Broadband @ Pakistan

The Launch of MXtv & The decline of the land-line

Mustafa Rana — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 13:16:37 GMT

Since the introduction of the mobile phone, the land-line telephone has slowing become an endangered species.

The addicting Blackberry is quickly settling itself as "man's best friend." As life moves faster, we are predisposed to demand services and products that satisfy our on-the-go attitude.

In line with such a demand, NextWave Wireless, Inc has just recently launched MXtv. Wireless Design and Development Asia describes MXtv as:

"a breakthrough mobile multicast and broadcast technology that enables WiMAX operators to deliver a broad range of rich and personalized multimedia services including mobile TV, interactive media services, and digital audio without having to invest in new spectrum or additional radio access network equipment�?� With the unique ability to interleave broadcast content with voice and data content in each user transmission, MXtv enables WiMAX network operators to maximize service revenues by allowing them to dynamically optimize the mix of voice, data, and broadcast services on each RF carrier based on user demand, service pricing and advertising revenue. Furthermore, over 300 high fidelity radio broadcast channels or any combination of mobile TV, personalized radio, voice and data services can be offered in the same 10 MHz of spectrum".

Having already affected the entertainment and media industry, it will be interesting to see how advertising will adapt to the speedy growth of mobile technology. With the introduction of MXtv, WiMAX has the potential to enable video delivery and thus commercials/video advertisements. Consumer's ability to receive mobile TV and personalized radio on their mobile devices can improve the personalization or customization of entertainment and media directed toward individual users. While the ability to tailor advertisements and the reach of those advertisements may at first thought seem like a dream come true. The actual implementation of such a dream will be a challenge for advertisers and marketers to do successfully. As the customer population becomes more and more segmented by the personalization of media, advertising becomes more complicated. Still, it is interesting to explore the potential impact of WiMAX will have outside of the technology industry.

Courtesy:

Ari Zoldan @ Launch 3 Communications

Source

YouTube and Pakistan Telecom

Mustafa Rana — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 17:36:07 GMT

Youtube & Pakistan Telecom (PIE)

RIPE NCC Chief Scientist Daniel Karrenberg discusses the recent YouTube outage and how the events were seen by RIPE NCC's Routing Information Service (RIS).

The Tube Trouble and Why its a Good News (Tee Emm's blog)

Mustafa Rana — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 17:26:57 GMT

Tee Emm posted the article at his blog

The Tube Trouble and Why its a Good News

February 23, 2008 - Tee Emm

The You Tube blocking (orders by PTA to ISPs can be found here) in Pakistan has taken the local blogosphere by the storm - for obvious reason. The news was broken and extensively discussed at various local mailing lists.

The highly sticky video website contributes as much as 1/10th of the entire Internet bandwidth according to some estimates. That's a crazy big statement.

Every technology blog that has any Pakistani connection has a post about this major disruptive development. While most of the fellows are obviously mad on this blocking, my take is that we might be better off having this issue. The persistent problem (of Internet censorship done the wrong way) is not being intermittently flashed to us any more - instead, this event throws it right into our faces.

That Internet censorship is bad and useless is an established fact but that it happens worldwide in both developing and developed worlds is even more established fact. In the absence of compelling Internet applications in Pakistan, Internet remains the sole killer application for the broadband mass uptake the government appears to be so concerned about.

Hence, given all the boom that Pakistan is experiencing right now (and hopefully after the recent elections results of which have so far pleasantly surprised both Pakistanis and the rest of the world), it is important that we ensure that Internet remains the platform that is relevant to the population and that the Internet consumption keeps an upward consumption trend. The system needs to graduate on this front and move towards improving our infrastructure to be able to keep up with the bare minimum implementations of the various rulings given under the law of the land by the higher courts (which, no doubt, need a big and continuous help that will help them understand the technical intricacies of the cyberspace).

This blockage is huge in terms of impact. Everyone will feel it. From the end users to the media companies and micro content producers to the civil society relying on the powers of You Tube and packet video prevalence, everyone is going to talk about it. Now is the time stop using Cisco ACLs and use layer 4 solutions where the filtering must happen.

I believe this will force the PTA and the government (and the trigger happy PTCL's PIE) to upgrade their infrastructures so that the delicate balance between civil liberties and our societal sensitivities is well kept.

PTCL's Broadband Portal ..

Mustafa Rana — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 17:22:47 GMT

Broadband Entertainment Portal

Source

ISLAMABAD, Feb 29 (APP): PTCL Friday launched its Broadband Entertainment Portal and new packages for its DSL subscribers, affirming its customers that the access to the portal will be absolutely free-of-cost exclusively for PTCL Broadband Pakistan customers.

"The history is in the making today as this is the first Broadband Portal of the country which offers to the subscribers a variety of professional media content including but not limited to mainstream music (Urdu and English), movies, religious naats and sports," said Dr Sadiq Al Jadir, SEVP Commercial at a press conference held at a local hotel.

Briefing the media about the salient features of new portal. Ali Qadir Gillani SEVP, Zomma Mohyuddin EVP Broadband and other PTCL officers were also present.

Jadir said the PTCL initiative would make the country embrace the broadband economies of the world.

"PTCL has invested $50 million to improve its services for our valued customers. We are competing the market and for the purpose we are expanding our capacity," he said.

Jadir admitted that upgradation of the PTCL helpline service was a serious challenge to the repute of the institution and the company was making efforts to improve the service.

He assured the journalists that the number of faulty lines is being minimised and the PTCL is making every step essential to make the company a quality service provider.

"PTCL is aware of the fact that the customers need high speed and large download capacity to fully experience the Broadband Portal - the movies and music, sports coverage and religious material. Thus, the Broadband Pakistan packages have been upgraded for the benefit of all existing and new subscribers," he said.

"PTCL Broadband Pakistan is now offering incredibly cost effective, constantly available internet access as the internet access speed for existing subscribers has been doubled while they are now allowed unlimited downloads for the same amount that they were previously paying. New subscribers will also be required to pay the new tariff while the modem and DSL installation is completely free," he said.

Broadband Pakistan offers DSL services with unmatched reliability, affordability and connectivity. Earlier, customers had the option of subscribing to either the volume based (256Kbps, 512Kbps) or unlimited access (1Mbps) packages, but now for the price of the 256Kbps package subscribers would get the 512Kbps service with unlimited downloads.

Similarly, the other packages of 512Kbps and 1Mb have been upgraded to 1Mb and 2Mb respectively without any increase in price.

Under the new Pakistan Package, the customers would have to pay Rs. 1,199 per month for 512 Kbps unlimited service as compared to the previous cost of Rs. 1,999. The subscribers would have to pay only Rs. 1,999 for 1024 Kbps unlimited service as compared to the previous amount of Rs. 4,999 per month while the cost for 2048 Kbps unlimited would be Rs. 4,999 per month.

The new PTCL Broadband Entertainment Portal is strictly about professional content and provides matter across many main categories: Religion, Music, Sports, News, and Movies. It has the latest music videos, movie previews, short films, sports news and clips and more, all available for Broadband Pakistan subscribers.

