Telecom Asia articles from May 2006

Telecom Asia archives from May 2006

Give the IPTV viewers what they want.(Internet Protocol Television)
May 1, 2006... Not long ago I was having a drink with a few friends, one of which is an avid video buff. Call him Patrick. We got to talking about IPTV, and Patrick agreed that it was a neat idea as far as it went, but so far, he was not impressed. Yes, he...

More power to the Ethernet.(FIRST MILE)
May 1, 2006... The IEEE's 802.3af standard--better known as power over Ethernet (POE)--arguably expanded Ethernet's reach inside and outside the LAN by creating rules on delivering electrical power over Cat 5 cables to a range of networked devices requiring...

Spending a bundle on next-gen wireless.(STAT SNAP)
May 1, 2006... Carriers worldwide spent an average of $2.9 billion on next-gen mobile and wireless broadband equipment in 2005, according to a report from Infonetics Research. Next year they'll spend $4.1 billion, a 41% increase. What technologies are...

What's driving next-gen wireless.(STAT SNAP)
May 1, 2006... What's driving next-gen wireless Drivers Opportunity for bundling with other services 67% Reducing operational costs 67% Introduce new applications 56% and services Extension of...

Bankruptcy illuminates Japan's market competition issues.(NEWS ANALYSIS)
May 1, 2006... Heisei Denden, a bold new common carrier that pioneered cheaper phone services in Japan for consumers including fixed-line to mobile calls and built a 33,300 kilometer optical-fiber network, seems doomed to bankruptcy after its rehabilitation...

Residential users switch to VoIP.(INSIGHT: ONE MONTH'S TELECOM RESEARCH)
May 1, 2006... Overall VoIP penetration among US households has increased to 3.5% or almost 3.9 million households in January, up from 2.9% six months before. According to Telephia, VoIP stands to gain a significant foothold in the market in the coming months...

Strong upside for business VoIP.(INSIGHT: ONE MONTH'S TELECOM RESEARCH)
May 1, 2006... Business sector VoIP revenues are expected to hit $18 billion by 2010, with the service increasingly taking its toll on traditional telco revenues. According to Juniper Research, VoIP growth will be driven by the replacement of existing...

Continued growth for Asian pay TV.(INSIGHT: ONE MONTH'S TELECOM RESEARCH)
May 1, 2006... The Asian pay-TV sector is seen reaching $32 billion by 2010, growing at an annual growth rate of 13% from $18 billion in 2005. Media Partners Asia says the sector will hit $45 billion by 2015, a conservative estimate considering the regulatory...

'Digital home' device market to reach $85b.(INSIGHT: ONE MONTH'S TELECOM RESEARCH)
May 1, 2006... The market for home networking and connected entertainment devices will reach $85 billion by 2011 from $14 billion in 2005. The transformation of most conventional consumer electronics devices such as game consoles, DVD players, TVs and...

Regulatory uncertainty dampens interest in Telstra share sale.(NEWS ANALYSIS)
May 1, 2006... Telstra Corp is facing continued pressure from regulators, competitors and the stock market in the run-up to an early May decision by majority shareholder, the Australian Government, on whether the A$23 billion ($17.1 billion) sale of its...

Powerline goes commercial in Asia.(RESEND: Flashbacks, updates and nostalgia: Telecom Asia, May 2002)
May 1, 2006... SYNOPSIS: SP Telecom, a subsidiary of Singapore Power, teams up with ISPs Pacific Internet and Little Green Apples to launch Asia's first commercial trial of powerline technology, which offers broadband connectivity over electric power lines....

The Chinese government moves to protect its fixed-line business by banning free VoIP services for at least two years.(BEIJING)
May 1, 2006... The Chinese government moves to protect its fixed-line business by banning free VoIP services for at least two years. Police lament that they have few legal tools to prosecute ballooning Internet fraud, despite the country's fierce...

