Wireless Federation

O2 apologizes for revealing mobile numbers online (UK)

On 01.27.12, In Mobile, By Editor

Mobile service provider O2 has apologized to its customers for the technical glitch during their routine maintenance which disclosed customers’ mobile number on the website. According to company reports, O2 has said that the technical changes they implemented as part of routine maintenance had the unintended effect of making it possible in certain circumstances for website owners to see the mobile numbers of those browsing their site.

The company added that they have investigated, identified and fixed the problem, and have apologized for the concern they caused. As per sources, this act has caused great discontent amongst subscribers causing many of them to respond negatively towards the company.

According to reports, the company said they only shared this information with their trusted partners. However, due to technical changes, the information was shared with other website owners as well. Further, the company has reportedly said that they have contacted the regulatory authority Ofcom, and are also cooperating with the Information Commissioner’s Office.

Ofcom revises proposal for LTE auction plans (UK)

On 01.13.12, In Mobile, By Editor

Independent regulator and competition authority Ofcom, has reportedly made changes to its proposal for the upcoming LTE mobile spectrum auction in an attempt to provide better mobile internet services in many rural and underserved areas.

As per sources, Ed Richards, CEO, Ofcom, has said that they are proposing a significant enhancement of mobile broadband, extending 4G coverage beyond levels of existing 2G coverage – helping to serve many areas of the UK that have traditionally been underserved by network coverage.

Further, reports reveal that the competition authority had initially reserved some portion of the spectrum for Everthing Everywhere which is no longer a part of the revised proposal. Ofcom claims that because of their current spectrum holdings, and/or the much lower risk that these national wholesalers would fail to acquire further spectrum in the auction, they do not consider it necessary to reserve any spectrum for Everything Everywhere, Telefonica or Vodafone.

The regulator also believes it is more viable to reserve some of the available spectrum for a fourth national wholesaler, someone other than Everything Everywhere, Telefonica or Vodafone.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: 4G • Everything Everywhere • LTE • Ofcom • Spectrum Auction • Telefonica • Vodafone

Telefonica cuts down dividend forecast by 14 percent (Spain)

On 12.16.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Spanish telecom giant, Telefonica, has reportedly cut down its dividend forecast for 2012 by 14 percent based on the extensive changes witnessed in the market conditions. According to reports by the company, the payout has been reduced to US$ 1.95 a share as compared to the earlier forecast of US$ 2.27 a share.

As reported by Wireless Federation earlier, Telefonica has been actively cutting jobs, halting major mergers and acquisitions and reviewing underperforming assets in an attempt to reduce its debt and manage the 22 percent decline in the stock this year.

As per sources, industry analysts believe that the operator was bound to reduce its dividend payout following its inability to meet recent earnings estimates as well as the effort being put in to repay the company’s net borrowings.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: dividend forecast • Telefonica

Telefonica plans US$ 500 million investment in Colombia next year (Spain, Colombia)

On 12.09.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Telefonica, a leading mobile operator in Spain, reportedly plans to invest as much as US$ 500 million in Colombia in the next year so as to increase its mobile and landline data service infrastructure. Mobile operator Movistar and landline company Colombia Telecomunicaciones are both units of the Spanish giant.

According to reports, Alfonso Gomez, President, Telefonica Group has said that in terms of their fixed operation, they continue growing in broadband. Further, between fixed and mobile telephones in 2011 they invested $6.17 billion and hope to invest the same or more next year.

As reported by Wireless Federation earlier, the Colombian government had said that it would liquidate the assets of Telfonica Telecom, its joint venture with Telefonica, in the event that Congress would not approve its capitalization plan worth US$ 3.8 billion.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Alfonso Gomez • Colombia • Movistar • Spain • Telefonica

Telefonica to offer FonYou’s XtraLine solution app (Spain)

On 11.30.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Wireless carrier Telefonica is reportedly going to be the first to launch the ‘XtraLine’ solution app by FonYou, a Spanish cloud telephony provider. According to reports, the app will offer customers an additional phone line bundles with services such as advanced voice screening, call registers and video voicemail.

As per sources, Fernando Nunez-Mendoza, CEO, FonYou has said that as long as the competition from external sources increases, operators will look to offer advanced services. He added that users can now effectively download a new number from Telefnica and get high quality, conventional switched voice and text, not VoIP.

Reports reveal that Nunez-Mendoza is also hopeful of adding more partnerships in the next year, hinting towards deals with mid-sized operators.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: FonYou • Telefonica • XtraLine solution

Ronny Pecik increases stake in Telekom Austria to 15.8 percent (Europe)

On 11.28.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Ronny Pecik’s RPR Privatstiftung has reportedly increased its stake in Telekom Austria to 15.8 percent with the help of shares and options. According to reports, Telekom Austria announced that RPR Privatstiftung had exercised options to buy a 15 percent stake in the telecom operator via Marathon Zwei Beteiligungs GmbH, and further holds options to increase its stake by a further 0.8 percent via its subsidiary, Everest Investment GmbH subsidiary.

