Wireless Federation

Comcel to offer users access to high speed mobile internet (Columbia)

On 11.24.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Comcel, a leading mobile phone operator in Columbia, has reportedly announced the launch of the new HSPA+ (High Speed Packet Access) technology in the main cities of the country, in an attempt to provide users access to high speed internet on their mobile phones.

According to reports, the new technology will enable users to browse mobile internet at speeds up to four times faster, between 1 and 1.2 megabytes per second. Further, Juan Carlos, President, Comcel has reportedly said that the service will initially be offered in Bogota, Cali, Medellín, Barranquilla and Pereira.

Further, as per sources, mobile operator Tigo’s internet services are currently limited to USB modems, but the operator has hinted at plans to make this service available to users on their mobile phones in the near future.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Comcel • HSPA • mobile internet • Tigo

Claro Paraguay expected to launch HSPA+ network in coming weeks (Paraguay)

On 11.09.11, In Mobile, By Editor

America Movil owned Claro Paraguay is reportedly planning to launch its HSPA+ (High Speed Packet Access) network in the country in the coming weeks. As per reports, the mobile network operator is expected to offer its users download speeds of upto 5Mbps. As per sources, Claro Argentina launched its own HSPA+ network last week, whilst Claro Uruguay is expected to launch its HSPA+ network later this month.

According to industry sources, Paraguay’s 3G subscribers had gone up by 14 percent in the first half of 2011, reaching almost 250,000 subscribers in June 2011 as compared to 217,000 subscribers in December 2010. Reports indicate that Tigo Paraguay is the market leader in terms of 3G subscribers, followed by Telecom Personal Paraguay and Claro, as at June 2011.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: 3G • Argentina • Claro Paraguay • HSPA • Paraguay • Telecom Personal • Tigo • Uruguay

Ghana’s mobile subscriptions cross 20 million users

On 10.25.11, In Mobile Operators, By Editor

According to industry reports, Tigo the second largest operator in the country, reported a subscriber base of 3,998,489 users at the end of September, accounting for 19.6 percent of the market share. Tigo has witnessed a downfall of 3.8 percent (157,574 subscribers) from 4,156,063 subscribers as at August 2011.

On the other hand, telecommunications giant, Vodafone reportedly has 3,890,083 subscribers, representing almost 19.1 percent market share. The company added almost 312,520 subscribers in the past couple of months and may soon replace Tigo as the second largest operator in the country in terms of subscribers.

The country’s total number of mobile subscriptions is at 20,419,635 accounting for almost 80.5 percent of Ghana’s population, with MTN Ghana emerging as the strongest player having 9,894,074 subscribers and representing 48.4 percent of the market share. Further, while Airtel crossed the two million subscriber mark, representing almost 11.9 percent of the market, Expresso’s subscriber base fell from 219,290 in July to 204,153 by September end, accounting for less than 1 percent of the market share.

Filed under:Mobile Operators Tagged with: Airtel Ghana • Expresso • Ghana • MTN • Tigo • Vodafone

Tigo rewards 210 customers in the ‘Reload and Win’ promotion for mobile money (Rwanda)

On 10.19.11, In Mobile Operators, By Editor

Tigo Rwanda launched a promotion called ‘Reload and Win’ in an effort to encourage users to use the e-wallet service on their mobile handsets. The promotion which began on September 29, 2011 has already resulted in 210 happy winners and will continue till October 30, 2011. As per reports, the winners receive various gifts ranging from cash, mobile phones, tablets and other gadgets. The cash prize winners are awarded money through ‘Tigo Cash’, the company’s mobile financial service allowing subscribers to transfer money with anyone in Rwanda via their mobile phone.

According to reports, Jolly Igoma, Advertising and Media Manager, Tigo, has said that all Tigo prepaid subscribes could participate in the new promotion by simply reloading $0.33 per day. She added that the winners are randomly picked and announced in the presence of a certified notary who uses computerized software to select the winners. Further, she also said that Tigo launched another promotion termed ‘Browse till you drop’ allowing Tigo internet customers to surf for the entire weekend from October 14 to October 16 for only $ 0.82.

Filed under:Mobile Operators Tagged with: e-wallet • Jolly Igoma • mobile money • Promotion • reload and Win • Rwanda • Tigo

ETB to launch wireless services in partnership with Tigo (Colombia)

On 09.29.11, In Mobile Operators, By Editor

Colombian based telecommunications company, ETB, has plans to launch wireless services for which it has signed a deal with Millicom International Cellular SA owned Tigo. ETB plans launch its service in Bogata in November, initially scheduled to be launched in 2012, and attempts to target the low and medium income customers.

As per reports, currently, the telecom company bundles its local and long-distance telephony along with TV and broadband services, and is likely to include its mobile option in future packages. Presently, two more mobile network operators, Uff móvil and UNE-EPM, are utilizing Tigo’s infrastructure.

Filed under:Mobile Operators Tagged with: Colombia • ETB • Millicom International • Tigo

Honduras operators see great opportunities in mobile data

On 03.23.11, In Mobile, By Editor

A new research report has revealed that despite the increasing competition in the mobile market, Honduras operators will observe opportunities in growing data usage along with the expected migration from basic handsets to text-friendly devices and smartphones.

