Friday, June 29, 2012

CRTC investigation prompts Rogers to stop throttling gamers

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has closed its investigation into Rogers Com ... http://bit.ly/OIavVS

CityCell’s switch from CDMA to GSM pending licence renewal

Bangladeshi CDMA-based mobile operator CityCell plans to invest an initial USD200 million in switching to GSM techn ... http://bit.ly/LUqLwB

Cofetel’s sanctions against Telmex approved

The Mexican parliament has approved telecoms regulator Cofetel’s proposals to launch punitive proceedings against ... http://bit.ly/KQJg92

USD18.4 billion class action against cellcos permitted by Supreme Court

A CAD19 billion (USD18.4 billion) class action suit alleging that mobile operators profited from unfair fees has be ... http://bit.ly/LUqIAT

CAT to finish cable construction this year; fibre service ‘On Net’ to launch in Q4 in ten provinces

Thai state-owned telco CAT Telecom has begun construction of additional submarine cables worth THB2.7 billion (USD8 ... http://bit.ly/LFrR2z

BWB slams brakes on A1, Yesss! deal; new phase review could take five months

A1 Telekom Austria's planned acquisition of mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) Yesss! from counterpart Orange f ... http://bit.ly/MFDLa4

Telecom Italia receives 15 expressions of interest for Media unit

According to Dow Jones Newswires, Telecom Italia (TI) has received 15 preliminary expressions of interest for its T ... http://bit.ly/LUqLg1

UzACI investigation throws a spanner in the works

Following reports earlier this week that the Uzbek telecoms regulator was considering revoking the licence of Russi ... http://bit.ly/OIav89

El Corte Ingles gets the nod to implement MNP in Paraguay

Spanish firm El Corte Ingles has won a contract to administer Paraguay's mobile number portability (MNP) database, ... http://bit.ly/MEhtHo

E-Plus can use 1800MHz for mobile broadband

Germany’s telecoms regulator, the Federal Network Agency (FNA, also known as Bundesnetzagentur or BNetzA), has ap ... http://bit.ly/MFDK5Z

SEC charges LightSquared head honcho with fraud

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has confirmed that it has filed a lawsuit in federal court this wee ... http://bit.ly/LUqIkq

Vodafone splits European segment into two

UK-based telecoms giant Vodafone Group has announced the division of its European unit into two new operating regio ... http://bit.ly/MEhvPv

DoCoMo reveals plans to ‘expand and improve’ Xi LTE network

NTT DoCoMo has used yesterday’s announcement that it has secured so-called ‘platinum band’ 700MHz spectrum fr ... http://bit.ly/N2Fw3j

Levy out as Vivendi mulls major corporate shake-up

Jean-Bernard Levy’s reign as chief executive of French telecoms and media conglomerate Vivendi ended following a ... http://bit.ly/LIO2H7

Colt confirms launch of low latency Dublin-London network route

Corporate telecoms provider Colt has announced that its new network route linking Dublin and London is fully operat ... http://bit.ly/MEhtH8

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Telconet uses Hughes satellite equipment for state broadband project

Ecuadorian corporate and wholesale telecoms provider Telconet has completed a deployment of broadband satellite equ ... http://bit.ly/N6pWQ8

Domestic internet exchange operating licences going for 120 dollars

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) yesterday invited applications for National Internet ... http://bit.ly/LQy08S

Orange unveils SIM-based NFC contactless payment plans

Orange France, the country’s largest mobile operator by subscribers, has unveiled plans for Europe’s first larg ... http://bit.ly/MXYPHm

Nepal’s regulator to amend national numbering plan

The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) is considering an amendment to the way it sets up tariff charges under ... http://bit.ly/LDbKCG

MTS Belarus marks ten years in business; signs up five-millionth subscriber

Belarus’ leading mobile operator by subscribers, MTS Belarus, has marked its ten year anniversary by announcing t ... http://bit.ly/M85SCP

NPT turns down Tele2/Network Norway request for higher MTRs

The Norwegian Post Telecoms Regulatory Authority (NPT) has revealed that it has rejected a request made by Tele2 a ... http://bit.ly/Ms4L0f

MIIT looks to draw foreign investment

The Chinese government has said it will encourage private investment in the telecoms sector as part of an effort to ... http://bit.ly/N6pXnb

FreshTel widens WiMAX footprint around Donetsk and Kherson

Ukrainian WiMAX broadband wireless network operator Ukrainian High Technologies (FreshTel) has enlarged its coverag ... http://bit.ly/MDkrdq

Ciena wins Japan-US Cable Network upgrade deal

Japan-US Cable Network, a consortium which operates a 23,000km undersea cable link across the Pacific, has awarded ... http://bit.ly/LFiF05

Vimpelcom finally achieves Far East coverage with GSM network

Vimpelcom, Russia’s third largest mobile operator by subscribers, has confirmed that it has finally achieved full ... http://bit.ly/N6pXnp

Belarusian operators announce ‘convergent cooperation’ plan

Tut.by reports that two Belarusian telcos, fixed line operator Beltelecom and mobile network service provider MTS B ... http://bit.ly/QqJkvP

ZTE bags CNY4 billion China Telecom contract

Chinese vendor ZTE has announced that it has been awarded a contract worth approximately CNY4 billion (USD632.87 mi ... http://bit.ly/Lird8m

Slim outmanoeuvres KPN board; likely to secure 27.7% stake anyway

America Movil (AM), the regional mobile operator owned by the Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim Helu, has scored anot ... http://bit.ly/LFiyRY

Sprint to fire LTE starting pistol in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, San Antonio on 15 July

Sprint Nextel, the United States’ third largest mobile operator in terms of subscribers, has confirmed that its l ... http://bit.ly/MDkqWT

Nawras to enhance 3G, launch LTE, expand WiMAX with Huawei

Oman’s second national telecoms operator Nawras has signed an agreement with Huawei, under which the Chinese vend ... http://bit.ly/Ms4I4E

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Telia/Telenor venture and TDC win 800MHz spectrum in Denmark

TT-Netvaerket, the Danish network sharing joint venture between Telia and Telenor, has won 800MHz spectrum which it ... http://bit.ly/MA0VBn

VHA to introduce DC-HSPA+ in September, LTE to follow in 2013

Vodafone Hutchison Australia (VHA) has outlined its plans for the rollout of both dual carrier HSPA+ (DC-HSPA+) ... http://p.ost.im/p/e3UeWa

KCC decision to allow cellco’s to charge for access to mVoIP riles consumers

The South Korean telecoms regulator, the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), is facing criticism after it re ... http://p.ost.im/p/e3LYLC

URCA investigates blackout, BTC suspects sabotage

Bahamian telecoms regulator the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) has informed the Bahamas ... http://p.ost.im/p/e3hEYC

Botswana launches WACS link

Landlocked Botswana has inaugurated its link to the West African Cable System (WACS), which was launched last m ... http://p.ost.im/p/e388bT

MdSE taps Huawei to conduct 800MHz LTE study

According to local press reports, Italy’s Ministry of Economic Development (MdSE) has enlisted Chinese teleco ... http://p.ost.im/p/e3dDYy

FCC believed to view Verizon, T-Mobile spectrum swap favourably

Verizon Wireless’ spectrum swap deal with T-Mobile USA is reportedly being viewed favourably by the Federal C ... http://p.ost.im/p/e3fnnm

Nobody’s home: DoT threatens closed-down cellco with fines

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued a show-cause notice to Etisalat DB for closing down its o ... http://p.ost.im/p/e38AAd

Guyana fibre-optic cable 90% ready

The Guyanese government’s 560km fibre-optic cable, which runs from Lethem on the Brazilian border to the coas ... http://p.ost.im/p/e3fNqv

Alca-Lu upgrades China Telecom’s network

French-US vendor Alcatel-Lucent has inked an agreement with China Telecom to boost the capacity and service cap ... http://p.ost.im/p/e383bb

Vodacom roaming re-negotiation ‘going in right direction’ for Cell C

South African mobile operator Cell C has confirmed that it has entered into talks with Vodacom about renegotiating ... http://bit.ly/NB7iB7

CMC to fine Asiacell, Korek for failing to list

Iraq’s Communications and Media Commission (CMC) has confirmed that it plans to fine mobile operators Asiacell, w ... http://bit.ly/LBQwqu

