Telecompaper Africa/Asia articles from June 2009

Telecompaper Africa/Asia archives from June 2009

Middle East - Huawei restructures delivery and service division in ME.
June 30, 2009... Huawei Technologies has completed the restructuring of its Delivery and Service arm in the Middle East, tuning the business group to meet market demand. The firm said the development is in line with Huawei's strategy to evolve into a solution...

Asia - ComScore expands contract with GroupM in Asia-Pacific region.
June 30, 2009... ComScore has expanded its contract with GroupM Interaction APAC to encompass the entire Asia-Pacific region, reflecting ComScore's growing portfolio of agency clients in this market. GroupM is a global media investment management operation...

Africa - Naspers FY revenue up 30% to ZAR 26.7 bln.
June 30, 2009... African media company Naspers reported a 30 percent increase in revenue to ZAR 26.7 billion for the financial year to 31 March, driven by the resilience of its internet and pay-TV operations. Operating profit (before amortisation and other...

Africa - Zain reviews offers for African unit.
June 30, 2009... Middle East and Africa mobile operator Zain Group may consider selling a stake in its African operations if the price is right, an official told Kuwaiti daily al-Anbaa. The firm has received offers from French entertainment group Vivendi and...

Bahrain - Kalaam Telecom names Maani as new CEO.
June 30, 2009... Bahrain-based Kalaam Telecom has appointed Suleiman Maani as its new CEO to head up the company's operations in the Middle East. Maani has more than 20 years of strategic and operational experience in various sectors, including...

China - MediaTek to embed A8 Box into 3G mobile chipset.
June 30, 2009... A8 Digital Music has signed a contract with semiconductor firm MediaTek to target the vast number of 3G handsets being produced for the domestic market, the South China Morning Post reports. A8 Music has agreed to have its proprietary...

Japan - ASC signs distribution agreement with Toenec in Japan.
June 30, 2009... ASC, global provider of products to record, analyse and evaluate communications, has signed a distribution contract with Japan's electricity and information communications company Toenec. Toenec will distribute ASC's recording products...

South Korea - KT lays out new business strategies.
June 30, 2009... Korean telecommunications operator KT, which merged with its mobile unit KTF in June, is determined to recreate its image, the JoongAng Daily reports. KT's new strategy is a four-part plan, categorised as plus, minus, multiply and divide...

Philippines - NTC approves Globe Telecom's foray into broadcast service.
June 30, 2009... The National Telecommunications Commission has approved Philippines operator Globe Telecom's foray into broadcasting with the extension of Altimax Broadcasting's permit to roll out a multi-channel, multi-point distribution system service...

Japan - Iridium to offer satellite communication services in Japan.
June 30, 2009... Mobile satellite services company Iridium Satellite will begin offering a new satellite communications service in Japan for ships that costs about 10-20 percent less than its previous service and can send data around 50 times faster at 128 Kbps,...

China - Softbank, Shanghai Media sign online content deal.
June 30, 2009... Japanese carrier Softbank and Shanghai Media Group have formed a basic agreement under which the Japanese firm will provide the Chinese firm with online content and expertise on website management, with the two sides collaborating in other...

Taiwan - Chunghwa picks Teknovus, Zyxel's 10G-EPON system.
June 30, 2009... Taiwanese communications firm Chunghwa Telecom has selected Teknovus and Zyxel Communications' 10G-EPON system for testing at Chunghwa's lab. Zyxel provides Fttx communications equipment around the globe, including sales to Chunghwa and other...

Pakistan - PTCL inks sales deal with HRI.
June 30, 2009... Pakistani operator PTCL has signed a contract with Habib Rafiq International. According to the contract, HRI will provide PTCL's network technologies and services to their existing and new customers in the SME segment. HRI will also offer...

Uganda - MTN, Gemalto partner on m-payments in Uganda.
June 30, 2009... MTN Uganda has selected Gemalto to support its nationwide mobile payments service. Over 180,000 m-payment transactions have been performed since the service was launched in March. Under the terms of the deal, Gemalto provides MTN with a...

