And Finally.

This is my final entry in Press Clippings as the time has come for me to retire.

Posted by Judith — 5:00 AM

BT announces significant fibre progress.

Source: BTplc.

BT has announced two thirds of UK premises will have access to fibre broadband by the end of 2014, one year ahead of its original target of 2015. To help achieve this, BT will recruit a further 520 engineers to assist with the deployment, most of whom will be ex-armed forces.
BT is bringing forward approximately GBP300m. of investment over the next few years to fund the accelerated roll-out. These funds form part of BT’s total investment of GBP2.5bn. in commercial fibre broadband.

Posted by Judith — 2:27 AM

Motorola Mobility announces 800 Job losses.

Source: cellular-news.

Motorola Mobility has announced that it has decided to cut some 800 jobs from the company. The firm is currently in the process of being bought by Google.
Both of the Company’s business segments (the Mobile Devices business and the Home business), as well as various corporate functions, are impacted by the action.

Posted by Judith — 1:29 AM

Clear Mobitel sets its sights on NZ LTE concession.

Source: TeleGeography.

Clear Mobitel NZ, the New Zealand arm of the UK-based company of the same name, has confirmed plans to put itself forward for a mobile concession when LTE-suitable spectrum in the 700MHz band is auctioned off by the government in 2012.

Posted by Judith — 12:23 AM

Google takes another shot at the TV market.

Source: Reuters.

Google Inc is making another push to bring its Web savvy to television sets, hoping to tap into a vast new market despite consumers’ lukewarm reaction to one of its initial offerings.
The Internet search engine unveiled a revamped version of its Google TV service and announced plans to create about one hundred online “channels” of original video programming for its YouTube website.

Posted by Judith — 2:19 AM

FCC agrees USF, interconnection reforms.

Source: Telecompaper.

The US FCC has approved major changes in the country’s Universal Service Fund aimed at focusing more on broadband expansion. The move will set aside US$4.5bn. of the annual USF budget for the Connect America Fund, to award funding for broadband expansion in underserved areas.

Posted by Judith — 3:03 AM

Samsung overtakes Apple in smartphone sales.

Source: BBC.

Samsung overtook Apple to become the world’s biggest seller of smartphones between July and September.
Research showed that Samsung sold 27.8m. smartphones in the three month period, compared with 17.1m. from Apple and 16.8m. from Nokia.

Posted by Judith — 12:57 AM

Sony buys the rest of mobile phone firm Sony Ericsson.

Source: BBC.

Japanese technology giant Sony has bought full control of mobile phone maker Sony Ericsson from Swedish telecoms equipment maker Ericsson.
Sony has agreed to buy 50% of the firm for EUR1.1bn. (US$1.5bn., GBP964m.), making the mobile handset business a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony.

Posted by Judith — 3:07 AM

Sprint and Clearwire to extend partnership into LTE.

Source: Converge.

Sprint will continue to work with Clearwire as the companies roll out their respective LTE networks.
In its quarterly conference call, Sprint executives confirmed a non-binding cooperation agreement with Clearwire to work together on the technical specifications of the Clearwire LTE network. Specifically, the cooperation extends to the design and operations of the network.

Posted by Judith — 12:56 AM

Mobile banking app usage in the USA increases by 45%.

Source: cellular-news.

An analysis of mobile financial services usage in the US shows that 32.5m. Americans accessed mobile banking information on their devices at the end of Q2 2011 in June, representing 13.9% of all mobile users. The study also revealed that 12.7m. mobile users reported using banking apps, showing a notable increase of 45% from Q4 2010.

Posted by Judith — 12:01 AM

United Nations sets global broadband targets.

Source: BBC.

The United Nations has set “ambitious” new targets for broadband uptake around the world.
It calls on all countries to put in place broadband strategies by 2015.
By that time it wants to see 60% of people in the developed world online, with a slightly lower target of 50% for people living in the developing countries.
It also wants net access to be made available to 40% of households in the developing world by 2015.
It emphasised that broadband services must be “affordable” - amounting to less than 5% of average monthly incomes.
The four targets have been set by the UN’s broadband commission for digital development.

Posted by Judith — 3:04 AM

Nokia bets on Windows Mobile future.

Source: BBC.

Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia has launched two new smartphones based on Microsoft’s new Windows Phone 7.5 operating system.
The Lumia 800 and the Lumia 710 mark the beginning of Nokia’s fightback against Apple’s iPhone and rivals using Google’s Android software.

Posted by Judith — 1:02 AM

99.8% of Telecom NZ shareholders approve structural separation.

Source: TeleGeography.

Telecom New Zealand shareholders have voted to approve the structural separation of the company, with 99.8% deciding in favour of the large-scale operational demerger.
Going forward, Chorus will operate as a nationwide fixed line access network operator, offering services on an ‘open access’ basis, whilst ‘Telecom’ will function as a retail-focused telecoms business, comprising fixed, mobile and ICT operations.

Posted by Judith — 12:48 AM

European Commission investigate agreement between Portugal Telecom and Telefonica.

Source: cellular-news.

The EC has sent a statement of objections to Telefonica and Portugal Telecom regarding their agreement not to compete on the Iberian telecommunications markets.
The Commission said that it is of the preliminary view that this agreement hinders competition in breach of EU antitrust rules that prohibit restrictive business practices.

Posted by Judith — 12:00 AM

Netflix confirms UK launch for early 2012.

Source: Telecompaper.

Netflix has announced that it will expand to the UK and Ireland in early 2012, offering TV shows and movies streamed over the internet for a monthly subscription. Upon launch, Netflix customers in the UK and Ireland will be able to watch a wide array of content on their TVs via a range of consumer electronics devices capable of streaming from Netflix, as well as on PCs, Macs, mobile tablets and phones.

Posted by Judith — 1:25 AM

Orange Jordan inks expansion deal with Ericsson.

Source: TeleGeography.

Jordan Telecom Group, which operates under majority owner France Telecom’s Orange brand, has signed a deal with Ericsson to expand its 3.5G network in Jordan. The Swedish vendor will expand the coverage and capacity of the telco’s existing HSPA+ network beyond its current reach of around 50% of the population. With this most recent deal, Ericsson and Orange continue a long history of cooperation in Jordan.

Posted by Judith — 12:22 AM

Virgin to launch MVNO in Chile.

Source: TeleGeography.

UK-based Virgin Media has announced that it will launch wireless services in Chile as a MVNO in the first quarter of 2012. Virgin will use the network of Spanish-based Telefonica Moviles Chile, which operates under the Movistar brand.

Posted by Judith — 2:24 AM

FT completes CCT deal.

Source: TeleGeography.

France Telecom has finalised its agreements to enter the wireless market of the Democratic Republic of Congo through a 100% acquisition of Congo Chine Telecom (CCT). The French telecoms giant has agreed to pay US$10m. for the 51% share owned by Chinese equipment manufacturer ZTE, and US$7m. to the Congolese government for the remaining 49%.

Posted by Judith — 1:26 AM

Microsoft claims Android licence patent milestone.

Source: BBC.

Microsoft now has has licence deals with companies “accounting for over half of all Android devices”.
The company has announced that Compal was the latest manufacturer to pay it a fee for each device sold using Google’s system software.
Microsoft said it now has patent deals with ten companies covering their use of Android.
Nine of those agreements were struck over the past four months.

Posted by Judith — 12:49 AM

T-Mobile redials strategy.

Source: WSJ.

T-Mobile USA is making a hard push to win no-contract customers at the low end of the wireless market, an indication of what its strategy could look like if its US$39bn. deal to be acquired by AT&T Inc. falls through.
Officially, the country’s fourth-largest wireless carrier is putting all its energy behind closing the embattled deal. But behind the scenes, the company is talking up expansion plans with its independent retailers and giving its dealers extra incentives to sell new, cheap plans for prepaid service.

Posted by Judith — 4:04 AM

Anti-Wall St. protesters march with Verizon workers.

Source: Reuters.

Anti-Wall Street protesters have joined Verizon Communications workers in a march to denounce corporate greed as the company and 45,000 employees negotiate a new labor contract.
The march by about 500 people to a Verizon store in Lower Manhattan coincided with the top U.S. mobile provider reporting a third-quarter profit of US$1.38bn., more than double its profit for the same quarter last year.

Posted by Judith — 2:43 AM

Telenor Norge announces completion of network upgrade.

