Telecom Trackers - Latest in Telecom Sector

RSS Feed Homepage

Articles: 1, 2

Strategy of the new kid on the block - Tata Communications
2008-03-29 18:38:00
Tata Group subsidiary Tata Communications is looking for a managed-services company, possibly one located in the United States. It is also putting a minority interest in its tower operation up for sale, with an asking price rumored to be as high as $6 billion. And, as frosting on the cake, it has expanded its global virtual private network (VPN) service to China.According to reports of Telecomweb, Tata Communications wants to buy small- and mid-size managed-services outfits with annual revenues in the range of $50 million and $200 million. It's said to be looking for companies in the United States, the U.K., and Asia as well as in India itself. Tata Communications is the new kid on the block or rather a 5,000-pound gorilla in the global telecom marketplace - born just last month as the unified global brand for VSNL, VSNL International, Teleglobe (the former Bell Canada subsidiary VSNL bought for $239 million , Tata Indicom Enterprise Business Unit and CIPRIS. The combination create...
More About: Strategy , Block , Tata

WIMAX or LTE - Future tensed
2008-03-29 17:04:00
WiMAX and Long-Term Evolution (LTE) are set to push the takeup of 4G services worldwide, with the total number of 4G subscribers w expected to exceed 90 million in 2013. As per says ABI Research, at the end of 4Q07, there were nearly 3.4 billion mobile subscribers worldwide, with 2.7 billion on GSM/EDGE/GPRS networks. Worldwide WCDMA subscriber numbers hit 180 million in 4Q07. ABI Research expects migration to HSPA+ to begin in early 2010, and migration to LTE will start by the middle of the same year. ABI Research forecast the total number of WCDMA subscribers (including HSPA) to approach 720 million in 2013. Some operators may not be ready to move on to LTE, as the peak data rates of 100 Mbps downlink and 50 Mbps uplink are achievable only with a 20- megahertz spectrum band. That is a luxury that most operators may not have, and many may be content with the capabilities of HSPA+ or settle for suboptimal LTE data rates with whatever they have at the time.While the long-term roadmap...
More About: Future , Wimax

China finally going 3G
2008-03-29 16:43:00
China finally has given permission to start commercial trials of 3G cellular technology but, at this point, only of the country's home-grown Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA). China has been promising some sort of 3G service in time for the international event of summer olympics, and the country's (and the world's) largest carrier, China Mobile, has now built TD-SCDMA networks in eight cities, including the five Olympic venues. Interestingly, the Chinese have not yet formally issued frequency spectrum allocations for 3G, but that's apparently going to be little more than a formality. Under its commercial trial license, China Mobile reveals, it's built a network with a capacity of some eight million users.The launch of 3G in China has been an international political hot potato for years now, with other countries charging that the Chinese have been dragging their feet on 3G in order to give TD-SCDMA time to be developed. That's allegedly to preve...
More About: China , Finally

SPECulation on spectrum TRUMped
2008-01-10 11:58:00
As per Economic times, the indian government has today given in-principle approval for allocation of spectrum to GSM operators who have been waiting for frequency since 2006, CDMA players entering the GSM segment and to new aspirants in that order.With this, Indian government has met GSM operators' demand that they should be given priority ahead of others in spectrum allocation. Among the beneficiaries, existing operators include Aircel, Vodafone-Essar and Idea cellular, while Reliance Communications, HFCL and Shyam Telecom would benefit under the dual technology clause. The process would begin by issuing Letters of Intent (LoIs) to all the eligible players. As regards new aspirants, according to an official statement, the government would issue LoIs to all the eligible applicants, who have applied before September 25, 2007, on a first-come-first serve basis.The news was expected as this was an option that will ensure regular incremental income to Government of India (GOI). The go...
More About: Spectrum , Trumped