Broadband Pakistan, high-speed internet, with a high rate of data transmission that offers extremely fast unlimited online internet time to customers, is a stellar example of innovative services and packages offered by PTCL while the PTCL Broadband Entertainment Portal is powered by Converge Technologies and provides a unique experience to the user.

The broadband video market is the next frontier on the Web and broadband video is the next generation of television. All the largest telecommunications companies have a presence in this market and the PTCL Broadband Portal is set to emerge as a principal player in this context.

The ease of acquiring the service and maintaining the service has made PTCL the leader in consumer broadband services in Pakistan, leading the country into the 21^st Century. Broadband customer service is available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week at 1236 with highly trained and professional representatives. The PTCL Broadband Pakistan connection can be ordered by simply calling 1236 or visiting the PTCL website at www.ptcl.com.pk.

CMPak extends licence area

Mustafa Rana — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 19:26:17 GMT

CMPak, the wireless operator formerly known as Paktel, has confirmed that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has amended its licence to allow it to provide wireless services in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and the Northern Areas (NA). According to the CEO of CMPak, the new licenses will allow the company to extend its coverage to the scenic northern parts of the country.

In February 2007 Millicom International Cellular (MIC) sold its 88.86% stake in Paktel to China Mobile Communications Corp for USD284 million in cash. In May 2007 China Mobile acquired the outstanding shares from the Arfeen Group (10%) and others. CMPak has embarked on an aggressive network expansion plan since the acquisition, with China Mobile expected to spend USD400 million in 2007 in expanding the network.

Source: Telegeography

The Seven Sins of Solutions

Mustafa Rana — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 11:20:00 GMT

Interesting Read from GuyKawasaki's Blog

The Seven Sins of Solutions

I introduced you to Matt May in January. He's the author of The Elegant Solution and the ChangeThis manifesto called Elegant Solutions: Breakthrough Thinking the Toyota Way. He added a new manifesto called Mind of the Innovator: Taming the Traps of Traditional Thinking. Here's an excerpt for you:

Shortcutting. Leaping to solutions in an instinctive way or intuitive way-i.e. the "blink" method of problem-solving-seldom leads to an elegant solution because deeper, hidden causes don't get addressed. Watch CSI and House: first they collect the evidence, then diagnose, and then solve. It's never the guy or the disease you initially suspect.
Blindspots. Blindspots are the umbrella term for assumptions, biases, and mindsets that we cannot see through or around. Our brain does a lot of "filling in" for us because it's a pattern maker and recognizer. Ths cn b hrd fr ppl t cmprhnd, hwvr, mst cn ndrstntd ths sntnc wth lttl prblm. But clear thinking involves more than simply filling in spaces in words.
Not Invented Here (N.I.H.). NIH means that you refuse to consider solutions that are from external sources. It means "If we didn't come up with it, it won't work. It is of no use." Next time you're waiting for an elevator, watch someone walk up and hit the button even though it's already lit. We often don't trust others' solutions!
Satisficing. Ever wonder why some solutions lack inspiration, imagination, and originality? It's because by nature we satisfice-satisfy plus suffice. We glom on to what's easy and stop looking for the optimal solution. What's the least number of "sticks" you need to move to make this Roman numeral equation correct? XI + I = X If you answered anything but zero, you satisficed. Look at it upside down.
Downgrading. Downgrading is the close cousin of satisficing but with a twist: a formal revision of the goal or situation. Reason? No one likes to fail. Result? We fall short of the killer app, so we pick the one that allows us to declare victory. Next time you're playing hockey or football, try winning the game by hitting the outside of the post or taking the ball down to the one-yard line.
Complicating. Why do we overthink, complicate, and add cost? And why do we ALL do it so intuitively, naturally, and (here's the killer) consistently? Answer: we're hardwired that way. Our brains are designed to drive hoarding, storing, accumulating, and collecting-type behavior. We are by nature "do more/add on" types. Don't believe it? Watch the customers at Costco or Sam's Club buy thirty-six rolls of toilet paper.
Stifling. We do naturally do the "Yeah, but.." dance in which we stifle, dismiss, and second-guess ideas. It's ideacide, pure and simple. And it's not just others' ideas we stifle; we often do it to our own and kick ourselves later when someone else "steals" our great idea. Remember how Decca Records rejected the Beatles? "Guitar bands are on the way out."

The last one is the deadliest of the sinful seven. Because it is the most destructive. It's the hallmark of the bozos!

Solar Powered WiMAX & WiFi

Mustafa Rana — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 10:48:00 GMT

Also visit 'Air Jaldi' for more details.

Originally Post at http://telecompk.net/2007/08/27/solar-powered-wimax-wifi/

Intel has developed a Solar-Powered WiMAX Base Station Solution (pdf), as reported by Daily Wireless. Total system cost is around $10,000. The complete report details the electricity consumptions and savings. Any chance we will see one of these in Pakistan soon?

In remote sites where there is no grid electricity, the cost of a diesel generator can be as high as 40 cents per kWh, including the cost of fuel delivery to the site. In some cases, an electric generator is transported to a repair site, which also adds to the cost.

With a lifetime of 25 years for the solar panels and 15 years for the battery array, Intel says these solar systems can generate electricity at a cost of 33 cents per kWh.

A daily consumption of 69.48 amp-hours, is multiplied by 1.2 as a safeguard factor to account for a slow loss of capacity over the lifetime of the battery. To compute daily power consumption, the base station is assumed to consume power equivalent to a 75% duty cycle at peak power consumption.

To provide a sufficient charging current of 18.53 amps, a total of eight, 200 watt SHARP ND-200U1 panels (pdf) or ten, BP Solar SX 170B panels (170 watts each) are connected in parallel to charge four, Rolls 5000 batteries.

To recharge the battery array, with an average daily recharge time of 4.5 hours, the solar panel modules should provide a current of 18.53 amps. The peak current drawn is 3.86 amps.

PTA to promote Internet telephony

Mustafa Rana — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 10:44:30 GMT

By Shahid Hussain (The NEWS)

LAHORE: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has prepared a consultation paper to promote IP telephony, a modern form of telephony in which the services of calls between computers, PC-to-phone and phone-to-phone are available.

The IP telephony, which is also called ~~Voice Over Internet Protocol~~ (VOIP), is routing of voice conversations over the Internet or through any other IP-based network. The PTA observed that this technology is exciting in so many ways, because for the first time in history, customers really do have a choice in the service provider they use for their local and long-distant phone calls.

The authority stated that IP Telephony offerings can be divided into three categories including Voice communication between computers without access to Plain Old Telephony Services (POTS), communications within companies or used within a public operator's core network and publicly available services provided to the end-user using VOIP technology.

The benefits of this technology stem from much lower cost of communication over IP telephony as compared to conventional telephone calls especially for international communication, the PTA observed and added that implementation of voice services over IP platform means transforming whole economic and competitive dynamics of telecommunications market. VOIP rides over the Internet which itself may be characterized as a logical architecture that is independent of any particular network. It permits multiple different networks to be interconnected in such a way that computers and people can communicate without the need to know which network they are using or how to route information to them, the PTA added.