Source: TeleGeography.

Norway’s largest cellco by subscribers, Telenor Norge, has announced the launch of what it claims is Europe’s ‘most modern’ mobile network. The operator has announced that it has upgraded more than 9,000 base stations located at 6,379 sites across the country.

Posted by Judith — 12:38 AM

Microsoft to launch Mango smartphones with Nokia, Samsung.

Source: Reuters.

Microsoft, which has been trailing Apple and Google in the fast-growing smartphone market, said it will launch Mango-powered handsets from top makers including Nokia, Samsung and HTC in the coming weeks.
The smartphone sector is currently dominated by Apple and Android phones, which together make up about half of the market, with Microsoft seen as slow to react to the rapidly rising popularity of mobile devices.

Posted by Judith — 3:51 AM

FT Orange, Deutsche Telekom given approval for JV.

Source: FierceWireless.

FT Orange and DT have been given formal approval to launch their procurement joint venture. The new organisation, called Buyin, expects to generate savings of EUR1.3bn. each year for the two operators, but only after it has been running for three years.
The new JV, first announced in April, will be formed by both FT and DT pooling their purchasing activities in a 50:50 arrangement to buy handsets, mobile infrastructure and fixed-line equipment.

Posted by Judith — 12:34 AM

Telefonica signs M2M cooperation agreement with China Unicom.

Source: cellular-news.

Telefonica, through its recently created unit Telefonica Digital, and China Unicom have signed an agreement to promote the development of Machine-to-Machine services. The objective involves making advances in improving M2M services, through many different technologies such as cellular communications, identification by radiofrequency, sensors or GPS.

Posted by Judith — 12:09 AM

TTSL to integrate all services under the Tata DoCoMo banner.

Source: TeleGeography.

Indian mobile network operator Tata Teleservices (TTSL) has revealed that it has integrated all of its services under a single banner, having previously used two separate brand names for its CDMA-based and GSM-based services. The cellco has announced that its Tata DoCoMo brand, which had previously only been used for services offered over its GSM network, will now be used for all of its products.

Posted by Judith — 12:07 AM

Alcatel-Lucent to sell customer care software division for US$1.5bn.

Source: cellular-news.

Alcatel-Lucent says that it has received a binding offer of US$1.5bn. from a company owned by the Permira funds for the acquisition of its Genesys business.
Genesys is a developer of customer service software and contact center solutions for enterprises. The contemplated deal would include the transfer of the approximately 1,800 employees worldwide, the management team and the existing business structure to the new owners.

Posted by Judith — 2:17 AM

Huawei asks US to explain ‘security concerns’ over emergency network.

Source: TeleGeography.

Chinese telecoms equipment vendor Huawei Technologies has called on the US Department of Commerce to explain why the company has been excluded from participation in the construction of a national wireless network for emergency responders. Huawei’s role in the initiative would have centred on testing the interoperability of elements of the wireless network, which is meant for use by police officers, firefighters and other emergency workers. The company, which established its US headquarters in Texas in 2001, has repeatedly seen efforts to expand in the country run into opposition from Washington, concerned by Huawei’s alleged links to the Chinese military.

Posted by Judith — 12:43 AM

Taiwan’s HTC loses Apple patent infringement case in US.

Source: BBC.

Taiwanese smartphone maker HTC has been dealt a big blow in its legal battle with Apple involving patent infringement claims.
The US International Trade Commission has ruled that Apple did not violate patents as claimed by HTC in a complaint lodged last year.
HTC had asked the court to ban imports of several Apple products in to the US citing patent infringements.

Posted by Judith — 4:42 AM

US operators agree on ‘bill shock’ alerts.

Source: Telecompaper.

US mobile operators have agreed new guidelines to send customers free alerts before and after they exceed their monthly limits on voice, data and texts. Customers will also get alerts on roaming charges when they travel abroad.

Posted by Judith — 3:51 AM

Telstra shareholders okay NBN deal.

Source: TeleGeography.

Shareholders in Australian fixed line incumbent Telstra have approved the company’s participation in the rollout of the National Broadband Network (NBN), clearing the way for an AU$11bn. (US$11.2bn.) deal with the government.