New Zealand - LiveWire launches music store on Telecom NZ's 3G network.
June 30, 2009... Mobile personalisation services provider LiveWire Mobile has launched its music service on Telecom New Zealand's 3G network. LiveWire has also extended its contract with Telecom to manage both its 3G and CDMA music stores. Under the contract,...

Thailand - True Move seeks police help to find rogue callers.
June 30, 2009... Thai mobile operator True Move has asked the police to help find out which mobile network is providing illegal 11-digit numbers. True Move has noticed calls on its network using an 11-digit number, rather than the normal 10-digit phone...

Thailand - Thai regulator to hold 3G pre-qualification round.
June 30, 2009... The thai regulator plans to hold a pre-qualification round ahead of the 3G auction. Before beginning the auction for the 2.1GHz licences, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) will ask operators that have expressed interest to sign...

Thailand - CAT Telecom president to focus on Hutch CDMA network buy.
June 30, 2009... CAT Telecom's new president, Jirayuth Roongsrithong, will focus on taking over Hutchison's CDMA network in the central provinces to integrate it into a single national CDMA network. Jirayuth further plans to seek a foreign strategic partner...

Malaysia - TM in talks with 13 access seekers for wholesale services.
June 30, 2009... Telekom Malaysia (TM) is in talks with thirteen companies for its high-speed broadband (HSBB) wholesale services, news agency Bernama reports. The wholesale service has been available since May and the company is negotiating with thirteen...

Japan - NEC develops internet routing technology.
June 30, 2009... Japan's NEC has developed technology that allows network owners to transmit data over selected routes. The technology allows communications companies to pick internet routes for data transmissions, lowering the risk of data congestion, the...

Philippines - Solid Group to export handsets to Latin America, PNG.
June 30, 2009... Filipino handset maker Solid Group plans to export its handsets to Latin America and Papua New Guinea. The company's dual-SIM MyPhone brand aims to compete with big brands, but solid has some 20 mobile brands available. The company expects to...

India - Vodafone Essar launches number promo, prepaid offer.
June 30, 2009... Indian mobile operator Vodafone Essar has launched a special offer for postpaid customers in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Subscribers can get free VIP numbers with new postpaid connections. VIP numbers are chosen from Vodafone's range of...

Japan - Ministry issue skills policy for move to IPv6.
June 30, 2009... Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has issued a basic policy for the move to IPv6. The ministry expects IPv4 addresses to run out in early 2011 and has set-up a study group to facilitate the move to IPv6. The new...

Taiwan - Vibo Telecom to raise TWD 3.5 bln in bond issue.
June 30, 2009... Taiwanese 3G operator Vibo Telecom plans to raise TWD 3.49 billion through a bond issue. The company plans to issue five-year convertible bonds in a private placement targeting existing shareholders, The Digitimes reports. Shareholders have...

India - Tata launches fresh 'Let's Rock' prepaid tariff.
June 30, 2009... Indian operator Tata Teleservices has launched a new version of its 'Let's Rock' tariff package. The prepaid package is aimed at young mobile users. The package sells for INR 199 with 5 years validity. Local on-net calls are charged at INR...

New Zealand - New Zealand regulator sets lower MTA prices.
June 30, 2009... The New Zealand Commerce Commission has released its draft report recommending that the mobile termination access (MTA) prices should be regulated. The Commission also recommended that the undertakings submitted in lieu of regulation by...

Kazakhstan - Kazakhtelecom to dispose of mobile subsidiary Neo.
June 30, 2009... Kazakh telecommunications firm Kazakhtelecom is seeking to dispose of its majority stake in Mobile Telecom-Service, which uses the Neo brand, as part of the company's asset restructuring programme. Kazakhtelecom has appointed RBS Corporate...

Thailand - True Internet upgrades network.
June 30, 2009... Thai internet provider True Internet, part of the True group, is upgrading its network with Cisco equipment. True Internet will install the Cisco Nexus 7000 products to enhance its network.

Singapore - TeleChoice ups shareholding in Planet Telecoms.
June 30, 2009... Singaporean communications services provider Telechoice International has increased its holding in Planet Telecoms. TeleChoice increased its interest from 85 percent to 92.1 percent in the handset retailer. The increase in shareholdings is...

