www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Tele2, the pan – European operator, has according to a recent report, outgrown the three biggies of Russia, MTS, Beeline and MegaFon. Tele2 reportedly offers the cheapest mobile services across 20 federal subjects of the country.
Tele2’s aim is to offer easy-to-use communication services with good quality for the most affordable prices in the region. Not wasting amounts on advertising the company saves money, which allows it to offer several cheap price plans for local customers.
Under the report price plans promoted by the Russian mobile operators are divided into three groups: for “prudent” subscribers, for average consumers and for subscribers of high-level consumption and MTS according to the report is the cheapest in all price groups. It is followed by Beeline, while MegaFon goes third.
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Starting today, Qwest Wireless customers will begin to receive notification that they have 60 days to switch their Qwest Wireless service to another wireless provider. In 2008, Qwest announced plans to exit its wireless business and began offering Verizon Wireless service to Qwest customers.
Key Facts:
Qwest will discontinue all Qwest Wireless service on Oct. 31, 2009.
There is no early termination fee when disconnecting Qwest Wireless service.
Qwest Wireless phone numbers are portable. Customers who switch to a new service provider, prior to Oct. 31, 2009, will be able to transfer their wireless phone numbers to the new service provider.
Qwest is an authorized agent for Verizon Wireless. Qwest Wireless customers who select Verizon Wireless as their provider can take advantage of combined billing and exclusive handset offers from Verizon Wireless.
In September and October, when Qwest Wireless customers who have not changed wireless service providers make a call, they will be routed to a live Qwest service representative, who will remind customers that Qwest is discontinuing Qwest Wireless service and a new service provider needs to be selected. Once the customer service communication is complete, calls will be connected as dialed.
For more information about switching from Qwest Wireless service, visit www.qwest.com/wirelessfaq, or call 1 800-516-0669, or visit one of the many Qwest Solution Centers www.qwest.com/stores. (more…)
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The last restriction to offer 3G services were withdrawn in Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan, brought addendum by his decree dated 7 August into No. 782 decree dated 2 September 2002 On List and Rate of State Tax for Special Types of Commercial Activity Which Require Licensing.
In accordance with addendum, AZN 11,000 ($13,678) was fixed as the amount for state taxes of licencing 3G mobile connection.
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Further to the announcement on 13 May 2009, Vodafone Group announces that Vodafone-Panafon Hellenic Telecommunications Company S.A. has entered into a strategic partnership with DSL provider, Hellas Online Electronic Communications S.A.. Vodafone Greece will acquire an 18.5% equity interest in HOL and in exchange Vodafone Greece will contribute its existing fixed line DSL assets into HOL’s business. Vodafone Greece and HOL will jointly market Vodafone’s mobile products and services and HOL’s fixed line DSL and telephony services on an exclusive basis.
HOL is one of the leading DSL providers in Greece and had 215,000 customers at 30 June 2009, giving it a market share of approximately 26%. HOL also has the largest fibre optic network in Greece, amongst alternative providers, spanning more than 4,000 km and covering around 75% of the population. HOL is listed on the Athens Stock Exchange with a market capitalisation on 31 July 2009 of €251m.
Due to regulatory approval and commercial implementation, the transaction is not expected to complete until the fourth quarter of Vodafone Greece’s financial year.
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: National IT and Telecom Agency (NITA), Denmark, has announced a public consultation on the auction.
This spectrum will be suitable for offering 4G wireless broadband services based on standards such as LTE or WiMAX, but could also be used for other applications such as mobile TV.
205MHz of spectrum will be auctioned in total, including 190MHz in the 2.5GHz band (2500–2690MHz) and 15MHz in the 2010MHz band (2010–2025MHz).
The licencees will be enabled to install technology and offer services of their own choice. The auction is expected to take place in the first quarter of 2010. A consultation period will go on until September 15, 2009.
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Google India has launched a voice-based search engine services for the Indian mobile subscribers. This service, at present will be limited to the BlackBerry users. Though the reports suggest that the firm faces an obstacle in the voice-based search engine offerings due to varied accent and pronunciation differences observed in India.
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: MTNL, the state-owned mobile operator, which has been offering 3G services from past five years and has managed to secure 1000 3G connections, has invited private firms to launch its service in Delhi and Mumbai on a revenue sharing basis. Though the operator has not managed to push the uptake of the new technology, it has set stiff targets for the proposed private partner. The targets include assured revenue of Rs 240 crore in each Metro over a 3 year period.
If the franchisee fails to meet the targets, MTNL will charge a penalty which will be 10% of the shortfall amount.
MTNL has also sought a guaranteed minimum ARPU of Rs 500 a month from Day One. While the partnership will be on an exclusive basis, MTNL has reserved the right to change or bring in additional franchisees if the private player misses targets after the 3 year period.
Mr R. S .P. Sinha, Chairman and Managing Director, MTNL, said, “We are looking to partner someone who has the experience in rolling out 3G services. We are seeking proposals from the prospective participants who has necessary resources and infrastructure to provide customer care, set up own payment mechanism, create sales and distribution network to promote MTNL brand or create own branding for 3G services. Since 3G is all about data and content, it is a different ball game from voice services.”
Bids for the interested firms will start on 4 August.
MTNL will provide the infrastructure land, air conditioning on chargeable basis for co-locating the equipment of 3G franchisee. While the private player can utilise MTNL’s spectrum, it will have to set up its own infrastructure.
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The New Zealand’s telecom regulator will reportedly probe in the imposition of price control on the cost of connecting to competing mobile phone services.
ComCom said that the cost of roaming between mobile phone networks might be “significantly above cost”.
It said it also had other concerns regarding national roaming, and the mobile market in general, including the ability of future market entrants to negotiate competitive agreements in a timely manner.
The investigation will start in national roaming in August and the release of draft report in mid-October and then completing it by Feb’10-end.
The regulator also said it planned to recommend that the price of calling a mobile phone from a fixed line connection be regulated as the current prices are too high.
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: According to the E-Plus CEO Thorsten Dirks at the annual Handelsblatt conference Telekommarkt Europa 2009, E-Plus will continue to offer mobile services to its target group, as the strategy has proved to be successful for the operator in past year.
He further said that the regional marketing will be the next step taken by the operator to ensure continous growth, as the global recession has forced operators to find out intelligent ways to lure new subscribers.
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies, Azerbaijan, plans to issue 3G licences in 2009, ICT minister Ali Abbasov reportedly revealed. The three operators Azercell, Bakcell and Nar Mobile have already applied for the licence and minister hopes that the awarded operators will launch the services by 2009-end.