SBA confirms USD1.45bn deal with TowerCo covering US and Puerto Rico

US cell tower operator SBA Communications Corporation has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement ... http://bit.ly/N1JPrL

Etisalat to kick off SIM registration next month

Emirates Telecommunications Corporation (Etisalat), the United Arab Emirates’ incumbent telecoms operator, will l ... http://bit.ly/MpfQ2j

Vivendi plans further cuts at SFR

The CEO of French media and communications group Vivendi is considering sweeping cuts in the operating expenses of ... http://bit.ly/NMrH9S

Aster sale process suspended by local judge

The sale of the assets of Dominican Republic cable TV operator Aster Comunicaciones has been suspended by the Civil ... http://bit.ly/N1JN30

TeliaSonera boosts TEO stake to 85.6%

Having earlier this month launched a voluntary takeover bid to acquire all the outstanding shares in TEO LT, TeliaS ... http://bit.ly/LfODeK

Embratel wins BRL1.03bn contract to supply services in Pernambuco

Brazilian telecoms operator Embratel Participacoes, part of the America Movil (AM) group, has announced that it has ... http://bit.ly/KMrPGJ

Wind Mobile expanding to five new markets next quarter

Canadian cellco Globalive Wireless (Wind Mobile) has announced details of its network expansion programme, revealin ... http://bit.ly/MTJ33Q

Court suspends MPVI Mobil’s network pending appeal outcome

An order issued by a Hungarian court on Monday has put the brakes on would-be fourth mobile operator MPVI Mobil’s ... http://bit.ly/MpfOaG

Telefonica files USD1 billion claim with ICSID over Mexican MTR reductions

Spanish telecoms giant Telefonica has reportedly lodged a complaint with the World Bank’s International Centre fo ... http://bit.ly/MTDCC4

TeliaSonera finalising mobile VoIP charging model in August

Swedish telecoms group TeliaSonera says it will release final details of its planned charging structure for mobile ... http://bit.ly/LfOyYi

Qtel to provide communications for Lusail mega-development

Qatar Telecom (Qtel) and Lusail Real Estate Development Company have signed an agreement which will see Qtel delive ... http://bit.ly/NMrBiM

Telia/Telenor venture wins 800MHz spectrum in Denmark

TT-Netvaerket, the Danish network sharing joint venture between Telia and Telenor, has won 800MHz spectrum which it ... http://bit.ly/LfOyHN

Liberty swallows OneLink in one gulp

Puerto Rican cableco Liberty Cablevision has entered into an agreement to acquire another of the island’s triple- ... http://bit.ly/MpfLvs

Qtel offers to take 100% of Wataniya in deal valued at USD1.9bn

Qatar Telecom (Qtel) has made an offer to buy the remaining 47.5% stake it does not already own in its Kuwaiti unit ... http://bit.ly/LBaHmI

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Jasco and Warid Congo sign data centre partnership deal

South Africa-based Jasco Networks is expanding its operations into Central Africa, with the company revealing t ... http://p.ost.im/p/e3BrFq

Orange Romania expands 3G coverage from 55% to 98% in under a year

According to a report by Romanian business daily Finantistii, Orange Romania invested around EUR110 million (USD137 ... http://bit.ly/LyG432

Trio meet 800MHz coverage requirement in two more states

The German telecoms regulator, the Federal Network Agency (FNA, also known as Bundesnetzagentur or BNetzA), has ann ... http://bit.ly/LcXUUM

Vivacom-BTC sale could go ahead this year

The sale of the Bulgarian fixed line and cellular operator Vivacom-BTC may go ahead before the end of this year acc ... http://bit.ly/MxwuM9

TelOne owed more than USD200m in unpaid bills

The Zimbabwean fixed line incumbent TelOne has revealed that the amount it is owed in unpaid bills had reached USD2 ... http://bit.ly/Mmwqjk

mCel plots USD12m network improvement

Mozambican mobile operator mCel reportedly plans to spend around USD12 million on the installation of new antennas ... http://bit.ly/Loqv7Y

Airtel Ghana continues fight against SIM box fraud

Cellular operator Airtel Ghana has reported the discovery of the third SIM box fraud gang within a week as it looks ... http://bit.ly/LyG82W

Paraguayan VP accuses Brazil, Argentina of ‘cyber amputation’

Federico Franco, the vice president of the government of Paraguay has publicly denounced telecoms officials in neig ... http://bit.ly/Qarr4i

TOT nears strategic deal with Softbank

Thai state-owned telco TOT is near to signing a contract for strategic consulting and technical support with Japane ... http://bit.ly/LNnnoQ

MTS rekindles interest in buying government’s MTS Belarus stake

Mikhail Shamolin, the president of Russian telco Sistema, owner of a 52.8% controlling stake in regional powerhouse ... http://bit.ly/LcXTjy

BTA urges operators to share infrastructure

The Botswana Telecommunications Authority (BTA) has issued a notice to the country’s telecoms operators to develo ... http://bit.ly/Lyui79

MTS under fire for quality of service, may have licence revoked

Uzbekistan’s communication watchdog has warned Russian-backed cellco MTS Uzbekistan that it may revoke its operat ... http://bit.ly/MOWGS9

Investor Capital Research halves KPN stake

Reuters reports that Investor Capital Research and Management, a major shareholder in KPN Telecom (or Royal KPN) of ... http://bit.ly/LyG4jL

NT inks USD80m deal with Huawei for 4.8m new GSM lines

State-owned incumbent fixed and mobile operator Nepal Doorsanchar Company Limited (Nepal Telecom, or NT) has signed ... http://bit.ly/MmwnUD

PTK sale back on

Kosovo’s government has relaunched the sale of state-owned telco Post and Telecommunications Kosovo (PTK) after t ... http://bit.ly/Nw0CEk

Monday, June 25, 2012

Competition Commission upholds Ofcom’s ruling on BT’s wholesale access charges

British fixed line incumbent BT’s latest effort to force its rivals to help share the cost of lowering its pe ... http://p.ost.im/p/e3kgKc

OTE looking to exit Bulgaria

The Greek telecoms group OTE has indicated that it may offload its operations in Bulgaria as it looks to refinance ... http://bit.ly/KX6BHh

Israeli MoC and EU regulators complete twinning project

A European Union-funded twinning project aimed at harmonising Israeli communications regulations with those in ... http://p.ost.im/p/e3dfva

Delays hit operators’ wallets

Indian cellcos affected by the Supreme Court’ order to cancel 122 concessions are facing heavy losses as the ... http://p.ost.im/p/e3JJHK

ACCC issues final access determination for regulated transmission services

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has announced the issuing of a final access determina ... http://p.ost.im/p/e3DY8W

DoCoMo looking to grow smartphone business to JPY1 trillion by fiscal 2015

The new president of Japanese cellular operator NTT DoCoMo has said that the company is looking to increase sales f ... http://bit.ly/LvcLi0

BTC issues BSD3m apology

The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) has announced that it will provide customers a compensation package va ... http://bit.ly/LvcM5w

Jamii unveils MPLS overhaul

Kenyan broadband provider Jamii Telecommunications Ltd (JTL) has revealed that it has completed work on a comprehen ... http://bit.ly/LL8Rw4

Digicel strikes back at LIME

Digicel Jamaica has introduced a new tariff in response to price reductions by rival operator LIME Jamaia. The pric ... http://bit.ly/MKagG8

T-Mobile's tower sale attracts interest from American Tower, Crown Castle

T-Mobile USA has received a second round of bids for its cellular towers, attracting offers from companies such as ... http://bit.ly/OjlDIu

OPIC provides Wananchi with USD72m loan for expansion

The board of directors of the US government’s development finance institution Overseas Private Investment Corpora ... http://bit.ly/MvrjJR

Fixed call tariff rebalancing continues

In Ukraine’s fixed call market, the National Commission on Communications and Information Regulation (NKRZI or NC ... http://bit.ly/MKacGs

MTN to plough SZL33m into network expansion

MTN Swaziland has announced that it intends to invest around SZL33 million (USD3.88 million) in the expansion of it ... http://bit.ly/Q1K7Di

Dahabshiil denies acquisition of Telcom Somalia stake

Mobile money transfer company Dahabshiil Group has denied reports that it has acquired a majority stake in Somali t ... http://bit.ly/MmEEpq

PTS conducts secondary consultation on fixed/mobile call termination, fixed access