Malaysia - Nextnation sees revenues rise in Q4.
June 30, 2009... Malaysian mobile applications developer Netxnation recorded revenues of MYR 14.13 million for the fourth quarter ended 30 April, up 2 percent from the year-ago quarter. The increase was mainly attributed to a slight improvement in sales. The...

New Zealand - New Zealand regulator to begin mobile roaming probe.
June 30, 2009... The New Zealand regulator will begin an investigation into national mobile roaming price rules. The Commerce Commission will commence a Schedule 3 investigation in August this year into whether regulation of the national mobile roaming...

China - Pacnet obtains IP VPN licence in China.
June 30, 2009... Asian telecommunications provider Pacnet has received an IP VPN licence from the Chinese government. The licence will allow the company to connect its IP network infrastructure into major cities across China. Recently, the company has also...

Hong Kong - Hong Kong's fixed-line market contracts to 3.67 mln users.
June 30, 2009... Hong Kong ended April with 3.673 million fixed-line users, down from 3.682 million at the end of March and down from 3.711 at the end of last year, according to figures from regulator Ofta. The total comprises 1.752 million business users and...

India - Reliance offers BBC World radio, MMS news alerts.
June 30, 2009... Indian operator Reliance Mobile will offer BBC World Service radio broadcasts on its R-World mobile portal and has also begun offering an MMS news service. Under an agreement through Worldwide Records, Reliance subscribers will be able to...

Asia - Tech Mahindra, Win in strategic alliance.
June 30, 2009... Indian ICT services provider Tech Mahindra has signed a cooperation and strategic alliance agreement with mobile entertainment distributor Win. Under the agreement, Tech Mahindra will work with Win to develop the company's next generation...

Singapore - SingTel's IPTV service hits 100,000 customers.
June 30, 2009... Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) has seen its mio TV service surpass the 100,000 customer mark. The service was launched two years ago and to celebrate SingTel has begun a promotion. New and existing customers will be offered a special...

Australia - Eftel to raise AUD 1.63 mln in rights issue.
June 30, 2009... Australian internet services provider Eftel plans a rights issue to raise about AUD 1.63 million. Eftel will offer existing shareholders one new share at AUD 1.95 for every two shares they hold. The company will issue up to 83.35 million new...

Kazakhstan - Kazakhtelecom opens service centre in Kostanai.
June 30, 2009... Kazakh telecommunications provider Kazakhtelecom has opened another service centre in Kostanai, in north Kazakstan. The new service centre will support the central branch in the city. The Kostanai branch has 227,674 fixed-line subscribers and...

South Korea - SK Telecom launches BlackBerry Internet Service.
June 30, 2009... Korean telecommunications firm SK Telecom has launched the BlackBerry Bold smartphone as well as BlackBerry Internet Service. The BlackBerry Internet Service uses push technology to support up to ten POP3 or IMAP e-mail accounts. SK Telecom...

Indonesia - Telkom to expand wireless public phone network.
June 30, 2009... PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom) said it will continue to expand its network of wireless public phones, the Jakarta Globe reported. In the first quarter, Telkom set up 2,452 new wireless public phones, operated with pre-paid cards. Telkom...

Indonesia - Trikomsel sees FY sales, net rising with demand.
June 30, 2009... Indonesian mobile phone distributor PT Trikomsel Oke sees sales this year rising about 21 percent compared to 2008, spurred by rising demand for high-tech handphones, the Jakarta Globe reported. Trikomsel president director Sugiono Wiyono is...

Viet Nam - Vietnamese mobile subscribers can register for 3 numbers.
June 30, 2009... Mobile phone subscriber in VietNam can only register three numbers per operator, VietNamNet Bridge reported, citing a recent decree issued by the country's ministry of information and communications. With six telecom service providers, and...

Malaysia - V Telecoms to raise funds for listing next year.
June 30, 2009... Malaysian network telecommunications provider V Telecoms will next year look to list on Bursa Malaysia or the London Stock Exchange, as it seeks to expand its business and gain more market visibility, the Business Times reported. Towards this...