According to PTA the IP telephony market grew about 75 per cent in the second quarter of this year to $728 million, up from $414.7 million the same quarter last year. The authority quoted figures that international VOIP increased by 35 per cent from 2003 to 2004.

Many operators around the globe were using VOIP to carry part of their international traffic in 2004. The total number of fixed-line VOIP subscribers (broadband) had reached nearly 160 million at the end of the 2004. Broadband Internet subscribers represented approximately 2.5 percent of the world's population, and 38 per cent of all Internet subscribers worldwide in 2004.

The PTA said that transition from circuit switching to next generation network has already invaded the market and it is a matter of time when end to end IP deployment hits the market. The PTA observed that the installation of WiMAX is already underway by other operators. Pakistan market has reached a stage where regulatory approach needs immediate adjustment to take care of the emerging telecom scenario for the growth of the market before events overtake the actions and regulatory adjustments are made to follow the market instead of guiding them where customers opt for the services without having legal protections. It can only be guaranteed through a proper and effective regulatory arrangement taking into consideration market forces and customer rights and balancing the two in an equitable and fair manner, PTA added.

The authority said that PTA would create a fair regulatory regime to promote investment, encourage competition, protect consumer interest and ensure high quality information and communication technology services.

The authority stated that the use of Net2phone and other such VOIP devices will be allowed, provided these VOIP providers enter into a partnership with a holder of an LDI License and such services are provided under the name of the

PTA Licensee. Importers of VOIP adapters (IP to telephone line) or IP phones must produce a valid PTA license and appropriate Type Approval from PTA. While seeking comments from the stakeholders, the PTA said that it would actively monitor and assess IP Telephony regulatory developments and experiences worldwide, with special attention to benchmarking countries, on an ongoing basis.

TeleCard in talks to sell majority shares

Mustafa Rana — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 14:23:34 GMT

Consolidation of the Industry is yet again evident.

------------

Posted by 'The News'

By Imran Ayub

KARACHI: Asia's one of the fastest growing telecommunication companies is eying Pakistan as it is in advanced talks with the country's biggest payphone company to acquire majority shares. Industry sources expect the deal may attract over $90 million.

Sources said the Asian company was likely to strike a deal with TeleCard ñ one of the few payphone companies in Pakistan ñ which had planned to sell its majority shares. "The two sides have been in talks for the last several weeks," said a source privy to the development. "It may take a month to close the deal but initial talks suggest that more than 55 per cent shares' sale was discussed between the two sides."

He said the exact value of the stake sale would be announced once the deal was finalised but estimates suggested that it could be worth more than $90 million. However, he added, the number of shares to be sold would determine the deal's value. "If an agreement is struck on divestment of 55 per cent shares or a little more than that, the deal is likely to be worth around $90 million or more," added the source.

The country has attracted foreign telecom companies in recent months as three groups acquire majority stakes in local companies. First, Qatar Telecom stretched its wings to Pakistan and is in final talks to acquire Burraq Telecom's nationwide and international telephone networks at $30 million.

Egypt's Orascom Telecom ñ parent company of the largest cellular operator Mobilink ñ finalised a deal with DVCOM, the licensed LDI (long distance and international) and limited mobility telecom operator.

Besides these, Oman Telecom reached an agreement to buy a majority stake in local cable and fixed wireless service provider WorldCall at an estimated $171 million. Sources said TeleCard was initially interested in offering its minority stake and launched talks with several foreign groups but finally managed to attract the Asian company.

"The company is in talks with that (Asian) firm," a company source confirmed but requested not to name the Asian telecom concern. "It is premature to give a timeframe and value of the deal but these are expected to be finalised sometime next month."

Currently, TeleCard provides payphone and WLL (wireless local loop) services and also has an ISP (Internet service provider). "The company aims to become the most technologically advanced integrated telecom solution provider of the country," he added.

"The company has successfully launched WLL service (GO CDMA) based on CDMA2000 1X technology that provides a unique combination of voice and data/Internet for the first time in Pakistan," he added.

The telecom sector has attracted substantial foreign investment during the last three years with main focus on cellular service. However, industry players believe it is high time that reputed international telecom operators capitalise on the opportunities, particularly in rural areas.

Telecommunications attracted $1.41 billion foreign direct investment during the first nine months (July-March) of 2006-07, a jump of 34 per cent, remaining at the top among all other sectors.

Google Pushes for Rules to Aid Wireless Plans

Mustafa Rana — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 18:51:49 GMT

This isn't going to further endear Google with the current telecoms establishment...

NewYork Times

If Googlesucceeds with federal regulators, it could change the way millions of Americans use their cell phones and how they connect to the Internet on their wireless devices.

In the Internet giant's view of the future, consumers would buy a wireless phone at a store, but instead of being forced to use a specific carrier, they would be free to pick any carrier they wanted. Instead of the wireless carrier choosing what software goes on their phones, users would be free to put any software they want on it.

Google believes that the cost of voice calls and data connections to the Internet may be partly subsidized by advertisements brought to users by Google's powerful online advertising machine.

There might even be a Google phone.

That vision, according to several analysts, is the reason Google said yesterday that it would bid upward of $4.6 billion for a swath of the nation's airwaves, which are set to be auctioned by the federal government next year - as long as certain conditions are met.

But Google's efforts to position itself on the side of the consumer are also part of a fierce lobbying battle that pits it and other tech companies against wireless carriers, who oppose conditions that Google wants to set on the winners of the auction. VerizonWireless has called the conditions "corporate welfare for Google." And AT&Trejected Google's latest effort, calling it an "all or nothing ultimatum." The Federal Communications Commission chairman, Kevin Martin, has come out squarely against two of Google's four proposed conditions.

The F.C.C.'s rules governing the auction could shape the landscape for the next generation of mobile telephones and wireless Internet use.

"When you go to Best Buyto buy a TV, they don't ask whether you have cable or satellite," said Blair Levin, a former F.C.C. official who is now an analyst at Stifel Nicolaus & Company. "When you buy a computer, they don't ask what kind of Internet service you have, and the computer can run any application or service. That doesn't exist in the wireless world. That's where Google wants to go with this auction."

Google has already invested millions of dollars in mobile phone technology, in part, to develop a comprehensive set of software for mobile devices that goes well beyond the mobile search and map services it already offers. Rumors about a Google phone that would provide easy access to the company's mobile services have been persistent.

The company has been characteristically circumspect about its mobile plans, and just this week, Eric E. Schmidt, Google's chief executive, deflected questions from an analyst about plans for a mobile phone. "We have looked pretty carefully at wireless and are thinking about what we want to do there," Mr. Schmidt said.

But Mr. Schmidt stressed the importance to Google of a network where anyone could plug in any device and have access to the full abilities of the Internet. In such an environment, Mr. Schmidt noted, mobile phone users would become significant consumers of online advertising, Google's core business.

