Telecompaper Headlines

Vodafone Germany unveils LTE tariffs, roll-out planning

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:48:00 +0200

(Telecompaper) Vodafone Germany plans to cover more than 1,000 municipalities in Germany with mobile broadband via LTE technology by the beginning of December of this year. The first phase of deployment starts at the end of September with several hundred municipalities in regions, where currently no broadband services are offered. For 2011, Vodafone plans to cover 1,500 municipalities by May and by the end of the year, the operator ensures that no municipalities will be without broadband coverage. The operator also unveiled its LTE tariffs called LTE Zuhause (LTE At Home). Customers can choose between three subscriptions: 7.2 Mbps with 10 GB data included for EUR 39.99 per month; 21.6 Mbps with 15 GB for EUR 49.99 per month and 50 Mbps with 30 GB for EUR 69.99 per month. When the included data is used, the download speeds is automatically reduced to UMTS levels (384 Kbps) until a new month begins. The LTE tariffs cost EUR 10 per month less for existing Vodafone postpaid customers.

Vimpelcom Q2 revenues up 23% on Kyivstar merger

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:57:00 +0200

(Telecompaper) Russia and CIS operator VimpelCom reported second-quarter revenues up 23.1 percent year-on-year to USD 2.64 billion, helped by its merger with Ukraine's Kyivstar. Adjusted OIBDA rose 16 percent to USD 1.26 billion, while net profit fell 52 percent to USD 334.7 million. Kyivstar was acquired from 21 April. On a pro forma basis, the company's revenues were up 8.9 percent and OIBDA rose 0.5 percent from a year earlier, while capex increased 89 percent to USD 445.3 million and operating cash flow was up 9 percent to USD 1.03 billion. On an organic basis, VimpelCom said it had a strong quarter, with Russia reporting record revenues in rubles and other markets benefiting from the economic recovery.

Samsung launches Galaxy Tab

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:30:00 +0200

(Telecompaper) Samsung Electronics has launched its Android-based tablet PC, the Samsung Galaxy Tab, at the Ifa trade show in Berlin. The tablet will be available from mid-September in Europe, and in other markets including Korea and the US in the coming months. Vodafone said it will offer the device from October in its European markets and through several parter networks. The 380g Galaxy Tab features a 7-inch touch screen, Cortex A8 1GHz processor, Android 2.2 with Adobe Flash Player 10.1, and access to Samsung's new Media Hub for music, video and e-book downloads. It comes with HSPA, 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 3.0 connectivity, includes 16 or 32GB internal memory plus a card slot for up to another 32GB, and can operate as a deskptop speakerphone or mobile phone with a Bluetooth headset. Users have a front-facing camera for video calls and 3 megapixel back camera for taking still photos and video. The content services will include a Readers Hub with Samsung's e-reading application and access to a digital library, as well as a Media Hub for films and videos and Music Hub for a wide range of music tracks. The device includes a 4,000mAh battery, which Samsung says can support up to seven hours of video playback.

Apple confirms September launch for Apple TV

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 08:54:00 +0200

(Telecompaper) Apple confirmed the launch of its new Apple TV device for later this month. The media player with HDMI and Wi-Fi will allow users to stream online movies and TV series as well as content from their PCs to a HD TV. Apple TV will sell for USD 99. Users can buy TV episodes and films from iTunes to stream over the Apple TV. In the US, they can also rent movies and TV series from Netflix and TV shows from the US networks ABC, ABC Family, Fox, Disney Channel and BBC America for USD 0.99 each. Additional content is available YouTube, Flickr and MobileMe. Apple TV works with PCs and Macs and comes with a remote control. Users can also download an app to their iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch to control the device. Apple also announced iTunes 10 with Ping, an update to add social networking features to iTunes. Ping users can set up a profile to share music and comments with friends, follow artists and concert listings, and find recommended content. It works both on a computer and an iPod or iPhone.

Sony unveils VoD, cloud music services

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 07:43:00 +0200

(Telecompaper) Sony is expanding its video-on-demand service to Europe. The Video On Demand powered by Qriocity service has been available in the US since April and will launch this autumn in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK. Available from Sony's 2010 models of Bravia connected TVs and Blu-ray players, the VoD service offers film rentals from 20th Century Fox, Lionsgate, MGMa, NBC Universal, Paramount, Sony Pictures, Disney and Warner Bros, as well as content from top local studios. Sony also announced plans to introduce 'Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity', a cloud-based digital music service. Available by year's end, the service will give users access to "millions" of songs, stored and synchronized through the cloud. Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity will initially be available across Sony's 2010 models of network-enabled Bravia TVs, Blu-ray disc players and home theater systems, the PlayStation 3 and Vaio and other PCs, and will later be added to a range of Sony's portable devices. Going forward, Qriocity will be the name for Sony's online services, offered over its networked devices.

