Telecom Asia articles from May 2007

Telecom Asia archives from May 2007

Ten years gone.(TANNER)(Editorial)
May 1, 2007... By the time you read this, you will have heard the results of this magazine's tenth annual awards. (And if you haven't, you can visit telecomasia.net to find out who won what.) And because there's just something about the number ten that...

Comic creators go mobile.(FIRST MILE)
May 1, 2007... The rising popularity of mobile phones and smart mobile devices around the world has whetted the appetite of many service providers anxious to build new revenue streams from existing Web content. That's one reason a recent agreement between...

IPTV to drive capex in 07.(STAT SNAP)(growth in internet protocol television services forecasted)(Industry overview)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... While investment in telecoms equipment will reach nearly 841 billion this year, the highest level since 2002, spending is forecast to increase only 1.6% from 2006, compared to a 10.7% increase in 2006 and 8.3% in 2005. The marginal...

New twist to broadband debate Down Under.(NEWS ANALYSIS)
May 1, 2007... Broadband is a looming political issue in this year's Australian federal election, with the government under fire over the slow pace of national implementation and providers in conflict with regulators over the competition regime. National...

Global broadband market to double by 2011.(INSIGHT: ONE MONTH'S TELECOM RESEARCH)
May 1, 2007... Broadband equipment revenue will rise from $11.2 billion in 2006 to $15.1 billion by 2011, or 6.2% annually. The number of broadband subscribers, iSuppli forecasts, will more than double to 622.7 million by 2011 from only 270.4 million last...

DSL uptake accelerates mobile ROI.(INSIGHT: ONE MONTH'S TELECOM RESEARCH)
May 1, 2007... Mobile operators can recoup their investments in as short as three years if they can get their subscribers to also subscribe to their fixed broadband offerings. Analysys says DSL services can generate nine times the ARPU earned from mobile data...

Linux invades mobile devices.(INSIGHT: ONE MONTH'S TELECOM RESEARCH)
May 1, 2007... From only 8.1 million in 2007, more than 203 million mobile devices will use Linux operating systems by 2012. According to ABI Research, more than half of these will be powered by a commercial Linux OS by 2012, up from 8.1 million this year,...

VPNs growing, but with 'complex' prices.(INSIGHT: ONE MONTH'S TELECOM RESEARCH)
May 1, 2007... Internet-based VPNs have replaced private lines as the wide area networking technology of choice for enterprises worldwide, but VPN port prices vary dramatically by country. According TeleGeography, port prices are lowest in North America and...

Mobile TV's latest entries: A-VSB and MPH.(NEWS ANALYSIS)
May 1, 2007... The battle for supremacy in the mobile TV technology race continues to shift as vendors create yet another mobile TV standard. The latest mobile TV technology on the block is aimed at markets that have adopted the US-developed ATSC...

Beijing.(NEWS MAP: Asian telecoms this month)(Alcatel Shanghai Bell and Datang Mobile Communications Equipment Company Ltd. to provide networking equipment to China Mobile Ltd.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Alcatel Shanghai Bell and Datang Mobile sign a deal to provide China Mobile with TD-SCDMA network equipment for trials in Shanghai and Guangzhou. The government imposes rules to curb Internet gaming addiction. The country's growing band of...

Hong Kong.(NEWS MAP: Asian telecoms this month)(China Telecom (Hong Kong) Group Ltd. reports its annual profits)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... China Telecom sees its annual profits for 2006 drop 2.7% due to lower connection fees resulting from slower growth in its core fixed-line business. Excluding the connection fee figures, net profits rose 4.9% to 22.2b yuan ($2.9b) while revenues...

Bangkok.(NEWS MAP: Asian telecoms this month)(TOT Corp. to acquire Thai Mobile)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... The government continues a crackdown on the Internet by shutting down the political chat room of the Web site www.pantip.com because of postings deemed insulting to the revered monarch. The board of TOT gives the nod to the state agency's...

Colombo.(NEWS MAP: Asian telecoms this month)
May 1, 2007... Intelsat is working with Sri Lankan authorities to halt the unauthorized use of Intelsat satellite by terrorist groups. Intelsat officials met with US and Sri Lankan government officials regarding the plan.

Hanoi.(NEWS MAP: Asian telecoms this month)
May 1, 2007... EVN Telecom teams up with VSNL International to invest $200m in an underwater fiber-optic cable network that will link major telecom hubs in Asia. The network will help reduce congestion in Internet traffic, which was paralyzed last December by...

