IPneo receives the IMS Industry Award for best IMS client framework (Egypt)
In IMS World Forum 2012, the industry leading IMS event, held from April 24th to 26th in Madrid, Spain, IPneo’s IMS Client Framework has been chosen to receive the IMS Industry Award for the Best IMS client Framework.
IPneo’s IMS client framework is designed to grant a generic and flexible architecture allowing both, seamless integration with new IMS services and easy selection of pluggable IMS services based on the customer and market needs. Being highly modular and scalable, provides a fully customizable framework ready for the development of an unlimited number of IMS applications and services including: PoC, Presence, instant messaging, image share, file share, video share, VoIP, RCS, RCS-e (Joyn), VoLTE and VCC. The framework is also platform independent thanks to the environment adaptation layer which allows the framework to run on a wide range of platforms including Android (both Phones and Tablets), iOS (4.0 and 5.0), Windows Mobile, Symbian, Windows, Linux and Mac.
The framework also has repeatedly proved to be the best-in class through extensive bilateral Interoperability Testing (IOT) done for several years with major IMS network vendors and operators. IPneo is committed to continuously enhancing its IMS Client Framework to keep it always in this leading position.
MTN launches 3G services in Ivory Coast (Africa)
MTN plans to offer its customers 3G services as soon as possible following the receipt of 3G licences in Benin and Ivory Coast. According to reports, Christian de Faria, MTN Group Chief Commercial Officer, said that this is exciting news for their customers, as they will now enjoy the benefits of world-class connectivity. They are grateful to the governments of Cote d’Ivoire and Benin for enabling MTN to further enhance the experience of mobile telephony for their customers.
Wim Vanhelleputte, the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), announced that West African Cable System (WACS), a submarine cable stretching 14,000 kilometers between Portugal and South Africa, will upgrade connectivity for Ivoirians to international standards.
Vanhelleputte said that this is a dream come true for many Ivoirians whose internet access has been held back for a very long time. The cable will allow more Ivoirians to enjoy fast access to the internet. They have already identified about 30 per cent of subscribers who will be the first to experience and enjoy the 3G service.
Regarding the licence offered in Benin, Eric Tronel, Chief Executive Officer for MTN Benin, said that MTN is the first and only operator in Benin with a license which allows the use of new generation technologies, such as 3G, 4G, LTE and Wimax. This presents a great opportunity to improve business communication solutions and other services to customers, both in the consumer and corporate sectors. Customers are already eagerly waiting for the launch of new services using the new technology, and MTN Benin is working hard to ensure that customers are not disappointed.
MTN obtains 3G licences in Ivory Coast and Benin (Africa)
South Africa’s leading mobile operator MTN has obtained 3G licences in both Ivory Coast ad Benin, and is looking to launch 3G services in these regions soon. As per a report by CommsMEA, Bruno Koné, Icory Coast’s minister of post and ICT, told MTN that it was awarding the 3G licence to the telco at MTN’s offices in Abidjan.
Further, Wim Vanhelleputte, CEO, MTN Cote d’Ivoire, said that the operator had already identified about 30 per cent of subscribers who would be the first to experience 3G services.
As per the report, in Benin, the government granted MTN a universal licence which allows the company to provide mobile telecommunication services using any technology within the defined agreed frequency range without additional fees. This includes 3G, 4G, LTE, Wimax, Wi-Fi outdoor as well as the use of VoIP.
Eric Tronel, CEO, MTN Benin, said that MTN is the only operator in Benin with a licence to use wireless technologies such as 3G, LTE and WiMAX. He added that this presents a great opportunity to improve business communication solutions and other services to customers, both in the consumer and corporate sectors.
DoT considers asking Google, Skype for a decryption solution (India)
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is considering to ask voice over internet protocol (VoIP) service providers like Google and Skype to devise a decryption solution of their services.
The move, if implemented, will mean that the government will be able to track emails sent through Gmail as well as intercept voice calls made through Skype.
In an internal meeting with DoT, officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has told the telecom department that Google and Skype need to provide decryption of their services whenever required by the security agencies for lawful interception.
According to the DoT internal note, there was also a need to bring some parity between the Information Technology (IT) Act and the Indian Telegraph Act-1885 to deal with interception and monitoring.
A Google spokesperson stated that they have not been contacted by the government yet on this issue and thereby, they are unable to comment.
During the meeting, DoT stated that such issues may be taken up at international forums such as ITU, WTO and United Nations wherein service providers are mandated to take permission from member countries before launching new services.
The note further stated that the legal protection for business entities may have to be strengthened against consumer protection or any civilian Act, where business secrets are disclosed to government agencies due to security considerations.