The city's record industry reaches a legal settlement with 16 locals who allegedly uploaded music for illegal sharing over the Internet.(HONG KONG)
May 1, 2006... The city's record industry reaches a legal settlement with 16 locals who allegedly uploaded music for illegal sharing over the Internet. The individuals each pay an average of less than $3,000, according to the IFPI (Hong Kong Group). 3...

TOT's long-delayed privatization plan lies on the brink of collapse after the Supreme Administrative Court accepted a petition filed by its employees to revoke the plan and change its status back to a state enterprise.(BANGKOK)
May 1, 2006... TOT's long-delayed privatization plan lies on the brink of collapse after the Supreme Administrative Court accepted a petition filed by its employees to revoke the plan and change its status back to a state enterprise. With the decision, TOT is...

The Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) and the Philippine Cable Television Association (PCTA) sign an agreement that reinforces their partnership to promote and protect intellectual property rights in the pay-TV industry.(MANILA)
May 1, 2006... The Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) and the Philippine Cable Television Association (PCTA) sign an agreement that reinforces their partnership to promote and protect intellectual property rights in the pay-TV...

BSNL's profit margin drops about 20% despite the fact that its operating income rose 9%.(NEW DELHI)
May 1, 2006... BSNL's profit margin drops about 20% despite the fact that its operating income rose 9%. However, the company claims that the reduction in profit margin is temporary and that it would show good results in the next fiscal period. India adds...

Chunghwa Telecom upgrades its IP infrastructure and selects Nortel for the rollout of a next-generation network in the country.(TAIPEI)
May 1, 2006... Chunghwa Telecom upgrades its IP infrastructure and selects Nortel for the rollout of a next-generation network in the country. Taiwan Mobile and Internet auction operator eBay launches eBay Mobile, which allows mobile users to buy and sell...

KDDI agrees to absorb the fiber-optic telecom services of Tokyo Electric Power by January next year.(TOKYO)
May 1, 2006... KDDI agrees to absorb the fiber-optic telecom services of Tokyo Electric Power by January next year. The agreement follows KDDI's merger with the power utility's fixed-line telecom service affiliate Poweredcom in January. Softbank will...

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission reports that take-up of broadband services in Australia is approaching three million connections.(SYDNEY)
May 1, 2006... The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission reports that take-up of broadband services in Australia is approaching three million connections. Optus files charges against Telstra, alleging income losses when the incumbent carrier...

Telecom Corporation of New Zealand plans to combine its fixed-line and mobile units as it moves to a business model that will be more tightly organized around customers.(WELLINGTON)
May 1, 2006... Telecom Corporation of New Zealand plans to combine its fixed-line and mobile units as it moves to a business model that will be more tightly organized around customers. The company will now be divided into residential and business divisions.

SingTel cuts 40 middle management positions as the telcos reduces its size by cutting back on job duplication among its nearly 10,000-employees in Singapore.(SINGAPORE)
May 1, 2006... SingTel cuts 40 middle management positions as the telcos reduces its size by cutting back on job duplication among its nearly 10,000-employees in Singapore. The government tightens its rules on online electioneering, saying that new...

The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) seeks better access to Japan's mobile and fixed-line markets.(movements)
May 1, 2006... The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) seeks better access to Japan's mobile and fixed-line markets. The USTR also complains about high mobile termination rates imposed by NTT DoCoMo on other carriers and universal fixed-line service...

A UK investors group is interested in buying Asia Netcom.(movements)
May 1, 2006... A UK investors group is interested in buying Asia Netcom, a wholly-owned subsidiary of China's second largest fixed-line telecom service provider China Netcom, for $350m.

Alcatel acquires rival telecom equipment maker Lucent Technologies in a $13.4b stock swap.(movements)
May 1, 2006... Alcatel acquires rival telecom equipment maker Lucent Technologies in a $13.4b stock swap.

A US judge approves a $2.65b class-action settlement of claims that advertising revenue.(movements)
May 1, 2006... A US judge approves a $2.65b class-action settlement of claims that advertising revenue was counted in a fraudulent manner prior to the merger of AOL and Time Warner.