Philippines - Smart says offer for Piltel shares 'fair' and 'reasonable'.
June 30, 2009... Filipino mobile operator Smart Communications said, through financial advisor CLSA Exchange Capital, that its tender offer to buy out minority shareholders in Philipino Telephone (Piltel) was "fair" and "reasonable, the Manila Times reported....

Uganda - Zain introduces Zap mobile commerce service in Uganda.
June 30, 2009... Mobile operator Zain has officially launched its Zap mobile commerce service in Uganda. The firm's CEO Yesse Oenga said in a statement that the roll-out of the Zap service in Uganda will be phased. In the first phase launched 29 June, Zain...

India - Tulip Telecom's FY revenues grow 32%.
June 30, 2009... India's enterprise data connectivity service provider Tulip Telecom reported revenues for the fiscal year ended March of INR 16.14 billion, up 32.4 percent from INR 12.18 billion a year earlier. The net profit increased to INR 2.51 billion...

Malaysia - HTC launches Touch Pro2 in Malaysia.
June 30, 2009... HTC has launched the HTC Touch Pro2 mobile device in Malaysia. The HTC Touch Pro2 incorporates HTC's TouchFlo 3D interface. TouchFlo 3D has been integrated into a customised version of Windows Mobile 6.1 to deliver consistency throughout...

Middle East - HTC launches Touch Pro2 in Middle East.
June 30, 2009... HTC has announced the Middle East launch of the HTC Touch Pro2. The HTC Touch Pro2 incorporates HTC's TouchFlo 3D interface. TouchFlo 3D has been integrated into a customised version of Windows Mobile 6.1 to deliver consistency throughout...

Zimbabwe - Ericsson, ZTE start shipments to Econet Zimbabwe.
June 30, 2009... Econet Wireless Zimbabwe has received a shipment of equipment from Ericsson. The shipment, which is made up of base stations and core network equipment, is expected to be fully installed by the end of July, IT News Africa writes. Econet,...

Uganda - Grameen, Google launch mobile apps with MTN Uganda.
June 30, 2009... The Grameen Foundation announced the launch of a suite of mobile phone applications developed with Google and MTN Uganda for Uganda's poor and disadvantaged communities. The suite of five mobile services, provided using Google SMS Search...

Jordan - Umniah sponsors Cycling Jordan's activities.
June 30, 2009... Jordan mobile operator Umniah announced a cooperation agreement with Cycling Jordan under whch the mobile firm will sponsor the group's various activities with the aim of encouraging cycling as a sport. The events include weekly and monthly...

India - BSNL, MTNL join Conexus Mobile Alliance.
June 30, 2009... State-owned Indian operators BSNL and MTNL have joined Conexus Mobile Alliance to offer their subscribers a flat international data roaming plan. MTNL chairman and managing director RSP Sinha told PTI that as part of the agreement, the...

Afghanistan - Afghanistan near 10 mln mobile subscribers.
June 30, 2009... The Afghan market looks set to reach 10 million mobile phone customers by the end of Q2, having finished Q1 with 9.29 million. According to a report from Cellular-News, quarterly net additions stood at an all-time record of 1.33 million in...

Philippines - Smart launches HTC Magic in Philippines.
June 30, 2009... Filipino mobile operator Smart Communications and HTC have launched the HTC Magic, an Android-powered mobile phone. The HTC Magic is enhanced with Outlook synchronisation, Smart Dialler, and an onscreen keyboard with predictive text. The HTC...

Algeria - Stonesoft renews contract with Algeria Telecom.
June 30, 2009... Network security services provider Stonesoft has renewed its contract with national telecommunication company Algeria Telecom. The contract has now been renewed by a contract that is in force for one year at the time, for a maximum period of...

Bahrain - Zain targets expats with new Bahrain shop.
June 30, 2009... Zain Bahrain and New Sky have set up an outsourced retail store where Zain customers will be served using Hindi, Urdu, Malyalam, Bengali and English in their transactions. The store, located in the heart of the Manama Souq which sees very...