Posted by Judith — 2:47 AM

Qualcomm to be granted Indian Broadband licences.

Source: cellular-news.

Qualcomm has finally been granted the delayed BWA licenses by the Indian government after it looked like the company could forfeit their US$1bn. bid for the licenses last year.
Although Qualcomm paid for the licenses, they had not been formally handed over, and the Telecom Department was claiming that Qualcomm was late in filing the application paperwork - something the company denies.

Posted by Judith — 1:21 AM

RIM giving away free apps to compensate for the outages.

Source: cellular-news.

Although some mobile networks are still mulling compensation for customers during the Blackberry outage, RIM has itself announced that it will offer free premium apps worth up to US$100 to each customer.
Arguably, with many Blackberry accounts paid for by a third party, a refund of the service fee would not go to the affected person - so an offer of free apps more directly targets the person who was inconvenienced.
The deal may also help reduce churn if the user becomes more dependent on their BlackBerry thanks to the new apps.

Posted by Judith — 1:41 AM

China Mobile has nearly 10m. iPhone users on its network.

Source: cellular-news.

Although China Mobile does not sell Apple’s iPhone, and its 3G network is not even compatible with the handset, the Chinese company says that it has 9.5m. customers using the handset.
It is presumed that the China Mobile customers use the handset in GSM mode for voice calls and are content with Wi-Fi for the mobile data services.
The company has been in talks with Apple for some years now, but an iPhone for the network would have to be compatible with its TD-SCDMA network. Although the mobile network is the only one in the world to use that standard, the size of its customer base should make a dedicated handset economically viable for Apple.

Posted by Judith — 1:21 AM

Samsung expands sales ban requests against Apple iPhone.

Source: Reuters.

Samsung Electronics has announced that it has filed preliminary injunction motions in Australia and Japan requesting the courts stop the sale of Apple’s iPhone 4S in an escalating legal battle between the two technology giants.
Since April, Apple and Samsung have been locked in an acrimonious legal battle in 10 countries involving smartphones and tablet computers as they jostle for the top spot in the fast-growing markets. Apple is also Samsung’s biggest customer, buying mainly chips and displays.

Posted by Judith — 12:00 AM

EU plan to spend billions on boosting broadband speeds.

Source: BBC.

The EC is set to propose investing almost EUR9.2bn. (GBP8bn.) in a massive rollout of super-fast broadband infrastructure and services across the EU.
The plan is partly aimed at stimulating further investment in rural broadband.
It is hoped the initiative will also help to create a single market for digital public services.

Posted by Judith — 2:49 AM

Deutsche Telekom and France Telecom procurement joint venture commences operations.

Source: cellular-news.

Following approval by the relevant anti-trust authorities, an agreement between France Telecom and Deutsche Telekom to share procurement of network infrastructure will come into effect next week.
The parent companies have pooled their procurement activities in the areas of terminal devices, mobile communications networks, and in significant portions of their fixed-network equipment and service platforms in a 50:50 joint venture.

Posted by Judith — 3:37 AM

Microsoft closes acquisition of Skype.

Source: Telecompaper.

Microsoft has closed the US$8.5bn. acquisition of Skype. The completion of the deal marks the official introduction of Skype as a new business division within Microsoft.

Posted by Judith — 1:08 AM

Sony Ericsson shifts to smartphones amid Sony buyout talk.

Source: Reuters.

Mobile phone maker Sony Ericsson will focus entirely on the booming smartphone market, going head to head with rivals like Apple and underlining the importance of a tie-up with Sony amid reports the electronics giant is preparing a buyout.

Posted by Judith — 12:50 AM

FT, China Telecom ink partnership agreement.

Source: TeleGeography.

France Telecom and China Telecom have signed a partnership agreement that will look to deliver improved access and services to FT’s Orange business customers in China, and to the Chinese telco’s business users in Europe. The deal is also designed to provide Wi-Fi roaming services for both company’s customers.

Posted by Judith — 3:57 AM

Arcep allocates 4G 2.6GHz spectrum.

Source: TeleGeography.

French telecoms regulator Arcep has announced the allocation of 2.6GHz spectrum for 4G/LTE services to the four successful bidders - Bouygues Telecom, Free Mobile, Orange France and SFR.

