Telecom Asia articles from February 2006

Telecom Asia archives from February 2006

You can't kill good technology.(TANNER)(Column)
February 1, 2006... It's practically a cliche these days to draw comparisons between the telecoms business and the railway industry. But I'm going to do it anyway. Just for a second. Bear with me, please. Last month, I was sitting in a hotel room in San Diego...

Taking control of P2P traffic.(FIRST MILE)
February 1, 2006... The music and film industries are obviously no fan of peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing software like BitTorrent, eDonkey and FastTrack. However, P2P can also cause problems for network operators--and not just of the legal variety. For a...

When good broadband goes bad.(STAT SNAP)
February 1, 2006... Broadband isn't easy, but markets like South Korea can make it look that way, according to a recent study from TeleGeography that compared and contrasted three markets: South Korea, Greece and Germany, respectively representing hot broadband,...

Chunghwa looks to Thailand for growth.(NEWS ANALYSIS)
February 1, 2006... As the biggest fish in a shrinking pond, Taiwan's Chunghwa Telecom is looking for opportunities in international waters. One such opportunity to reach beyond its overcrowded home market is its relationship with TOT Public Company, the largest...

In-region outsourcing gathers steam.(INSIGHT: ONE MONTH'S TELECOM RESEARCH)
February 1, 2006... The growing popularity of outsourcing within the Asia-Pacific region is bolstering the growth of the industry, with the number of contact centers in the region expected to reach 39,247 by the end of 2011 from 21,360 in 2004. A Frost & Sullivan...

China C2C market zooms to $1.09b.(INSIGHT: ONE MONTH'S TELECOM RESEARCH)(Brief article)(Statistical data)
February 1, 2006... China's C2C market surged to RMB8.77 billion ($1.09 billion) in the first nine months of 2005, almost double turnover for all of 2004. According to Analysys International, subscriber numbers have likewise doubled in the same period from 15.08...

Broadband equipment market to hit $13.7b.(INSIGHT: ONE MONTH'S TELECOM RESEARCH)
February 1, 2006... The expected 20% annual growth in the number of broadband subscribers through 2010 will propel the global broadband access equipment market to reach $13.7 billion this year. According to Ovum-RHK, applications such as IPTV as well as...

Broadband set for takeoff in Thailand.(INSIGHT: ONE MONTH'S TELECOM RESEARCH)
February 1, 2006... Thailand's broadband customer base is expected to reach 2.9 million by 2009. A Hot Telecom report says the country's broadband base, which grew 353.3% in 2004, was on track to reach 449,000 in 2005. Over the next five years, Thai ISPs will...

As BcN nears commercial phase, IPTV still stalled in Korea.(NEWS ANALYSIS)
February 1, 2006... With Korea moving into phase two of its national NGN and broadband convergence network (BcN), what the people behind the project call "BcN's killer application"--IPTV--remains stalled as the Korean Broadcasting Commission (KBC) puts up a...

Having it both ways: transactions on the edge.(RESEND: Flashbacks, updates and nostalgia: Telecom Asia, February 2002)
February 1, 2006... SYNOPSIS: The concept of Web services has been around for some time but has only recently become a practical option with band width and data storage becoming more affordable, Web site data itself becoming more dynamic and the arrival of...

China continues to build what is expected to become the world's largest fixed-line network, in terms of capacity, in anticipation of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics.(BEIJING)
February 1, 2006... China continues to build what is expected to become the world's largest fixed-line network, in terms of capacity, in anticipation of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. Chinese TD-SCDMA chip producers, including Datang Mobile, Commit and...

OFTA plans to issue two kinds of Internet telephony licenses: one for operators intending to offer service similar to conventional telephone services and another for those plan to provide services only in specific districts or to specific customer group.(HONG KONG)
February 1, 2006... OFTA plans to issue two kinds of Internet telephony licenses: one for operators intending to offer service similar to conventional telephone services and another for those plan to provide services only in specific districts or to specific...

The National Telecommunications Commission issues a ruling allowing ISPs to offer VoIP services without getting a new license.(BANGKOK)
February 1, 2006... The National Telecommunications Commission issues a ruling allowing ISPs to offer VoIP services without getting a new license. The government ruling also opens up the country's local and international Internet exchange gateways. The...