South Africa - MTN appoints new finance director, head of South Africa.
June 30, 2009... African mobile operator MTN Group has appointed Nazir Patel as finance director to succeed Rob Nisbet, who is leaving the company. Nisbet, who joined the company in 1995, will remain part of the team working on the company's proposed share...

Saudi Arabia - Jeel launches Barq DSL services in Saudi Arabia.
June 30, 2009... Jeel Internet Solutions Saudi Arabia has introduced internet services for the corporate market. The new Jeel Barq DSL offers subscriptions for 1Mbps, 2Mbps, 4Mbps, 8Mbps and 10Mbps services. Barq is packaged with Google Mail Security and...

Malawi - TNM, Starfish Mobile partner to launch VAS.
June 30, 2009... Malawi mobile operator TNM has partnered with Starfish Mobile International, an African wireless application service provider, to launch mobile content services in Malawi. The initial launch will allow TNM subscribers to access a range of...

Bahrain - Batelco signs 'one-stop shop' deal with Tata Communications.
June 29, 2009... Bahrain operator Batelco has signed an agreement with Tata Communications for international connectivity services for multinational customers. This includes international private leased circuits and global MPLS. This is Batelco's 32nd...

Bahrain - Almoayyed to offer Alcatel-Lucent enterprise products.
June 29, 2009... Bahrain-based IT and telecom services provider Almoayyed Group is joining the business partner programme for sales of Alcatel-Lucent enterprise equipment to businesses in the region. Almoayyed will offer the voice and data equipment and...

Nigeria - Galaxy Backbone picks MTN Nigeria for fibre capacity.
June 29, 2009... Galaxy Backbone has chosen mobile operator MTN Nigeria to provide internet service to its downstream customers. Under the partnership, Galaxy Backbone is taking up capacity from MTN's fibre network to provide the internet service. Galaxy...

Qatar - Qtel nears 2 mln mobile customers.
June 29, 2009... Qatar Telecom announced it's set to reach a new record of 2 million mobile customers in the country within the next two weeks. To celebrate this achievement, Qtel has announced prizes worth QAR 500,000 for 100 customers who activate new...

Africa - World Bank gives USD 151 mln for Africa telecom development.
June 29, 2009... The World Bank has approved an International Development Association (IDA) credit of USD 151 million to extend access to affordable communications services to Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania. This is the third phase of the Regional...

Australia - 3 Australia offers free AVG security software subscription.
June 29, 2009... 3 Australia is offering its mobile broadband customers a free 12-month subscription to the AVG Internet security software suite. The offer is available by accessing My 3 Online and then downloading the software. The software blocks viruses,...

UAE - Du launches Music Challenge.
June 29, 2009... UAE operator Du has launched Music Challenge, a road show offering music lovers the opportunity to explore their DJ talents. The road show will take place in Dubai, between 15 June and 14 July, and in Abu Dhabi from 18 June to 13 August. Du's...

India - IntelliNet supplies mobile/Wi-Fi network products to Huawei.
June 29, 2009... Network convergence technology provider IntelliNet Technologies' Azaire Wireless Services Gateway, an Interworking-WLAN gateway platform is being supplied to Huawei Technologies. The WSG will be integrated with Huawei's packet core and then...

Middle East - Delta Partners invests in Vox Spectrum.
June 29, 2009... Private equity investor Delta Partners MENA Telecom Fund has decided to invest in Vox Spectrum. Delta Partners and Vox Spectrum will work together to further consolidate and expand Vox Spectrum's existing presence in the Middle East and...

Saudi Arabia - Alcatel-Lucent supplies IP communications at Saudi ministry.
June 29, 2009... Alcatel-Lucent has supplied an IP communication system for the Ministry of Culture and Information in Saudi Arabia. According to the vendor, the contract included a complete revamp of the legacy system at the ministry to a full converged...

Kenya - Safaricom launches new advertising campaign.
June 29, 2009... Kenyan mobile operator Safaricom has launched a new brand campaign. The campaign with the tagline 'Niko na Safaricom' underlines the firm's rich Kenyan heritage and resonance with its over 13 million subscribers on a personal, intimate level....

