www.WirelessFederation.com/news: AT&T* today announced a substantial enhancement to its local 3G wireless broadband network with the launch of additional wireless spectrum in the 850 MHz band. This new spectrum adds significant capacity to the network to support ever-growing demand for 3G mobile broadband service, and provides improved in-building 3G wireless coverage for customers across the metropolitan Atlanta and surrounding areas including parts of Fulton, DeKalb, North Fulton, Cobb, Gwinnett, and Fayette Counties.

The network enhancement is part of AT&T’s continual efforts to enhance and expand the scope, capacity and speed of its 3G wireless network – the fastest 3G network in Atlanta, according to recent data compiled by leading independent wireless research firms. It is also part of AT&T’s ongoing investment to build the broadband networks that will create jobs and fuel economic growth, and enable its customers to quickly access the content, applications and services that matter most to them.

“Our mission is to connect people with their world, everywhere they live and work, and to do it better than anyone else,” said Sylvia Russell, president-AT&T Georgia. “This substantial network upgrade is part of our commitment to deliver the nation’s fastest 3G connectivity along with the highest possible levels of service quality and reliability.”

“A thriving economy is driven by the ability of businesses to connect, and the investments AT&T continues to make in Georgia help us attract and retain jobs and build strong communities,” said Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue. “By enhancing existing networks and bringing innovative communications technologies to Georgia, AT&T is helping position our state to be a leader as the economy recovers.”

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www.WirelessFederation.com/news: StarHub has awraded a contract to Nokia Siemens Network to expand its mobile network capacity, in the process strengthening its HSPA+ wireless broadband services. According to a media report,  the vendor has upped StarHub’s network capacity by implementing a flat network architecture, using its Direct Tunnel solution. Peter Cook, Vice President, integrated network engineering, StarHub, said, ‘Data traffic has increased exponentially over the last two years, and StarHub is now geared to handle the current and future traffic needs of its subscribers. What’s more, there is no need to invest substantial amounts of money to build capacity to handle the increased data throughput. It’s really thanks to this innovative software offering from Nokia Siemens Networks that routes 3G data traffic effectively, improving the user experience while reducing capital and operating expenses.’

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www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Vodafone Portugal has introduced a prepaid mobile broadband tariff plan dubbed as Vita Net Light. The subscribers who make a EUR 10 top-up will have mobile broadband access for 10 hours, to be used over a 6-month period with no data traffic limitations. The subscribers of this tariff plan will be charged for the internet connection time. It offers connection speeds of up to 1.0 Mbps. Vodafone have also extended the validity period of prepaid mobile broadband top-ups to 180 days.

The subscribers can acquire a Vodafone Connect Pen and Vita Net Light Card, which comes with 10 days’ mobile broadband internet access for EUR 49.90 (VAT included) or a Vita Net Light Card, also with 10 days’ internet access included, for EUR14.90.

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Oi, the Brazilian mobile operator, has launched the mobile TV service in the State of Sao Paulo. The channels available include Cartoon Network, MTV, Woohoo, ESPN, Discovery, Discovery Kids, Esporte Interativo and Band News, as well as exclusive content such as TV Sexy Clube, Planet Green and Canal Oi. The channels are available via 3G networks. Subscribers can opt from three service package: 30 minutes for BRL 3.90, two hours for BRL 5.90 or 24 hours for BRL 9.90. There is no charge for data traffic. In order to use the service, subscribers need a compatible device and have to download an application from the operator’s Wap portal or via SMS.

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Sprint Nextel and Ericsson are in final talks over outsourcing its mobile network management and to transfer 5,000 to 7,000 U.S. employees to the equipment vendor.
The move is, reportedly, in order to have cost reduction counterbalancing the Sprint’s decreasing subscriber base.
The two firms have to come at a final decision over the contract as the discussion is likely to continue for a few more weeks.
Sprint may pay up to $2 billion to Ericsson for over several years to maintain the thousands of cell sites that carry Sprint’s wireless voice and data traffic.
The deal is expected to bring about 20% cost reduction for Sprint.

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Yoigo, the Spanish mobile operator has broadened its HSDPA mobile internet service offering to prepaid subscribers. From 6 May, the prepaid subscribers can opt for Yoigo’s Internet Para Llevar offering for EUR 3 per day and access speeds of up to 3.2 Mbps. The prepaid mobile internet subscribers will be able to make national calls and send SMS at a price of EUR 0.08/minute or per SMS.
The minimum monthly consumption has to be EUR 6. The new prepaid tariff will be available along with a EUR 20 prepaid card with EUR 20 available for voice and data traffic. The subscribers can also grab the card along with a Toshiba G450 or ZTE MF626 USB modem for EUR 49.

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Polish operator Polska Telefonia Cyfrowa has selceted Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) for upgradation and expansion of its network. This upgradation will boost the capacity of PTC’s 2G and 3G networks for data traffic and broadband access. Under the contract, Nokia Siemens Networks will deliver its Flexi Base Station as well as provide PTC with the NetAct network management and service management platform and implementation and maintenance services.

Qtel customers can now call Vodafone Qatar customers, with the interconnection of the two networks successfully going live on Tuesday, 24 March, marking a new chapter in Qatar’s telecommunication history.
With the agreement now in force and the points of connection in place, voice and data traffic can flow across the two independent competitive networks, linking people on Qtel’s fixed and mobile networks – and the Vodafone Qatar mobile network.

Adel Al Mutawa, Executive Director, Group Communications, Qtel said, ‘This is an exciting day for customers across Qatar, as they can now fully experience the realities of having two competitive telecom providers, and ensure that they stay connected with friends and family, whichever operator they elect to use.’

‘We have always welcomed competition in this market, and have been preparing for this day for more than five years,’ concluded Al Mutawa.

About Qtel

Qatar Telecom (Qtel) is the telecommunications service provider licensed by the Supreme Council of Information and Communication Technology (ictQATAR) to provide both fixed and mobile telecommunications services in the state of Qatar.
We have a presence in 17 countries, and we are committed to expansion both in the Middle East and North Africa region and South East Asia.

For more information, please visit www.qtel.com.qa/ 

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The Chinese telcom markets posts an income of $99.17Bn for the time period of Jan-Oct’08, experiencing a rise of 8.1% since last year, reports Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). Over the period of ten months, the business volume has risen by 22.5% from a year earlier to $0.269Tn, and the fixed investment of the telecom sector jumped by 9.9% year-on-year to $26.99Bn.
The income from mobile phone business and data traffic business hiked by 15.7% and 38% year-on-year to $54.36 Bn and $9.63Bn, calling for 54.8% and 9.7% of the country’s telecom sector income.The total phone users in China at the Oct end, the mobile subscribers accounted for 627Mn, rising by 79.959Mn from a year earlier.