Google fears that some of its mobile efforts could be thwarted - or prove less lucrative - if a handful of cell phone carriers continue to dominate the wireless Internet world and retain the power to determine what services and applications run on their networks. Google's set of proposed rules would have the F.C.C. require that any devices and any application could be connected to the wireless network using the auctioned spectrum. Further, they would require that whoever wins the spectrum make a portion of it available to resellers on a wholesale basis, which Google and other technology companies believe is necessary to promote broadband competition.

"I want people to have the choice to use our service," said Chris Sacca, head of special initiatives at Google. "That is something that I fear won't exist in this space."

Even if Google's service was not blocked outright, an open network would be favorable to Google's business, as the company would not have to contract with carriers to insert ads into the service, said Paul Kedrosky, executive director of the William J. von Liebig Center for Entrepreneurism and Technology Advancement at the University of California, San Diego.

So what would Google do if its conditions were put in place and it won the auction?

Mr. Sacca said that Google was not likely to build a wireless network or get into the Internet service business itself. "We could offer it to anyone who wants to collaborate with us who embraces our principles of openness," Mr. Sacca said.

The licenses, considered the beach-front property on the electromagnetic spectrum, are in the 700 megahertz band of radio frequencies, which are being surrendered by television stations as they convert to digital broadcast. The auction, to be held early next year, is expected to raise more than $10 billion in revenue for the government.

The commission has been heavily lobbied in recent months about crafting auction rules. The commission is expected to issue the rules in the coming weeks. Any rules can be adopted only by a majority of the five commissioners.

Mr. Martin's draft proposal contains some elements of Google's plan but not others. It proposed, among other things, that about one-third of the spectrum being auctioned be available for an "open network" that could be used by any mobile device or service. It also proposed no limits on the software applications used over that network.

"We're trying to ensure that we develop a wireless broadband provider who has a more open platform," he said in an interview yesterday.

He said he wanted the terms of the auction set so the winners invest in upgrading wireless networks. But he also emphasized that his proposed rules would permit the winners to resell spectrum.

"If you want to be the winner of the auction, we are proposing open handsets and open applications," he said. "If you win, you can be a wholesale supplier. Nothing prevents that."

On Thursday, AT&T said it represented a fair compromise. But yesterday, after Google said the Mr. Martin's proposal didn't go far enough, AT&T reacted swiftly.

"This is an attempt to pressure the U.S. government to turn the auction process on its head by ensuring only a few, if any, bidders will compete with Google," said James W. Cicconi, a senior executive vice president at AT&T, in a statement. "If Google is serious about introducing a competing business model into the wireless industry, Chairman Martin's compromise proposal allows them to bid in the auction, win the spectrum, and then implement every one of the conditions they seek."

Verizon was similarly critical. "Google's filing urges the F.C.C. to adopt rules that force all bidders to implement Google's business plan - which would reduce the incentives for other players to bid," said Thomas J. Tauke, Verizon's executive vice president of public affairs, policy and communications, in a statement.

At a Congressional hearing next Tuesday, Mr. Martin is expected to testify about the auction and the proposed rules.

Some commission officials and telephone industry executives have expressed concern that Google was seeking the imposition of a wholesale requirement so that it could purposefully lose the auction, but still have access to a network at lower cost.

Mr. Levin, the former F.C.C. official, suggested that Google's latest move might simply be an effort to put pressure on the commission. "There is a significant difference between saying you are going to bid and actually bidding," Mr. Levin said.

"Lots of people in the context of an auction policy make promises," he said. "Whether they follow through is a different matter."

iPhone Could Impact the Mobile Video Market - report

Mustafa Rana — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 19:24:51 GMT

According to research conducted by new media research firm, Interpret the iPhone has the potential to be a catalyst for growth in mobile video usage, among both iPhone owners and owners of regular cell phones. Despite owning their new iPhones for a short period of time, 63% of iPhone owners have already used the widescreen-enabled device to watch video (compared to only 28% of regular cell phone owners). Half of iPhone owners (51%) have watched a YouTube video on their phone, while 46% have watched a music video, 34% watched the news, and 32% have already watched a movie trailer.

The study shows that it's not the consumers who are different, it's the iPhone ? prior to buying the iPhone, few owners had watched video on their cell phone (only 17% had seen YouTube clips, 21% had watched a music video, 16% had seen the news, and only 15% had watched a movie trailer on a phone).

"Apple has already made a name for itself as a top destination for music and video on-the-go, and consumers expect the iPhone to deliver on that reputation," said Jason Kramer, Chief Strategy Officer, Interpret. "Consumers want to watch video on their cell phones, but they have high expectations for the experience. The iPhone shows consumers that the potential is there to meet or exceed their expectations for mobile video."

The study also shows how the iPhone could have a "halo effect" for mobile video, even among non-owners.

Only 28% of non-iPhone owners have ever watched video on their cell phone, and interest in watching video on their current phone is not strong. One-quarter or fewer are interested in watching music videos (25%), TV shows (25%), movies (24%) or video clips like on YouTube (24%). However, after seeing a 2-minute video about watching video on the iPhone, nearly three-quarters (73%) of non-owners say they are interested in watching video on an iPhone, and 42% say they are "extremely" or "very" interested. Further, widescreen video is a compelling selling point for the iPhone ? half (50%) of non-owners who are open to buying the device say that seeing the iPhone's video capabilities makes them more interested in buying one.

"What's surprising is how wide open the market for mobile video is right now," added Kramer. "The iPhone is definitely raising consumer awareness, but there are other players to watch, like Verizon and LG's VX9400 Mobile TV phone. Consumers are remarkably open to who delivers mobile content to them." A majority of both iPhone owners and non-owners consider carriers, broadcast and cable networks, movie studios, and Internet portals appropriate sources for mobile video. iPhone owners and non-owners have some different expectations as to who will provide their mobile entertainment ? 73% of iPhone users expect to get it from iTunes (compared to 43% of non-owners), and 46% of non-owners expect to get it from their cable or satellite company (compared to 37% of iPhone owners).

According to the survey, 66% of iPhone owners and 73% of non-owners said they prefer to watch content for free, with ads. One-third of iPhone owners (34%) would consider a monthly subscription model (compared to only 21% of non-owners) and 28% would consider pay-per-download (compared to only 20% of non-owners).

"In order to fully capitalize on the opportunity for mobile video, Apple and its competitors will need to move beyond a pay-per-download business model," said Michael Dowling, Interpret's CEO. "Consumers are used to an ad-supported model for video, and are open to a wide range of advertising if companies like Apple can deliver on the user experience."

Study Methodology

The survey was conducted online among a representative sample of 1,000 cell phone users, including 200 iPhone owners and 800 non-owners.

Source

Interesting Ad Campaign by Juniper !!

Mustafa Rana — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 19:18:34 GMT

I just couldn't resist posting this off-topic !!!

Taking the pulse of today's WiMAX networks

Mustafa Rana — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 19:01:46 GMT

Source: http://www.wimax-vision.com/newt/l/wimaxvision/viewarticle.html?artid=20017442220

Wireless ISPs make the most money from WiMAX services, WiMAX networks mostly emulate standard broadband speeds and pricing, WiMAX BTS support fewer CPE than anticipated; some key research findings WiMAX consultancy Maravedis revealed in a briefing last week.

