EC picks Inmarsat, Solaris for mobile satellite services May 15, 2009
Posted by aikservices in Europe, Inmarsat, Mobile, Solaris Mobile, Telecom, Wireless.Tags: Europe, Inmarsat, Mobile, Solaris Mobile, Telecom, Wireless
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The European Commission has selected Inmarsat and Solaris Mobile to provide mobile satellite services across Europe. The services, such as high-speed internet access, mobile television and radio or emergency communications, will be provided over a specifically reserved spectrum. Mobile satellite services (MSS) are expected to offer wireless communications to millions of EU consumers and businesses with portable terminals carried by a person or mounted on a car or a ship. They can also help bridge the digital divide in the availability of high-speed internet coverage by reaching rural and less populated regions. Member states now have to ensure that Inmarsat Ventures and Solaris Mobile have the right to use the specific radio frequencies identified in the Commission’s decision and the right to operate their respective mobile satellite systems. These providers have to be authorised to use their satellite systems all over Europe for 18 years from the selection decision.
UK report recommends spectrum caps ahead of auctions May 14, 2009
Posted by aikservices in Europe, Mobile, Mobile Industry News, Mobile News, Telecom, UK, WiMAX, Wireless.Tags: Europe, Mobile, Mobile Industry News, Mobile News, Telecom, UK, WiMAX, Wireless
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The UK government has issued an independent report on dividing existing and future mobile network spectrum. After the mobile operators were unable to reach an industry agreement on their existing spectrum holdings, the government asked former Ofcom director Kip Meek to act as an independent broker and develop a plan for the 2G and 3G spectrum. His proposals also incorporate the 2.6GHz spectrum for Wimax and LTE and the so-called digital dividend in the 800 MHz band, which still must be auctioned. According to the report, the goal is to give network operators certainty on their future investments, encourage further take-up of mobile broadband and use new technologies to achieve the government’s goal of near universal broadband access. A quick and efficient division of the spectrum could mean all of the UK enjoying mobile broadband at 4 Mbps within five years, while many urban years would see up to 50 Mbps.
On the spectrum to be auctioned, Meek proposes an auction of the TDD 2.6GHz spectrum for Wimax services by year-end, and a later auction combining the FDD 2.6GHz and 800 MHz frequencies. Meek would like to see regional and speed obligations on services deployed in the 800 MHz band to enhance broadband access, while the current 3G licence holders would receive incentives for expanding broadband access, such as indefinite licence terms and relaxed rules on rural infrastructure sharing.
To enhance competition, Meek proposes a temporary cap on spectrum holdings, at 2 x 60MHz for overall mobile FDD spectrum. Existing holders of sub-1GHz frequencies would also face a cap, so as to obtain 800MHz frequencies they must give up 900MHz holdings. The caps would expire a year after the combined spectrum auction. The latter cap applies to Vodafone UK and O2 UK, who each already have 2 x 17.2MHz in the 900MHz band. Orange UK and T-Mobile UK each have 2 x 30MHz at 1800 MHz. While they could bid freely for 800MHz or any 900MHz given up by the other two operators, they would only be able to bid for 2 x 10Mhz of the 2.6GHz frequencies in order to remain under the cap. They would have to give up 1800MHz or 2.1GHz frequencies to gain more in the 2.6GHz band. 3 UK and any new entrants would be able to bid freely for any of the spectrum, within the limits of the auctions. Meek’s proposals will go to the department for business and regulatory reform, which will formulate a government decision for Ofcom to enact.
Clearwire selects Cisco for 4G mobile Wimax network (USA) May 14, 2009
Posted by aikservices in 4G, Cisco, Clearwire, Mobile, North America, USA, WiMAX.Tags: 4G, Cisco, Clearwire, Mobile, North America, USA, WiMAX
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Clearwire and Cisco will enhance and expand Clear 4G mobile Wimax services throughout the US. Under terms of an agreement, Clearwire has selected Cisco as its national core infrastructure provider, and Cisco has announced plans to build new mobile Wimax devices for the Clear 4G mobile Wimax service for the consumer, small office or home office (SOHO) and small and medium-sized business (SMB) markets. The Clear 4G will be available in major metropolitan areas across the US. Clearwire’s open all-IP network, combined with significant spectrum holdings, provides substantive network capacity to deliver broadband access. In addition, Cisco is aiming to introduce its first mobile Wimax device later this year.