Thales plans to acquire Alcatel's satellite and security operations for 1.7b euros ($2.08b) in cash and shares.(movements)
May 1, 2006... Thales plans to acquire Alcatel's satellite and security operations for 1.7b euros ($2.08b) in cash and shares, keeping the politically sensitive assets in French hands.

Richard Branson's Virgin Mobile Holdings accepts a 962.4m pound ($1.67b) offer from cable operator NTL.(movements)
May 1, 2006... Richard Branson's Virgin Mobile Holdings accepts a 962.4m pound ($1.67b) offer from cable operator NTL, inking a deal that will create Britain's first powerful "quadruple-play" communications company.

Richard Branson's Virgin Mobile Holdings accepts a 962.4m pound ($1.67b) offer from cable operator NTL.(movements)
May 1, 2006... The EU will force mobile phone companies to scrap the "unjustified" high costs customers are charged for using mobile phones while traveling in Europe outside their home countries.

Google defends its cooperation with Chinese censorship, saying that the company's decision to follow the law in China was the right one.(movements)
May 1, 2006... Google defends its cooperation with Chinese censorship, saying that the company's decision to follow the law in China was the right one. Google is trying to raise its pro file in China after waiting until January to launch its Chinese-language...

Chipmaker Hynix Semiconductor plans to invest $230m in expanding operations in China this year.(movements)
May 1, 2006... Chipmaker Hynix Semiconductor plans to invest $230m in expanding operations in China this year. The firm is seeking to boost chip production at a joint-venture plant under construction in Wuxi in Chinas eastern province of Jiangsu.

The European Union reports that some 300,000 Europeans rushed to register their new ".eu" Internet domain names in the first hour of being able to sign up to the new Web site addresses.(movements)
May 1, 2006... The European Union reports that some 300,000 Europeans rushed to register their new ".eu" Internet domain names in the first hour of being able to sign up to the new Web site addresses.

Matsushita and NEC are in talks with Texas Instruments bout collaborating on next-generation mobile phones.(movements)
May 1, 2006... Matsushita and NEC are in talks with Texas Instruments bout collaborating on next-generation mobile phones. The companies plan to set up a joint venture in Japan as early as this summer to develop chips for 3G cellphones.

Verizon Communications agrees to sell its Verizon Dominicana and Telecomunicaciones Puerto Rico units.(movements)
May 1, 2006... Verizon Communications agrees to sell its Verizon Dominicana and Telecomunicaciones Puerto Rico units, including a stake in the largest telephone company in Venezuela, to two Mexican companies for $3.7b.

Tying the knot: outsourcing of the network and services is bringing vendors and operators closer together, but how far should they take the relationship?(Cover story)
May 1, 2006... The relationship between vendor and operator in the telco world has always been a close one. While there is the occasional spat, mostly the two get on comfortably and are mutually supportive, with outside relationships generally accepted. In...

The city-wide Wi-Fi threat: Telcos have been wary of municipal Wi-Fi networks being deployed in urban areas, but they could also pose a threat to mobile roaming revenues.(BROADBAND)
May 1, 2006... Ten years ago, the idea of an entire city being blanketed with wireless broadband coverage was a bit far-fetched. But not to Craig Mathias, who remembers giving speeches about it in 1998. "A lot of people thought I was nuts," says Mathias,...

Broadband by the numbers: Asia is still the world's biggest broadband market, but the rest of the world is catching up fast. Oh, and DSL still rules.(BROADBAND)
May 1, 2006... For years, the Asia-Pacific market has been leading the charge in broadband access, driven famously by aggressive rollouts in Korea and Japan. But while it's still the largest regional broadband market in the world, and is still growing, other...

Aligned with the customer: Stuart Dobbin, the new head of Asia for Cable & Wireless, outlines to group editor Joseph Waring the carrier's new focus on higher-margin clients and strategy for growth by building deeper relationships rather than acquiring new business.(ONE-TO-ONE)(Interview)
May 1, 2006... Telecom Asia: What is Cable & Wireless' biggest challenge moving forward? Stuart Dobbin: The key challenge stems from the fact that C&W has positioned itself in the UK as a clear challenger to BT by the acquisition of Energis. C&W was No....