Posted by Judith — 2:56 AM

US politicians call for minimum data speed on 4G networks.

Source: cellular-news.

Three US politicians have proposed a new law that would require mobile networks to disclose complete and accurate information about their 4G wireless data service in their sales and advertising practices.
The legislation would require networks to offer a guaranteed minimum data speed, as well as publishing their network reliability and coverage maps.
More usefully, it will also require the networks to specify which technology platform the companies use when advertising a service as “4G”.

Posted by Judith — 1:13 AM

Ortel Mobile launches services in Switzerland.

Source: Telecompaper.

Pre-paid MVNO Ortel Mobile, a subsidiary of KPN, has announced the launch of services in Switzerland. Ortel Mobile targets multi-cultural communities who make frequent overseas calls and already operates in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France and Spain.

Posted by Judith — 12:52 AM

Millions of BlackBerry users cut off for third day.

Source: Reuters.

Millions of BlackBerry users around the world were left without text communication services for a third day as Research in Motion struggled to fix what it said was a switching failure in its private network.
Users in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India suffered patchy email service and no access to browsing and messaging.

Posted by Judith — 3:16 AM

Appalachian Wireless confirmed as Verizon’s twelfth rural LTE partner.

Source: TeleGeography.

Verizon Wireless has added a twelfth regional mobile operator to its ‘Long Term Evolution (LTE) in Rural America’ programme, after inking an agreement with Kentucky-based Appalachian Wireless.
Verizon signed up its first ‘LTE in Rural America’ partner, Bluegrass Cellular, back in November 2010, and has subsequently agreed deals with: Chariton Valley Communications, Custer Telephone, Carolina West Wireless, S and R Communications, Cellcom, Cross Wireless, Pioneer Cellular, Strata Networks, Thumb Cellular and Convergence Technologies.

Posted by Judith — 1:18 AM

India to allow consolidation in mobile sector.

Source: Telecompaper.

India will allow mobile carriers share airwaves and allow for consolidation in a crowded industry. Under a draft telecoms policy, 2G mobile spectrum that now comes bundled with a telecommunications licence will be separated and priced on a market basis, which means operators will have to pay for additional network capacity, driving up costs. The new draft policy, which is focused on boosting the availability of broadband and improving rural telecommunications access, will require operators to provide free roaming across the country.

Posted by Judith — 12:43 AM

DoT unit claims 3G roaming agreements are unlawful.

Source: TeleGeography.

The Telecom Enforcement, Resource and Monitoring unit of India’s Department of Telecommunications has reportedly ruled that the roaming agreements struck between Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Essar and Idea Cellular for their respective third-generation networks are ‘illegal’. The regulator’s internal unit has called for action to be initiated against all three mobile network operators, including the issue of show-cause notices and the imposition of financial penalties.

Posted by Judith — 12:20 AM

Everything Everywhere announces alliance with USA M2M enabler.

Source: cellular-news

USA based M2M vendor, Raco Wireless has signed a deal with the UK based Everything Everywhere to provide international M2M services across Europe.
In addition, Everything Everywhere has joined a Service Alliance with France Telecom and Deutsche Telekom. The Service Alliance will guarantee Everything Everywhere’s M2M customers, including Raco Wireless customers network access across Europe.

Posted by Judith — 2:26 AM

Lack of interest from Vodafone hits Lebara sale.

Source: Telecompaper.

The sale of European ethnic MVNO Lebara has been hit after network partner Vodafone declined to bid for the company. The sale is believed to have attracted around 20 expressions of interest, including KPN and T-Mobile in Europe, as well as operators from Africa and India.

Posted by Judith — 1:18 AM

Zayo to acquire 360Networks.

Source: Telecompaper.

US regional operator Zayo has agreed acquire 360networks USA, provider of fibre network and telecom services. The acquisition combines Zayo’s metropolitan fibre networks across 60 US metropolitan markets and 360networks’ intercity fibre network spanning the central and western US.

Posted by Judith — 12:26 AM

EC approves Microsoft takeover of Skype.

Source: Telecompaper.

The EC has approved the proposed takeover of Skype by Microsoft after deciding that the deal would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area .

Posted by Judith — 2:08 AM

France Telecom launches Orange Switzerland sale.

