EDITORIAL

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Dear Readers,
Pakistan had over 136.4 million mobile subscribes at 31 January this year, according to data from Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA). Pakistan’s mobile data segment expanded by 18.1% in January 2015, with mobile operators adding 1.932 million net new 3G and 4G users in that month, compared to net adds of 1.898 million in December 2014 and 1.057 million the month before. Aamir Ibrahim, one of the founding members of Mobilink from 1994 will be returning to Mobilink as Deputy CEO and Chief Commercial Officer. Zong released a cricket app called CricKit. It is powered by PTV Sports and Ten Sports and is entirely free for its data customers. Warid has shared plans for its LTE MiFi which was launched in last month.

Sky Mobile, working under the Beeline Kyrgyzstan brand, has launched 35 3,75G/HSPA+ base stations in Southern Kyrgyzstan. Tele2 Kazakhstan mobile end-user service revenues grew by 12 percent in the fourth quarter. Tele2 has also signed a payments agreement with the Qiwi payment system. Nur Telecom, working under the O! Brand, has launched a network of branded terminals that customers can use pay for operator services without commission fee. Ucell Uzbekistan, cut roaming prices in Saudi Arabia by 8 times. AzTelekom has launched the first phase of its ‘Expansion of National Broadband Network’ project, in association with venture capital firm Infipro.

Qualcomm has announced working with Ericsson on several major wireless operators carriers to trial unlicensed Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology using the 5GHz band.

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Industrial News

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Ucell Service Revenues Up 16% in Q4

Sales of Uzbekistan mobile operator Ucell, controlled by the TeliaSonera group, totaled SEK 3.613 billion in 2014, up from SEK 3.118 billion in 2013. EBITDA, excluding non-recurring items, was SEK 1,944 million, up by 15.7 percent.
Source: TelecomPaper
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Phablets to Flood Smartphone Market, Claiming Over 20% of Devices Shipped by 2019

A new report from Juniper Research has found that over 400 million phablets will ship in 2019, a fivefold increase over the 138 million devices estimated to be shipped in 2015. While the iPhone 6 Plus has brought the category further into the limelight, it is budget devices that will drive phablets (smartphones with 5.5 6.9″ screens) into the global mainstream.
Source: Cellular-news
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Tele2 Kazakhstan Revenues Lift 12% Up in Q4

Tele2 Kazakhstan mobile end-user service revenues grew by 12 percent in the fourth quarter to SEK 280 million, from 251 millionth year earlier, negatively impacted by devaluation of the local currency and increased competition.
Source: TelecomPaper
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CDMA Uzbekistan Offers VIP Tariffs When Buying Artel Handset

Mobile operator CDMA Uzbekistan, working under the Perfectum Mobile brand, is offering VIP tariffs for subscribers across the country when purchasing Artel C226 handsets.
Source: TelecomPaper
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MegaFon Deploys BTS in Shahristan Tunnel

Russian-backed cellco MegaFon Tajikistan has installed a base transceiver station (BTS) in the Shahristan Tunnel, which is located in the Sughd province. The 5km tunnel forms part of the Dushanbe-Khujand motorway, which connects northern and southern Tajikistan. MegaFon notes that construction of the base station took three days.
Source: TeleGeography
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Tele2 Kazakhstan Introduces Payments over Qiwi

Mobile operator Tele2 Kazakhstan has signed a payments agreement with the Qiwi payment system. Subscribers will be able to pay for operator services without commission from the terminals. Payments over the Qiwi system currently form around 50 percent of all payments for services from the operator. Qiwi owns around 175,000 terminals in the CIS countries.
Source: TelecomPaper
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Kcell Appoints New CFO

Kazakhstan mobile operator Kcell has appointed Trond Moe its new CFO. Moe earlier worked as CFO for the Mode Group, based in the UK. He was also a partner of Ukraine consulting company Eastern Europe Group from 2011 to 2013 and worked as Ukrainian regional manager at Telenor from 2006 to 2011.
Source: TelecomPaper
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Warid Launches the Industry’s First Shared Plans and MiFi Device

