Telecommunications (International Edition) articles from April 2005

Telecommunications (International Edition) archives from April 2005

Give (or take) a billion: as a bystander, I still think that arguing over the culpability of one man [Ebbers], however deserved, leaves unanswered the probable complicity of many.(Column)
April 1, 2005... As has probably been remarked quite a few times in the telecom post-bubble world, when you owe the bank US$100 and can't pay, you're in trouble. But when you owe the bank US$1 bn and can't pay, they're in trouble. Big numbers may be little...

VNO model the winner, declares Vanco.(Vanco Inc. virtual network operator )
April 1, 2005... A fixed-line telecom network is simply an encumbrance. That, predictably, is the view of Vanco, a virtual network operator (VNO). According to Vanco, a network-rather than being the valuable asset that defines whether or not one can actually be...

High-speed access? Don't forget the cable.(Nexans telecommunication cables)(laying of cables)
April 1, 2005... It's a telecom micro-story probably seen a hundred times a day somewhere around the world. On a wet Wednesday in March, a three-man team is busy installing cable ducting around an industrial estate in southern Belgium. It's part of a government...

Siemens weighs up handset options.(Global)
April 1, 2005... Siemens is struggling in the handset market. It has publicly stated that it is considering a number of options for its loss-making handset division: a sale, partnering, or closure. "Closing our mobile business is the most undesirable option,...

Asia Netcom: sweet or sour? China Netcom's submarine subsidiary could form consolidation hub.(Company Profile)
April 1, 2005... Asia Global Crossing (AGC) was one of the more spectacular telecom collapses. Its sub-sea network cost US$2.7 bn to build yet China Netcom was able to buy the 49 per cent of AGC it did not already hold for just US$61 m in December 2003....

Correction.(view from the top)(Correction Notice)
April 1, 2005... CORRECTION: In last month's view from the top (Phil Male, COO, Thus plc), we referred to Thus as a 'UK altnet serving the SME market'. Thus wishes to point out that it also serves the larger corporate market in the UK.

Profit in a low-ARPU climate: cost reduction key to unlocking mobile subscriber growth in emerging markets.(Emerging telecom markets)( Average Revenue Per User)(Cover Story)
April 1, 2005... How do you turn low-ARPU countries into profitable and attractive places for investors? This question now confronts the GSM industry as penetration levels reach saturation point in the developed markets of Europe and Asia. If GSM subscriber...

Keeping the faith: venture capitalists remain upbeat that substantial ROI opportunities can still be found in the telecom sector.(return on investment)
April 1, 2005... Venture capitalists, more than most, know that telecom sector investment has represented a white-knuckle ride. On top of normal business risk, sentiment towards the sector has been slow to recover from the business meltdown. But for VCs, is...

More than money: when vendors venture, their priorities can differ from the traditional VC.(venture capitalists)
April 1, 2005... For 'traditional' venture capitalists, there is only one objective--to make money. In exchange for equity funds are allocated to a start-up with the sole aim of selling the stock later on for a tidy profit. Yet, for the corporate venture...

What's the VC attraction? There are different reasons for a start-up to give up equity to a VC. For some, it's purely to raise cash; for others, management guidance and good connections are factors. We look at how three small companies, at differing stages of development, view VC funding.(WIRELESS TELECOM VENTURES: SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT)(venture capital)(Distinctive Developments, Soundonweb and Intelligate)
April 1, 2005... Seek out Company: Intelligate Michal Lodzki, CEO Market segment: natural language interface Location: Israel VC requirement: US$5 m funding (stake offered undisclosed) www.intelligate.com Intelligate, founded in...

Lighting the red touch paper: what sparked the Russian mobile revolution?(Emerging telecom markets)
April 1, 2005... At the end of November 2003, Russia had a mobile penetration of just over 23 per cent--or around 33.8 million users--according to J'son & Partners, a Moscow-based consultancy. This penetration level was the fruit of around nine years of...

Still trying to get into the loop: WLL has yet to take off.(Emerging telecom markets)
April 1, 2005... The holy grail of alternative operators in developed countries was--and is--affordable local access. Without it, they are a bit like food freight companies trying to compete with Sainsbury's. They can truck as many packets as they want from...