Zain and the art of network expansion
2008-01-09 11:02:00
I like this company's approach. If there is an opportunity, grab it.Zain (formerly known as MTC) is a leading emerging markets player in the field of mobile telecommunications. The company was established in 1983 in Kuwait. It has grown exponentially becoming the 4th largest telecommunications company in the world in terms of geographic presence with a footprint in 22 countries spread across the Middle East and the African continent.As of 8 September 2007, Zain became the company’s new corporate master brand name. Currently, the company is present in 7 Middle Eastern (inclusive of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) and 15 sub-Saharan African countries (inclusive of the recent Ghana licence acquisition on October 22, 2007) with over 15,000 employees and 44 million active individual and business customers. The company operates under the Zain brand name in Kuwait, Sudan, Jordan, Iraq and Bahrain. In Lebanon the company operates as mtc-touch. The company plans to commence operations in the...
More About: Network , Expansion

Stampede of companies hoping to get new telco operating license (& henc
2007-10-20 10:11:00
More than 500 companies have applied for new telco operating licenses in India. AT&T was one those who applied just before the closing bell for applications.If AT&T should get the license, it would set the stage for a battle royale between it and Vodafone for a share of the world's fastest-growing cellular market.AT&T's wireless unit, the former Cingular, is of course already in a death match in the United States with Vodafone because Vodafone owns 40 percent of Verizon Wireless. An extension of that battle to India, where cellular-phone use is growing at an estimated eight million subscribers per month, thus would have the industry worldwide on the edge of its seats.Just to make things even more interesting, Sistema, the owner of Russia's largest wireless carrier, Mobile TeleSystems (MTS), also has applied for an Indian cellular license. There's also some suspicion that, buried in the pile of 500 applications, are papers from proxies for other Tier One cellular play...
More About: Companies , Telco , Operating , License

New "Tilt" in the enterprise phone segment
2007-10-20 09:42:00
BlackBerry , iPhone and now Tilt . AT&T is launching new enterprise segment phone. This has not been one of my favorite topics, but the enthusiasm raised by iphone has forced me to look into the features of new "Tilt". We might soon have them in India (Provided DoT acts fast on new applications for licences)The new "Tilt" phone from AT&T, that may be available in mear future may become the next enterprise phone that may also fit the bill (unlike ipone).AT&T says the Tilt is its first Windows Mobile 6 smart device, featuring a slide-out QWERTY keypad, a 3-megapixel camera, 3G data speeds from AT&T's UMTS/HSDPA-based BroadbandConnect network and complete global connectivity.Windows Mobile 6 Tilt users get "the familiar look and feel of their desktop computers at home or in the office," the carrier says, enabling them to view e-mail in their original rich HTML format with live links to Web and Microsoft Office SharePoint sites. All Windows Mobile 6 devices include Micro...
More About: Enterprise

Enterprise solutions - AT & T launches 1 Gb/s bandwidth on demand
2007-10-20 09:31:00
AT & T's business arm has launched a 1 Gb/s bandwidth on demand offering, as part of its year-old optical mesh offering, for its enterprise and wholesale customers.The Optical Mesh Services offering lets customers reallocate bandwidth as needed by increasing or decreasing network capacity in what AT&T calls "near real time." It also lets enterprise customers build and self-administer their own SONET networks using the AT & T BusinessDirect customer portal.AT&T said that the new 1 Gb/s speed is available at 275 locations around the country linked by what it calls its Intelligent Optical Network - a self-healing network with claimed five nines reliability.A dynamic Layer 1 service helps companies trying to solve the dilemma of build versus buy. An on-demand optical solution with as much needed bandwidth is a compelling solution for mission-critical business applications with zero tolerance for downtime, as well as for business continuity.http://telecomsector.blogspot. ...
More About: Solutions , Bandwidth , Enterprise , Demand , On Demand