Jakarta.(NEWS MAP: Asian telecoms this month)
May 1, 2007... Hutchison Telecom launches its Indonesian operation in partnership with the Charoen Pokphand Group. The new operation will provide GSM mobile telephony services under the 3 brand.

Manila.(NEWS MAP: Asian telecoms this month)(Pacific Internet Philippines is introducing WiMAX service)(Zenith Telecommunications' proposal of radio communications network was rejected)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... PLDT units Smart Broadband and Piltel oppose the application of coastal station operator Zenith Telecommunications to build a radio communications network. The opposition comes after Eastern Telecommunications filed a similar complaint with the...

Seoul.(NEWS MAP: Asian telecoms this month)
May 1, 2007... KT rolls outs its WiBro mobile Internet services across the capital, allowing people on the move to hook up to the Internet at speeds similar to broadband landlines. KT is charging for the service with a one-time subscription and a monthly...

Tokyo.(NEWS MAP: Asian telecoms this month)
May 1, 2007... KDDI plans to move into the US mobile market by renting a wireless communications network from major US telecom carrier Sprint Nextel. KDDI will conduct its US operations under the "KDDI Mobile" brand. IP Mobile abandons its plans to enter...

Sydney.(NEWS MAP: Asian telecoms this month)
May 1, 2007... Telstra plans to invest in a 9,000-kilometer undersea cable to Hawaii to improve telecommunications links between Australia and the US. The cable, to be built and laid by cabling specialist Alcatel Submarine network, will allow increased data...

Wellington.(NEWS MAP: Asian telecoms this month)
May 1, 2007... The New Zealand government will re-auction some under-used cellular spectrum rights held by New Zealand Telecom and Vodafone to other service providers.

Singapore.(NEWS MAP: Asian telecoms this month)
May 1, 2007... Alcatel Lucent plans to establish an IP Transformation Center in Singapore that will develop, integrate and test end-to-end IP network solutions. The Asia Pacific center will employ 80 professionals and is expected to entail an investment of up...

New Delhi.(NEWS MAP: Asian telecoms this month)
May 1, 2007... The country's cellular operators are lining up investments of about $20b over the next two years to bring over 80% of the population under mobile coverage.

Phnom Penh.(NEWS MAP: Asian telecoms this month)
May 1, 2007... Cambodia switches off mobile text messaging services, a day ahead of elections to choose new local governing councils, to keep voters from being flooded with campaign messages and maintain what the government called a two-day "tranquility...

A key committee of the European Parliament backs a proposal to cap roaming charges for mobile phone calls.(movements)
May 1, 2007... A key committee of the European Parliament backs a proposal to cap roaming charges for mobile phone calls, voting in favor of a ceiling at 40 euro cents ($0.54) per minute of an outgoing call and 15 euro cents ($0.20) per minute for an incoming...

Huawei emerges as the frontline contender to win a $1B mobile equipment contract from Reliance Communications.(movements)
May 1, 2007... Huawei emerges as the frontline contender to win a $1b mobile equipment contract from Reliance Communications. Reliance will use the GSM/CDMA network equipment to install 30m mobile lines in some 8,000 cities across the country.

Vodafone reportedly plans to invest $400m.(movements)
May 1, 2007... Vodafone reportedly plans to invest $400m to set up its own fiber-optic network in India.

Vonage, navigating its darkest hours in a grim first year as a public company, hands the reins back to founder Jeffrey A. Citron following the resignation of CEO Michael Snyder.(movements)
May 1, 2007... Vonage, navigating its darkest hours in a grim first year as a public company, hands the reins back to founder Jeffrey A. Citron following the resignation of CEO Michael Snyder. Vonage is now facing high-stakes legal threat over the technology...

Telecom Italia chairman Guido Rossi resigned last month.(movements)
May 1, 2007... Telecom Italia chairman Guido Rossi resigned last month, an apparent victory for the company's biggest shareholder as it seeks to negotiate the sale of most of its stake in Italy's largest telecoms company to US telecom giant AT&T and its...

The FCC prohibits mobile phone use aboard passenger planes.(movements)
May 1, 2007... The FCC prohibits mobile phone use aboard passenger planes, citing technical reason for the decision.

Qualcomm rejects a $20m payment and new terms offered by Nokia to settle a dispute over technology patents.(movements)
May 1, 2007... Qualcomm rejects a $20m payment and new terms offered by Nokia to settle a dispute over technology patents. The rejection comes after the two firms failed to reach a cross-licensing agreement last month.