Sweden’s National Post and Telecom Agency (PTS) has launched a secondary consultation on its third generation of ... http://bit.ly/Q1K6z6

Airtel to invest USD25m in 3G, mobile money

Indian telecoms operator Bharti Airtel plans to invest USD25 million in Airtel Malawi, the country’s largest mobi ... http://bit.ly/LVSotZ

Vietnamobile seeks help amid rising competition

Vietnamese wireless operator Vietnamobile plans to ask the government for help as competition in the wireless marke ... http://bit.ly/OfjE6V

Cofeco drops Telcel fine as Cofetel revises interconnection regulations

According to TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database, Mexico’s antitrust watchdog, Comision Federal de Competencia ... http://bit.ly/KX6DyV

Bharat Telecom unveils island-wide FTTH plan

Bharat Telecom Limited, a telecoms joint venture between Mauritian and Indian investors, reportedly plans to connec ... http://bit.ly/MKabT3

NTA’s district fibre-optic network plan falters

An ambitious plan by the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) to begin construction of its District Optical Fib ... http://bit.ly/NrJIH8

LIME’s IDD monopoly ends

Local online news journal Caribarena Antigua reports that Cable and Wireless’ (CW, or LIME’s) 25-year monopoly ... http://bit.ly/Luf3Mu

Friday, June 22, 2012

Mobilicity expanding network to new areas

Canadian 3G mobile operator Mobilicity, which currently covers the cities of Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calg ... http://p.ost.im/p/ecCdXp

MTS selects Ericsson for LTE rollout

Canada’s MTS Allstream has selected Ericsson as an exclusive partner to supply it with an LTE-based 4G mobile ... http://p.ost.im/p/ecuN3a

Mobitel concludes large-scale network expansion, gets ready for 4G

Lalith de Silva, CEO of Sri Lankan cellco Mobitel, has announced the conclusion of a major nationwide phase of ... http://p.ost.im/p/ecbxm9

Ericsson performs first live LTE FDD/TDD handover on China Mobile HK’s network

Ericsson has performed a bidirectional LTE FDD/TDD handover on China Mobile Hong Kong’s live network, using a com ... http://bit.ly/LLzi9E

Cellco’s brand image gets a Touch up

Following a decision by Lebanon’s Ministry of Telecommunications, state-owned cellco MTC Touch, managed by Kuwait ... http://bit.ly/MG1wgk

Wind blows whistle on rival’s ‘foreign’ shareholder addresses; Telus tells Wind to zip it

Canadian cellco Globalive Wireless (Wind Mobile) has filed a complaint to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecom ... http://bit.ly/Mogl93

Macau postpones 3G switchover to January 2013

Macau’s Bureau of Telecommunications Regulation (DSRT) has postponed the country’s planned switch-off of 2G ser ... http://bit.ly/Mo1bUa

DRC gets new mobile operator; Africell to launch two years after receiving frequencies

According to online news portal Agence Ecofin, regional mobile operator Africell is poised to launch commercial ser ... http://bit.ly/KRcXbb

MNP draft bill submitted for govt approval

Russia’s Communications and Mass Media Minister Nikolai Nikiforov has revealed that he has submitted a draft bill ... http://bit.ly/NgGPbS

Zain ploughs USD20m into stock exchange listing

Zain Iraq, the country's largest mobile operator by subscribers, has confirmed that it has invested around USD20 mi ... http://bit.ly/LLzkyi

Cellcos left waiting for spectrum price decision

Yesterday’s meeting of the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) due to make a decision on the controversial base p ... http://bit.ly/NZd6sU

MTS Turkmenistan to re-launch next month?

MTS Turkmenistan could be operational again as early as next month, Prime Business News Agency reports, citing Vlad ... http://bit.ly/O3zyCi

Operators lament ‘punitive’ mobile tax hike

Malawian mobile operators have criticised an increase in corporate tax on the wireless sector to 33% from the stand ... http://bit.ly/McSRoQ

BIPT confirms that BASE has reached 3G coverage requirement

Having previously warned mobile network operator BASE to ensure it achieved pre-determined coverage requirements fo ... http://bit.ly/MbsnpO

FT-Orange lights Marseille 4G network

France Telecom-Orange yesterday launched its 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network in the city of Marseille, promisi ... http://bit.ly/LGw8zl

Legislators back LTA in MTN Liberia licence suspension row

The Liberian Observer reports that two members of the House of Representatives, Eugene A Kparkar and Gabriel Smith, ... http://bit.ly/O3zvqd

KPN International, Huawei complete pan-European 400G field test

Telco and ICT provider KPN International and China’s Huawei Technologies have completed a successful pan-European ... http://bit.ly/MAVRKw

No Slim pickings here: AM boss ups KPN stake to 20.9%

America Movil (AM), the Mexican telecommunications group controlled by billionaire Carlos Slim, announced yesterday ... http://bit.ly/MAVP5B

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Finance minister reviewing 2% extra mobile user tax

Bangladeshi finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith has promised the country’s cellular operators that a proposal ... http://bit.ly/Mll5z0

Proposal for common Australia/NZ telecoms market, regulator on the cards

According to Australasian telecoms trade journal CommsDay, proposals to create a single economic telecoms market be ... http://bit.ly/Mk1uwb

State proposes removing mobile tax next month

Croatia’s government yesterday put forward a parliamentary motion to abolish a special mobile services tax under ... http://bit.ly/Mv4mZw

Ministers set to make a decision over future of Telem Group; UTS, Digicel wait with baited breath

Sint Maarten’s Council of Ministers is poised to make a decision on how it intends to move forward with the owner ... http://bit.ly/Mk1rAF

MTS remains focused on Russia, despite European opportunities

Mobile TeleSystems (MTS), Russia’s largest mobile operator by subscribers, has indicated to Bloomberg that it is ... http://bit.ly/PznqWO

Choice confirms rollout of five new BTS; five more to follow

Choice Wireless, a mobile operator based on the Virgin Islands (US), has announced the completion of five new 3G ba ... http://bit.ly/MBuspB

Telenor ramps up speed in 6 cities

Telenor Serbia has announced that it has upgraded its HSPA+ networks to allow maximum theoretical download speeds o ... http://bit.ly/NcB6Ee

PM and CWC discuss plans for renationalisation?

Bahamian PM Perry Christie has met with Tony Rice, the CEO of Cable and Wireless Communication (CWC), which owns 51 ... http://bit.ly/LER9uj

Ipko rolls out fibre backone

Slovenian-backed telco Ipko has deployed a fibre-optic backbone network in Kosovo, reports the Slovenian Press Agen ... http://bit.ly/LlMT67

Huawei signs device MoU with France Telecom-Orange

France Telecom-Orange has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Chinese equipment vendor Huawei for t ... http://bit.ly/LlMVuU

CAT given month to amend True contracts; CAT-True working on alternative buyback solution

Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has given state-run telco CAT Telecom 3 ... http://bit.ly/NXEfh8

Brazil’s mobile base reaches 255m in May, but growth slowing

The total number of mobile phone subscriptions in Brazil reached 254.9 million by 31 May 2012, up 0.78% (or 1.97 mi ... http://bit.ly/KVWrlu

Verizon launches LTE in 46 new markets; now covers 304 markets across the US

US mobile giant Verizon Wireless, which presides over the nation’s most expansive Long Term Evolution (LTE) netwo ... http://bit.ly/MlkU6K

MTN bags second Afghan 3G licence

South African-backed cellco MTN Afghanistan has paid USD25 million for Afghanistan’s second 3G licence, following ... http://bit.ly/LilDHA

KPN’s bid to finder buyer for E-Plus fails

Dutch telecoms operator KPN (or Royal KPN) has failed in its bid to find a buyer for its German unit E-Plus Mobilfu ... http://bit.ly/M95ofd

CTU backtracking on plan to auction 800MHz frequencies, paper says

Czech online business daily iHNED.cz reports that the country’s national telecoms regulator the Czech Telecommuni ... http://bit.ly/Mx8QwV

SKT plans launch of commercial VoLTE service in September 2012

South Korea’s largest mobile network operator by subscribers, SK Telecom, has revealed that it aims to offer a co ... http://bit.ly/NXDLrm

Telefonica set to launch urban LTE on 3 July

Telefonica Germany (O2), the local subsidiary of Spanish telecoms group Telefonica, has unveiled its tariffs for it ... http://bit.ly/Mx8JRP