Asia - WorleyParsons picks Reliance to enhance global network.
June 29, 2009... WorleyParsons has signed a contract with India's Reliance Globalcom for the design, implementation and ongoing provision of a new regional WAN to link business critical office and operational project locations across nine countries. Under the...

India - NSN finishes network rollout for Vodafone Essar in 7 regions.
June 29, 2009... Indian operator Vodafone Essar has completed a rapid service expansion into seven new regions across India with Nokia Siemens Networks. People living in or travelling to Assam, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, North...

India - Sterlite enhances optical fibre manufacturing capacity.
June 29, 2009... India-based transmission services provider Sterlite Technologies' board of directors has approved the enhancement of the company's optical fibre annual manufacturing capacity to 20 million-km, which would position Sterlite amongst the top...

Qatar - Qtel adds higher ADSL speeds.
June 29, 2009... Qatar Telecom has launched two new speed plans for its ADSL service. Customers can now choose faster plans at 4Mbps or 8Mbps download speeds. Qtel started a major ADSL upgrade on 1 April as part of the company's ongoing 'Broadband Anywhere'...

Pakistan - Zong to double mobile sites by end-2009.
June 29, 2009... China Mobile Pakistan plans to increase the network coverage of its Pakistani mobile operator Zong to up to 9,000 sites across the country by year-end, with an investment of USD 500 million, the Daily Times reports. The Chinese company has...

Saudi Arabia - Mobily introduces BlackBerry service to prepaid users.
June 29, 2009... Sauid mobile operator Mobily has made its BlackBerry internet service available to prepaid customers. The service used to be available only to postpaid subscribers. The monthly subscription rate is the same for all prepaid and postpaid...

Nigeria - Etisalat Nigeria subscribers hit 1 million.
June 29, 2009... Mobile operator Etisalat Nigeria announced that it has hit the one million subscriber mark. The company said the feat was achieved in less than one year of operations in Nigeria. Controlled by UAE-based telecoms operator Etisalat, the mobile...

Japan - NTT Com to offer SLA for global IPv6 services.
June 29, 2009... Japanese operator NTT Communications will offer a service-level agreement to customers using IPv6 services provided on NTT Com's global Tier 1 IP backbone network beginning 1 July. If the services do not achieve the quality levels such as 100...

Angola - Angola, Russia sign telecom satellite contract.
June 29, 2009... Angola and Russia signed a contract for the build, launch and operation of an Angolan telecom satellite, AngoSat. The signing of the contract took place during a visit from Russian President Dimitri Medvedev in Angola on 26 June. According to...

Nauru - Digicel wins mobile licence in Republic of Nauru.
June 29, 2009... Digicel Pacific has won a mobile licence in the Republic of Nauru. Covering around 21 square kilometres, Nauru island currently has a population of 10,000 people, who speak Nauruan and English. There is currently no mobile phone service in...

Tunisia - France Telecom, Divona win Tunisian licence.
June 29, 2009... France Telecom and Tunisian partner Divona were awarded a 15-year fixed and mobile phone licence in Tunisia after submitting a EUR 137.65 million winning bid, the country's communications minister, Haj Klai, announced at a press conference on...

South Korea - WiBro fails to take off in South Korea.
June 29, 2009... WiBro services in South Korea are falling short of expectations. At the launch of services, the government forecasted that the WiBro services market would reach KRW 8.1 trillion in 2010 and the domestic equipment market for WiBro was expected...

South Korea - Some 45% of Koreans use DMB services.
June 29, 2009... About 45 percent of all South Koreans subscribe to mobile TV services. Satellite DMB operator TU Media has seen its subscriber base exceed 2 million, four years after the company launched its services. Furthermore, some 20 million DMB...

Asia - True to expand online shopping service across Asia.
June 29, 2009... Thai communications group True plans to expand its e-commerce website to seven other countries in Asia, the Bangkok Post reports. True's weloveshopping.com website had 170,000 merchants at end-2008 with a transaction value of THB 8 billion....