Battle won for Wimax - ITU Accepts IEEE 802.16 as a 3G Standard
2007-10-20 09:15:00
The IEEE 802.16 has been accepted by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) as the sixth technology that it has accepted as a 3G wireless standard. The move has caused celebration in both the WiMAX and WiBro communities - both of which are based on 802.16 variations.WiMAX/WiBro/802.16 join rival technologies W-CDMA, CDMA-2000 and TD -SCDMA in the ITU's IMT-2000 3G spectrum standard.Technically the ITU has accepted what it has termed "IMT-2000 OFDMA TDD WMAN," a specification "based on a normative reference to IEEE Std 802.16. In other words, IEEE Std 802.16 is now part of the IMT-2000 family. WMAN, is short for "wireless metropolitan area network," which is the real name for 802.16, as set by the IEEE. Put another way, the ITU didn't accept WiMAX. It accepted WMAN. WiMAX, as defined by the WiMAX Forum, is "based upon the harmonized IEEE 802.16/ETSI HiperMAN standard.South Korea's WiBRO is a mobile form wireless broadband also based on 802.16 and that may even some day be...
More About: Standard , Wimax , Battle , Accept

New standard for WiMAX unveiled
2007-09-29 18:47:00
The CDMA Development Group (CDG) and the Third Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2) has recently released their proposed Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB) standard, the technology they hope will trump the mobile iterations of IEEE 802.16e-2005 (so-called mobile WiMAX) and Long-Term Evolution (LTE) as the world's eventual 4G standard.The proposal now needs to undergo final standardization, which backers predict will be a rapid process. In the United States, UMB is scheduled to emerge as Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) standard TIA-1121.The UMB proposal is an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) solution that uses- "sophisticated" control and signaling mechanisms;- radio resource management (RRM);- adaptive reverse link (RL) interference management; and- such advanced antenna techniques as Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO), Space Division Multiple Access (SDMA) and beamforming.It supports inter-technology handoffs and seamless operation with existing...
More About: Standard , Wimax

Enterprise Segment - The new mantra for Telecom equipment vendors & ser
2007-09-29 18:25:00
Every Vendor in Hardware/software Telecom space is eying at Enterprise segment. The offerings are based on variety of hardware and software platforms. Here are few examples -- Cisco has recentlyunveiled a new line of hardware and software in its "Empowered Branch" portfolio, building on the offerings it already has that are designed to give branches essentially the same type of service as corporate headquarters.The latest gear even extends to tiny offices with fewer than 20 workers.The new offerings include the first "lite" version of Cisco's flagship IOS software, hardware that includes routers and LAN switches, and new support for 802.11n wireless. With the emergence of new business applications and a more collaborative global business environment, Cisco customers are putting a greater emphasis on their remote offices. Cisco Empowered Branch allows them to take advantage of new business opportunities by providing them with a network platform that addresses all their application a...
More About: Vendors , Equipment , Mantra

US Treasury to get next-generation enterprise network - Similar large enter
2007-09-29 18:15:00
Came across the following news item. My comments are at the end.AT&T has picked up what could amount to a $1 billion order to build a next-generation enterprise network for the U.S. Treasury . The award is the first of what eventually will be dozens of billions of dollars spent by the U.S. government under the Networx Universal contract, the largest single telecom order in the history of the world, shared by teams led by AT&T, Verizon and Quest.Under the Treasury order, AT&T and members of its team are to build and transition the Treasury to a next-gen enterprise network known as the Treasury Network (TNet). Technically, the award is for $270 million but, with various add-ons and options, it's expected to hit $1 billion. What the Treasury has ordered is a fully managed network service, coupled with service-level agreements and performance incentives to deliver secure voice, data and video communications.The Networx contract actually represents a reiteration of a $1 billi...
More About: Enter , Enterprise , Generation

A case for implementing number portability in India
2007-09-04 14:04:00
Well friends the debate on implementation of number portability in India is now almost 3 years old. The issue keeps popping up every time TRAI comes out with some statements. Here are the extracts of my arguments in favor of implementing the same. These were presented at a debate at IIM Bangalore. I have covered them in a post earlier , but am repeating them in view of the currency of the issue. I welcome your comments on the same. -What is number portability (NP)?Number Portability  allows subscriber to change their service provider to one having – the best service quality lower tariff options, & better network coveragewhile retaining their old telephone number.Technological reasons for implementingArguments against implementation - India not yet ready as Implementation requires large technological changes;My Argument why it should be implementedOur Mobile network is state of the art; technically much better than many countries where MNP is already working We int...
More About: Case , Number portability