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Digicel fights OUR right to lower MTR

Digicel Jamaica, the largest of the island’s two cellcos by subscribers, has filed a law suit against watchdog th ... http://bit.ly/MfjGHn

Operators wade into 3G price war

Vodafone India and Sistema Shyam Teleservices (SSTL, also known as MTS India) have joined the recent trend of slash ... http://bit.ly/NRwFo9

DoT concerned over BIPA threats

Indian regulator the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has reportedly sought advice from the attorney general ... http://bit.ly/LDiInP

Glo Mobile pays USD200,000 fine for delayed launch

The recently launched Ghanaian cellular operator Glo Mobile has paid in full the USD200,000 fine that had been impo ... http://bit.ly/MgHRYK

Government pours cold water on Telkom nationalisation chatter

The South African government has moved to deny local press reports linking it with an approach to seize full contro ... http://bit.ly/Lf2iqM

PTCL accused of anti-competitive practices

Pakistan’s anti-trust agency, the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has issued a show cause notice to fixe ... http://bit.ly/KyO9U3

TSTT plans new submarine cable between Trinidad and Tobago; net profit boosted by savings

The Trinidad and Tobago Guardian reports that the net profit of majority state-owned telecoms provider, TSTT, incre ... http://bit.ly/MwkAgV

Telecoms industry hit by lack of foreign currency

A shortage of foreign currency and a variation in exchange rates, alongside rising competition and an increase in t ... http://bit.ly/Mwkxl7

ARTP publishes Sonatel interconnection rates for 2011/12

Senegalese telecoms watchdog the Agence de Regulation des Telecoms et Postes (ARTP) has published state owned fixed ... http://bit.ly/KyO9TZ

EC says mobile broadband service penetration at 29%, below EU average of 43%

According to a report by the Information Society Media Directorate-General of the European Commission, Slovenia’ ... http://bit.ly/KTbooq

Telefonica O2 CR launches commercial LTE network

Telefonica O2 CR has announced the launch of a commercial Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, making it the first ca ... http://bit.ly/MgHMEC

ACCC suspends assessment of NBN Co’s SAU in expectation of revisions

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has announced that it is suspending its assessment of the ... http://bit.ly/KyO42P

EC reveals plans to examine FICORA’s wholesale broadband access proposals

The European Commission (EC) has confirmed that it will examine in more detail whether Finnish Comms Regulatory Aut ... http://bit.ly/KTbpJg

Gloves off in AM’s bid to secure bigger KPN stake

Dow Jones Newswires reports that America Movil (AM) has accused Dutch telco KPN of ‘deliberately’ breaching dis ... http://bit.ly/Lk3Qhc

Telkom Indonesia abandons plan to acquire cable firm Pacnet

Indonesia’s largest telecommunications company by revenue and subscribers PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom) ha ... http://bit.ly/Kkiv80

Australia’s digital dividend auction pushed back to April 2013

Australia’s Federal Government has pushed back the sale of spectrum freed up following the switch-off of analogue ... http://bit.ly/Kkitgl

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Airtel Zambia to have rolled out 200 rural cell sites by end-2012

Airtel Zambia is reportedly aiming to have deployed some 200 new mobile towers in rural areas of the country be ... http://p.ost.im/p/ec5ue5

Televisa accepts regulator’s conditions for approval of Iusacell stake acquisition

Mexican media giant Grupo Televisa has reportedly confirmed that it will accept the conditions imposed by compe ... http://p.ost.im/p/ec5VJr

Optus completes Vividwireless purchase

Australian telco SingTel Optus has reportedly finalised the AUD230 million (USD232 million) acquisition of loca ... http://p.ost.im/p/ecPCpm

Telia launches PC/Mac ‘Play +’ packages as add-on for IPTV customers

TeliaSonera Sweden (Telia) today launched ‘Telia Play +’, a package of conventional TV channels, programme libr ... http://bit.ly/Limm9Y

HKBN upgrades with Genius IP platform

Hong Kong Broadband Network (HKBN) has announced that it will modernise its network using Genband’s Genius all-IP ... http://bit.ly/MrwtVo

1800MHz spectrum up for grabs in late July

Polish regulator the Office of Electronic Communication (UKE) has told operators that consultation on its draft pro ... http://bit.ly/Mp5Wu8

Batelco’s wholesale charges brought down

Bahrain’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has issued an order to the country’s dominant telecoms ... http://bit.ly/MalFPU

PCCW chooses IBM for SaaS cloud apps

PCCW Solutions, the integrated ICT services unit of Hong Kong-based telco PCCW, has selected IBM PureSystems as the ... http://bit.ly/MlQbWA

CTM unveils first commercial cloud services with Cisco

Macau’s incumbent fixed line telco Companhia de Telecomunicacoes de Macau (CTM) has unveiled its first commercial ... http://bit.ly/LyPxDK

Airtel brings mobile banking to Chad

Airtel Chad has launched the nation’s first mobile banking service, dubbed Airtel Money, allowing its customers t ... http://bit.ly/Mp5YSM

KT Corp negotiating stake in CNT?

Ecuador is reportedly negotiating with KT Corp (formerly Korea Telecom) with a view to the South Korean company buy ... http://bit.ly/MalCnt

Nepal’s telecoms watchdog orders NT to pay royalty fees

The Himalayan News Service reports that the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has ordered state-owned incumb ... http://bit.ly/M3ApkL

Main One investment tops USD255m

Main One Cable Company has invested a total of USD255 million in the deployment and expansion of its submarine fibr ... http://bit.ly/Limk1C

CWW shareholders approve sale to Vodafone Group

Vodafone Group’s acquisition of British fixed line company Cable Wireless Worldwide (CWW) looks set to go ahead, ... http://bit.ly/LimlTm

Monday, June 18, 2012

In brief: MTS Allstream focusing on finding US investor

Canadian newspaper The Globe Mail writes that regional telco Manitoba Telecom Services (MTS) is focusing on findin ... http://bit.ly/KNxicV

Orbis confirms it will support Vodafone’s bid for CWW

British mobile giant Vodafone Group looks set to succeed with its bid for Cable Wireless Worldwide (CWW) after ins ... http://bit.ly/KNxkkN

Sistema cuts back spending as investor patience wears thin

Russian-backed cellco Sistema Shyam Teleservices (SSTL), which offers services on the subcontinent as MTS India, ha ... http://bit.ly/NFlxdU

America Movil unifies Colombian operations under Claro brand

Following a similar move by rival provider Telefonica, Mexico’s America Movil has begun rebranding services in Co ... http://bit.ly/Pay3is

Orange Money reaches four million subscribers

France Telecom-Orange has announced that its mobile payment service Orange Money has now amassed four million custo ... http://bit.ly/M3lPc3

T-Mobile outlines solid LTE progress

T-Mobile USA has revealed that it expects to have 400 sites upgraded with Long Term Evolution (LTE) equipment by th ... http://bit.ly/M3lJRq

New Tower Act to regulate urban infrastructure

Chile is set to introduce new legislation to regulate the construction of cellular tower infrastructure in cities, ... http://bit.ly/Kvw9tz

Let the price war begin! LIME launches tariff offensive; MNP due before year end

In the wake of the Office of Utilities Regulation’s (OUR’s) decision to level mobile termination rates (MTRs) a ... http://bit.ly/NFlwGQ

Umniah steals a march on rivals with ‘3.75G’ launch

Bahrain-backed cellco Umniah Jordan has announced the launch of commercial services over its 3.5G dual carrier HSPA ... http://bit.ly/LzDN2t

Digicel BVI unveils fixed-wireless ‘DigiHOME’ product

Digicel BVI, the regional mobile giant’s Virgin Islands (UK) unit, has announced the launch of its new fixed-wire ... http://bit.ly/KNxitc

PLDT in talks to acquire stake in broadcaster GMA Network

Filipino telco Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) is in talks concerning the acquisition of a stake ... http://bit.ly/KNxjxj

Tele2 on track to break even in Kazakhstan in 2H13

According to Reuters, Swedish telecoms giant Tele2 has revealed that it is on track to break even in Kazakhstan in ... http://bit.ly/M6FLb3

TOT to build two terrestrial fibre routes in partnership with China Telecom, AT

Thai state-owned telco TOT has agreed to partner China Telecom in building two new international terrestrial high s ... http://bit.ly/M6FKnD

