Press Clippings: Telecom News Headlines

Major Industry items you might have missed

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Broadcom, Qualcomm face off in chip hearing.

Source: InformationWeek.

Wireless chipmakers Broadcom and Qualcomm have gone before a U.S. appeals court to argue a patent case that could result in BlackBerries and other advanced cell phones being banned for sale in the United States.
At issue is a patent on technology that helps cell phone chips use less power.

Posted by Judith — 5:45 AM

Vodafone wins huge tax windfall.

Source: BWCS.

Vodafone UK has won a landmark tax case against Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise worth around GBP2bn. (US$4.4bn.). The move comes after a relocation of the part of global operator’s operations to a new country - the Duchy of Luxembourg. Officials in the tiny state have issued Vodafone with a certificate of tax residency that confirms Vodafone Investments Luxembourg Sarl is resident for tax purposes there.

Posted by Judith — 3:09 AM

MTN, Reliance extend merger talks.

Source: Telecoms.com.

Pan African operator MTN has announced that it has agreed to extend merger discussions with Indian carrier Reliance Communications until later this month.
In a joint announcement to the Johannesburg and Bombay stock exchanges, the companies confirmed an extension on the talks until July 21, as they look for a way to create an emerging markets powerhouse.

Posted by Judith — 3:03 AM

ChinaTel completes Beijing WiMAX network for CECT-Chinacomm.

Source: TeleGeography.

ChinaTel, via its newly acquired subsidiary Trussnet USA, has announced that it has completed the installation of the first phase of a wireless broadband network in Beijing for Chinese telco CECT-Chinacomm, providing coverage of approximately 100sq. kilometres of the capital.

Posted by Judith — 2:55 AM

AR Telecom looks overseas for expansion.

Source: TeleGeography.

The Portuguese telco AR Telecom is cutting back its plans for domestic expansion and is instead focusing on its international operations. AR Telecom intends to spend EUR340m. (US$533m.) outside Portugal in 2008 while just EUR20m. will be invested in its domestic operations. A plan to achieve nationwide coverage in Portugal has been scrapped, with Brazil and Greece now the focus of its efforts.

Posted by Judith — 2:30 AM

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

T-Mobile planning more 3G launches in October.

Source: TeleGeography.

T-Mobile USA is reported to be planning a near nationwide launch of 3G services in the fourth quarter of this year. The cellco’s high speed networks have so far only been switched on in New York, but it is now looking at launching in 27 new markets at the start of October. The other cities expected to get 3G coverage by the end of the year are: Atlanta, Austin, Birmingham, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami, Minneapolis, New England, NJ and Long Island, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa and Washington DC.

Posted by Judith — 5:52 AM

MEPs back contested telecoms plan.

Source: BBC.

European politicians have voted in favour of amendments to telecoms law which campaigners say could be used to curb privacy online and file-sharing.
But campaigners say one of the amendments - which could allow governments to decide which software can be used on the web - makes it easier to enforce the controversial “three strikes” law which the music industry is keen to use in order to clamp down on file-sharers.
This would see users receive two warnings if they download copyright material without permission, followed by a complete web ban.

Posted by Judith — 5:39 AM

Microsoft says willing to restart Yahoo talks.

Source: Reuters.

Microsoft has announced that it would be willing to reopen talks to buy all or part of Yahoo Inc, but only if a new Yahoo board is elected.

Posted by Judith — 4:12 AM

Canadian spectrum auction nearing conclusion.

Source: Globe and Mail.

Six weeks of aggressive bidding have pushed prices far above all initial expectations. But a small, private Canadian firm called Globalive Communications has managed to win licences across the country, with the critical exception of Quebec. Another new player, Data & Audio-Visual Enterprises Wireless Inc., a venture of Canadian satellite-radio king John Bitove and Microsoft’s co-founder Paul Allen, has obtained spectrum in B.C., Alberta and Ontario.
Regionally, Calgary’s Shaw Communications, Quebecor and Atlantic Canada’s Bragg Communications Inc. have each obtained enough spectrum to build wireless networks in their home regions.
The results of the auction mean there will be two to three new players in most markets, rather than just one, as originally expected.

Posted by Judith — 3:50 AM

Monday, July 7, 2008

Freenet swallows Debitel in switch to mobile.

Source: BWCS.

German ISP and telecoms operator Freenet has bought the remaining shares in mobile service company Debitel for a reported EUR1.63bn., a figure that include EUR1.14bn. of debt. Debitel’s former owner, the private equity company Permira, now holds a quarter of the shares in Freenet. Between them, Freenet and Debitel, have around 19m. mobile customers in Germany and around 900,000 in the Netherlands.

Posted by Judith — 4:38 AM

Headline news about telecom from a wide range of sources, compiled by Penny, Judith and Lorrie at LTC International.

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