Snapshot picture of CDMA deployment in India
2007-08-24 19:40:00
These extracts from report of CDMA Development Group (CDG) gives a good snapshot picture of CDMA deployment in India . I thought the extracts were worth sharing."The CDMA arena in India is booming, with that country's CDMA2000 subscriber base now topping 50 million fixed and mobile users. The India's subscriber growth reached this milestone in only five years, half the time it took GSM to reach the same number in the subcontinent. The CDG attributes this rapid growth in the region to the economic delivery of differentiated value-added services, network expansion into the rural areas of India and the growing availability of very-low-end (VLE) devices.With 2 million net subscriber additions in July, CDMA2000 subscriber base in India reached 51.1 million. Reliance Communications and Tata Teleservices, which the group says are among the Top 20 fastest-growing operators in the world, are investing in the CDMA2000 business to further accelerate this growth rate. CDMA2000 devices have ex...
More About: Picture , Deployment

Mobile VAS revenues in India to touch Rs 8200 Cr by next fiscal !!!
2007-07-14 16:06:00
According to an estimate by industry body Assocham, the mobile value added services are poised to grow by over 65 per cent to touch Rs 8,200 crore by the end of this fiscal from Rs 4,950 crore in the last fiscal . The high growth is attributed to a rapidly increasing large subscriber base and easy accessibility to the end-users. Various downloads such as ringtones, bill-related information, contest, exam results and messages received from public services such as banks, railways and airlines earn revenues for the industry. Such revenues will grow and multiply to add volumes to mobile value added services (VAS).India n music industry earned more than 35 million dollar from such services which is equivalent to 20 per cent of its total revenue. The total mobile music downloads in Indian markets are valued at 75 million dollars and is expected to grow by 25 per cent in the next year. SMS interactivity, which has become an integral part of most of TV shows, would become a major source of r...
More About: Mobile , Touch , Fiscal , Venues

What should be the limit on market share after M & A in Telecom space ?
2007-07-14 15:48:00
TRAI's consultation paper on licensing norms review has attracted following views from major Indian Telcos :State-owned BSNL has suggested lowering of the market share limit to 40 per cent from the current 67 per cent following the merger and acquisitions of two entities in the telecom sector to avoid monopolistic situation. "It is felt that the existing provision of 67 per cent market share will create non-competitive or monopolistic situation. It is, therefore, suggested that this limit should be brought down to about 40 per cent"Vodafone Essar, which has recently acquired number two slot in terms of subscriber base, said "We are of the opinion that the 67 per cent limit is appropriate when applied to a narrow mobile market definition. "But regime of the current M&A Guidelines, not a single intra-circle merger between licensees has taken place to date and it cannot be said that the current guidelines have produced an environment of undue consolidation. The guidelines, therefo...
More About: Space , Market , Share , Telecom

GSM players in India add 5.4 m subscribers in June 07
2007-07-14 15:00:00
GSM players in India added 5.4 million new subscribers in June . the public sector BSNL has registered negative growth in five of the 21 telecom circles where it offers services. Overall, the PSU has added just 4.3 lakh new subscribers in June compared to 1.96 million by Bharti Airtel and 1.54 million by Vodafone-Essar. This also implies that the PSU, which had lost its position as the second largest GSM player in the country to Vodafone Essar in May 2007, has slipped further down. Vodafone Essar now has a total of over 30.75 million subscribers and a market share of 22.61% when compared to 28.42 million and 20.90% for the PSU.As per the latest data compiled by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), the industry association representing all GSM operators, the GSM subscriber base has touched 136 million as of June end, 2007, up 4.12% when compared to 130.1 million in May 2007. The growth witnessed in June was lead by Bharti Airtel, which added just under two million new ...
More About: Players , Subs , Scribe