Full line of GPON transceivers.(PREMIERE: Latest products and services)
May 1, 2006... NeoPhotonics' new GPON transceivers are all compliant with the ITU-T G.984.2 Class B+ standard. The new line includes both a biplexer and a triplexer module in SFF and 2x2 form factor for FTTP customer premises equipment (CPE), as well as...

Central-office capabilities for remote locations.(PREMIERE: Latest products and services)(ECI Telecom Inc introduces Hi-FOCuS MiniShelf solutions )(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... ECI Telecom's new family of Hi-FOCuS MiniShelf solutions brings advanced broadband capabilities previously available only in the central office to remote locations. The "Virtual Central Office" solution enables operators to bring full...

Delineating user and operator networks.(PREMIERE: Latest products and services)
May 1, 2006... RAD Data Communications' new customer-located, service-oriented Ethernet Network Termination Unit (E-NTU) provides a clear demarcation point between user and operator networks, allowing end-to-end control of Fast Ethernet services in the fiber...

Comprehensive software for distributed apps.(PREMIERE: Latest products and services)
May 1, 2006... Advanced device software provider Enea and communications industry Linux supplier MontaVista Software have joined forces to create a comprehensive, highly integrated software platform for distributed telecom applications. According to the...

National groupings give exhibitors added exposure.(PREVIEW: COMMUNICASIA2006, SINGAPORE EXPO, 20-23 JUNE 2006)
May 1, 2006... A total of 21 International groups from across Asia, Europe and North America have organized national/regional pavilions to showcase their best and latest technologies at CommunicAsia in June. Korea, which will occupy 50% more space this...

Networking opportunities across Asia.(EVENTS CALENDAR)(Calendar)
May 1, 2006... Networking opportunities across Asia Date Event Location May 08-May 12, 2006 Asia Pacific Billing & Revenue Management Week 2006 ...

Softbank execs nominated to Vodafone KK board.(TELECOM CAREER)
May 1, 2006... Softbank president Masayoshi Son and five other Softbank group executives, including Ken Miyauchi, Junichi Miyakawa, Kazuhiko Kasai, Yoshimitsu Goto and Hiroaki Kitano have been nominated to the Vodafone KK board, following Softbank's...

Lucent appoints CIO, financial controller.(TELECOM CAREER)
May 1, 2006... Lucent Technologies has hired Elizabeth Hackenson as its new CIO. She comes from MCI where she held a similar position. The company has also appointed David Hitchcock as corporate controller, replacing John Kritzmacher who has become...

Movements at Nokia finance and control.(TELECOM CAREER)
May 1, 2006... Anja Korhonen, head of finance and control at Nokia's mobile phones business group, will replace finance and control head Maija Torkko when he retires in June. Andy Ford, head of finance and control at Nokia's customer and market...

UTStarcom hires new execs.(TELECOM CAREER)
May 1, 2006... UTStarcom has hired former 3Com CIO Ari Bose as its VP and CIO. The company also has appointed David King as SVP of sales and marketing, responsible for global sales and marketing efforts outside of China. Prior to the appointment, King was...

Linktone names new CEO.(appointment of Michael Li)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Chinese mobile VAS provider Linktone has hired Michael Li as its new CEO. Li, who currently serves as a company director, will retain his board position. He was Linktone's COO from March 2003 to January. After Li's appointment in April,...

6Wind CEO becomes board chair.(TELECOM CAREER)
May 1, 2006... 6Wind CEO Alain Daste will take over as chairman of the company's board, replacing Patrick Cocquet who has stepped down to become CEO of Cap Digital. Cocquet will remain a member of the 6Wind board.

Oracle names CRM VP for Asia.(TELECOM CAREER)
May 1, 2006... Oracle has appointed Paul Appleby, a former Siebel Systems' executive, to the newly-created role of VP of CRM for Asia Pacific. The appointment follows the completion of the formal acquisition of Siebel Systems earlier this year.