Intelligence Bureau (IB) will also prepare a list of issues faced by them while monitoring services and will be jointly addressed by the department of telecom and IT.
The interception/monitoring issue cropped up after security agencies expressed concerns about intercepting highly encrypted services such as BlackBerry amongst others.
EarthLink completes acquisition of STS Telecom
EarthLink, Inc., a leading IP infrastructure and services company, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of STS Telecom, a privately-held business providing voice, data and internet services to small to medium-sized business customers in Florida and Georgia.
For 2011 EarthLink expects STS Telecom to contribute approximately $15 to $18 million to EarthLink revenues and for the transaction to be accretive on a free cash flow basis. EarthLink will integrate STS Telecom into its newly established “EarthLink Business” division.
“We are very impressed with the experience level and processes STS Telecom built to sell and support a hosted VoIP platform,” stated Rolla P. Huff, EarthLink’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “We will leverage this platform and the talented people at STS to launch a nationwide hosted VoIP product for EarthLink Business over our ubiquitous IP network. In addition, STS Telecom’s customer base overlaps with our fiber network in South Florida so this acquisition is an opportunity to layer a growing and profitable revenue stream onto the EarthLink Business southeast fiber network.”
Mark Amarant, Chief Executive Officer of STS Telecom, added, “STS has successfully provided a Hosted PBX solution to small and medium-sized businesses on our proprietary platform since 2005. I am pleased that EarthLink will be able to scale our capability of offering a complete hosted voice and data solution to businesses with solid average revenue per customer (ARPU) to a national level. The completion of this transaction is an extremely positive next step for our company, our employees and our customers.”
ZTE launches zVOA to empower converged voice and multimedia
ZTE Corporation, a leading global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions, today launched its zVOA (ZTE Voice & Video over Any-access) solution to enable operators to deploy a unified control network for voice, video and multimedia services over any existing mobile and fixed access network infrastructure.
With the introduction of LTE and WiMAX network technologies, widespread deployment of broadband access technologies such as HSPA+ and Wi-Fi, and the increasing popularity of multi-mode smart phones, consumers have come to expect a continuous and consistent service experience in spite of different broadband access points. IMS-based VoIP and multimedia services are fast becoming a new area of growth for network operators. However achieving cost-efficiency in their networks remains a challenge for many.
ZTE’s zVOA solution addresses these issues to utilize on existing traditional voice network, broadband pipe and end-user resources to offer more multimedia services. The solution is low cost, easy to maintain and easily upgraded. This allows network operators to smoothly deploy VoLTE, VOBB and multimedia networks, and maintain their competitive edge by offering more services to end users.
Key to the zVOA solution is the introduction of the iCX (intelligent Controller eXtensive) and iMG (integrative Media Gateway) products. The iCX product integrates standard mobile and fixed softswitches, and IMS call control elements, while the iMG product incorporates media functions with integrated voice, video and other content types.
The solution employs state of the art virtualization technology and Cloud Computing technology on ZTE¢â‚¬â„¢s advanced ETCA hardware platform and software middleware to enable flexible deployment and maximize the processing capabilities.
The solution fully complies with a variety of standard interfaces of circuit switched (CS) elements and IMS elements, and can integrate all standard softswitches and IMS functions onto one shelf or even on one single board, allowing for a much smooth expansion process.
The zVOA solution is an ideal way to help operators expand markets with freedom and have voice & video anytime anywhere, using any fixed or mobile access,¢â‚¬ said Liu Jianye, Chief Architect of ZTE Core Network Products.
“In meeting the future development trend and demands of core networks, the zVOA solution fully inherits the functions of traditional voice networks, while at the same time offering carrier-grade VoIP and multimedia services over both legacy phones and new smart phones based on standard IMS architecture such as MMTel, converged Centrex, converged one number, DRVCC and SRVCC.
NBN Co acquires AUSTAR’s 2.3GHz/3.4GHz spectrum (Australia)
Australian pay-TV and telecommunications services provider, AUSTAR has announced the sale of its 2.3GHz and 3.4GHz wireless spectrum concessions to NBN Co, the public-private company set up to oversee the in-development National Broadband Network (NBN).
According to reports, the deal, which is valued at US$119.8 million, will help facilitate NBN Co’s plan to launch wireless broadband services in rural and regional areas of the country.
According to AUSTAR Chief Executive, John Porter, the agreement reached with NBN Co differed from other deals it had inked in the past with the likes of Optus and OPEL, which it noted included a combination of cash and various wholesale arrangements.
Meanwhile, AUSTAR’s group director of corporate development, Deanne Weir, revealed the company would now focus on developing its content platform beyond its current satellite-delivered customer base, noting that they will also look to create relationships with regional Australian homes that they don’t currently service, via high speed broadband and VoIP offerings.
