CommsUpdate
TeleGeography's free daily email summary of the world’s top telecom news stories.
4 Feb 2013
FEATURE
The 2013 Submarine Cable Map is here!
TeleGeography’s 2013 Submarine Cable Map, sponsored by Telecom Egypt, is now available! The design of our new map was inspired by antique maps and star charts, and alludes to the... more
WIRELESS
TD-LTE trials launched in two new cities
China Mobile, the world’s largest cellco by subscribers has activated trial 4G Time Division Long Term Evolution (TD-LTE) networks in two new cities, Hangzhou and Wenzhou, both in Zhejiang province,... more
KCC turns down bids from two companies for new mobile operator licence
The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) has turned down applications from two companies for a mobile network concession, the Korea Times reports. Echoing developments just over a year ago, the regulator... more
SIM registration deadline extended to end of month
South Sudanese mobile phone subscribers have been given additional time to register their SIM cards by the Ministry of Telecommunications and Postal Services (MOTPS). Voice of America quotes deputy minister... more
MNP launched 31 Jan
Mobile number portability (MNP) is now available in Qatar, having been implemented by Qatar Telecom (Qtel) and Vodafone Qatar on 31 January 2013. Consumers are able to retain their existing... more
Ofcom launches public consultation on variation of licences for LTE use
UK telecoms regulator Ofcom has announced the start of a public consultation on the possibility of allowing the country’s cellcos to refarm existing spectrum for use with 4G LTE technology.... more
Orange returned 870MHz frequencies
The Telecommunications Office of the Slovak Republic (TU SR) reports that Orange Slovakia has handed back mobile frequencies in the range 872MHz-876MHz, 917MHz-921MHz, which it acquired in 2008. The regulator... more
Telecom Namibia transforming networks with ZTE
Telecom Namibia has appointed China’s ZTE Corp to build a unified mobile network for the provision of 2G/3G/4G mobile services and converged IP fixed/mobile applications under a USD46 million contract.... more
Maroc Telecom linked with approach for defunct Warid’s spectrum
According to unverified French press reports, Maroc Telecom is interested in acquiring the unused mobile concession held by UAE-backed Warid Telecom in Cote d’Ivoire. In July 2006 Warid paid XOF30... more
BROADBAND
Vimpelcom inks capacity deal with SES to extend Far Eastern connectivity
Luxembourg-based satellite broadband operator SES, which boasts a fleet of 52 geostationary orbiters, has announced that it has signed a three-year deal with mobile giant Vimpelcom, granting the Russian telco... more
Movistar shells out USD1.5m for internet blackout
Movistar Chile will pay out nearly CLP693 million (USD1.47 million) as compensation to the 52,000 customers affected by disruptions to its internet service in November last year, TeleSemana reports. The... more
CORPORATE/FINANCIAL
EE prepping for IPO?
The United Kingdom’s largest cellco by subscribers, EE, is putting the finishing touches to plans to launch an Initial Public Offering (IPO), according to the Sunday Times. It is understood... more
Binding bids for Globul due next month
Four companies are battling it out to buy Bulgarian cellco Globul, reports Reuters. An unnamed source with direct knowledge of the process said that the deal could be worth around... more
Committee clears MTN in Iranian bribery case
South Africa's MTN Group has issued a statement saying that it has been cleared of allegations of bribing Iranian officials in order to secure a mobile licence to operate in... more
Hondutel’s planned sale of Ehmovitel – Movitelh stake falls flat
Honduras’ state-owned telecoms operator Hondutel has reportedly received no bids for its sale of a 49% stake in its recently established mobile joint venture Ehmovitel – Movitelh (Empresa Hondurena de... more
Analysts forecast KPN share issue, as Dutch telco looks to cut debt
Reuters reports that Dutch telecoms group KPN Telecom (or Royal KPN as it is also known) could announce new plans to cut the group’s debt when it publishes its full-year... more
CEO quits TeliaSonera in wake of Uzbekistan review
Lars Nyberg has decided to resign as president and CEO of TeliaSonera, following criticism of the company’s conduct regarding its Uzbekistan operations published in a review by a law firm,... more
BT Ireland reports 5% rise in third-quarter revenues
Alternative operator BT Ireland has reported a 5% year-on-year increase in sales for its fiscal third quarter ended 31 December 2012, driven by increases in all its areas of operation.... more
QSC founders raise shareholdings
The two founder of QSC, a provider ICT and telecoms services to small- and medium-sized enterprises in Germany, have each acquired 1.575 million shares in the Cologne-based company at a... more
Telefonica ordered to halt non-telecoms investment
Argentina’s telecoms regulator Comision Nacional de Comunicaciones (CNC) has ordered Telefonica de Argentina to suspend investment that is not related to the provision of telecoms services, according to a statement... more
Bharti profit shrinks by 72%
Bharti Airtel has reported a fall in net profits for the three months ended 31 December 2012, as increases in tax and financing costs outweighed the group’s revenue growth. The... more
Clearwire ‘considering DISH bid’, but board still recommends initial Sprint offer
Clearwire has confirmed that it is still considering majority owner Sprint Nextel's USD2.97 per share offer to buy the 50% of the company that it does not already own, while... more