Bytemobile appoints GM for Beijing operations.(TELECOM CAREER)
May 1, 2006... IP provider Bytemobile has appointed Gilbert Chan as GM of Bytemobile (Beijing) Ltd, the company's wholly owned subsidiary in China. Chan has more than 20 years of telecom industry experience in China and Hong Kong.

Infotel gets new CTO.(TELECOM CAREER)
May 1, 2006... Bharti Tele-Ventures unit Infotel has hired Arvind Mathur as its new CTO. Prior to the assignment, Mathur was working at Indian firm Sify.

WJ Communications names CFO.(TELECOM CAREER)
May 1, 2006... RF supplier WJ Communications has hired R. Gregory Miller as CFO. Miller joins the company with 30 years of financial experience from Fortune 500 companies as well as several high-growth corporations. Most recently, he served as VP and CFO of...

Ovum adds director.(TELECOM CAREER)
May 1, 2006... Mike Read has joined research firm Ovum as a non-executive director. Read is currently CEO of PIPEX Communications, one of the UK's leading broadband, hosting and managed services providers.

China Mobile chief engineer retires.(TELECOM CAREER)
May 1, 2006... Li Mofang has retired from her position as executive director, VP and chief engineer of China Mobile. Sha Yuejia and Liu Aili, meanwhile, have joined China Mobile as executive directors and VPs of the Hong Kong-listed company.

New VP at Ranch Networks.(TELECOM CAREER)
May 1, 2006... Global IP firm Ranch Networks has named David Gombos as its new VP for sales and marketing. Before his appointment, Gombos worked at Quintum Technologies.

Symantec SVP.(TELECOM CAREER)
May 1, 2006... Symantec has promoted Bill Robbins to the post of SVP for Asia Pacific and Japan. Previously, he was a sales VP in the US for Symantec.

Asia telecom transactions index.(TELECOM CORPORATE)
May 1, 2006... Asia telecom transactions index Seller Buyer Deal BellSouth AT&T Acquisition of BellSouth Dubai Government Tecom Acquisition of Tunisie ...

TA Index climbs 2.8%.(TA30 TELECOM STOCK INDEX MAR 15-APR 13, 06)
May 1, 2006... The TA Index extended its gain for the second consecutive month, adding 2.8% or 36 points, as most Asian markets closed higher ahead of the Easter holiday. Gainers outnumbered losers 18 to 10, while two ended flat. The top gainer was...

The quest for the low end.(INSIDE LINE)
May 1, 2006... The realignment of heavyweight vendors right now underlines the tectonic shifts in the suppliers' market. The technology shift is toward open platforms and softswitches; the market shift is toward low-income segments. Most new subs are...

Billing.(BACKPAGE BRIEFING)
May 1, 2006... BILLING: People who pay close attention to their phone bills occasionally find unexplained charges, but a bill from Telekom Malaysia to a man in northern Kedah state required no intense scrutiny to determine that something was amiss. Indeed, it...

Satellite.(consumer tips on purchasing of satellite phones)(All Road Communications Inc )(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... SATELLITE: Everyone appreciates consumer tips on purchasing new products, and satellite phones are no exception. Helpfully, All Road Communications, which rents and sells satellite phones from Iridium, Globalstar and Inmarsat, emailed a list of...

Anniversaries.(Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Co installs fibre channel in Hunter's Creek Cablevision)
May 1, 2006... ANNIVERSARIES: Last month marked the 20th anniversary of what is believed to be the first-ever FTTH deployment in the world--at least according to BellSouth, which deployed the system in Hunter's Creek, Florida in April 1986. Southern...

Video.(BACKPAGE BRIEFING)
May 1, 2006... VIDEO: AOL chief Jonathan Miller has seen the future of television--and reckons it's the PC. "Video consumption is exploding online, and on-demand is going to be the dominant way to consume content," Miller said last month at the...