Canadian operators to refund CAD 311 mln to customers

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:11:00 +0200

(Telecompaper) The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission directed the country's largest telecom operators to refund CAD 310.8 million to their urban landline customers. At the same time, the CRTC approved a plan for the deployment of broadband internet service to 287 rural and remote communities. The money for the refund and broadband expansion comes from the operators' deferral accounts. Created in 2002 at the request of the CRTC, the accounts collect a portion of fees paid by urban customers, and the industry has been discussing for several years how to use the accumulated money. Under the CRTC decision, the four largest fixed operators will invest CAD 421.9 million in expanding their networks to the remote areas: Bell Canada and Bell Aliant Regional Communications will connect 112 communities in Ontario and Quebec; Telus will connect 159 communities in British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec; and MTS Allstream will connect 16 communities in Manitoba. The CRTC has ordered the companies to rebate the remaining funds to their existing customers residing in urban areas. The rebate must be credited within the next six months and will range from approximately CAD 25 to 90 per subscriber. In addition, the companies are already investing CAD 35 million from the deferral accounts in initiatives designed to make telecommunications services more accessible to Canadians living with disabilities. The CRTC decision follows a court ruling confirming the plans, after the operators challenged the use of the funds. Bell said it was disappointed by the CRTC's decision to opt for DSL in the broadband expansion, rather than the operator's suggestion of HSPA.

Motorola to launch Milestone 2 in Q4

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:39:00 +0200

(Telecompaper) Motorola unveiled the Milestone 2, its latest Android phone. Running Android 2.2, the touch-screen phone features Adobe Flash Player 10.1, a slide-out qwerty keypad, a 1 GHz processor, 720p HD video, DLNA and the ability to connect up to five Wi-Fi devices as a mobile hotspot. The phone has 8GB internal memory and comes with a 8GB microSD memory card. Other features include a 5 megapixel camera, 3.5mm headset jack, Wi-Fi 802.11n, Enterprise Exchange support and a full suite of Google services. The Milestone 2 will start shipping in Europe in Q4.

Vivendi raises FY outlook on strong first half

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 09:05:00 +0200

(Telecompaper) French media, entertainment and communications group Vivendi reported a net profit up 4 percent to EUR 1.53 billion on revenue up 6.1 percent to EUR 13.98 billion in the first half, compared to the year-earlier period. The group has upgraded its full year outlook to an increase in EBITA and net profit versus 2009. "GVT, Activision Blizzard and SFR broadband and fixed achieved excellent operating performances and we have revised upwards the guidance for each one," said CEO Jean-Bernard Levy. Brazilian operator GVT, Vivendi's most recent acquisition, is seen as a strong growth driver and has benefited from an increased inverstment programme. French operator SFR boosted its revenue by 1.8 percent to EUR 6.25 billion in the first six months of last year, including mobile down 0.3 percent to EUR 4.43 billion and broadband up 5.9 percent to EUR 1.98 billion. SFR had 15.35 million postpaid mobile customers and 20.56 million overall mobile customers at the end of June. Mobile data accounted for 26.3 percent of mobile revenues, up from 22.1 percent in the year-earlier period thanks to growth in the installed base of smartphones. SFR's EBITDA stood at EUR 2.11 billion, 6.6 percent more than a year ago. Vivendi asset Maroc Telecom recorded an EBITDA up 4.6 percent to EUR 804 million on revenue 5.9 percent higher at EUR 1.38 billion. Maroc Telecom, which has subsidiaries in other African countries, increased its overall customer base by 20 percent to 23.6 million, including Moroccan users up 11.3 percent to 18 million. GVT had EUR 184 million of EBITDA on EUR 444 million of revenue, and Vivendi's TV subsidiary, Canal Plus, saw a 3 percent increase in EBITA to EUR 486 million on revenue up 3.1 percent to EUR 2.23 billion. Vivendi also owns game publisher Activision Blizzard and Universal Music.

New alliance pushes NBN 3.0 proposal

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 03:39:00 +0200

(Telecompaper) A number of network and internet companies in Australia have formed the Alliance for Affordable Broadband and published a manifesto. The manifesto was signed by the the CEOs of Allegro Networks, BigAir, Vocus Communications, AAPT, Eftel, and Polyfone, as well as the founder of Pipe Networks. The plan pushed by the Alliance is called NBN 3.0 and calls for a market solution, not an infrastructure monopoly. The plan further calls for a national fibre backhaul network and 100 Mbps to Gbps connectivity to schools, hospitals, and businesses. The group further said they believe that the government still holds or has access to the best telecommunications infrastructure asset in Australia, being the spectrum capable of carrying a national ubiquitous 4G network able to deliver up to 100 Mbps to 98 percent of Australians. It says this spectrum is a nationally significant asset. The NBN 3.0 plan, similar to the Coalition's broadband plan, calls for the use of a mix of technologies, including 4G technologies, to provide connectivity to the vast majority of consumers. Remote areas would be served by satellite services. The Alliance says a public-private model should be explored for their plan, which could be built for around AUD 3 billion or less with a large part delivered by private investment.

SingTel launches services on national fibre network

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 02:37:00 +0200

(Telecompaper) Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) has introduced a number of services on Singapore's Next Generation National Broadband Network (NGNBN) deployed by OpenNet and on SingTel's own fibre infrastructure. SingTel will provide services to both retail customers and to wholesale customers (retail service providers). SingTel will launch a high-speed fibre service, known as exStream, with downlink speeds of up to 200 Mbps. Customers can choose from three new packages which are designed with relevant applications. The company is offering unified messaging via the exPress portal, and video streaming to TV via its exCite service. exCite also gives customers access to the TV Apps Store, starting with a catalogue of over 30 TV games. From 1 September, customers can register their interest for the high-speed fibre services. For businesses, SingTel will introduce eVolve, a business connectivity service. Built on SingTel's wholly owned and managed infrastructure, eVolve will only carry business traffic. Businesses can use the fibre services to access SingTel's suite of Managed Services and Cloud Solutions.