Nortel achieves what it says is the industry's first live call over an ultra mobile broadband network.(movements)
May 1, 2007... Nortel achieves what it says is the industry's first live call over an ultra mobile broadband network delivering high-definition video and VoIP.

Microsoft releases an early version of a Web browser, called Deepfish.(movements)
May 1, 2007... Microsoft releases an early version of a Web browser, called Deepfish, for mobile devices that will make browsing full-sized Web pages faster and easier on smartphone screens.

ZTE secures a wireless Internet deal in Mexico City.(movements)
May 1, 2007... ZTE secures a wireless Internet deal in Mexico City. ZTE will set up wireless broadband "hotspots" linking schools, government offices and the city's thousands of surveillance cameras.

British utility National Grid agrees to sell its telecom-equipment business.(movements)
May 1, 2007... British utility National Grid agrees to sell its telecom-equipment business, National Grid Wireless UK, to Australia's Arqiva for $4.9b.

Google apologizes to rival Sohu.com, following complaints against Google's new Internet tool for inputting Chinese characters incorporated from Sohu.com.(movements)
May 1, 2007... Google apologizes to rival Sohu.com, following complaints against Google's new Internet tool for inputting Chinese characters incorporated from Sohu.com. The dispute highlights the intense competition in China's booming online market.

BT agrees to acquire Comsat International.(movements)
May 1, 2007... BT agrees to acquire Comsat International, a provider of data communication services for corporations and public-sector organizations in Latin America.

Nokia's first quarter earnings drop nearly 7% as high sales of low-end models in emerging markets pushed down its average selling price.(movements)
May 1, 2007... Nokia's first quarter earnings drop nearly 7% as high sales of low-end models in emerging markets pushed down its average selling price. Net profit came to 979m euros ($1.3b), down from 1.05b euros ($1.4b) in the first three months of 2006. Its...

Microsoft and Samsung enter a patent licensing agreement focused on the companies' consumer electronics lines.(movements)
May 1, 2007... Microsoft and Samsung enter a patent licensing agreement focused on the companies' consumer electronics lines. The deal gives the two firms access to each others' patents for existing and future inventions in categories including computers,...

The battle for survival: independent VoIP providers face relentless competition in China and around the world from larger, more entrenched competitors. Can they recast their businesses in time to survive?(Cover story)
May 1, 2007... Even as tens of millions of telephony customers around the world embrace VoIP as their preferred voice technology, independent VoIP providers are struggling to retain market share and preserve their businesses amid escalating competition. ...

Carrier Ethernet catches fire: easy, low-cost deployment, flexibility and scalability convince more carriers to embrace the technology and deploy it more deeply in the enterprise network.(ACCESS)
May 1, 2007... Having resoundingly conquered the LAN space, Ethernet technology now is rapidly spreading its wings in the MAN and WAN markets and being considered for applications as disparate as the local loop, home networking, telematics and computer...

Taking NGN to the world: BT set up 21 Century Global Venture to share its unique NGN experience with service providers around the world. Steve Johnson, head of the venture, shares with group editor Joseph Waring how BT is using insight gained through 21CN in the UK to help others accelerate and lower the risk of NGN programs.(ONE-TO-ONE)(Interview)
May 1, 2007... Telecom Asia: What was the main reason for starting up the venture? Steve Johnson: As I'm sure you're aware, BT's 21 Century Network program, particularly the transformation we're undergoing in the UK, given the scale of it and the fact...

Broadband over powerline gains ground: after years of slow take-up, broadband over powerline is gaining traction on a global basis. But to achieve wider deployment, industry players need to work together to resolve the interoperability issues of different standards.(TECHNOLOGY)
May 1, 2007... For years, many have hoped that broadband over powerline, or BPL, would allow utility companies to become a viable third alternative to the cable and telephone companies providing high-speed data access to the Internet. While the promise of...

3's bumpy road to profitability.(AMERICAN FORUM)(Hutchison 3G Austria GmbH)(Financial report)
May 1, 2007... Hutchison's 3 Group announced much improved results for 2006, with total revenues up 35% year-on-year to HK$50,668 million ($ 5.3 billion). The group narrowed its losses, before tax and interest, by 45% year-on-year to HK$19,996 million ($ 2.1...

CDMA universal base stations.(PREMIERE: Latest products and services)
May 1, 2007... Motorola has released a next-generation universal base station (UBS) and the Picocell M810, which can be deployed by mobile operators using various frequencies and configurations, including CDMA 1x and EVDO-Rev A. The Motorola UBS is built...