Nextel de Mexico to extend 3G services nationwide in September

Nextel de Mexico has revealed plans to launch its HSDPA-enabled network nationwide in the third quarter of this yea ... http://bit.ly/MmBnCY

Panamanian government aims to raise USD750 million from C stake sale

With the Panamanian government preparing to sell off its 49% stake in local fixed line incumbent Cable Wireless Pa ... http://bit.ly/M3lxBI

Bouygues Telecom to drop Simyo pre-paid brand in France

French cellular network operator Bouygues Telecom is set to drop its low-cost pre-paid brand Simyo, so that all of ... http://bit.ly/M6FLYt

iBurst eyes expansion of wireless internet service

South Africa-based iBurst plans to expand wireless internet services beyond South Sudan’s capital Juba, under a t ... http://bit.ly/MmBnD8

Ethiopia makes internet telephony services illegal

Ethiopia has banned Skype and other voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) services, AllAfrica is reporting, following ... http://bit.ly/Ml6SQ1

SunWireless inks cooperation deal with iPass, Boingo

Macedonian wireless internet service provider (ISP) SunWireless last week signed a cooperation agreement with US-ba ... http://bit.ly/M6FK75

Nawras plans to launch LTE; set to boost 3G, WiMAX

Oman’s second national telecoms operator Nawras has announced it has begun work to boost network coverage and cap ... http://bit.ly/M0xFoc

Private equity-backed bid for Everything Everywhere under consideration?

An audacious bid to acquire Everything Everywhere, the joint venture formed between the UK mobile network operation ... http://bit.ly/KGLngN

Friday, June 15, 2012

Pride of Lyons: Mobilicity upgrading whole network to 21Mbps

Canadian mobile operator Mobilicity has revealed plans to upgrade its entire 3.5G W-CDMA/HSPA network to 21Mbps HSP ... http://bit.ly/K7pZet

Banglalink offered USD537m for towers

Bangladesh’s third-largest cellco Banglalink, part of Orascom Telecom (a division of the Vimpelcom group) has rep ... http://bit.ly/K7pZeh

World Bank stumps up USD5m for rural telecoms project

The World Bank’s board of directors has approved the extension of Nicaragua’s Rural Telecommunications Project, ... http://bit.ly/KrrY25

Fortumo favours the brave; mobile payment solutions now available in Guatemala, Costa Rica

Fortumo, the international mobile payment portal which offers premium SMS payment services in 59 countries across E ... http://bit.ly/KrrVmV

Antimonopoly agency orders Kyivstar, MTS to lower tariffs

Ukraine’s Antimonopoly Committee has ordered the country’s two largest cellcos by subscribers, Kyivstar and MTS ... http://bit.ly/KrrY1T

Yota reveals details of LTE transition

Russian WiMAX-turned-Long Term Evolution (LTE) operator Scartel (Yota) has revealed a number of details relating to ... http://bit.ly/KrrVmS

Cableco Telemach enters mobile market over Tusmobil network

Slovenia’s largest cableco Telemach has launched a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) service, completing a q ... http://bit.ly/KrrV6f

MVNO start-up comments on ‘lousy’ customer care from big four incumbents

Brazilian would-be mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) Datora Telecom has lambasted the poor level of service ca ... http://bit.ly/KrrUPL

DoT seeks peace terms with cellcos; Russia sets up SWG to protect investment in India

India’s Department of Telecommunications is expected to offer an olive branch to cellcos on the subcontinent. Acc ... http://bit.ly/KrrXuV

NCC, cellcos strike deal on fines payment

Nigeria’s four major GSM operators have reached an agreement with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on ... http://bit.ly/K7pXDr

Chunghwa to increase fibre upload speeds at no cost to customers

Taiwanese full service telecoms operator Chunghwa Telecom (CHT) is set to increase the upload speeds of its fibre-b ... http://bit.ly/K7q0yR

ComReg reports increase in broadband speeds, subs base ‘steady’

Ireland’s national telecoms regulator the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) has released its ‘Q ... http://bit.ly/K7pXmR

Virgin Mobile France books GBP390.2m revenue in 2011

Mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) Virgin Mobile France has reported an 18.8% year-on-year increase in revenue ... http://bit.ly/KrrXet

Legislator reports poor support for DICT bill

Parliamentary representative Sigfrido Tinga has reported dismay that the administration of President Aquino has fai ... http://bit.ly/K7pYad

Zain eyes one million new subs in 2012

Zain Sudan, a unit of Kuwaiti telecoms firm Zain Group, aims to sign up an additional one million mobile subscriber ... http://bit.ly/K7pXTT

Roskomnadzor receives eight applications for LTE tender

Russian telecoms regulator Roskomnadzor has announced that a total of eight companies have submitted bids to partic ... http://bit.ly/K7pWz6

Cofeco approves Televisa/Iusacell tie-up subject to conditions

With Mexico’s competition regulator, Comision Federal de Competencia (Cofeco), having last week announced that it ... http://bit.ly/K7pTU6

Une-EPM launches Colombia’s first LTE network

State-owned telco Une-EPM has begun offering commercial services over its 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, the ... http://bit.ly/KrrWHj

Vinaphone, MobiFone merger plan awaiting government approval

Vietnamese mobile operators Vinaphone and MobiFone, both of which are wholly owned by state-run national PTO Vietna ... http://bit.ly/K7pUau

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Togo Telecom slashes internet costs

Togo Telecom has announced that it is doubling mobile internet bundles for customers using its HELIM NOMAD tariff p ... http://bit.ly/Nknigs

Lycamobile launches Irish venture

Europe’s largest pre-pay mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) by subscribers, Lycamobile, has rolled out servic ... http://bit.ly/KIM2b3

Sri Lankans get TV banking from SLT, mobile cash without a bank account from Dialog

Sri Lankan cellco Dialog Axiata has launched a standalone mobile ‘virtual wallet’ payment service under the nam ... http://bit.ly/KIM5DP

Infratel to go green

India towerco Bharti Infratel is expected to invite bids to supply the company with solar energy solutions, reports ... http://bit.ly/KIM2YH

US Cellular taps Gemalto to boost LTE deployment

US Cellular, the Chicago-based mobile operator which counts 5.84 million subscribers across 35 states, has confirme ... http://bit.ly/KIM5DJ

Kabel Deutschland posts 6.3% rise in FY 2011/12 revenue

German cable network operator Kabel Deutschland has announced its consolidated financial results for the fiscal yea ... http://bit.ly/NknkF1

Dedicado selects Alvarion to expand 4G network capacity

Israeli wireless broadband equipment supplier Alvarion has announced that it has been selected by Uruguayan telecom ... http://bit.ly/NknjAY

Transit Telecom links Florianopolis with fibre rollout

Teletime reports that Brazilian fixed line operator Transit Telecom has completed the installation of 1,000km of fi ... http://bit.ly/NkniNC

Pair selected for Omantel TD-LTE rollout

Telecoms equipment suppliers Ericsson and Huawei have been selected for the rollout of a 4G Time Division Long Term ... http://bit.ly/NknhsQ

China Telecom seeking Brazilian expansion

The Financial Times writes that China’s largest fixed line carrier by revenues, China Telecom, is planning to inc ... http://bit.ly/Nknj3V

Vodacom Tanzania to invest TZS120bn in network upgrade

Mobile network operator Vodacom Tanzania plans to invest more than TZS120 billion (USD76.97 million) this year in u ... http://bit.ly/MR3Fdn

LinkBermuda says no new investment until regulatory issues are resolved

Incumbent operator LinkBermuda (formerly Cable and Wireless Bermuda) says it is holding off on investing in any new ... http://bit.ly/KIM2b7

True earmarks USD250m for fixed broadband expansion; attacking provincial, corporate segments

True Corp's fixed line and broadband division, True Online, says that it will invest around THB8 billion (USD250 mi ... http://bit.ly/MR3DT0

BT pressing for freedom in pricing wholesale fibre service

British fixed line incumbent BT has reportedly argued that it should not have price controls applied to its in-depl ... http://bit.ly/KIM1Uu

NBN Co outlines fixed-wireless broadband deployment plans

NBN Co, the public private company overseeing the construction and management of Australia’s in-deployment Nation ... http://bit.ly/KILYI8

Military occupation of spectrum holds up refarming plans; banks approve spectrum mortgaging