Reliance awards US $ 200 m contract to Huawei
2007-07-14 14:27:00
India's Reliance Communications has announced the award of a network expansion contract, worth over US$200 million, to Huawei Technologies. Under the agreement, Huawei will supply and provide services for CDMA & GSM base stations, including BSC (Base Station Controller) and switches, and help to create first class all-IP Next Generation Network infrastructure.Earlier in first week of July , Reliance awarded a similar contract worth US$400 million to Alcatel-Lucenthttp://telecomsector.blogsp ot.com/atom.xml
More About: Awards , Contract

WCDMA HSPA connections to reach 40m by 2008 !
2007-07-14 14:21:00
As per Wireless Intelligence, WCDMA HSPA cellular connections are expected to reach 40 million worldwide by end of 2008 . By 2010, WCDMA HSPA is expected to represent around 45% of total WCDMA cellular connections, which are also on track to exceed GSM connections by 2010 in those countries where the network has been launched.Asia-Pacific is driving growth during the initial phase of adoption, while European operators will boost total WCDMA HSPA cellular connections from the end of 2008. WCDMA HSPA is expected to increase data traffic and non-voice revenues.WCDMA HSPA will be commercially present in more than 60 countries by the end of next year, based on announced plans. With the aim of bringing broadband speeds to mobile networks, WCDMA HSPA is a software upgrade to existing WCDMA networks typically launched from 2003. WCDMA HSPA will go through a slow adoption phase until the end of 2008. WCDMA HSPA is expected to represent around 6% of total WCDMA connections by the end of 2007 ...
More About: Reach , Connections

ZTE overtake LG to become largest CDMA handset supplier to Indian market
2007-07-14 13:47:00
China's ZTE is reported to have overtaken Korea's LG Electronics to become the largest supplier of CDMA handsets to the Indian mobile phone market. The handset manufacturer now has a 26% market share according to market sources cited by the DigiTimes news publication.ZTE originally entered the Indian market through an agreement with Tata Telecom in 2005 and now includes BSNL and the dominant CDMA operator, Reliance Communications as its customers.ZTE is reported to have shipped some 15 million handsets in 2006, but had already passed that landmark by the beginning of June this year. The company is expected to ship something like 40 million handsets in total this year.http://telecomsector.blogspot.com/at om.xml
More About: Market , Handset , Largest

"Fund transfer market using mobile to grow to $8 billion by 2012" - New opp
2007-07-14 13:39:00
According to ABI Research, The market for mobile fund transfers will grow to a revenue opportunity of nearly $8 billion for wireless carriers by 2012, up from some $10 million last year.By enabling subscribers to send and receive money using their wireless phones, wireless carriers have the opportunity to bring local banking services to millions of people around the world. Such services also could deliver a valuable new revenue stream. Mobile networks offer a number of advantages over existing fund transfer offerings, but most convincing is the high level of adoption and reach of wireless services both geographically and demographically. However, wireless carriers can't do this alone. The need for a banking license to offer such services in most countries means carriers must partner with established banking institutions. Partnerships are encouraged by offering services institutions an effective way to reach new as well as existing customers. ABI Research believes these partnerships...
More About: Market , Transfer , Fund , Grow

"Customers increasingly want telecom services and products to be bundled" -
2007-07-14 13:21:00
The J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Residential Regional Telephone Customer Satisfaction Study says cable companies, which for the first time lead the customer-satisfaction rankings for telephone service in all six U.S. regions, are proving to be tough competition, mostly due to the rise of triple-play bundles.The study is based on responses collected in April and May from 11,911 customers nationwide who receive their local and long-distance telephone service from one provider. J.D. Power looked at six factors are examined in determining overall satisfaction: performance and reliability, customer service, billing, image, cost of service, and offerings and promotions.The study says 86 percent of cable-based voice subscribers also subscribe to data services from the same provider--up from 71 percent in 2006. Conversely, 36 percent of telecom-based voice subscribers also use their providers to fulfill their data needs, an increase of 7 percentage points year over year. The impact of bun...
More About: Services , Products , Customers , Telecom

