CommsUpdate
TeleGeography's free daily email summary of the world’s top telecom news stories.
11 Feb 2013
WIRELESS
AITI vows to help users of stricken B-Mobile service
The Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI) has assured B-Mobile subscribers that it is determined to resolve all matters pertaining to the disruption of the cellco's services... more
T-Mobile pours cold water on MVNO LTE chatter
Ready SIM and Solavei, a pair of mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) that piggyback on T-Mobile USA’s network ,have told FierceWireless that they intend to start offering access to Long... more
MTS Belarus switches on third 3G/3G+ frequency channel
MTS Belarus has switched on its third 3G/3G+ frequency channel in the country, to help increase throughput capacity on its W-CDMA networks, BelTA reports. The 5MHz of additional frequencies in... more
Vodafone’s Dutch unit boosts 3G speeds, paper says
Vodafone Netherlands has increased its 3G network speeds in Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam, Utrecht and large areas outside the Randstad, Telecompaper reports. The boost forms Phase II of the operator’s... more
Brazil sanctions 700MHz band for mobile broadband use
Brazil’s Minister of Communications Paulo Bernardo has officially sanctioned the use of the 700MHz band for mobile broadband services, according to a decree published in the federal gazette – Diario... more
Bakcell awarded compensation in interconnection claim against Azercell
Azeri mobile operator Bakcell has won its interconnection tariff-related lawsuit against rival operator Azercell, online news journal Trend.az reports. In the case, originally filed in July 2011 at the Baku... more
Fitel planning to upgrade PHS infrastructure
Taiwan’s First International Telecom (Fitel) has reportedly received regulatory approval from the National Communications Commission (NCC) to upgrade its existing Personal Handyphone Service (PHS) network to XGP, a next-generation version... more
New defence minister offers to return Osnova’s LTE frequencies
Sergei Shoigu, Russia's newly appointed defence minister, has offered to return Long Term Evolution (LTE) frequencies awarded to Osnova Telecom – the often-controversial telecoms company which is 25%-owned by the... more
Tigo tie-up to delay 4G auction; Exito MVNO to launch next month
The proposed merger of Une-EPM and Tigo Colombia could delay the regulator’s 4G auction plans, telecoms minister Deigo Vega was quoted by La Republica as saying. The two operators hold... more
LTE network available to 50%
Following recent upgrade work to its infrastructure, Polish cellco Polkomtel’s 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network now has coverage of 50% of the population: when it launched in October 2012,... more
EETT consults on 3.4GHz-3.8GHz allocation, usage
Greece’s National Telecommunications and Post Commission (EETT) has launched a public consultation to receive views and comments from the electronic communications sector with respect to its plans for granting technology-neutral... more
4G plans abound at True, Samart, CAT
Thai newspaper The Nation reports that True Corp plans to introduce 4G mobile broadband services in the 2100MHz spectrum range in Bangkok in April – around the same time as... more
Timor Telecom ready to interconnect with Viettel, but cites obstacles with ‘dominant’ Telin
Timor Telecom, part of the Portugal Telecom group, has revealed that is ‘ready’ to sign interconnection with Vietnamese-backed newcomer Viettel, but says there are problems with reaching agreement with the... more
BROADBAND
RCOM signs USD1bn deal with Ericsson
Indian telco Reliance Communications (RCOM) has signed an eight-year contract with Swedish vendor Ericsson to manage its networks in the northern and western states of India. The deal, valued at... more
T-HT to offer ‘Croatia’s largest’ Wi-Fi network with Fon
T-Hrvatski Telekom (T-HT), the dominant Croatian fixed line telco, has announced a partnership with global Wi-Fi hotspot provider Fon to build Croatia’s largest Wi-Fi network. In addition to new Wi-Fi... more
WIRELINE
EC questions Agcom’s proposed fixed termination rates
The European Commission (EC) has called a halt to plans by Italian telecoms regulator Autorita per le Garanzie nelle Comunicazioni (Agcom) relating to the country’s fixed termination rates, saying that... more
NIL, Neurones Technologies facilitate network core upgrade for CI Telecom
Slovenia-based NIL, together with local partner Neurones Technologies, has conducted a network core migration for Cote d’Ivoire Telecom (CIT) to prepare the telco’s infrastructure for new technologies and an enlarged... more
CORPORATE/FINANCIAL
NTC Holding cuts TDC stake to 18%
NTC Holding, a parent company of TDC, has confirmed that it has sold a 15% stake in the Danish telco for DKK4.7 billion (USD851 million). The move leaves NTC –... more
Econet aims to boost local share ownership
The shares of Econet Wireless of Zimbabwe will undergo a 10-for-1 share split as the company looks to boost ownership among small, local investors. Following the split, the shares will... more
FET reports solid financials for FY 2012
Far EasTone (FET), Taiwan’s third largest mobile operator by subscribers, has released its financial results for the three- and twelve-month periods ending 2012, posting an 8% year-on-year increase in service... more
DTAC’s annual revenues climb 13%
Thailand’s second largest mobile operator by users, DTAC, part of the Telenor group, posted total revenues of THB89.5 billion (USD2.98 billion) in 2012, an increase of 13.0% on the previous... more
T-HT finalises trade union deal, sheds 403 workers
Croatian incumbent T-Hrvatski Telekom (T-HT) has signed a new Collective Agreement with trade unions along with a severance offer for 403 employees to leave the telco. Under the agreement, annual... more