1x EV-DO mobile phone tester.(PREMIERE: Latest products and services)
May 1, 2007... Willtek Communications is enhancing its 4400 mobile phone tester series by adding 1x EV-DO Revision A testing capability to it. The 4400 allows production and service centers to align the wireless devices to achieve the required power and...

Triple-band VET base station antenna.(PREMIERE: Latest products and services)
May 1, 2007... Radio Frequency Systems has launched a new triple-band variable electrical tilt (VET) base station antenna series, which it says provides high-band gain and premium tilt control in 3G network rollouts. The antenna, available in 1.6-, 2.1-...

Improved IP wireless network platform.(PREMIERE: Latest products and services)
May 1, 2007... UTStarcom has added GSM capability to its MovingMedia 2000 end-to-end all-IP wireless network platform. Based on 3GPP2 standards specifications, the MovingMedia 2000 can be used by both incumbent and greenfield CDMA operators offering CDMA...

Dual-mode VoIP phone with Skype.(PREMIERE: Latest products and services)
May 1, 2007... Linksys has introduced the iPhone dual-mode Internet telephony kit for Skype (CIT400), a wireless handset designed to let users make calls to other Skype users or over existing standard telephone lines without a computer. The CIT400 embeds...

Compact IP-DSLAM.(PREMIERE: Latest products and services)(Keymile)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Keymile has expanded its MileGate Multi-Service IP DSLAM product family with the addition of the MileGate 2010, a compact IP-DSLAM that enables the optical linking of buildings (FTTB) for the provision of VDSL2 connections at the highest...

IMS elements in access node.(PREMIERE: Latest products and services)(ECI Telecom GmbH introduced multi-service access node)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... ECI Telecom has integrated IMS elements into a multi-service access node (MSAN), allowing it to function as a gateway and policy enforcement point. The Hi-FOCuS-5 is an IMS-tuned MSAN that also supports voice with the industry's highest...

GPON ONT solution.(PREMIERE: Latest products and services)(PMC-Sierra Inc. introduced network architectures)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... PMC-Sierra has released the PAS65311 GPON ONT reference design that features the company's GigaPASS architecture. According to the company, it is the only ONT solution that is already deployed in millions of PON devices. It includes a ful...

New-gen IMS-based solution.(PREMIERE: Latest products and services)
May 1, 2007... ZTE Corp. has launched its IMS-based, multi-network platform supporting an open structure. ZIMS covers all the functional modules defined by 3GPP, 3GPP2 and TISPAN. It provides the network equipment for the access layer, the bearer layer,...

Index rebounds nearly 5%: TA30 telecom stock index Mar 13-Apr 16, 2007.(TELECOM CORPORATE)
May 1, 2007... The TA index rebounded 4.6% to 1,582 points, as most markets across the region closed sharply higher. Gainers outnumbered decliners 22 to 7, with one closing flat. The top gainer was China Unicom, jumping over 22% and reversing loses in...

Asia telecom transactions index.(TELECOM CORPORATE)
May 1, 2007... Asia telecom transactions index Seller Buyer WebEx Communications Cisco DoubleClick Google Telecom New Zealand CCMP Capital and Teacher's Private Capital Huawei...

Networking opportunities across Asia.(EVENTS CALENDAR)(Calendar)
May 1, 2007... Networking opportunities across Asia Date Event May 15 - May 17, 2007 WiMAX Asia May 21 - May 22, 2007 World Mobility Summit & Show May 21 - May 22, 2007 IPTV World Congress & Exhibition May 21 - May...

Telecoms, IT, media converge in Singapore.(PRESHOW: CommunicAsia2007, 19-22 Jun, Singapore Expo)
May 1, 2007... With the telecoms landscape growing more complex and discussions heating up on what technologies will be essential, CommunicAsia2007 is expected to be even bigger than last year--not only in terms of floor space, but also in terms of the number...

IEC shifts Asia event to center of growth.(PRESHOW: Broadband World Forum Asia 2007, 5-8 June, Beijing, China)
May 1, 2007... The number of broadband subscribers worldwide last year jumped 31% to 281.3 million. While the US remained on top with just over 57 million lines, China is due to surpass the US within the next few months. It now has almost 52 million broadband...

Exec movements at Chunghwa Telecom.(TELECOM CAREER)
May 1, 2007... Chunghwa Telecom has appointed Chang Feng-Hsiung as EVP as part of a management reshuffle. His previous post as SVP for sales and marketing will be filled by Chang Shaio-Tung, president of the mobile business group. Hsieh Chi-Mao has been...