As per researchers, despite recent political problems in Honduras, the telecom market has continued expanding, fueled by advances in mobile penetration and broadband Internet. In 2010, the telecom market generated $1.36 billion and will expand at a CAGR of 5.1 percent over the next five years.

Mobile data will more than double its share of total revenue, expanding from $182 million in 2010 to $444 million in 2015; it is also expected that fixed and mobile broadband will be the main contributors.

Most of the data revenue in Honduras comes from messaging. The lack of a strong 3G base for market leader Tigo and the relatively low sophistication of the market have made other services a small piece of the overall market. Mobile broadband has started to gain traction in Honduras, and by the end of 2011, Pyramid anticipates around 218,000 subscriptions.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: 3G • CAGR • Devices • Honduras • Honduras operators • Mobile • Mobile market • political problems • smartphones • Tigo • USA

Tigo Rwanda introduces dual-SIM phone

On 03.22.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Tigo Rwanda has launched a dual-SIM handset, which it claims is the first offer of its kind on the Rwanda market. The phone comes with a price tag of US$41.19.

One of the slots is fixed for a Tigo SIM card, and the other is open for any other SIM card. The phone also comes with a video camera, a still camera, FM radio, internet, MP3 player, Bluetooth, a memory card slot and a color screen.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: a memory card slot • Bluetooth • Dual-SIM phone • FM Radio • internet • MP3 Player • operator • Rwanda • still camera • Tigo • Tigo Rwanda • Tigo SIM card • video camera

NCA says mobile, fixed penetration reached 75.4% at end-2010 (Ghana)

On 02.03.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Figures published by Ghana’s telecoms regulator, National Communications Authority (NCA) shows that the fixed and mobile penetration in the country reached 75.4% at the end of last year, up from around 71% at the start of 2010.

The watchdog’s figures show that the primary driver of growth is mobile usage: the cellular penetration rate stood at 74.2% at the same date, with more than 17.436 million registered SIM cards. Mobile growth in the second half of last year came despite a compulsory SIM registration scheme, which entered into effect on 1 July, and which was expected to dampen growth for the year, compared with 2009. The scheme is also expected to have pruned out a number of inactive and/or unregistered mobile users.

At the end of last year the NCA’s figures reveal that MTN Ghana led the mobile segment with 8.721 million SIMs, ahead of Tigo with 3.999 million, and third-placed Vodafone (Ghana) with 2.722 million.

Of the three other licensed cellcos, Airtel had 1.754 million subscribers, Expresso (formerly Kasapa) had 239,815 and Glo Mobile is yet to launch operations. Meanwhile, the two companies offering landline or fixed network services noted a significant drop in customers last year. Vodafone (formerly Ghana Telecom) reported 267,033 main lines in service at the end of 2010, down from around 284,000 at the start of the year, while Airtel had 10,864 lines, up around 8,000 year-on-year.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Airtel • Expresso • fixed and mobile penetration • Ghana • Kasapa • Mobile • MTN Ghana • National Communications Authority (NCA) • registered SIM cards • SIM registration scheme • Telecoms Regulator • Tigo • USA • Vodafone

Tigo to launch pay-TV in 2H11 (Paraguay)

On 01.24.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Tigo Paraguay is reportedly planning to launch pay-TV in the cities of San Lorenzo, Lambare, Luque and Fernando de la Mora in July 2011.

Capital city Asuncion is also part of a mooted launch, although regulatory red-tape has stalled the issuance of that particular licence, with no decision expected to be made until at least February.

If the launch goes ahead as planned it would make Tigo the first Millicom subsidiary to launch a pay-TV operation in South America. Luxembourg-based parent company Millicom reportedly hopes to capitalize on the success of its Central American cable network Amnet, which presently operates in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Honduras.

Reports have suggested that Tigo Paraguay is in the midst of negotiations with the National Electricity Administration (ANDE) to utilize part of its infrastructure to aid the launch.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Amnet • Capital city Asuncion • Costa Rica • Fernando de la Mora • Honduras • Lambare • Luque • Luxembourg • Millicom • Mobile • National Electricity Administration (ANDE) • Nicaragua • Paraguay • Pay-TV • San Lorenzo • South America • Tigo

Tigo expands network coverage to new districts

On 12.01.10, In Mobile, By Editor

Millicom Rwanda, which provides mobile services under the Tigo, has reportedly widened its network track to a further ten districts. Services are now available in Bugesera, Gatsibo, Gicumbi, Gisagara, Huye, Kamonyi, Nyaruguru, Rubavu, Rutsiro and Rwamagana.

The operator has also enhanced coverage in areas already covered by its network, including Gasabo. Under the company’s mobile license awarded in November 2008 Millicom is committed to covering at least 80% of the population by the end of the year.

According to reports, Millicom became the country’s third mobile operator when it launched commercial services in November 2009. Just under a year later, at 30 September 2010 the company had signed up just over 548,000 customers, placing it second in the market behind MTN Rwanda with 2.39 million users, and just ahead of Rwandatel (535,710).

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Bugesera • Gasabo • Gatsibo • Gicumbi • Gisagara • Huye • Kamonyi • Millicom Rwanda • Mobile • MTN • Nyaruguru • Rubavu • Rutsiro • Rwanda • Tigo