VNPT posts revenues of $2.12b last year, or an increase of 9% year-on-year.(HANOI)
February 1, 2006... VNPT posts revenues of $2.12b last year, or an increase of 9% year-on-year. VNPT paid more than 5 trillion dong ($315m) to state coffers.

State-run PTCL signs an agreement with Indian telecom companies, Reliance and BNC, to provide cable links between the two countries through the Wagah border.(ISLAMABAD)
February 1, 2006... State-run PTCL signs an agreement with Indian telecom companies, Reliance and BNC, to provide cable links between the two countries through the Wagah border. This is the first time that Pakistan has opted to have a direct link with India in the...

The government plans to invest 12 trillion rupiahs ($1.2b) to buy back a 40.77% stake in PT Indosat it has sold to Singapore Technologies Telemedia Limited.(JAKARTA)
February 1, 2006... The government plans to invest 12 trillion rupiahs ($1.2b) to buy back a 40.77% stake in PT Indosat it has sold to Singapore Technologies Telemedia Limited. The funds will be made available through state-owned companies including PT Telkom.

Maxis, in partnership with the Chennai-based Apollo Group, acquires a 100% stake in Aircel for $1.08b.(KUALA LUMPUR)
February 1, 2006... Maxis, in partnership with the Chennai-based Apollo Group, acquires a 100% stake in Aircel for $1.08b. Of the total investment, $280m in cash will be injected into the Tamil Nadu-based mobile operator.

Assuming a 1.5% increase in mobile service subscribers, the Ministry of Information and Communication has set a 254.9b won ($262m) spectrum usage fee for the top three mobile operators this year.(SEOUL)
February 1, 2006... Assuming a 1.5% increase in mobile service subscribers, the Ministry of Information and Communication has set a 254.9b won ($262m) spectrum usage fee for the top three mobile operators this year. The regulator also set a 3b-won spectrum usage...

Authorities have indicted Robert Tsao, chairman of UMC, for breach of trust by making an alleged illegal investment in China without shareholder approval.(TAIPEI)
February 1, 2006... Authorities have indicted Robert Tsao, chairman of UMC, for breach of trust by making an alleged illegal investment in China without shareholder approval. Other UMC executives where also charged with the same offense, which carries a maximum...

Optus takes over Virgin Mobile Australia after acquiring the remaining 74.15% of the company for A$30m ($22.44m).(SYDNEY)
February 1, 2006... Optus takes over Virgin Mobile Australia after acquiring the remaining 74.15% of the company for A$30m ($22.44m). Virgin has granted Optus a 15-year license to use the Virgin brand in Australia.

An AC Nielsen survey finds that nearly half of Singapore mobile users won't switch service providers even if they aren't tied to a contract.(SINGAPORE)
February 1, 2006... An AC Nielsen survey finds that nearly half of Singapore mobile users won't switch service providers even if they aren't tied to a contract. But the pending introduction of mobile number portability is expected to encourage increased churn in...

The National Telecommunications Commission junks the petition of trunk radio operator Next Mobile for a 3G license for its failure to pay supervisory and regulatory fees amounting to over 120m pesos ($2.3 m).(MANILA)
February 1, 2006... The National Telecommunications Commission junks the petition of trunk radio operator Next Mobile for a 3G license for its failure to pay supervisory and regulatory fees amounting to over 120m pesos ($2.3 m). Smart Communications secures...

The Indian government seeks to invite bids for some 337 radio stations as part of its continuing efforts to open up its radio broadcast sector to as many players as possible.(NEW DELHI)
February 1, 2006... The Indian government seeks to invite bids for some 337 radio stations as part of its continuing efforts to open up its radio broadcast sector to as many players as possible. A wave of global broadcasters have already landed in New Delhi to...

The European Union successfully deploys the first satellite in the 3.8b euro ($4.5b) Galileo satellite system.(movements)
February 1, 2006... * The European Union successfully deploys the first satellite in the 3.8b euro ($4.5b) Galileo satellite system that allows civilians to calculate their geographic position to the nearest meter.

European regulators clear a $31.5b deal by Telefonica.(movements)
February 1, 2006... * European regulators clear a $31.5b deal by Telefonica to buy British wireless operator O2 after the Spanish acquirer agreed to exit an international roaming alliance.

Nokia resolves a patent dispute with Kyocera, allowing the Japanese company to use some of the world's largest mobile phone maker's patents.(movements)
February 1, 2006... * Nokia resolves a patent dispute with Kyocera, allowing the Japanese company to use some of the world's largest mobile phone maker's patents. According to an agreement, Kyocera will pay royal-ties on "Nokia's essential patents."