Source: Telecompaper.

France Telecom Orange has launched the sale of Orange Switzerland, valued at some CHF2bn. (US$2.19bn.). The shortlisted bidders are US conglomerate Liberty Telecom and investment funds Providence, Apax, Carlyle and Bain Capital.

Posted by Judith — 1:04 AM

Everything Everywhere expands network roaming to 3G services.

Source: cellular-news.

Everything Everywhere — the UK holding company that owns Orange and T-Mobile — has announced that customers will be able to use the 3G data networks of both subsidiaries, regardless of which network they are signed up with.

Posted by Judith — 12:06 AM

Ofcom delays 4G mobile auctions.

Source: BBC.

Telecoms watchdog Ofcom is to delay auctions that would sell radio spectrum to support future fourth-generation mobile services.
The process was initially scheduled to take place early in 2012 following a consultation about the proposals during 2011.
However, Ofcom said the strength of the responses to that consultation had persuaded it to delay the auction.
It said now hoped to run the sale towards the end of 2012.

Posted by Judith — 2:27 AM

F.C.C. plans to overhaul telecom fund to focus on expanding broadband.

Source: NYT.

The chairman of the FCC has outlined a plan to transform the Universal Service Fund, an US$8bn. fund that is paid for by the nation’s telephone customers and used to subsidize basic telephone service in rural areas, into one that will help expand broadband Internet service to 18m. Americans who lack high-speed access.

Posted by Judith — 4:17 AM

C&W Bermuda rebranded LinkBermuda.

Source: TeleGeography.

Bermudan incumbent Cable and Wireless (Bermuda) has been renamed LinkBermuda. Canada’s EastLink International Holdings, which has acquired C&W’s operations in Bermuda, adds that as part of the revamp C&W eBusiness will be renamed SpheraLink, and Quantum Communications will retain its current name and portfolio of services.

Posted by Judith — 12:39 AM

Everything Everywhere starts LTE trials in rural UK.

Source: cellular-news.

Everything Everywhere and BT Wholesale have jointly announced the start of LTE trials in the UK.
The field trial will utilise 2 x 10MHz of test 800mhz spectrum - released by the shut-down of analoge TV services - and is based on hardware supplied by Nokia Siemens Networks and Huawei.
Everything Everywhere says that this is the first LTE trial in the UK

Posted by Judith — 12:00 AM

Steve Jobs Apple ‘visionary’ dies aged 56.

Source: BBC.

Steve Jobs, co-founder and former chief executive of US technology giant Apple, has died at the age of 56.
Apple said his “brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve”.
Jobs announced he was suffering from pancreatic cancer in 2004.

Posted by Judith — 2:19 AM

Claro, Net and Embratel announce combined offer of services.

Source: Telecompaper.

Brazilian telecommunications operators Claro and Embratel and pay-TV operator Net, all owned by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, have announced that they will launch a range of combined services.

Posted by Judith — 12:28 AM

Level 3 completes Global Crossing acquisition.

Source: TeleGeography.

Level 3 Communications has announced that it has completed its tax-free, stock-for-stock acquisition of Global Crossing. Going forward, the company has confirmed that the Level 3 name will be used on a worldwide basis, with a new brand identity incorporating elements from both companies, reflecting their respective strengths.

Posted by Judith — 4:22 AM

Openreach set to double FTTC downstream speeds.

Source: Telecompaper.

BT Openreach has announced three major developments to provide a major boost to broadband speeds in the UK. In addition to commercially launching an up to 110 Mbps FTTP service, Openreach said it would use this technology to provide downstream speeds of up to 300 Mbps from spring 2012. It also announced that it has secured approval from the relevant authorities to roughly double the speeds delivered by FTTC broadband.

Posted by Judith — 2:26 AM

Samsung seeks order banning sales of Apple’s newest iPhone 4S.

Source: cellular-news.

Just hours after it was announced, Samsung Electronics seeking preliminary injunction motions in France and Italy to block the sale of Apple’s iPhone 4S in those two countries.
Samsung said that its preliminary injunction requests in France and Italy will each cite two patent infringements related to WCDMA technologies.

Posted by Judith — 1:37 AM

Vringo and Zlango cancel merger plans.

Source: cellular-news.