Maravedis founder and CEO Adlane Fellah also said that WiMAX operators are generating attractive ARPU numbers although deployments remain modest and dominated by business DSL last mile connectivity.

"What is important is that many of the operators we have spoken to are profitable today," he said. "WiMAX ARPU is very attractive, it is three times higher than mobile ARPU for residential customers". Maravedis reported an average monthly residential ARPU of $40.76, and a monthly business ARPU of $145.54.

"A key finding is that Wireless ISPs are making the most money in WiMAX," said Fellah. "They have the most experience creating fixed WiMAX networks and have everything to lose if WiMAX doesn't do the job."

Fellah was surprised that mobile operators were unable to make good money. "Maybe they are afraid they will cannibalise their mobile service, or are still in trials and evaluations. We believe this will change when mobile WiMAX comes into play," he suggested.

Maravedis' numbers are not representative of the whole WiMAX industry. They refer to over 110 WiMAX or pre-WiMAX operator profiles that the firm has assembled in its WiMAXCounts database, perhaps half of the industry total but including most of the major players in the industry.

Maravedis has defined its research on the basis of service provision rather than technology provision. Therefore, for the purposes of the study, Maravedis includes pre-WiMAX certified and proprietary networks that are slated to migrate to WiMAX.

Over half of the deployments Maravedis studied remain proprietary, with 802.16d deployments making up another 36 per cent and 802.16e only 12 per cent of deployments.

Barring WiBro in Korea, all deployments are for fixed or portable services with 50 per cent of CPEs shipped indoor CPEs and 50 per cent outdoor units.

Reporting on figures up to the end of the first quarter 2007, Maravedis documented 950,000 broadband wireless/WiMAX subscribers worldwide.

"The US, Australia and Spain are the top three countries with regards to WiMAX subscribers," reported Fellah. "Clearwire has 232,000, Unwired Australia 63,500, Iberbanda 45,000 and Banda Ancha 43,000 subscribers."

Almost a quarter of all WiMAX subscribers are Clearwire subscribers, which skews all of the market metrics.

For example, although both Asia Pacific and Europe boast far more WiMAX deployments by region, Clearwire's presence means that North America has far more subscribers than any other region.

Similarly, although the raw data shows a 60-40 split between residential users and business users, take Clearwire out of the equation and the current landscape is dominated by business adopters.

Looking ahead, however, Maravedis expects the residential share of the market to increase dramatically to 90% by 2012 as mobile WiMAX comes online and WiMAX gets embedded in consumer devices.

A major challenge, however, will be to maintain ARPUs while prices and ARPUs in the mobile phone industry are in decline.

In an interesting insight into WiMAX network topography, Fellah reported that WiMAX subscriber CPE density per base station varied from a high of 159 in North America to a low of 74 in Asia Pacific.

"The bottom line is that these figures are low compared with vendors' data sheets. They are too low for operators to make a lot of money. We believe the density will go up when the technology becomes more affordable and mobile, maybe into the hundreds," he said.

As for network speeds, Maravedis found that WiMAX operators are offering: "basic broadband connectivity, they are not differentiating with high speeds, portability and better customer service may be more important."

For residential customers average WiMAX speeds were 1632Kbps downstream, 952Kbps upstream, for business users 2074Kbps downstream and 1795Kbps upstream.

Again, Clearwire's dominant presence probably bumps up the averages.

Maravedis found the vast majority of services were using broadband speeds in the range 256Kbps-780Kbps, upstream and downstream, although nearly a quarter of services for business users were offering speeds of 2Mbps and above (see figures below).

Residential Users			Business Users
256-780Kbps	780Kbps-2Mbps	2Mbps+	256-780Kbps	780Kbps-2Mbps	2Mbps+
Up Down	Up Down	Up Down	Up Down	Up Down	Up Down
68% 50%	26% 33%	6% 17%	52% 41%	32% 35%	16% 24%

Source: Maravedis

Fellah concluded the briefing by looking ahead, dismissing the suggestion that 802.16d was obsolete and predicting a situation where "we will see hybrid networks with proprietary and WiMAX certified networks, and also hybrid 802.16d-2004 and 802.16e-2005 networks together."

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WiMAX Business users generate higher ARPU

Mustafa Rana — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 11:00:34 GMT

According to a study published by Maravedis in the first half of 2007, WiMAX service revenues in 2006 reached $322 million. In terms of ARPU, Asia Pacific had the lowest recorded with just $30.45 for residential users, despite the fact that operators there offer higher speeds compared to other regions.

Table 1 - WiMAX ARPU - residential and business users - 2006

User type	ARPU ($)
Residential	40.8
Business	145.5

(Source: BuddeComm based on Maravedis, 2007)

The global average of corporate clients using WiMAX is 42%, and corporate clients generate a higher ARPU than residential users. However Maravedis forecasts that residential users will account for around 90% of the global market in 2012.

Broadband prices per megabit around the world

Mustafa Rana — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 11:17:45 GMT

Dirk van der Woude put together a chart of the average monthly price per Mbps paid by people in Asia and Europe (see below) relying on data from the Telegraph and Bruno Giussani's blog post on the same subject.

Bruno says: Clearly there is not a single price for broadband in a country, so what each of you individually pay is not necessarily in contradiction with an average, a median, or any other criteria they may have adopted. What I found interesting in the ranking, and that's why I posted it and added the data about Asia (which were gathered by an individual blogger) is not the exact value of the MBPS in each country: it's the amazing range. Switzerland pays 6 times the Swedish price, and 12 times the Korean price. So what matters here really is not the exact monetary value, but the spread, which doesn't seem to have a specific correlation with affluence or other country wealth measures -- and therefore is likely correlated to tech and market openness/competitiveness differences.

Tee Emmshared the information at Telecom Grid Pakistan.

PTCL's announcement on Internet Bandwidth Price Reductions

Mustafa Rana — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 17:05:16 GMT

PTCL has recently updated its tariffs for Internet bandwidth that most of the Internet Service Providers in Pakistan subscribe to. The new rates reflect a 37% reduction at Karachi & ~25% at up-country. A transit Internet capacity of and E1 now costs $1,000 per month ($500/mb). The new rate table is:

S. No.	Speed	Charges (US$) Per Month At Karachi	Charges US$) Per Month other than Karachi
1	2 Mbps	1,000	1,200
2	45 Mbps	15,000	18,000
3	155 Mbps	30,000	36,000

PTCL's charge per Local Loop has also been reduced from Rs.217 (US$ 3.6)/Month to Rs. 150 (US$ 2.5)/Month.

Tee Emm has posted an Interesting article here.

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Telenor Pakistan Provides GSM Coverage to World's Highest Polo Pitch

Mustafa Rana — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 13:14:00 GMT

Telenor Pakistan says that it has launched GSM coverage in Pakistan's "Northern Areas", and is currently the only operator in much of the region.

Commenting on Telenor Pakistan's service at the highest polo ground in the world Chief Marketing Officer Telenor Pakistan Sigvart Voss Eriksen said "Arrangements for the Telenor Shandur Polo Festival 2007 are in full swing. As Telenor Pakistan is the official sponsor of the event, which will be held from July 7 to 9 in Shandur, we will make every effort to ensure that visitors coming to the event are able to meet all their telecommunication needs through our network."