As per industry sources, Pecik’s stake is currently worth $ 761 million, and is reportedly planning to hike its stake to 20 percent in collaboration with three more investors. However, as per sources, industry analysts claim that Pecik’s decision does not seem to be a very viable one. Further, there have been speculations suggesting that Pecik may be reselling his stake to VimpelCom, Telefonica, Telenor as a means of an exit strategy.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Austria • Ronny Pecik • RPR Privatstiftung • Telefonica • Telekom Austria • Telenor • VimpelCom

Telefonica to complete online assets review by 2012 (Spain)

On 11.25.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Spanish telecommunications company, Telefonica, is reportedly planning to complete the review of its online assets, Tuenti and Jajah, by early 2012. As per sources, Matthew Key, CEO, Telefonica Digital has said that the company will decide whether to retain or build out assets in markets such as Spain, where it is struggling to stop customers from switching to cheaper rivals.

According to reports, Telefonica aims to take on Facebook and Microsoft Corp., by pulling together its digital assets across three continents. Further, Key has also said that Telefonica is running a separate review of its media assets, including Imagenio, an online TV service along with some Latin American channels; some of which may have an investment implication.

As reported by Wireless Federation earlier, Telefonica has been actively cutting jobs, halting major mergers and acquisitions and reviewing underperforming assets in an attempt to reduce its debt and manage the 22 percent slide in the stock this year.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Facebook • Matthew Key • Microsoft Corp • online assets review • Spain • Telefonica

Government may liquidate its joint venture with Telefonica (Spain, Colombia)

On 11.25.11, In Mobile, By Editor

The Government of Columbia has reportedly claimed that it will liquidate the assets of Telfonica Telecom, its joint venture with Spanish operator Telefonica, if congress does not give the approval for the capitalization plan worth US$ 3.8 billion.

According to reports, Juan Carlos Echeverry, Finance Mimister has told congress that if it did not authorise the funding, the company will be liquidated and its assets will be auctioned. Further, Echeverry added that with debts amounting to US$ 9.7 million due by the end of the year, the legislature must approve the plan before it breaks for recess in three weeks’ time.

As per sources, Alfonso Gomez, President, Telefonica’s Columbian operations has said that the are supporting the capitalisation. They are ready and able to capitalise, but if the government does not see another option than liquidating, they would agree.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Alfonso Gomez • Juan Carlos Echeverry • Telefonica

Telefonica and MasterCard form a new joint venture for m-payment services (Brazil)

On 11.23.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Mobile operator, Telefonica has reportedly formed a joint venture with MasterCard, in an attempt to offer mobile financial services to around 65 million Vivo consumers in Brazil. According to reports, the service will enable users to make payments, transfer funds as well as purchase good online via their mobile device.

The new service is expected to help bridge the gap between the banked and unbanked segments as well as increase the reach of mobile payments in a user’s daily life where cash was the only base for a transaction. As per sources, each company will hold a 50 percent equity share in the new company which will function as an independent entity.

Reports suggest that Joaquin Mata, Global Head (Financial Services), Telefónica Digital has said that this partnership positions Telefónica as a leading developer of mobile financial solutions in Brazil.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Brazil • m-payment services • MasterCard • Telefonica

Telefonica signs network sharing agreement with China Unicom (Spain, China)

On 11.22.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Spanish telecom operator Telefonica has reportedly entered into a strategic partnership with China Unicom, wherein both operators will use each other’s networks to expand their coverage. According to reports, the deal will provide Telefonica access to China Unicom’s network in the regions of Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Australia, France and Sweden.

In return, China Unicom can reportedly increase its presence through Telefonica’s network in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, Peru, Venezuela, Mexico, USA, Puerto Rico, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria Denmark, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Morocco, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Romania, Sweden and Switzerland.

Reports suggest that Telefonica believes this agreement will help both operators expand their capabilities to provide telecom services to various customers in different geographic areas.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Denmark • Argentina • Australia • Austria • Belgium • Brazil • Bulgaria • Chile • China • China Unicom • Colombia • Czech Republic • Ecuador • Estonia • Finland • France • Germany • Greece • Guatemala • Hong Kong • Hungary • Ireland • Italy • Japan • Latvia • Lithuania • Mexico • Morocco • Netherlands • Network Sharing • Norway • Oman • Panama • Peru • Poland • Portugal • Puerto Rico • Romania • Singapore • Slovakia • Slovenia • Spain • Sweden • Switzerland • Telefonica • USA • Venezuela