NSS introduces unlimited peak internet plan (Russia)
NSS, Russian regional mobile operator has offered the new Www.0.5rub.pro unlimited wireless tariff plan.
Subscribers can use unlimited mobile internet via a USB modem from 08.00 to 18.00hrs. The cost of traffic outside this time is US$0.01 per 1MB.
Cyfrowy Polsat commences LTE trial (Poland)
Cyfrowy Polsat, Polish satellite DTH provider, has commenced a consumer trial of Long Term Evolution (LTE) services using the 4G network being launched by Mobyland and CenterNet.
All 2,000 participants in the trial, which will last until the end of June, will be allowed 100GB of free data per month, 50% of which may be taken between the hours of 8am and midnight.
Cyfrowy Polsat is also offering trialists a USB modem from IPWireless which is capable of supporting download/upload speeds of up to 73Mbps/25Mbps.
According to the company, it is working with Huawei with a view to raising speeds even further, to 100Mbps/50Mbps. If the trial is deemed a success, it is reported in the Polish press that Cyfrowy Polsat is planning a commercial launch for July.
Novatel Wireless Dual-Carrier HSPA+ USB Device First to Launch in the Middle East with STC
Novatel Wireless, Inc., a leading provider of wireless broadband solutions, today announced that the Ovationâ„¢ MC545 is commercially available with Saudi Telecom Company (STC) in Saudi Arabia. STC is the first operator to launch a commercial Dual-Carrier HSPA+ (DC- HSPA+) network in the Middle East. The DC HSPA+ is currently covering eight cities in Saudi Arabia and supporting data speed of up to 42 Mbps.
“Mobile broadband services are experiencing tremendous growth in the Saudi market,” said Jameel A. Al Molhem, VP of the personal business unit, STC. “To meet the growing demand for faster mobile broadband services, STC is the first carrier to commercially introduce DC HSPA+ technology in the Middle East and we are very proud to maintain our position as the market’s wireless technology pioneer.”
Continuing Novatel Wireless’ design legacy with a focus on functionality, reliability, leading edge technology and innovative sleek style, the Ovation MC545 modem is today the world’s most compact and light-weight DC-HSPA+ USB modem in the market place.
“We’re thrilled to be assisting STC launching their DC HSPA+ network and delivering the most compact form factor to the market,” said Rob Hadley, CMO of Novatel Wireless. “The Ovation MC545 USB brings advanced data capabilities to the consumers and will allow for new mobile broadband services supporting more compelling multimedia applications, faster and with richer user experiences.”
Novatel Wireless has now launched the DC HSPA+ Ovation USB with carriers in the Americas, Europe and the Middle East. The Ovation MC545 is based on the 3GPP Release 8 standard. DC-HSPA+ supports theoretical peak downlink data rates of up to 42 Mbps and 5.7 Mbps on the uplink, allowing carriers to easily upgrade their existing infrastructure equipment to achieve significantly higher bandwidths.
The Ovation MC545 supports the 900,1900 and 2100 MHz frequency bands and is designed to provide connectivity virtually anywhere to check email, download rich multimedia content and stay connected to family, friends and coworkers. The Ovation MC545 offers unprecedented speed and advanced antenna technologies to maximize data throughput and operating range. Featuring Novatel Wireless’ auto install connection manager, memory storage of up to 32GB via MicroSDHC and backward compatibility with HSPA technologies, the Ovation MC545 provides a total solution for ultra fast mobile broadband connectivity.
About Saudi Telecom Company
STC is the leading national provider of telecommunication services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and in the last few years, STC has gone beyond its local borders to the international markets, forming a network of businesses and investments in a number of GCC countries, Asia & Africa. The company has now foot print in Kuwait, Bahrain, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Turkey and South Africa which has enabled STC to serve a greater number of its customers which the company seeks to increase internationally through studying and evaluation of potential investment opportunities in the future in line with its FORWARD Strategy.
About Novatel Wireless
Novatel Wireless, Inc. is a leader in the design and development of intelligent wireless solutions based on 2G, 3G and 4G technologies providing wireless connectivity. The Company delivers specialized wireless solutions to carriers, distributors, retailers, OEMs and vertical markets worldwide. Novatel Wireless’ Intelligent Mobile Hotspot products, software, USB modems, embedded modules and smart M2M modules provide innovative anywhere, anytime communications solutions for consumers and enterprises. Headquartered in San Diego, California, Novatel Wireless is listed on NASDAQ: NVTL.(NVTLG)
Vodafone Greece upgrades Network
Vodafone Greece has announced the upgrade of its network to support a peak theoretical rate of 42.2 Mbps after deploying HSPA+ DC (High Speed Packet Access, Dual Carrier) network technology.
New upgraded Vodafone Mobile Broadband speeds are initially provided in selected areas of Athens, with plans to expand elsewhere in the country.
Customers will also need to buy an upgraded USB modem to access the higher speeds that are now available in the Capital City.
Vodafone launches HSDPA
Mobile carrier Vodafone today switched on an upgrade to its third-generation (3G) mobile phone network that allows significantly higher download speeds in limited areas of Sydney and Melbourne.
At a press conference in Sydney this morning, Vodafone executive Dave McNaughton said the upgrade to the High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) protocol would deliver typical download speeds of 600kbps to 1.4Mbps, peaking at 1.8Mbps. The previous 3G service was limited to 384Kbps.
The upload speed has improved to a peak speed of 384Kbps, up from 128Kbps.
However, the higher speeds are so far only available in inner metro areas of Sydney and Melbourne, in addition to some airport facilities. McNaughton said around 45 percent of Vodafone’s existing mobile broadband customers lived or worked in these areas.
In comparison, Telstra’s Next G HSDPA network launched a fortnight ago covers some 98 percent of the population, and offers similar typical speeds, but peaking at 3.6Mbps.
Unlike Telstra, Vodafone has not yet launched HSDPA-capable handsets for the service, but has been selling a compatible Huawei-based PCMCIA data card for laptops for the last month.
That card retails for AU$299, although Vodafone is currently offering a AU$70 discount for customers of its existing 3G service. An equivalent USB modem will debut in early November for AU$399.
Other access options include several models of Hewlett-Packard (6400) and Lenovo (R60, T60, X60, Z61) laptops with inbuilt HSDPA hardware, or a AU$299 Linksys wireless router which can share the connection, but also requires the user to purchase the AU$299 data card.
Vodafone will offer the higher speeds to customers at the same price and download limits as its existing plans, ranging from AU$29.95 to AU$99.95 per month, with download limits ranging from 100MB to 1GB.
As a launch promotion until 31 December, the carrier is offering two months’ free subscription to the 1GB plan, which normally costs AU$99.95 per month.
Vodafone does not have any lock-in contracts for the mobile broadband plans, with customers able to switch between plans at will.
Speaking with ZDNet Australia at the launch, Vodafone’s general manager of Business Markets, Edward Goff, declined to name any substantial local customer wins, but said the carrier was targeting home office workers and small to medium businesses. The service had also proved popular with large corporates, he said.
Goff said Vodafone was aware of Telstra’s own network but was focusing on its own plans.
Vodafone claims some 3.47 million Australian customers.
Source- http://www.zdnet.com.au