New York-based Rates Technology sues Internet giant Google for what it claims as patent violation in the VoIP software used by Google.(movements)
February 1, 2006... * New York-based Rates Technology sues Internet giant Google for what it claims as patent violation in the VoIP software used by Google. Rates Technology will be asking for $5b in damages from Google.

Comcast plans to tap Samsung to supply digital set-top boxes for the US cable operator starting in 2007.(movements)
February 1, 2006... * Comcast plans to tap Samsung to supply digital set-top boxes for the US cable operator starting in 2007. Comcast will order 200,000 boxes initially, with the possibility of ordering another 500,000 units.

AT&T quietly enters the TV market with the launch of its new Internet-based service in Texas.(movements)
February 1, 2006... * AT&T quietly enters the TV market with the launch of its new Internet-based service in Texas. The company, which has been developing its TV network based on IP technology for more than a year, offers the service to a limited number of...

America Online acquires a video search startup.(movements)
February 1, 2006... * America Online acquires a video search startup that has built technology to more easily find the latest news, sports and other online video offerings.

Pacific Internet signs a deal to form a joint venture with China-based ISP Zhong Ren Telecom.(movements)
February 1, 2006... * Pacific Internet signs a deal to form a joint venture with China-based ISP Zhong Ren Telecom, to market integrated IP communication applications in southern China.

German mobile company MobilCom will ask French Telecom to pay damages of 7.2b euros ($8.7b), rather than the 4.25b euros ($5.1b) it earlier demanded.(movements)
February 1, 2006... * German mobile company MobilCom will ask French Telecom to pay damages of 7.2b euros ($8.7 b), rather than the 4.25b euros ($5.1b) it earlier demanded. Gerhard Schmid, the founder of MobilCom, is accusing the French company of breach of...

Vodafone Group and Sony NetServices jointly launch a new music service.(movements)
February 1, 2006... * Vodafone Group and Sony NetServices jointly launch a new music service, called Vodafone Radio DJ, that will allow customers to access music using mobile phones.

Verizon Communications completes its $8.5b purchase of MCI.(movements)
February 1, 2006... * Verizon Communications completes its $8.5b purchase of MCI, giving the phone company a national fiber-optic network and business-services unit with which to compete with the hefty rival created by the recent takeover of AT&T by SBC.

Broadcast giant BBC will make about 40 video news clips available daily in the US and Canada.(movements)
February 1, 2006... * Broadcast giant BBC will make about 40 video news clips available daily in the US and Canada for Internet and mobile subscribers through a deal with ABC News.

Tackling the IT tangle: Telcos are struggling with the last frontier of business competitiveness and efficiency--their OSS. They are transforming their back-office to cut costs and increase flexibility. But it's a long haul.(Cover story)(Company overview)
February 1, 2006... Telecom operators have slashed headcount, bought new technology and outsourced processes to cut costs and improve efficiency. Now as competition continues to ratchet up they are trying to fix the last domain of inefficiency and...

Carrier Ethernet rides the NGN wave: Carrier Ethernet is swiftly becoming this year's must-have solution for telcos as they prepare to revamp their networks for triple-play and convergence--even though concerns remain about its complexity and carrier-class capabilities.(TECHNOLOGY)
February 1, 2006... The vision of Ethernet playing a significant role in the future NGN has been around for years and has never been in serious doubt--although perhaps not to the point of killing off Sonet/SDH any time soon, or even in the next ten years. But with...

Back to the futurologist.(ONE-TO-ONE)(Robin Manning- BT)(Interview)
February 1, 2006... Wireless will disrupt the fixed-line paradigm, telcos will stop selling bandwidth and become abstracted VAS providers and trusted third parties. That's the future of telecoms as envisioned by BT futurologist Robin Manning, who tells global...

Keep the customer satisfied: while competing on price has been a long-time strategy for many telcos, the focus has shifted to bundled and personalized services as a customer retention tool. But industry watchers say Asian cellcos need to be more proactive and focus on customer lifetime value to increase their bottom lines and hold onto customers.(SERVICE)(Industry overview)
February 1, 2006... Despite the continuous growth in subscriber additions, churn rates have spiraled upward in Asia over the last few years and are becoming a major problem for mobile operators, as the competition intensified and customers slip away to look for...