Nokia Siemens names Asia head.(TELECOM CAREER)
May 1, 2007... Nokia Siemens Networks has assigned Rajeev Suri as head of the Asia-Pacific Region. Prior to this role, Suri was SVP of Nokia Networks in Asia Pacific. He joined Nokia in 1995, holding several executive level positions in the company in...

Motorola appoints CFO, COO.(TELECOM CAREER)
May 1, 2007... Motorola has named Thomas Meredith as acting CFO, replacing David Devonshire, who retired last month but will remain at his post to ensure a smooth transition. Greg Brown, president of the company's networks and enterprise business, has...

New DSL Forum board members.(TELECOM CAREER)
May 1, 2007... Les Brown of Texas Instruments and Michael Hanrahan of Huawei Technologies have been elected to the DSL forum's board of directors. Brown also serves as chair of the testing and interoperability working group within the forum. The forum...

Polycom gets country manager.(TELECOM CAREER)
May 1, 2007... Polycom has promoted Michael Chetner to country manager for Australia and New Zealand. He was previously director of Polycom sales operations for the Asia-Pacific region, a position he has held since 2005.

iBasis names business VP.(TELECOM CAREER)
May 1, 2007... Global VoIP service provider iBasis has named Jayesh Patel as VP of business development and strategy, where he will be responsible for the development of partnerships, alliances, eco-systems and overall corporate strategy. Prior to...

Intelsat General appoints president.(TELECOM CAREER)
May 1, 2007... William Shernit has joined Intelsat General, a wholly owned subsidiary of Intelsat, as president and CEO. He comes to Intelsat General after serving more than 15 years as president of BAE Systems.

PDE hwires VP.(TELECOM CAREER)
May 1, 2007... Paramount Digital Entertainment (PDE), a Paramount Pictures unit, has hired Pradeep Mittur as VP to oversee the company's interactive and mobile entertainment business in Asia Pacific.

Promotion at F5 Networks.(TELECOM CAREER)
May 1, 2007... FT Networks has promoted Song Tang Yih from director of sales to VP of Asia Pacific. Song will direct and manage F5 Networks' business across 13 markets in Asia, and identify new growth opportunities for the company.

RFS hires global product manager.(TELECOM CAREER)
May 1, 2007... Radio Frequency Systems (RFS) has appointed Marc Kaumle as global product manager of its wireless indoors solutions sector. He will oversee product strategy and business development for RFS's ClearFill solution.

Star has new COO.(TELECOM CAREER)
May 1, 2007... Star has appointed media and entertainment veteran Laureen Ong as COO to succeed Steve Askew, who has left the company for personal reasons. Ong joins Star from the National Geographic Channel, where she was the founding president.

Seven expands advisory board.(TELECOM CAREER)
May 1, 2007... Push email software supplier Seven has appointed Mike van der Wallen and Peter Hogewonig to its advisory board. Van der Wallen is the founder of Inspiring Management, an executive coaching service company, and a former corporate VP of Sony...

Outsmart names VP.(TELECOM CAREER)
May 1, 2007... Outsmart has assigned Jacob Bros as VP of sales to focus on strengthening the company's relationships with service providers. He was most recently VP of sales at Unipier, a mobile service delivery middleware provider.

IP and the battleground above.(INSIDELINE)
May 1, 2007... Amid predictable headlines about the last frontier, IP communications is about to unshackle itself from the surly bonds of earth. The US Department of Defense has contracted Intelsat to manage a three-year project, known as Internet...

Loophole for nudists.(internet pornography in China)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Despite the Chinese government's efforts to crackdown on Net smut, which the Ministry of Public Security insists is "contaminating cyberspace and perverted China's young minds" it has failed to curtail nude Web chats after discovering "there...

Hoax or scam.(virus affecting cellular customers)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Mobile operators in Pakistan last month were deluged with calls from customers complaining they received a message claiming a killer virus was being transmitted via their handsets. Reuters reported that the hoax message claimed that 20 people...

Video laggards.(BACKPAGE BRIEFING)
May 1, 2007... While women in the US are more likely to use the Internet than men, fewer women are watching video. According to a study by eMarketer, about 97 million women in the US will use the Internet this year compared with 91 million men. But the firm...

Penalties.(BACKPAGE BRIEFING)
May 1, 2007... In an ambitious attempt to curb Internet gaming addiction among the nation's youth, the Chinese government is requiring game makers to install "anti-addiction software" in their games, which will impose in-game penalties when garners play for...