Warid Telecom, Pakistan’s most trusted cellular operator, announced the launch of the industry’s first shared plans with its LTE MiFi.
Source: Warid PR
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Bakcell Promotion Rewards Top-Ups

Azerbaijan mobile operator Bakcell has introduced a promotion offering free on-net calls to subscribers of its CIN prepaid network. Free on-net calls can be had for two days for customers topping up from AZN 5. The option can be used once per month.
Source: TelecomPaper
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O! Expands payment options

Kyrgyzstan mobile operator Nur Telecom, working under the O! brand, has launched a network of branded terminals that customers can use pay for operator services without commission fee. The operator has installed several hundred terminals in the city of Bishkek. Customers using them can instantly top-up. Customers can now also pay for services at the operator’s branded retail outlets, in dealer shops, as well as via terminals of its partnering payment systems.
Source: TelecomPaper
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Ucell Cuts Roaming Prices by 8 Times in Saudi Arabia

Ucell Uzbekistan, cut roaming prices in Saudi Arabia by 8 times, the company said in a statement. The move is directed at creation additional convenience to Uzbek citizens, who will carry out Umrah pilgrimage in Saud Arabia.
Source: UzDaily
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Ministry of development of information technologies and communications created in Uzbekistan

Ministry of development of information technologies and communications was created in Uzbekistan. President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov signed a decree “On creation of Ministry of development of information technologies and communications of Uzbekistan” on 4 February 2015.
Source: UzDaily
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AzTelekom launches first phase of broadband expansion project

Azerbaijan’s fixed line incumbent AzTelekom has launched the first phase of its ‘Expansion of National Broadband Network’ project, in association with venture capital firm Infipro. As a result of its cooperation with Infipro, AzTelekom notes that it has attracted foreign investment to support its rollout. The project’s objectives are: to priorities public access to ICT resources; to improve the quality of services currently in place; and to expand the country’s broadband infrastructure. Further, AzTelekom hopes to see the number of fixed line broadband subscribers in Azerbaijan double by the end of the project’s first phase.
Source: TeleGeography
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Kcell expands management board

Kcell, controlled by the TeliaSonera group, has taken the decision to expand its management board, taking the board from six to seven members. Douglas Gordon Lubbe of Fintur Holding has joined the board. Lubbe is the CFO of the Eurasian branch of the TeliaSonera group.
Source: TelecomPaper
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Sky Mobile Expands Network in Southern Kyrgyzstan

Mobile operator Sky Mobile, working under the Beeline Kyrgyzstan brand, has launched 35 3,75G/HSPA+ base stations in Southern Kyrgyzstan. The quality of voice and mobile internet services has been raised in the Osh, Jalal-Abad and Batken regions.
Source: TelecomPaper
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Tele2 Kazakhstan Switches On 4,000th Base Station

Mobile operator Tele2 Kazakhstan has announced that it has switched on its 4,000th base transceiver station (BTS); the new cell tower is situated in the town of Saran in the Karaganda region. After rolling out more than 500 BTS in 2014, on top of 595 in 2013, Tele2 claims that it now offers cellular coverage to 85% of the population.
Source: TeleGeography
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GNC Alfa Gives Smartphone Discounts to New Subscribers

Operator GNC-Alfa, working under the Rostelecom Armenia brand, has introduced a promotion aimed at new subscribers connecting by 1 March. The customers will get a discount when buying smartphones or tablets at the operator’s branded shops. The discount will go to AMD 45,000. GNC-Alfa said that its subscriber’s base grew by almost 150 percent in 2014 to 26,000. The operator deployed its fibre network in 19 cities and towns and owns 26 shops across the country.
Source: UzDaily
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Megafon Tajikistan Offers Roaming Packs in Russia

Mobile operator Megafon Tajikistan has introdiced its new roaming packages, containing incoming calls and SMS. The monthly packages are available when roaming on the network of Russian mobile operator Megafon. The packages can be activated during the stay in Russia, as well as in Tajikistan.
Source: TelecomPaper
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Kar-Tel Cuts Data Roaming Cost in CIS