Indian regulator the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is looking to hasten the retrieval of 55MHz of spectrum ... http://bit.ly/KIM16R

Movistar Mexico and Iusacell to share network infrastructure

Spanish telecoms giant Telefonica has inked a deal which will see its Mexican subsidiary, and the country’s secon ... http://bit.ly/KIM1nk

Columbus buys TeleBarbados, Tele-St. Lucia; expanding triple-play Flow brand

Barbados-based international carrier and triple-play broadband provider Columbus International has entered into a d ... http://bit.ly/Nknaxx

End of the ICE age? MNP due by end-2012

Costa Rican regulator the Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones (Sutel) has announced plans to implement mobile nu ... http://bit.ly/KILYb6

Telenor pursues legal action against Altimo in Bermuda

Norwegian telecoms giant Telenor has announced that it has filed a claim in the Supreme Court of Bermuda, requestin ... http://bit.ly/Nknb4w

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Aurora boosting capacity on Elisa’s Finnish HFC network via upgrades

Finland’s Elisa has selected US-based Aurora Networks to carry out a major upgrade to its hybrid fibre coaxial (H ... http://bit.ly/M2EwtD

3G licence price likely to be similar to previous proposals

The minimum price for a 5MHz block of 3G mobile spectrum in the 2100MHz band is likely to be set at above THB4 bill ... http://bit.ly/LIX5Xf

More QoS problems on Ghana’s mobile networks

Ghana’s mobile network operators have once again been handed fines for failing to meet the regulator’s quality ... http://bit.ly/LCBJsg

Svyazinvest seeks to boost stake in Central Telegraph after ‘appraisal’ of regional operators

According to the Interfax news agency, Russia’s state-owned telecoms holding company Svyazinvest has completed it ... http://bit.ly/LCBGg2

China Telecom to build European MVNO base

Following the launch of its mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) arm in the UK, China Telecom has announced plans ... http://bit.ly/LIX85o

Alfa optimising 3G network with Astellia

Lebanese state-owned mobile operator Alfa, managed by Orascom Telecom, has signed a deal with Astellia to provide a ... http://bit.ly/LCBGwI

Free Mobile looking to build on good start

The chief financial officer of French telecoms group Iliad has said that the company is expecting its newly launche ... http://bit.ly/LIX8lQ

Oi SA hails 4G auction a ‘success’, plans USD12bn investment

In the wake of its successful acquisition of 4G wireless frequencies in the regulator Anatel’s auction, Brazilian ... http://bit.ly/M2Ev9g

MegaFon chalks up 7,000 LTE modem sales in Moscow in May

Russian mobile giant MegaFon has revealed that it sold almost 7,000 white label ‘MegaFon E392 Long Term Evolution ... http://bit.ly/LIX85k

Telekom fibre network expanded outside the capital

Crnogorski Telekom, Montengro’s fixed line incumbent, has rolled out its fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) network to 7,70 ... http://bit.ly/M2EvG4

DoCoMo signs up another million 4G subs in under three months

Japanese cellular operator NTT DoCoMo has announced that it has passed the three million customer milestone on its ... http://bit.ly/M2Erq4

RCOM gets green light for Globalcom IPO

Indian telco Reliance Communications has received approval from the Singapore stock exchange to launch an initial p ... http://bit.ly/LIX4Cy

Big four secure frequencies in Brazil’s 4G auction, but 450MHz band fails to excite

The Brazilian government has so far raised BRL2.72 billion (USD1.3 billion) from the auction of 4G wireless frequen ... http://bit.ly/M2Eu4Y

Smart Mobile signs up three millionth subscriber

Cambodian wireless operator Smart Mobile has announced that it signed up its three millionth customer in May 2012, ... http://bit.ly/M2EqSQ

AT throws hat into Verizon’s spectrum ring

ATT CEO Randall Stephenson has indicated that his company is interested in purchasing Verizon Wireless' 700MHz Lowe ... http://bit.ly/M2EqlT

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Telecom NZ signs wholesale UFB agreement with Northpower Fibre

Telecom New Zealand has announced that it has signed a wholesale services agreement with Northpower Fibre which wil ... http://bit.ly/Oql3VE

Vox 3G subscriber base reaches 6,000 within first month; Copaco IPTV service poised for June launch

Paraguayan mobile operator Hola Paraguay (Vox), which is owned by state-owned telecoms operator Copaco, has seen it ... http://bit.ly/Oql0Js

ACE to launch in Sierra Leone in October

Sierra Leone’s connection to the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) submarine cable will go live in October this year, ... http://bit.ly/LG3FOi

CCK relaunches SIM registration scheme after two-year hiatus

According to local newspaper The Star, the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) plans to introduce another roun ... http://bit.ly/Oql1x1

BelCel to end WiLL tie-up with Beltelecom, considers LTE move

Belarusian mobile operator BelCel, which offers services under the banner Diallog, says that from 1 July it will no ... http://bit.ly/OqkZVT

Taiwan’s MoTC to submit mobile spectrum auction proposals next month

Taiwan’s Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MoTC) is reportedly planning to issue 4G concessions to e ... http://bit.ly/OqkXgI

Government tweaks 2G proposals, may abandon controversial spectrum price hike

The empowered group of ministers (EGoM) reviewing the recommendations made by telecoms watchdogs the Department of ... http://bit.ly/OqkRG4

Mila upgrades mobile backhaul networks in Iceland

Carrier Ethernet provider Overture Networks has announced that it has won a contract to supply equipment to Iceland ... http://bit.ly/LG3FO0

3G subscribers grow to 16m

The number of third-generation (3G) subscribers in Vietnam reached approximately 16 million at the end of May, repo ... http://bit.ly/OqkRpr

NBTC sub-committee wraps up CAT-True investigation, rules deal illegal

A sub-committee of Thailand’s National Broadcasting Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has reached a conclusio ... http://bit.ly/LG3C4V

AM increases KPN stake; Dutch firm considers divestments to fend off hostile bid

America Movil (AM) the telecoms group owned by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim has increased pressure on KPN shareh ... http://bit.ly/KAe20n

Eircom exits examinership with new shareholders and capital structure

Eircom has announced that the three group companies placed under examinership status on 29 March 2012 – Eircom Li ... http://bit.ly/KAe08I

Sprint: ‘no longer majority owner of Clearwire’

Sprint Nextel has admitted that it no longer holds a majority economic stake in WiMAX-turned-Long Term Evolution (L ... http://bit.ly/LQdTdb

WACS cable inaugurated in Togo

Togo Telecom has announced that the West Africa Cable System (WACS) was inaugurated yesterday with the central land ... http://bit.ly/LQdPuf

Monday, June 11, 2012

Ice cream man confirms shareholder shake-up at RCS

Romanian cableco Romania Cable Systems (RCSRDS), one of the country’s dominant broadband providers, has confirmed ... http://bit.ly/KvjJPd

Huawei and ZTE barred from state telecoms contracts in Algeria for two years

The Chinese telecoms equipment vendors Huawei and ZTE have been barred from tendering for state contracts in Algeri ... http://bit.ly/KvjIuD

Movistar, Movilnet, Digitel place bids for 1700MHz, 1800MHz, 1900MHz frequencies

Venezuela’s National Telecommunications Commission (Conatel) has announced that the country’s three mobile netw ... http://bit.ly/KvjJ1p

Unitel partners government in internet access project

Angola’s Education Ministry and private sector mobile network operator Unitel have partnered Chinese telecoms equ ... http://bit.ly/KvjIuB

PTCL wins USF project for Balochistan

Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd (PTCL) has been awarded a PKR3.15 billion (USD33.12 million) project to deli ... http://bit.ly/KvjL9L

Free Mobile network coverage still doubted

A pair of French trade unions are once again calling for an investigation into the network coverage of recently lau ... http://bit.ly/KvjIux

PCCW acquires Vodacom’s satellite unit

Bloomberg reports that Hong Kong-based telecoms group PCCW has agreed to buy South Africa-based Vodacom Group’s s ... http://bit.ly/KvjL9J

Multimedia sells PLN250 million of securities

Polish cableco Multimedia Polska has sold PLN250 million (USD71.76 million) of five year bonds to refinance a bank ... http://bit.ly/KYzsdy

Quick as a Flash: WiLL firm under the cosh

Fixed-wireless operator Flashcom, which launched its 1900MHz CDMA2000 1x network in Nairobi in November 2005, risks ... http://bit.ly/KvjKCE

