aggregators. We expect data services to account for one-third of our revenues and achieve break-even by 2013,” Rozanov told Business Standard in India.

Replying to a query, Rozanov said the company would switch to another vendor if China-based Huawei Technologies’ products were not allowed into India.

It may be recalled that the Indian government has blocked Huawei Technologies and ZTE Corporation from selling telecom network equipment to domestic phone carriers due to security reasons.

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India becomes 2nd largest group of mobile phone users

On 12.14.09, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: After becoming the  second most populated country in the world, India is set to achieve another record of having half a billion wireless connections, thus becoming the second largest group of mobile phone users after China.

With 488.40 million wireless connections at the end of October 2009, India will breach half-billion wireless connections by the end of the year. The country will now have teledensity (phone connections per 100 population) of roughly 45%, an urban teledensity closer to 97% and a rural teledensity of about 18%.

However, the actual number of subscribers might be less than half a billion, since a few hold multiple SIM cards and not all of them are in use at the same time.  Mobile phone being a preferred technology for voice and data communications has resulted in the decline of wireline connectivity to 37.25 million phones.

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Price rise for Telmex’s fixed line only customers(Mexico)

On 12.05.09, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Mobile operator Telefonos de Mexico (Telmex) announced that only the fixed line only subscribers in Mexico will have to face price rise, while there will be no rise on the packages including a broadband service. For the packages that have monthly fee, local and long distance calls, digital services, and high speed internet, the prices will remain the same.

Lower house of the Congress of the Union, Mexico’s Chamber of Representatives, passed a legislation levying 3% excise on telecommunication services in October 2009. Telmex took the decision in order to avoid the offset of the increase in taxes on telecom firms, by increasing the cost of the services to its customers.

Earlier, 4% tax was proposed but it was reduced by one percent by the lawmakers.

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Telenor concerned over lack of spectrum (India)

On 12.05.09, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Claiming it as the largest single day launch in telecom history, Uninor, Telenor’s Indian unit launched its GSM network covering nearly 600 million people. But at the same time, the company also expressed its
concerns over the lack of spectrum.

The company said that when they got the license, they were said to be given extra spectrum after reaching certain subscribers level.   Two third of Uninor is owned by Scandinavia’s Telenor while the rest is owned by India’s Unitech Group.

The company plans to cover 22 telecom circles in India in which eight circles will be covered in this month while five will be covered early next year.  Instead of offering per second billing, Uninor has offered 25 paise per minute tariff for local calls, and 49 paise for STD.

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TOT launches 3G network in Thailand

On 12.05.09, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The launch of 3G network by Thailand’s state-controlled mobile network TOT got a cold response from the subscribers. However, initially the network will be available only in Bangkok and the areas surrounding it. Expansion of the network in the near future relies on the auction of the 3G license.

National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) will offer four licenses- three of 10 Mhz and a fourth with 15Mhz of radio spectrum while the reserve price will range between US$100-US$200 million. The process will not take place until next year as there is a lack of executives to form a quorum.

Small trials of 3G networks are already run by the current operators over their existing GSM radio spectrum, while CAT Telecom which is a CDMA operator, is seeking an overseas investor to assist in 3G rollout plans

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MTN borrows 18Mn for network overhaul (Rwanda)

On 12.02.09, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Africa’s fastest growing and leading mobile network, MTN, signed US$18 million deal with six local banks to overhaul its network in Rwanda. The deal came after Millicom International Cellular, a rival operator, started its mobile operation in mid November.

The deal is a part of the 100 million investments, MTN is set to make in the network this year. The debt will be taken in two different installments of $8 million and $10 million payable in three years and five years respectively. The loan will finance the network expansion of MTN above the current 90 percent coverage and will help to strengthen its position in the highly competitive market.

MTN has over 1.8 million subscribers in the country with a population of about 10 million people. It was awarded a national GSM license in Rwanda in 1998. Country’s third mobile license was won by Millicom International Cellular in November 2008, for $60 million.

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Wataniya finally launches in West Bank.

On 11.12.09, In Mobile, By Editor
Wataniya Mobile finally began operations after months of disputes with Israel. This will break Paltels monopoly and is likely to drive down prices.
Qtel owns 57% of Wataniya Palestine and the remainder is owned by  the public Palestine Investment Fund. Wataniya has invested USD 100 Million already and a further $700m is planned over the next decade.
Current penetration in the west bank is only 35% which Wireless Federation expects to go up rapidly following the launch of Wataniya. Paltel currently has 1.5 million Palestinian subscribers.
Wataniya said it has received only 3.8MHz of bandwidth from Israel, instead of the 4.8MHz that had been promised. Without this Wataniya will not be able to launch 3G services.

Wataniya Mobile finally began operations after months of disputes with Israel. This will break Paltels monopoly and is likely to drive down prices.

Qtel owns 57% of Wataniya Palestine and the remainder is owned by  the public Palestine Investment Fund. Wataniya has invested USD 100 Million already and a further $700m is planned over the next decade.

Current penetration in the west bank is only 35% which Wireless Federation expects to go up rapidly following the launch of Wataniya. Paltel currently has 1.5 million Palestinian subscribers.

Wataniya said it has received only 3.8MHz of bandwidth from Israel, instead of the 4.8MHz that had been promised. Without this Wataniya will not be able to launch 3G services.

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T-Mobile UK agrees ninth major MVNO partner, Vectone. To take on Lyca and Lebara Mobile.

On 10.02.09, In Mobile, By admin
T-mobile along with Vectone intends to capture a large chunk of the increasing migration of international calling minutes on to the mobile.
Vectone is already established across Europe and has over one million customers across Denmark, Norway, Austria, The Netherlands and Switzerland.
T-mobile claims to have over 50% of the wholesale market already (virgin’s MVNO operation rides on t-mobile).
The Ethnic focussed, low-cost prepay service is estimated to target ten million potential subscribers in the UK generating more than seven billion calls per year.
T-Mobile, managing director Richard Moat said: ‘We are delighted to be supporting Vectone’s ambitious expansion plans for the UK market. The deal with Vectone signals our intent to become a major player in the ethnic MVNO arena.
‘With international calling card minutes rapidly migrating to mobile, this is an excellent time to be forging new partnerships in a segment which is showing signs of bucking the recession with strong projected growth rates.
‘Vectone builds on our eight existing MVNO partnerships and underlines our ambitions to target new growth areas in the wholesale market.’
T-mobile along with Vectone intends to capture a large chunk of the potential 7 billion calls per year of international calling from the ethnic community within the UK.
Vectone is already established across Europe and has over one million customers across Denmark, Norway, Austria, The Netherlands and Switzerland.
T-mobile claims to have over 50% of the wholesale market already (virgin’s MVNO operation rides on t-mobile) and with its ninth major partnership, there may be more to cheer about.
The Ethnic focussed, low-cost prepay service is estimated to target ten million potential subscribers in the UK.
T-Mobile, managing director Richard Moat said: ‘We are delighted to be supporting Vectone’s ambitious expansion plans for the UK market. The deal with Vectone signals our intent to become a major player in the ethnic MVNO arena.
‘With international calling card minutes rapidly migrating to mobile, this is an excellent time to be forging new partnerships in a segment which is showing signs of bucking the recession with strong projected growth rates.
‘Vectone builds on our eight existing MVNO partnerships and underlines our ambitions to target new growth areas in the wholesale market.’
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