Noise countermeasure for mobile terminals.(PREMIERE: Latest products and services)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... TDK has introduced the world's first noise countermeasure products for mobile terminals that can receive terrestrial digital broadcasts, with the development of the MEA2010PE series of multilayer chip EMI filter arrays. For cellphones,...

World's first 3.6 Mbps HSDPA phone.(PREMIERE: Latest products and services)
February 1, 2006... Samsung Electronics launched the first HSDPA-enabled handset, which offers download speeds as fast as 3.6 Mbps. With the HSDPA handset, users can download content up to seven times faster then when using W-CDMA or GSM/GPRS handsets. For...

Cellphone-based social networking.(PREMIERE: Latest products and services)(MOffY and JNI Mobile)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... MOffY and JNI Mobile have jointly launched MocoSpace, a new mobile communication application that brings the power of social networking to mobile users in the Asia-Pacific region. Similar to the widely popular Internet-based community...

Next-gen wireless system design flow.(PREMIERE: Latest products and services)
February 1, 2006... Agilent Technologies and CEA-Leti have partnered to implement a design flow for the development of next-generation wireless systems. They expect the Agilent Advanced Design System (ADS) EDA software-based wireless design system flow to...

IPoDWDM support for Cisco NGN.(PREMIERE: Latest products and services)
February 1, 2006... Cisco Systems has introduced a new solution that provides support for IP over dense wavelength division multiplexing (IPoDWDM) for its next-generation network architecture. The solution helps enable seamless element, control and management...

SMBs enjoy 'Worry-Free Security'.(PREMIERE: Latest products and services)
February 1, 2006... Trend Micro has unveiled a "Worry-Free Security" initiative that aims to help small and medium-sized businesses with little or even no IT support to secure their networks. Under the first phase, SMBs can obtain the latest versions of Trend...

Phone solutions for SMEs.(PREMIERE: Latest products and services)
February 1, 2006... Ericsson's new BusinessPhone IP-based business communication system now enables small and medium-sized enterprises to enjoy features such as presence services, unified messaging, group collaboration and multimedia communications. The...

New network storage devices.(PREMIERE: Latest products and services)
February 1, 2006... PMC-Sierra has added new network storage devices to its multi-service processor solutions. The devices, including the MSP2200, MSP2202, MSP2204 and MSP2206, are storage-optimized processors that integrate features such as hard disk drive...

Networking opportunities across Asia.(EVENTS CALENDAR)(Calendar)
February 1, 2006... Networking opportunities across Asia Date Event Location Feb 13 - Feb 16, 2006 3GSM World Congress 2006 Barcelona, ...

Indosat's new deputy president director.(TELECOM CAREER)
February 1, 2006... Shareholders of Indosat have approved the appointment of Kaizad B. Heerjee as deputy president director of the company, replacing Ng Eng Ho. Previously, Heerjee was SVP of international operations and business development of Singapore...

Hanarotelecom taps new chief.(TELECOM CAREER)
February 1, 2006... Hanarotelecom has appointed Park Byung-mu as chief executive to lead the company. Park, currently president of Newbridge Capital Korea, will replace Kwon Soon-yup, who has been at the helm of the company since late October. The appointment...

New CFO for i-Cable.(TELECOM CAREER)
February 1, 2006... Hong Kong pay-TV operator i-Cable Communications has promoted William Kwan to the position of CFO, succeeding Sam Wong, who left the company last month. Kwan joined i-Cable in 1994 and has been director of corporate development since 2002....

AT&T hires regional account head.(TELECOM CAREER)
February 1, 2006... AT&T has appointed George Afonczenko as its regional account manager in Melbourne. Afonczenko has held a number of senior roles in sales and project management at BT, MCI, Optus and NEC.

Pacific Internet hires new chief.(TELECOM CAREER)
February 1, 2006... Pacific Internet has hired Tech Moh Phey as president and CEO, succeeding Hai Chwee Chew. Phey comes to Pacific Internet from Motorola, where he served in various senior roles in the Asia-Pacific region over the last decade, including...

Nortel's marketing chief resigns.(TELECOM CAREER)
February 1, 2006... Nortel Networks has announced that Clent Richardson will be leaving the company on March 1, after serving as the company's chief marketing officer for 18 months. Separately, Nortel has appointed Joel Hackney as SVP for the company's global...