Telecom NZ plans to delist from NYSE

According to the Wall Street Journal Telecom New Zealand plans to delist its shares from the New York Stock Exchang ... http://bit.ly/LLqlLs

Crest raises Clearwire stake to 7.88%

Texas-based Crest Financial Limited has announced that, along with certain affiliates, it has increased its stake i ... http://bit.ly/LLqj6e

MVNOs face cancellation of licences

Dong Duong Telecom and VTC Telecom could have their mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) licences revoked if they ... http://bit.ly/KYzr9x

Telkom revenues drop 0.7% despite 8ta mobile growth

South African telco Telkom has reported operating revenues of ZAR33.08 billion (USD3.92 billion) for the twelve mon ... http://bit.ly/KvjHqj

PLDT pledges to return CURE frequencies next month

Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) says it will return a block of wireless frequencies belonging to ... http://bit.ly/KvjDXH

Friday, June 8, 2012

Smartphone uptake keeps Polkomtel income steady as subscriber numbers slide

Polish cellco Polkomtel, which operates under the ‘Plus’ brand, has reported total revenues of PLN1.759 billion ... http://bit.ly/LCaA5m

AlaskaComm, GCI announce wireless pact in a bid to fend off Verizon

Alaska Communications (AlaskaComm) and General Communications Inc (GCI) have announced plans to pool their respecti ... http://bit.ly/LIhsAe

Dos Santos boosts Zon stake further, Altice linked with move for cableco

Isabel dos Santos, the Angolan businesswoman widely regarded as the country’s richest woman, has increased her st ... http://bit.ly/KTeKuh

Swisscom adds two more FTTH partners

Swisscom, Switzerland’s largest broadband provider by subscribers, has completed early stages of negotiations wit ... http://bit.ly/LCaz1d

Partners again; Hutchison Whampoa returns to Israel with Scailex stake acquisition

Having sold its holding in Israeli mobile network operator Partner Communications less than three years ago, Hutchi ... http://bit.ly/KTeKu9

Cofetel finalises draft mobile interconnection proposals

Mexico’s Comision Federal de Telecomunicaciones (Cofetel) has reportedly approved a draft plan on new regulations ... http://bit.ly/KTeImb

Mobile subscribers facing additional 2% tax

Local newspaper The Financial Express reports that Bangladesh’s proposed 2012/13 budget contains a proposal to im ... http://bit.ly/LCawT0

Arbitrator dismisses CAT Telecom's claim against DTAC

A mutually appointed arbitrator has dismissed state-owned CAT Telecom’s THB23.16 billion (USD735 million) claim a ... http://bit.ly/K4E7ts

High court ends dispute after six years

The Islamabad High Court has ruled in favour of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) in a dispute between ... http://bit.ly/LCayKB

Minnow Summa set to join mobile giants in LTE tender; Tele2 unhappy with terms of regional auction

According to a series of unverified reports by the Prime Tass news agency, Russian mobile giants Mobile TeleSystems ... http://bit.ly/K4E7dc

MTN investing in network modernisation

MTN Nigeria, the country’s largest mobile operator by subscribers, plans to invest USD1.3 billion in 2012, part o ... http://bit.ly/KTeH1w

All but one of Brazil’s municipalities has mobile coverage, report says

According to data published by Brazilian firm Teleco, all but one of Brazil’s 5,505 municipalities is now served ... http://bit.ly/LCayui

Vodafone Qatar posts smaller loss, says post-paid contracts and MNP are on the way

Vodafone Qatar has posted a smaller fourth quarter loss year-on-year on the back of higher revenue and subscribers. ... http://bit.ly/LCavi2

Smile launches 4G network in Dar es Salaam

Alternative operator Smile Communications Tanzania, owned by African group Smile Telecom Holdings Ltd, has launched ... http://bit.ly/KTeH1E

SKT hits three million LTE subs as KT passes the million mark

SK Telecom (SKT), South Korea’s largest mobile network operator by subscribers, has announced that its Long Term ... http://bit.ly/KTeGKV

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Airtel to invest USD615m in DRC in next three years; Congolese 3G tender on the cards

Bharti Airtel intends to invest USD615 million in its Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) mobile unit, Airtel Congo, ... http://bit.ly/LnKtom

PT hooks up with Huawei at SingleRAN night

Portugal Telecom (PT) has confirmed that it has selected Chinese equipment vendor Huawei to work towards the launch ... http://bit.ly/Lem1TX

Alca-Lu rolls out Texan LTE network for West Central Wireless

Regional US operator West Central Wireless has announced that it has enlisted French-US telecoms vendor Alcatel Luc ... http://bit.ly/LnKtEI

Qualcomm dismisses interoperability, confirms work on chip to support multiple 700MHz bands

US equipment manufacturer Qualcomm is reportedly in the process of developing a new radio chipset that will be able ... http://bit.ly/LnKrNc

Take the Weather with you? Altimo accuses fellow shareholders of share violation

Alfa Group, the Russian investment vehicle owned by billionaire Mikhail Fridman, has ignited a fresh war of words w ... http://bit.ly/LelZLK

Zain Saudi Arabia contracts NSN for 4G rollout in Jeddah

Zain Saudi Arabia has selected Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) as its 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) mobile broadband in ... http://bit.ly/NjIstV

MNP by end of this year

Qatar’s two mobile operators Qatar Telecom (Qtel) and Vodafone are working with regulator ictQATAR to launch mobi ... http://bit.ly/LnKqZJ

Orascom CEO sees successful end to Algerian legal case this year

Orascom Telecom’s CEO has said he expects to see a USD1.3 billion legal battle relating to the firm’s operation ... http://bit.ly/NjIstT

South Korean cellcos balk at Kakao Talk’s mobile VoIP offering

South Korea’s mobile network operators are expected to call on the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) to block ... http://bit.ly/Lem0Q4

Scartel to quit Belarus on 11 June, reports claim

Unconfirmed press reports claim that Russian WiMAX-turned-Long Term Evolution (LTE) operator Scartel (Yota) will cl ... http://bit.ly/NjIq5a

Six go nuts for 4G in Brazil

A total of six telecoms groups have filed the required documents as well as their price proposals for Brazil’s up ... http://bit.ly/LnKsAN

Entel to launch satellite TV before the end of year

Multi-play provider Entel Chile is reportedly planning to launch a satellite TV service to better compete with its ... http://bit.ly/MclRup

MTN Liberia dodges bullet over licence suspension, paper says

MTN Liberia, which is 60% owned by the South African MTN Group and trades locally as Lonestar Cell, has been grante ... http://bit.ly/LnKskh

Swisscom upgrades IPTV services

Swisscom, Switzerland’s largest broadband provider by subscribers has announced the launch of its overhauled IPTV ... http://bit.ly/NjIp18

UCC lowers interconnection costs

The Uganda Communication Commission (UCC) has reduced interconnection rates for cellcos from UGX131 to UGX112 (USD0 ... http://bit.ly/LnKp87

Econet Wireless-Bharti Airtel case adjourned to October

Econet Wireless has announced in a press release on its website that a judge at the Lagos High Court has adjourned ... http://bit.ly/NjIoKM

Vodafone UK and Telefonica UK to merge network infrastructure

UK-based mobile giant Vodafone and Spain’s Telefonica have today announced that they are to strengthen an existin ... http://bit.ly/NjIqSX

Not-so Spartan coverage: Cyta Hellas covers Peloponnese peninsula

Cypriot-owned Greek alternative fixed line and broadband operator Cyta Hellas has expanded its network coverage to ... http://bit.ly/MclTCA

Namibia's MTC reinvesting all profits this year in network

Namibia’s largest cellco by subscribers Mobile Telecommunications (MTC) intends to reinvest 100% of its profits i ... http://bit.ly/MclRdG

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Nepal Telecom to get new strategic partner ‘soon’

Nepal’s Finance Ministry has put in place measures that it hopes will pave the way for state-owned PTO Nepal Tele ... http://bit.ly/Lr4F2O

TRC accuses Digicel and LIME of anti-competitive behaviour in BVI

The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) has announced that it has found evidence of anti-competitive ... http://p.ost.im/p/eWp2N6

Vodafone sounds out Telstra over TelstraClear deal

Australia's Telstra has confirmed that it has entered into discussions regarding the potential sale of TelstraC ... http://p.ost.im/p/eW5hSj