U.K.'s DTH satellite-TV giant BSkyB has become Britain's fastest-growing br
2007-07-14 13:14:00
U.K. direct-to-home (DTH) satellite-TV giant British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB) has become Britain's fastest-growing broadband provider in less than a year, with broadband now driving overall growth of the company. In the three months ended June 30 (BkyB's fourth fiscal quarter), it had added a net of 259,000 new broadband subscribers, bringing its total broadband subscriber base to 716,000. It also added 171,000 telephony customers, bringing that total subscriber base to 526,000. In contrast, on the television side of the house, it reported a far lower growth rate and netted only 90,000 new subscribers (after taking into account a hefty churn rate of 12.1 percent, which at least was down a bit from 13.7 percent in the first three months). It now has some 8.6 million subscribers to its core DTH service.BSkyB is adding more broadband customers than any other provider. The company, which jumped into telephony and broadband last year in order to have a triple-play bundle to fend off su...
More About: Satellite , Giant , Growing

Saudi Telecom Co. makes back door entry into Indian Telecom market
2007-06-29 14:20:00
In a deal that gives it indirect entrance into the high-growth Indian Telecom market, Saudi Arabia's largest carrier Saudi Telecom Co. has bought a 25-percent piece of Malaysia's Maxis Communications for $3 billion.As a result of this purchase, Saudi Telecom Co. will own 18.5 percent of GSM carrier Aircel, which is 74-percent owned by Aircel. Aircel provides services in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Orissa, Jammu & Kashmir, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh and the North-East. It has a subscriber base of 5.5 million.Saudi Telecom reportedly had been considering India for some time, this purchase is the first major investment outside Saudi Arabia for the government-owned carrier. "Officials in the Middle Eastern country apparently have the same concerns over a national telco having ties with foreign carriers, but it looks like those concerns weren't enough to kill the deal. The deal may raise eyebrows of security concerns in India. I will be posting the developments on the bl...
More About: Market , Back

Indian telco's inrease oversea activities - Airtel enters European market;
2007-06-29 14:07:00
Indian leading private telco, Airtel launched its first foray in telecom in the European market on Thursday, with the launch of its services in Jersey, Channel Islands. Jersey Airtel, a subsidiary of the Bharti Group, on Thursday announced the launch of its mobile services on the Island. The company will offer products and services under the Airtel-Vodafone brand to customers on the Island, over its full 2G, 3G and HSDPA enhanced network. Jersey, along with Guernsey, is a crown property off the coast of France, is one of the world’s leading offshore financial centres with an exclusive focus on financial services, and a playground for the rich and financially famous. Jersey’s GDP and per capital are among the highest in the world, topping most developed nations. The services are being launched under the Airtel-Vodafone brand name.Customers are being offered significant discounts if they choose to keep their existing handset. Pre-paid customers will get flat rates across all netwo...
More About: Market , Indian , Activities , Telco

T-mobile's new hot service - Hotspot@home
2007-06-29 14:00:00
HotSpot @Home is the newest one-stop-shop offering from T-Mobi le USA, combining the power of Wi-Fi and T-Mobile's nationwide voice and data network, and allowing subscribers to gab as much as they want at home without burning minutes. The carrier says its customers can use their cellphones in a VoIP manner while at home or in a T-Mobile hot-spot-enabled area, and then switch back to the GSM/GPRS/EDGE wireless network when they exit hot-spot coverage. Calls also transfer from T-Mobile's network onto Wi-Fi.T-Mobile HotSpot @Home is a first-of-its-kind service . Key components of the T-Mobile HotSpot @Home service include new mobile phones designed to seamlessly connect the user to a home Wi-Fi connection or T-Mobile HotSpot. The Samsung t409 and the Nokia 6086 are the first to market, each retailing for $49.99 with a two-year contract on a qualifying rate plan.T-Mobile also partnered with router manufacturers D-Link and Linksys for Wi-Fi routers optimized for a first-rate calling ex...
More About: Service , Vice , Hotspot