Mobile content distributor, Vringo and mobile messaging company, Zlango have terminated their previously announced plans to merge their two companies.
They have, however, signed a cooperation agreement and will continue to work together.

Posted by Judith — 12:42 AM

Apple unveils refreshed iPhone 4S, but no iPhone 5

Source: BBC

Apple has unveiled the latest iteration in its iPhone range, but there was no sign of the widely rumoured iPhone 5.
The iPhone 4S, as the model will be known, boasts an improved camera and significantly extended battery life.
It will run the latest iOS5 operating system, which is set for release on 12 October.

Posted by Judith — 3:33 PM

Telcos ill-pleased at EU’s fibre proposals.

Source: TeleGeography.

The EU is looking at implementing new proposals designed to foster the rollout of fibre-optic networks across the continent by cutting profits generated on legacy copper networks. However, the plan has been swiftly condemned by a number of European heavyweights - such as France Telecom, Telefonica and Telecom Italia - which say that rather than increase developments, it will actually act as a bar on progress.

Posted by Judith — 4:26 AM

Rostelecom taps Alca-Lu for overhaul of North-South Transit route.

Source: TeleGeography.

Russian national operator Rostelecom has confirmed that it has selected French/US equipment vendor Alcatel-Lucent to increase the speed and capacity of its optical backbone network, which is responsible for transferring high capacity data from Europe through Russia to the Middle East. The two companies will establish a super-fast ‘100G’ connection covering 3,500km of Russian territory

Posted by Judith — 3:30 AM

LightSquared partners with Sharp for LTE devices.

Source: Telecompaper.

LightSquared has announced an agreement with Sharp to develop smartphones and tablets for its LTE network. This is the US operator’s first agreement for dedicated end-user devices for the LTE network under construction.

Posted by Judith — 3:17 AM

HP closes Autonomy deal.

Source: Reuters.

Hewlett-Packard has completed its US$12bn. buy of British software firm Autonomy, the centerpiece of a botched strategy shift that cost ex-chief executive Leo Apotheker his job last month.
Buying the firm, whose software searches unstructured data like emails, phone calls and tweets that do not fit into traditional databases, was one of a raft of surprise radical reforms announced by HP’s Apotheker in August.
The rushed announcements and concerns about the lofty price offered for Autonomy sent HP’s stock, and Apotheker’s credibility, plunging.
But according to analysts, it would have been nearly impossible under British takeover rules for HP to extract itself from the Autonomy deal.

Posted by Judith — 2:10 AM

BT to accelerate Latin-American growth.

Source: BTplc.

BT has announced a series of investments aimed at doubling its business in key Latin American countries over the next three years. By recruiting 250 new staff, increasing its professional services capabilities , opening new centres of excellence and implementing a wide range of network and customer service improvements, BT will better support global customers investing in this region and help large Latin American companies (the “multilatinas”) expand globally.

Posted by Judith — 12:09 AM

AT&T requests court dismisses Sprint and Cellular South lawsuits.

Source: TeleGeography.

AT&T is reported to have urged the federal court in Washington to dismiss lawsuits brought against it by its rivals Sprint Nextel and Cellular South, alleging that its proposed US$39bn. purchase of wireless operator T-Mobile USA would be anticompetitive. AT&T has claimed that its rivals have failed to satisfactorily demonstrate that the deal would hurt competition or impair access to networks needed to serve their customers.

Posted by Judith — 3:22 AM

Puerto Rico joins opposition to AT&T/T-Mobile merger.

Source: TeleGeography.

Puerto Rico has joined seven US states, the Department of Justice, and two US cellcos - Sprint Nextel and Cellular South - in a lawsuit to block AT&T from acquiring smaller wireless rival T-Mobile USA from Germany’s Deutsche Telekom, on the grounds that the proposed merger is anti-competitive.

Posted by Judith — 2:40 AM

France Telecom buys 49% stake in African mobile network.

Source: cellular-news.

The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has agreed to sell its 49% stake in Congo China Telecom (CCT) to France Telecom. The French company was previously reported to be in exclusive talks with ZTE to buy the remaining 51% stake.
The whole company has been estimated to be worth around US$425m., although it is heavily in debt.

Posted by Judith — 12:42 AM