The Telenor Shandur Polo Festival is held in the Shandur Pass, approximately 11,000ft above sea level

Telenor Pakistan is the first, and at many places, the only cellular network providing GSM services in the Northern Areas, despite very challenging weather conditions and terrain. Many of the Telenor cell-sites are connected to the rest of the country via satellite.

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ISOC Fellowship to the IETF

Mustafa Rana — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 11:44:05 GMT

Building Opportunity in the Developing World

In its long tradition of helping build technical capacity in less developed countries, ISOC has launched a new program to facilitate participation in the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) by technologists from developing regions.

The ISOC Fellowship to the IETF covers the cost of attending an IETF meeting for the selected Fellows and pairs each with an IETF veteran who serves as their meeting mentor.
More details at

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SingTel buys 30% of Warid for USD758 Million

Mustafa Rana — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 14:47:00 GMT

SingTel has agreed to buy a 30% stake in Warid Telecom, Pakistan's third largest cellco by subscribers, for USD758 million. The deal gives Warid, which is owned by UAE-based Abu Dhabi Group, an enterprise value of USD2.9 billion, SingTel said in a statement A source in the Pakistani company had said earlier that SingTel was set to buy the stake. The 30% holding will consist of new and existing shares, in equal proportions, SingTel said. Industry sources said SingTel beat rivals MTN of South Africa and Britain's Vodafone for the Warid stake.

Etisalat Misr: a million customers in 50 days

Mustafa Rana — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 16:46:00 GMT

Source: Telegeography

Etisalat Misr has celebrated its first 50 days of operation, and has announced that it has signed up close to a million customers already. Etisalat launched Egypt�??s third wireless network in May, becoming the country�??s first 3G and 3.5G provider.

Etisalat Misr is 66%-owned by UAE-based Etisalat, with the remainder split between domestic partners including Egypt Post, National Bank of Egypt and Commercial International Bank (Egypt). The firm has committed to selling a stake of around 30% via a public offering; no schedule for the sale has been announced, although it is unlikely to occur before 2009. The company is aiming to have signed up ten million subscribers by 2010.

SingTel eyes 30% stake in Warid

Mustafa Rana — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 09:38:28 GMT

Source: Telegeography

According to the Financial Times, SingTel is close to securing a 30% stake in Pakistani cellco Warid Telecom, in a deal that would value the country�??s third-largest mobile operator at USD1 billion. Citing unidentified people familiar with the situation, the FT said SingTel had emerged as a strong favourite to buy the stake, ahead of MTN and Vodafone. �??A deal between SingTel and Warid could be signed as early as next month,�?? the newspaper quoted one of its sources as saying.

Warid is owned by the private Abu Dhabi Group, which is one of the largest foreign investor groups in Pakistan and owns Bank Alfalah and Wateen Telecom. Warid owns wireless and broadband operations in Bangladesh and Uganda.

Orascom Telecom buys 11% of Mobilink for USD290 million

Mustafa Rana — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 09:37:05 GMT

Source: Telegeography

Orascom Telecom Holdings has confirmed it has purchased an 11.3% indirect stake in its Pakistani GSM operation, Pakistan Telecommunications Company (Mobilink), for USD290 million from Saif Telecom. The company said it now owns 100% of the cellco, through direct stakes held by its wholly owned subsidiaries. Orascom said it will fund the acquisition with proceeds from the USD750 million senior notes issuance that closed in February.

At the end of April 2007 Mobilink claimed 25.21 million subscribers from a total 58.39 million wireless users across the country, according to figures compiled by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).

APNIC 24 / SANOG 10 Fellowships

Mustafa Rana — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 11:37:09 GMT

The 24th APNIC Open Policy Meeting will be held with SANOG 10 in Delhi, India, from 29 August - 7 September 2007. The APNIC meeting offers an opportunity to participate in activities and processes that are critical for managing Internet resources in the Asia Pacific region and globally. APNIC and SANOG are offering fellowships to provide opportunities for people in developing countries to attend and participate in the meeting.

You can apply for a fellowship using by completing the online application by 30 June 2007: here

Enroll In Pakistan Telecom Grid

Mustafa Rana — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 04:39:37 GMT

If you enjoy reading local technology blogs like this one (or this, or this, or this, or this, or this) and enjoy contributing information and commentary on the same, we are building up a mailing group and we are calling it Pakistan Telecom Grid. The group membership is open to all and other blog authors (like Babar, Tariq and Sajjad and anyone else who care to join) will be upgraded as managers so that we�??ve a collective stewardship of the collection.

About the group: An informal grid of Telecommunication and Network Services professionals and insiders of Pakistan. Inspired from the fact that the collective authors and respective audience of the relatively few technology blogs that relate to Pakistan can be team up as a virtual pool of guys with an interested in communications technologies. This assembly can be used to enhance social interaction between the members, get-together events, private discussions, rumor sharing and rumor milling etc.

Join in now.

Ericsson signs CMPak contract

Mustafa Rana — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 09:34:11 GMT

Friday, 1 June 2007

Ericsson has inked a contract with China Mobile Pakistan (CMPak) to expand the cellco�??s GSM network through the southern part of the country. Under the terms of the project - which is due to commence this year - the vendor will provide a complete GSM network to extend coverage to 312 cities in the densely populated Sindh and Balochistan regions. Financial details of the project are unknown.

Source: Telegeography

COMVU: Live Video from Mobile Phone to Broadcast Control Center Debuts at NAB 2007

Mustafa Rana — Wed, 30 May 2007 10:02:18 GMT

Just wanted to share this information with all of you … ComVu’s ‘PocketCaster’ has a GREAT potential to penetrate almost all level of users who have access to a Cell Phone with a Camera & an Internet Connection (GPRS, Edge, EVDO/3G etc).

It supports Live Webcast to a Blog/YouTube & creates an archieve to be downloaded / Stored for later use.

I test the application using a Nokia E50 & a Nokia N95 using GPRS & Edge over Mobilink & Warid networks. It’s just amazing to see the Technological Advancements & how they can be put to positive use.

I would surely recommend to give it a test & amaze yourself

Read the following New’s item also

http://www.comvu.com/comvu/presscenter/News042407.htm

Warid to sell off minority stake?

Mustafa Rana — Mon, 21 May 2007 09:42:16 GMT

Monday, 21 May 2007

According to industry sources, Pakistan�??s third largest cellco by subscribers, Warid Telecom, is in talks with several foreign firms, including SingTel, to sell a minority stake. �??Warid has been approached by several international telecom companies over the last six or eight months, including those from the Far East, the Middle East and Europe,�?? said a source close to the company, before adding, �??But no final decision has been taken as yet. The picture will become clear by July or August.�?? The operator is currently owned by the Abu Dhabi Group of the United Arab Emirates.