Virgin Mobile USA Q1 net income up 301% May 13, 2009
Posted by aikservices in Financial, North America, USA, Virgin Mobile.Tags: Financial, North America, USA, Virgin Mobile
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Virgin Mobile USA has posted a net income of $19.1m for the first quarter ended March 31, 2009, an increase of 301%, compared to a net income of $4.7m for the same period in 2008. The company posted total operating revenue of $337.28m for the first quarter of 2009 as compared to $330.01m in the first quarter of 2008. Operating income for the first quarter of 2009 increased to $36.20m from $16.60m in the same quarter of 2008. Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter ended March 31, 2009 increased to $49.54m from $28.70m in the comparable period of 2008. Adjusted EBITDA margin for the first quarter of 2009 was 15.6% compared to 9.3% in the first quarter of 2008.Dan Schulman, CEO of Virgin Mobile USA, said: “We are pleased with our first quarter results and the initial success of our new offers focused on high-quality customer additions. Gross customer additions on hybrid plans grew to 55% of the total in the first quarter. Because of our strong performance in the first quarter, we are increasing our guidance for adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow for 2009. Adjusted EBITDA excluding transition and restructuring expenses is expected to be $127 to $142m, and free cash flow is expected to be $45 to $55m for the full year 2009.”
Sprint Nextel Hires Wireless Veteran Bob Johnson To Head CDMA Business (USA) May 13, 2009
Posted by aikservices in AT&T, CDMA, McCaw Cellular, Mobile, North America, Sprint Nextel, USA.Tags: AT&T, CDMA, McCaw Cellular, Mobile, North America, Sprint Nextel, USA
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Sprint Nextel has appointed Bob Johnson to the position of president of its CDMA business unit, which continues to lose subscribers despite having a strong restructuring plan in place. Johnson replaces Keith Cowan, who was serving as interim president of Sprint’s CDMA business unit. Cowan will now be president of Spring’s strategy and corporate development, and lead the company’s overall strategic planning.Johnson, 55, will be in charge of Sprint’s postpaid consumer marketing and sales, including acquisition, growth and marketing, as well as the more than 11,000 retail locations. Johnson most recently served as COO of Sotto Wireless, a Bellevue, Wash.-based company he co-founded. The company focused on offering wireless phones as a replacement for landline phones for small businesses. The company shut down earlier this year after it failed to get enough traction. Before that, he served 16 years as a key executive at AT&T Wireless, including as EVP of the company’s marketing, sales and customer service functions. Prior to joining AT&T, Johnson worked at McCaw Cellular Communications. Johnson will start on May 20, and will likely be easily confused with another Bob Johnson, who currently serves as Chief Service Officer.
Award the 3G Licenses Urges Ericsson to Bangladesh May 11, 2009
Posted by aikservices in 3G, Asia, Bangladesh, Ericsson, GSM, Mobile.Tags: 3G, Asia, Bangladesh, Ericsson, GSM, Mobile
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Ericsson has urged the Bangladeshi government to speed up the process to offer 3G licenses so that the mobile operators can tap the existing 3G phone user base in the country. “If the government releases appropriate spectrum for 3G, which is the proven global mainstream for the mobile broadband, then we are confident that it will contribute significantly to the country’s GDP (gross domestic prodcut) growth,” Arun Bansal, managing director of the Ericsson Bangladesh, told the Reuters news agency.”It is estimated that there are over 6 million mobile internet users and already today 15 percent of the mobile handsets used in Bangladesh market are 3G enabled,” Bansal added.The regulator has delayed the award of 3G licenses several times, and they were last due to have been awarded a couple of months ago. A previous report by the GSMA had called on the regulator to issue the licenses by the 3rd quarter of last year.
Mobile Phones Rule In Haiti May 11, 2009
Posted by aikservices in Haiti, Mobile, Telecom, Wireless.Tags: Haiti, Mobile, Telecom, Wireless
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Mobile phones are likely to remain the main form of telecommunications in Haiti for the short-to-medium term, a new report says. A new report on the state of Haiti`s telecommunications by Research and Markets, claims that `given the stagnating fixed-line infrastructure and poor fixed-line penetration rates, mobile is likely to remain the principal form of telecommunications,` at least for now. Citing hurricane damage to fixed lines and the fact that the privatization of Telco seems to have slipped from the government’s agenda, the report, `Haiti: Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband,` insists that more and more, people are turning to mobile phone service. Researchers also cite the fact that political and economic turmoil has kept Haiti’s telecommunications sector as one of the least developed in the world, so mobile phone service is a welcome option.
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