Sony Ericsson appoints APAC head.(TELECOM CAREER)
February 1, 2006... Lennard Hoornick has taken over as head of Asia-Pacific for Sony Ericsson. He succeeds Kazuo Nakai, who has taken up a new role as managing director of Sony Electronics Asia Pacific, based in Singapore.

Linktone names SVPs.(TELECOM CAREER)
February 1, 2006... Mobile VAS provider Linktone has appointed Richard Xu and Liaoyuan Du to the newly created positions of SVP of operation and SVP of sales. Xu will be responsible for business integration and operation. Du's responsibilities include...

F5 taps sales director for HK.(TELECOM CAREER)
February 1, 2006... Marcos Ong has joined F5 Networks as sales director of its Hong Kong office to drive local sales and marketing activities. Previously Ong worked with Symantec Hong Kong, Cisco Systems Hong Kong and Agilent Technologies.

EMC's marketing VP.(TELECOM CAREER)
February 1, 2006... EMC Corporation has promoted Barrie Sheers to VP of marketing and field engagement for Asia Pacific and Japan. He will oversee marketing and head the emerging solution team, which is responsible for sales and marketing of new products and...

Hewlett to retire from Agilent's board.(TELECOM CAREER)
February 1, 2006... Walter Hewlett, the son of HP cofounder William Hewlett, will retire as a director of Agilent Technologies effective March 1. Hewlett joined the board of directors when Agilent was spun off from HP in 1999.

NanoOpto appoints new CFO.(TELECOM CAREER)
February 1, 2006... Global optical communications solutions provider NanoOpto has named Andrew Savadelis as its new CFO. Savadelis was CFO, SVP of finance and a board member at Alfacell.

Business Objects' MD for HK and Macau.(TELECOM CAREER)
February 1, 2006... Business intelligence solutions provider Business Objects has named Victor Wong managing director to focus on the company's growth and expansion in Hong Kong and Macau. Wong has been with Business. Objects for three years and most recently...

AEP hires corporate marketing director.(TELECOM CAREER)
February 1, 2006... AEP Networks, which specializes in network and application access security, has appointed Melody Iffland as director of corporate marketing. Iffland joins AEP from Lumeta Corporation, where she served as the director of marketing.

Correction.(Correction notice)
February 1, 2006... Lee Kwan is the new CTO of WiseSpot (Hong Kong). Last month we incorrectly stated he was CEO.

Asia telecom transactions index.(TELECOM CORPORATE)
February 1, 2006... Asia telecom transactions index Seller Buyer Hutchison Whampoa Orascom Telecom Aircel Maxis Communications and Apollo Group New Skies Satellites ...

Buoyant start to 2006.(TA30 TELECOM STOCK INDEX DEC 15-JAN 13, 06)(Statistical table)(Statistical data)
February 1, 2006... The TA Index stock extended its gain for the second consecutive month, closing 5.2% or 65 points higher from the previous month, as most Asian markets were off to a good start for 2006. Gainers outnumbered decliners 26 to 4. The top gainer...

Surviving the great tech squeeze.(INSIDE LINE)
February 1, 2006... It's called convergence, but it's really the great tech squeeze. Technology is driving content, hardware, software and telecom firms onto each other's patches. The big question for telcos is whether they can resist the push to displace...

Telex is dead--again.(BACKPAGE BRIEFING)(Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Telegrams and telex are officially dead technologies in Pakistan, after incumbent telco Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) withdrew telegram and telex facilities throughout the country last month. According to an...

Record.(BACKPAGE BRIEFING)(New Zealand text-messaging competition)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... RECORD: Nearly 100,000 people helped set a text-messaging record in Zealand in November by playing an SMS version of the classic game "Battleship"--all for the chance to sink the real thing. The "Push The Button" competition--staged by...

X-commerce.(BACKPAGE BRIEFING)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... X-COMMERCE: Forget e-commerce and m-commerce--the next Big Thing is "t-commerce". And it's the future of home shopping in South Korea, according to a Korean think tank. The "t" stands for television--as in digital television. T-commerce...

Video.(BACKPAGE BRIEFING)(Bob Metcalfe-online video)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... VIDEO: Bob Metcalfe--also known as The Guy Who Invented Ethernet--is a big believer in video on the Internet, and expects it'll take off just as soon as the entire Net is reengineered to handle it. The reason the Net needs an overhaul is...