Source : Telegeography

Juniper�??s program to convert Cisco trained engineers to Junos

Mustafa Rana — Mon, 21 May 2007 05:14:53 GMT

JUNOS Enterprise Routing Certification Fast Track Program

The JUNOS Enterprise Routing Certification Fast Track program is specifically designed to enable Cisco routing certified professionals (CCP)-Cisco Certified Networking Associates (CCNA), Cisco Certified Networking Professionals (CCNP), and Cisco Certified Internetworking Engineers (CCIE)-to become Juniper Networks JUNOS-certified. Between May and December 2007, Juniper Networks will fast track them to maximize their education in the shortest amount of time-at no cost to them.

Networking professionals who achieve multiple certifications are now in greater demand than ever, commanding higher salaries and adding more value to high-end enterprises. Because of this increased need, we are pleased to provide them with this fast tracked way to become Juniper Networks JUNOS-certified. Normally, this certification program would cost them several thousand dollars, so we encourage them to take advantage of this opportunity now.

JUNOS
Enterprise Routing Certification Fast Track Web PortalThe JUNOS Enterprise Routing Certification Fast Track Web Portal contains all the Juniper Networks Education Services courseware, lab guides and diagrams, technical manuals, and the tools the CCP needs to become Juniper Networks JUNOS-certified. Specifically, they have access to the following materials:

    �?� JUNOS as a Second Language (JSL) eLearning course
    �?� Operating Juniper Networks Routers in the Enterprise (OJRE) student and lab guides
    �?� Advanced Juniper Networks Routing in the Enterprise (AJRE) student and lab guides
    �?� Hardware and software technical documentation
    �?� Basic installation eLearning courses
    �?� JNCIA-ER preassessment online exam

The JUNOS
Enterprise Routing Certification Fast Track Program Process

�?� Step 1: Juniper Networks or J-Partner CAM/SE gives a known CCP a JUNOS Enterprise Routing Certification Fast Track Web Portal Access Card (either a physical card or an e-mail version). The access card contains the Web address for the JUNOS Enterprise Routing Certification Fast Track Web Portal. �?� Step 2: The CCP accesses the JUNOS Enterprise Routing Certification Fast Track Web Portal authorization page.�?� Step 3: The CCP completes the registration page and advances to the curriculum page to complete the following activities:
     �?� Take the JSL eLearning Course.
     �?� Study the OJRE course material and the JNCIA-ER exam objectives.
     �?� Review the hardware and software technical documentation and the eLearning installation courses as needed. �?� Step 4: The CCP completes the Juniper Networks Certified Internet Associate-Enterprise Routing (JNCIA-ER) online preassessment exam. Once he/she passes the preassessment exam, he/she will receive a voucher to take the practical exam at any Prometric
Testing
Center worldwide - at not cost to them.�?� Step 5: After successfully completing the JNCIA-ER exam, the CCP will receive another voucher to take the Juniper Networks Certified Internet Specialist-Enterprise Routing (JNCIS-ER) exam at anyPrometric
Testing
Center worldwide-again at no cost to them! Formore information about the Prometric Testing Centers, please go to http://www.prometric.com

Worldwide 3G Subscribers Base will Grow 56% Annually from 2006 to 2010

Mustafa Rana — Tue, 15 May 2007 10:25:34 GMT

Source: http://www.cellular-news.com/story/23725.php

The worldwide 3G subscribers base will grow at a CAGR of 55.93% for the period spanning from 2006 to 2010, where major share is contributed by Asia-Pacific regions, according to the latest research from RNCOS.

Among its key findings include:

CDMA2000 and WCDMA market is forecasted to account for 41% of the total worldwide wireless market by 2010.
WLAN industry is set for wider acceptance across all industry segments. Particularly, the high growth will come from WLAN home applications.
The standard 802.11n, anticipated to be formulated by 2007, will create exceptional uptake of technology as it has improved speed and security features.
China presents the major opportunity area, where WLAN customers will increase as prices of WLAN equipment are seeing downward trend.
The Indian hotspot market is on the cusp of a period of sustained growth. There are clear opportunities for full-fledged billing, PIN/security administration for hotspot users, and roaming solutions. Also, a more appropriate model around the hotspot (something similar to the Indian STD/ISD PCO or long-distance public calling office) needs to be developed making it a more attractive proposition to run a franchise or manage one.
Consumer Electronics and Mobile phones, IT Security market will present new growth opportunities for WLAN industry.

�??Joost�?? announces Friend Invites!!!

Mustafa Rana — Mon, 07 May 2007 12:29:14 GMT

Here’s what they say about ‘Joost’

Try out Joost beta �?? Now For Friends
How to get an invite?

The new way of watching TV

All the things you love about TV, fused with the interactive power of the internet �?? just the way you want it. Enjoy the ride!

If you are interested in an Invite - Leave a comment with a ‘valid’ email address & your name & I’ll send an Invite your way. Enjoy !!

Pakistani government may stop mobile video service

Mustafa Rana — Sat, 05 May 2007 11:58:45 GMT

By Zamir Haider
Staff Writer, CNET News.com

Published: May 4, 2007, 6:00 PM PDT

The first cellular phone company to offer television on mobile in Pakistan faces government objections. Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), which regulates radio and TV in Pakistan, has served a notice to Telenor, a Norwegian telecommunications company, that it can’t offer a mobile TV service in the country without a license. According to the news report carried by the leading English daily of Pakistan, Dawn, Telenor has already sold more than 300 TV connections.

The controversy started after Telenor started offering the service on April 28. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority gave Telenor a license to operate a mobile phone service four years earlier, but it’s not clear whether that license covered TV. Telenor believes it does, but PEMRA disagrees. According to the Dawn report, Telenor should not have offered its mobile TV service to its subscribers without a formal license from PEMRA.

WiMAX in notebooks in 2008: Intel

Mustafa Rana — Fri, 04 May 2007 08:56:09 GMT

Intel will add WiMAX to notebooks in 2008, the chip giant told delegates at the Intel Developer Forum in Beijing. WiMAX Vision spoke to Intel’s Christian Stavig, manager, WiMAX programme office, about his company’s WiMAX roadmap.

Source: http://www.wimax-vision.com/newt/l/wimaxvision/viewarticle.html?artid=20017419207

In a technology demonstration at the Developer Forum, David Perlmutter, Intel Senior Vice President and General Manager, Mobility Group, showcased for the first time Intel’s mobile WiMAX with MIMO solution integrated into a concept Centrino-based notebook.

An evolution of its Santa Rosa processor, Intel’s “Montevina” processor will be available in the latter half of 2008. It will contain 40 per cent smaller components making it “ideal for mini- and sub-notebooks,” Intel said in a statement.

(more…)

Portability will be major WiMAX revenue generator by 2012

Mustafa Rana — Fri, 04 May 2007 08:52:34 GMT

The increased take-up of portable and mobile WiMAX services will mean that, starting in 2009, growth in revenues from non-fixed WiMAX services will outstrip growth in revenues from fixed WiMAX services, according to a new report from Informa Telecoms & Media.

The report-’WiMAX Broadband Convergence: Emerging Fixed, Portable & Mobile Revenue Opportunities’-also says that non-fixed-service revenues will account for almost 80% of total WiMAX service revenues by 2012.