Bharti to launch 3G services, Revenues from VAS expected to go up !
2007-06-26 14:31:00
Bharti Airtel has completed trials of third generation services that it plans to introduce. The company is now awaiting the allotment of spectrum from the government to launch 3G services in India. Other telecom majors such as BSNL, Vodafone-Essar, Reliance Communications and Tata Teleservices are also carrying out trial runs of 3G appellations and services. According to company executives, the pilots included testing all high-speed internet applications, next generation gaming, video and wireless streaming. Bharti has also put processes in place for seamless migration of all value-added services to the 3G space from its current 2G networks.Bharti is said to have successfully tried out IMS-based applications, a software platform in line with the latest 3G standards. This implies that content and application developers can use this platform to develop services for Bharti customers. Currently, about 10% of Bharti’s revenues come from value-added services (VAS). This figure is likel...
More About: Services , Launch , Vice , Bharti , Venues

Calling cards market is calling - Airtel says 'Wait' !
2007-06-26 14:14:00
Bharti Airtel has put off its plan to kick off a series of tariff wars abroad with the launch of its virtual calling in global markets on account of the complexities and excess demand that the company faced with the launch of this service in the US. Bharti Airtel had launched calling cards in the US in 2006 and said this service would soon be extended to the top 10 countries in terms of the NRI population, which include Canada, the UK, Singapore, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries. As per industry estimates, the outgoing traffic from the US to India is about 450 million minutes per month, of which about 200 million minutes are through calling cards. Besides, close to 80% of the incoming calls to India are made from the top 10 NRI countries.But now, the company has decided to defer the global expansion of this until the glitches faced in the US are solved. In the US, the demand was far higher than the capacity that was installed. Airtel therefore had to upgrade IN platfo...
More About: Market , Calling , Cards , Wait

Saudi telecom to buy 25% of Maxis Communications
2007-06-26 13:56:00
Saudi Telecom Co, the largest phone company in Saudi Arabia, bought 25 per cent of Malaysia's biggest mobile-phone operator Maxis Comm unications Bhd to reach out to more subscribers. Saudi Telecom paid 11.4 billion riyals ($3 billion) for the acquisition, its first major foreign purchase, the company said on Tuesday in a statement posted on the Saudi stock market Web site. The deal will give the company access to a market of 1.4 billion people. “The transaction will be financed through borrowing and self-financing,” the state-controlled company said. Phone companies in Persian Gulf monarchies are expanding as domestic markets mature and demand increases. Saudi Telecom competes with Etihad Etisalat in Saudi Arabia. A third mobile-phone company, Saudi Mobile Telecommunications Co, will enter the market next year.Saudi Telecom was looking at markets in the Middle East and Asia, and this purchase makes sense because both markets share the same culture, and Maxis services a huge pop...
More About: Saudi

Verizon to offer wireless wallets to their subscribers
2007-06-26 13:17:00
Verizon Wireless has announced their m-commerce service, enabled as a BREW application from technology partner obopay as the first mobile payment offering for any major U.S. carrier, will be available in the coming weeks. The Obopay service will allow customers to receive, send and spend money via their mobile phones, check their account balances, collect money owed from other mobile users, view transaction histories and invite friends to use the system.With the recent announcement of Verizon Wireless about its partnership with Obopay, analysts are seeing a bright future for mobile payments and for mobile commerce as a whole. Even research firm Strategy Analytics Wireless Media Strategies has reaffirmed its forecast on contactless payment. Wireless Media Strategies Service in their December 2006 report has predicted significant activity in the form of payment and ticketing trials towards the end of 2007 and maintain our projected outlook of $36 billion in spending via contactless pa...
More About: Verizon , Subscriber , Wallet , Izon