DRC court suspends Vodacom share auction

The Democratic Republic of Congo Supreme Court has suspended a planned mandatory auction of shares in Vodacom C ... http://p.ost.im/p/eWQVQW

Clearwire jumps on the RCA bandwagon

US WiMAX-turned-Long Term Evolution (LTE) operator Clearwire has become the latest carrier to join the Rural Ce ... http://p.ost.im/p/eWuEDu

SingTel Mobile launches 4G smartphone service for consumers

Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel’s) mobile arm has launched 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) services for th ... http://p.ost.im/p/eWf54b

Orange reports 2.7% revenue increase for Q1 2012

Orange Switzerland has reported a 2.7% year-on-year increase in revenues to CHF306 million (USD317.8 million) for t ... http://bit.ly/MeI1Po

Brazilian big guns line up for 4G auction

Brazil’s telecoms regulator Anatel says that a number of leading players have notified it of their desire to ... http://p.ost.im/p/eW5Kf8

GBI connects with Batelco

Bahrain’s largest telecoms group Batelco has signed an agreement with Qatar-based privately-owned submarine fibre ... http://bit.ly/MeI4ea

OUR sets interim MTR at JMD5 per minute

Reacting to the controversial merger of Claro and Digicel earlier this year, Jamaican telecoms watchdog, the Office ... http://bit.ly/KbZFFV

US hedge fund looks to sell near-19% Telus stake

The Globe Mail reports that US hedge fund Mason Capital Management has hired Blackstone Group to seek a buyer for ... http://bit.ly/KbZzOA

Digicel revenues rise 14% boosted by VAS and ‘4G’

Pan Caribbean operator Digicel Group has reported revenues of USD2.54 billion for the year ended 31 March 2012, up ... http://bit.ly/MeI1Pi

Swisscom set to introduce LTE to twelve cities by end-2012

Swisscom, Switzerland’s fixed line incumbent and largest cellco by subscribers is aiming to roll out 4G Long Term ... http://bit.ly/KfnF4u

Cellcos look to stop refarming

The heads of Bharti Airtel, Vodafone India and Idea Cellular have sought intervention from India’s Finance Minist ... http://bit.ly/Lr4Ew0

LTA suspends MTN Liberia’s licence, reports says

The Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) has reportedly suspended the two operating licences of MTN Liberia, ... http://bit.ly/MeI11P

URCA sets May 2013 launch date for NP, BTC apologises for disruption

Bahamian telecoms regulator the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) has issued a request for prop ... http://bit.ly/MeI4e6

EC pursuing penalties for five countries a year after rules implementation deadline

The European Commission (EC) has decided to refer five European Union (EU) member states – Belgium, The Netherlan ... http://bit.ly/KfnF4A

Alca-Lu to transform Chunghwa’s broadband network

French-US vendor Alcatel-Lucent has announced that it has been selected to transform the network of Taiwan’s Chun ... http://bit.ly/KbZBWO

Golan Telecom signs up 50,000 customers, staffs up to meet demand

Israel’s newest mobile network operator, Golan Telecom, has announced that it has signed up more than 50,000 subs ... http://bit.ly/KbZzhD

MTN under scrutiny for Irancell dealings

South Africa-based mobile communications group MTN is coming under increasing scrutiny over its operations in Iran, ... http://bit.ly/KbZBWI

Optus reportedly shortlists vendors for national LTE rollout contract

Australian mobile network operator Optus is pressing ahead with plans to roll out its Long Term Evolution (LTE) ser ... http://bit.ly/KbZzhH

PTS orders TeliaSonera to adjust wholesale terms

Sweden’s National Post and Telecom Agency (PTS) has told the country’s former monopoly telco TeliaSonera that i ... http://bit.ly/KbZBpH

America Movil swoops for minor Telekom Austria stake

Pan-Latin American telecoms giant America Movil (AM), which is owned by Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim, has purchased a ... http://bit.ly/KfnDJP

FT shareholders say ‘non’ to dividend cut proposal

Shareholders of France Telecom-Orange (FT-Orange) have rejected a proposal put forward by employee shareholders whi ... http://bit.ly/KfnDtx

Haitel could be revived, report suggests

A report from Haiti suggests that the troubled wireless operator Haitel could resume operations after closing its n ... http://bit.ly/KfnDtp

Virgin, FRiENDi merge regional MVNO ops

Mobile service providers Virgin Group and FRiENDi GROUP have announced a strategic partnership deal to merge their ... http://bit.ly/KfnAOj

Kuwait’s MoC gets tough on debtors

The Ministry of Communications (MoC) in Kuwait is threatening non-paying customers with disconnection if overdue ac ... http://bit.ly/KfnB4C

EC freezes FNA leased line regulation

The European Commission (EC) has announced in a press release that it has put on hold plans by German network regul ... http://bit.ly/KfnB4G

Qtel to double Asiacell stake for USD1.47bn

Qatar Telecom (Qtel) has confirmed that it has reached a provisional agreement to double its holding in Iraqi mobil ... http://bit.ly/KfnAOf

TeliaSonera in takeover bid for remaining TEO LT shares

TeliaSonera has launched a voluntary takeover bid for the outstanding shares in Lithuania’s incumbent fixed line ... http://bit.ly/MeI3a0

Friday, June 1, 2012

Government rejects KT Corp stake purchase

According to Reuters, South Africa's Telkom said today that the country’s government will not back its proposed p ... http://bit.ly/KDwklX

Bosnia’s CRA announces reduction in FNP charge

Bosnia’s Communications Regulatory Agency (CRA) has announced that following a regulatory session it has adopted ... http://bit.ly/KDwlWY

POTRAZ says TelOne’s fixed line total ends stagnant period, driven by ADSL

Figures from the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) show that the country’s ... http://bit.ly/KQuts6

NetOne reaches 1.6 million users, but Telecel disputes ‘second-place’ claim

The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) has reported that state- owned mobile o ... http://bit.ly/KQutrY

Mexican president outlines plans to boost fibre-optic connectivity

Mexican president Felipe Calderon has announced that Mexico expects to launch auctions within the next two months t ... http://bit.ly/KQuqwm

Pecik teams up with Baturina to boost Telekom Austria stake further, report hints

Reuters cites Austrian magazine Format in a report disclosing that Vienna-based investor Ronny Pecik has formed a p ... http://bit.ly/KQusV1

Globe Telecom to list PHP10bn of bonds on PDEx

Filipino carrier Globe Telecom will today list bonds worth a total of PHP10 billion (USD230.3 million) on the Phili ... http://bit.ly/KQupso

ONE narrows EBIT losses in 1Q12

Macedonian fixed and mobile operator ONE (including on.net and Cosmofon) has reported negative earnings before inte ... http://bit.ly/KQupIY

Unicom highlights 3G progress

China Unicom has revealed that it expects to see a larger revenue contribution from its 3G subscriber base this yea ... http://bit.ly/KQusnY

ETNO calls for reduction in regulation

The European Telecommunications Network Operators Association (ETNO) has called on the European Commission (EC) to ... http://bit.ly/KQus7o

Kabel Deutschland achieves 4.7Gbps download speed

Germany’s Kabel Deutschland says it has become the first cable operator in the world to successfully achieve a do ... http://bit.ly/KQurR0

Oi SA increase Portugal Telecom stake to 10%

Dow Jones Newswires reports that Brazilian telecommunications operator Oi SA has increased its equity stake in Port ... http://bit.ly/KDwidM

KPN announces strategic review of German business E-Plus

Dutch operator KPN Telecom (or Royal KPN as it is also known) is launching a full strategic review of its German mo ... http://bit.ly/KQuoVg

Fastweb shutting IPTV by November

Italian telco Fastweb, a subsidiary of Swisscom, is planning to shut its IPTV service by November this year, becaus ... http://bit.ly/KQ6uJR

Regional carriers petition FCC to refute AT’s spectrum interference claims

CNET reports that a group of US regional carriers have submitted a joint filing with the Federal Communications Com ... http://bit.ly/KDwkT0

Ministry invites applications for third mobile network operator

Cameroon’s Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Jean-Pierre Biyiti bi Essam, has called for expressions of i ... http://bit.ly/KQuook

Telenor may participate in re-auction of licences

Sigve Brekke, the head of Telenor’s Asia business, has told the Economic Times in an interview that the Norwegian ... http://bit.ly/KDwhX9