Telekom expands HSPA coverage to Tannheim (Germany)
Telekom Deutschland has expanded its mobile network coverage to Tannheim with UMTS/HSPA technology.
The network enables customers in the municipality to access internet at a maximum download speed of 21 Mbps. The expansion is a part of Telekom’s rural broadband program which uses (V)DSL, UMTS/HSPA and LTE to close the white gaps in broadband coverage in Germany.
Telekom launches UMTS mobile data service in Nordhausen (Germany)
Telekom Deutschland has announced that it will make UMTS mobile internet services available in Nordhausen in the state of Thueringen with immediate effect.
The service support speeds of up to 21.6 Mbps and is available to residents in Nordhausen-Sundhausen and Nordhausen-Steinbruecken. Users can also use the UMTS network to go online from their home PC with a Telekom UMTS stick.
Telekom launches DSL, UMTS broadband in Bavaria
Telekom Deutschland has announced that people can now enjoy the availability of DSL broadband services, with speeds up to 16 Mbps, in Engelthal in the county of Nuernberger Land, Bavaria.
Services to over 40 households in the district of Sendelbach are available with immediate effect. Moreover, as a part of its continued roll-out of broadband services in rural areas, the operator has launched UMTS mobile internet services in the communities of Aresing and Geltendorf, allowing customers to get online with data speeds of up to 21.6 Mbps.
Deutsche Telekom says all options open in US (Germany)
Deutsche Telekom AG’s Chief Financial Officer has stated that all options will remain open for the company in the U.S., as shares rose on speculation of a tie-up with Sprint Nextel Corp in the U.S.
The manager was responding to reports that Deutsche Telekom has held talks to sell its T-Mobile USA unit to Sprint Nextel in exchange for a major stake in the combined entity, citing people with knowledge of the matter.
Telekom CFO Tim Hoettges listed various possibilities for the company’s U.S operations including a sale of the entire business. He added bringing in a partner, an initial public offering, or network co-operation also remain as options.
Telekom upgrades network in Geisenhausen (Germany)
Telekom Deutschland has upgraded its UMTS network with HSPA+ technology in Geisenhausen (Bavaria).
Following the upgrade, all households in the municipality will now be able to access internet with maximum download speed of 21.6 Mbps.
The upgrade is a part of Telekom’s strategy to upgrade/expand its DSL and mobile network to offer broadband in rural areas, where currently no broadband services are available.
Telekom Austria profit doubles on lower revenues
The Telekom Austria Group has reported a slight decrease in revenues for 2010 but has reported doubling of its net profits.
The company’s revenues for 2010 dropped by 3.1% to US$6.34 billion while profits increased by 106% to US$266 million. Net debt also fell by 9% to US$4.5 billion.
Austria (-4%), Bulgaria (-8%) and Croatia (-5%) showed a slight decline in revenues, whereas Belarus and the Additional Markets segments (Slovenia, Republic of Serbia, Republic of Macedonia and Liechtenstein) recorded a growth of 14% and 8% respectively.
According to Hannes Ametsreiter, CEO Telekom Austria Group, for the first time in 13 years, they were able to return to fixed line customer growth. This demonstrates the effectiveness of their convergence strategy, which they are currently dedicated to implementing in their two largest markets Austria and Bulgaria.
Hannes added that against the backdrop of a challenging market environment,they have adopted the necessary measures – such as the merger of their fixed line and mobile communication operations in Austria – to realize selective growth opportunities going forward. In the years to come, they will have to tackle a number of issues with regard to regulation and competition.
However, they are confident to achieve their targets over the mid-term. The main goal is to secure the Group’s market leadership in Central and Southeastern Europe and to become the most efficient and innovative telecom operator in this region.
At year-end 2010, the Telekom Austria Group had 22 million customers across its operations in 8 countries of Central and Southeastern Europe, a market with 41 million inhabitants.
Telekom increases ‘Call & Surf Mobil’ speeds (Germany)
Germany’s incumbent telco Deutsche Telekom (DT) has announced it has increased the maximum speed of its Call & Surf Mobil mobile internet tariff plans.
New and existing subscribers of the packages will immediately benefit from an almost tenfold increase rise in maximum speeds from the previous rate of 384kbps to 3.6Mbps. Prices for the starter package, ‘Call & Surf Mobil S’, begin at US$25.8 per month.
Meanwhile, add-on ‘Speed Option’, which is available with the ‘Complete Mobil L’ and ‘Complete Mobil XL’ packages for US$13.32 per month, has seen its maximum download speed increase from 14.4Mbps to 21.6Mbps.
Telekom, Axiata has initiated a probe into the Alcatel bribe case
Telekom Malaysia Bhd. and Axiata Group Bhd., two state-controlled telecommunications providers have stated that they will investigate alleged improper payments admitted to by Alactel-Lucent SA.
According to separate exchange filings yesterday, the Malaysian companies jointly appointed a private consultancy firm as forensic accountants and Shearn Delamore & Co as legal advisor to assist in the probe.
Alcatel-Lucent, the world’s biggest provider of fixed line phone networks, agreed on Dec. 28 to pay $137 million to resolve U.S. criminal and civil probes after admitting to bribing officials in countries including Taiwan, Malaysia and Costa Rica.
According to analyst, this is much-welcomed news as it speaks well of both Telekom Malaysia and Axiata’s corporate governance procedures, given their quick response to investigate the case. It indicates the boards’ seriousness in tackling the issue.
Alcatel Malaysia made at least 17 improper payments from 2004 to 2006 to employees of Telekom for non-public information relating to ongoing tender offers, according to a statement of facts admitted by Alcatel in its deferred- prosecution agreement with the U.S.
Solomon Islands plan to award 3rd mobile license
The Solomon Islands has confirmed that it is planning to offer the country’s third mobile license, just a few months after the country’s second network; B-Mobile launched its services.
Communications Commissioner, Nick Williams, made the announcement in Honiara, noting that the license will include an option to offer 3G services.
According to Williams, he hopes to award the license by March next year and to see the operator begin its service within 6 months. The incumbent operator had blocked the launch of the country’s second mobile network, B-Mobile for nearly ten months after its license was originally granted.
When the second license was tendered in 2009, Digicel applied for a license, but was rejected. Digicel had actually been granted a license in 2006, but Solomon Telekom successfully sued to block the network launch pending a review of its monopoly status.
Telekom will exit Nigeria CDMA handset business
Africa’s largest fixed-line operator, Telekom has been looking to exit its Multi-Links mobile business, one of four mobile operators using the CDMA technology platform in a market overwhelmingly dominated by the rival GSM standard.
Telkom recently launched a mobile business in the South African market, where it faces stiff competition from MTN Group, and its former unit Vodacom.
According to Jeffrey Hedberg, Telkom’s acting chief executive, selling the mobile unit in Nigeria was a top priority. There is a clear need to stop the bleeding in the CDMA business, and on the fixed side the company is in discussions with other partners; again about increasing country scale and minimizing their exposure.
According to Telkom, it had received a number of expressions of interest for the Nigerian business, which was bought for $330 million three years ago and incurred a US$37, 42 million operating loss in the six months to end-September.