As the first portable WiMAX devices arrive, in the form of PC cards and notebook computers, portable revenues will start to increase strongly and will provide almost half of total revenues by 2012, the report says.

Mobile devices will follow, according to the report, with revenues from mobile users growing even faster, albeit from a small base, to reach 30% of total revenues by 2012, showing the value that will be placed on the ease of use and flexibility provided by a variety of device form factors.

The largest element of WiMAX revenues worldwide will be access charges, growing to US$17 billion in 2012, Informa’s report says. Value-added services for both the consumer and business sectors are forecast to grow significantly faster, reaching about 30% of total revenues in 2012, while advertising is expected to start later but show the fastest growth of the three revenue streams, reaching just under 13% of the total by the end of the forecast period.

WiMAX revenues by service type, 2007-2012 (US$bn)

	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012
Fixed	1.80	2.64	3.65	4.46	5.22	6.01
Portable	0.22	1.06	2.54	4.74	7.57	11.16
Mobile	0.01	0.17	0.66	1.74	3.72	7.16
Global total	2.04	3.86	6.86	10.94	16.51	24.33

Source: Informa Telecoms&Media “The assumption is that WiMAX operators will continue to charge flat-rate fees, similar to wired broadband fees, albeit with usage limits,” says Mike Roberts, a principal analyst at Informa. “This is in contrast to the per-megabyte fees charged by some mobile operators.”

(more…)

Global Wireless ARPUs

Mustafa Rana — Fri, 04 May 2007 05:38:24 GMT

New research from TeleGeography�??s Wireless Operator Metrics Research Service reveals that monthly revenue per subscriber (ARPU) is declining globally, but the gap between operators with the world�??s highest and lowest monthly ARPU remains huge. From a data set of more than 130 mobile operators, between September 2005 and September 2006 ARPU fell by an average of 6.4%.

Not surprisingly, providers with higher ARPU tended to be in countries with relatively high incomes�??predominately in Western Europe and the U.S. Surprisingly, tiny BTCI, Turkmenistan�??s dominant mobile operator, topped the rankings, with ARPU of USD83, far ahead of any other operators. At the opposite extreme lies Bangladesh�??s Banglalink, which generated monthly revenues of only USD3.3 per subscriber.

In saturated markets lower voice tariffs and declining minutes of use contribute to the decline in ARPUs, whereas in fast-growing emerging markets the addition of incrementally less wealthy users to the subscriber base is the main cause behind the fall. TeleGeography analyst Mark Gibson commented, �??a trait shared by most high ARPU companies is a low percentage of pre-paid users and high 3G subscriber growth. Growing data revenues are helping these providers to offset declining voice revenue.�??

(more…)

Clearwire receives WiMAX card approval from FCC

Mustafa Rana — Thu, 03 May 2007 05:30:08 GMT

Clearwire Corporation has received final approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for the first WiMAX laptop card. The card will connect to the Clearwire network and is on target to be available during the second half of 2007. Clearwire Chairman and CEO Perry Satterlee said �??The FCC’s approval of our laptop card is a significant milestone in bringing to market a ‘true broadband’ wireless service with a device that facilitates even greater portability than our existing modem permits.�??

Clearwire offers service in 37 metro markets, covering approximately 8.9 million people in more than 350 municipalities in Alaska, California, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Minnesota, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin in the United States, as well as 1.2 million people in Ireland, Belgium and Denmark (under the Clearwire name through Danske Telecom).

Source: Telegeography

Clearwire puts the �??how�?? in WiMAX

Mustafa Rana — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 04:54:04 GMT

This is an Update to my previous Post ‘Intel Sets up WiMAX Ventures with Orascom and Enertel‘

——

Clearwire puts the ‘how’ in WiMAX

WiMAX is getting a bad rap, but Clearwire has a way to make it work

Op-ed By Bill Baker, Network World, 04/06/07

There is a recurring scene in nearly every Star Trek episode where Captain Kirk asks Scotty to give him more power, and Scotty, with his heavy Highlander accent replies: “Captain, I�??m gevin yeah all she�??s got! Any mohrrr and I�??m afrrraid she�??ll blow.”

Scotty�??s famous and often-parodied line just about sums up recent realities about WiMAX.

The recent, much-anticipated IPO by Clearwire and its subsequent and sobering 20% decline only seems to validate that, at least for now, WiMAX gave us “all she had.”

(more…)

Intel Sets up WiMAX Ventures with Orascom and Enertel

Mustafa Rana — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 08:55:15 GMT

This article is from from the June 2006 WiMax report, comment if you have any update on the subject.

—-

Intel Sets up WiMAX Ventures with Orascom and Enertel

Intel Capital, the venture capital investment arm of Intel Corporation, has announced agreements to form WiMAX joint ventures with two firms, Egypt�??s Orascom Telecom and Enertel Holding of the Netherlands. Intel will set up Orascom Telecom WiMAX Limited with Orascom Telecom and Worldmax with Enertel. Both investments are expected to be completed shortly, following the fulfilment of certain conditions and the receipt of various approvals. The telco partners will be the majority shareholders, with Intel as the lead investor. Orascom Telecom WiMAX Ltd will focus its efforts on working with governments and companies throughout the Middle East and parts of Asia to obtain suitable spectrum for the deployment of WiMAX services. The creation of the new firm is the first fruits of Intel�??s Middle East and Turkey capital fund which was set up in November 2005.

(more…)

StarHub joins consortium to build Asia-US submarine cable link

Mustafa Rana — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 08:49:49 GMT

Friday, 27 April 2007

StarHub joins consortium to build Asia-US submarine cable link

Singaporean telecoms firm StarHub has joined a consortium made up of 17 companies �?? including AT&T, India’s Bharti, BT Global Network Services, the Government of Brunei Darussalam, PT Indosat, Telstra, Telkom Indonesia and Telekom Malaysia �?? to build a high-bandwidth optical fibre submarine cable system linking the Southeast Asia region directly to the US. It is estimated the project, called the Asia-America Gateway (AAG), will cost about USD500 million to complete and will be operational by the fourth quarter of 2008. The 20,000km cable system will link ten locations in eight countries across the Asia-Pacific region, namely Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Hong Kong SAR, the Philippines, Guam, Hawaii and the US West Coast. A consortium comprising Alcatel-Lucent and NEC has been awarded the contract to construct the AAG cable system.

Source:http://www.telegeography.com/cu/article.php?article_id=17623&email=html

Broadband subscriptions in Middle East and Africa up 38%, says DSL Forum

Mustafa Rana — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 09:46:32 GMT

Source: http://www.telecomasia.net/article.php?type=article&id_article=4231

Users around the world are using their mobile phones for more and more applications as devices become more sophisticated, so it seemed just a matter of time before a quantum leap was made in the type of content being sent. Now, for better or worse, the age of mobile self-expression and social networking is about to dawn in the mobile world.

(more…)

Is ADSL up to the task?

Mustafa Rana — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 08:33:06 GMT

Is ADSL up to the task?

Apr 11, 2007
By Al Senia