Mobile operator Kar-Tel, working under the Beeline Kazakhstan brand, plans to reduce the cost of its mobile internet roaming package for the CIS countries, Ukraine and Georgia. The 10 MB package will cost KZT 250 per day from 25 February. Additional data is charged KZT 25 per MB.
Source: TelecomPaper
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Sub-Saharan Africa’s Mobile-Money Market Could Grow to $1.5 Billion by 2019

Sub Saharan Africa is adopting mobile financial services at a pace seen in few other places, presenting banks and mobile network operators (MNOs) with a set of strategic choices that will go a long way toward determining their success in the region.
Source: Cellular-news
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China’s Smartphone Market Picks Up Slightly in Q4 2014

According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), 107.5 million smartphones were shipped to China in 2014Q4, representing a 2% Quarter on Quarter (QoQ) growth. This culminates to 420.7 million smartphones being shipped to China in 2014.
Source: Cellular-news
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Nar Mobile Gets another Prestigious Award

Azerbaijan’s mobile operator Nar Mobile registered another splendid achievement in the field of corporate social responsibility. This time, the projects of the mobile operator related to the integration of deaf people into society gained prestigious awards from the CSR Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce in Azerbaijan (AMCHAM).
Source: Trendz
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Megacom Offers Free Access To Customer Service Website

Kyrgyzstan mobile operator Megacom has introduced free access to its website and customer account management system. All customers with a positive balance can connect to the sites free, with no need to activate the service. The operator expects more feedback from subscribers as a result and easier customer service.
Source: TelecomPaper
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Orange Armenia Supports Safe Internet Month

Mobile operator Orange Armenia, in cooperation with the Safe Internet Committee of Armenia and Media Education Center NGO, plans to participate in the Safe Internet Month activities.
More than 3,000 pupils from 150 schools will participate in open lessons and receive relevant information and educational materials on how to use internet safely.
Source: TelecomPaper
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UCOM exceeds 75,000 FTTH subscribers aided by Calix

Armenian altnet UCOM LLC has signed up more than 75,000 subscribers to its fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) network, making it the leading player in the residential fibre market (by revenue), where it claims to deliver ‘one of the most advanced broadband services’ in the South Caucasus region. The operator, which is expanding its nationwide gigabit passive optical network (GPON)-based network, leverages solutions from Calix, including the vendor’s Calix E7-2 and E7-20 Ethernet Service Access Platforms (ESAPs), which are both designed to future-proof services to keep pace with the ever-increasing demand for broadband.
Source: TeleGeography
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Zong Makes another Breakthrough with World Cup App “CricKit”

Zong released a cricket app called CricKit. It is powered by PTV Sports and Ten Sports and is entirely free for its data customers. Keeping in mind the fact that Zong is the only 3G and 4G network and offers unimaginable streaming speed and quality to its valued customers, this app is certainly a delight for all Zong users.
Source: Zong-PR
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Beeline Expands Network Coverage in Fergana Region

Largest communication operator Beeline expanded its network on the territory of Fergana region. The installation of additional equipment allowed increasing the signal quality in Kokand, Kuvasay, Margilan and Fergana, and in the administrative areas of the Fergana region:
Source: UzDaily
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Legislative Chamber Considers Amendments to Law “On Radio Frequency Spectrum”

The Committee of the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan on information and communication technologies held a session, the press service of the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan said. The session discussed issues of improving draft law “On introduction of changes and amendments to the law of Uzbekistan “On radio frequency spectrum” and its inclusion to consideration at the session of the Legislative Chamber.
Source: UzDaily
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Android Smartphone Shipments Fall for the First Time

ABI Research reports that certified Android smartphone shipments fell quarter on quarter for the first time in 4Q 2014. In what is traditionally a shipment spike quarter, certified Android shipments fell from 217 million in 3Q 2014 to 206 million in 4Q 2014, mainly due to Apple iOS’ 90% growth from 39.3 million to 74.5 million iPhones shipped, but also due to forked Android.
Source: Cellular-news
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MTS Turkmenistan Launches New Entertainment Service

Mobile operator MTS Turkmenistan plans to introduce a new Mood entertainment service from 20 February. The IVR-service will enable access to different entertainment content via handsets. The service costs TMT 0.16 per day, with no extra costs for calls. The service will be free for the first three days.
Source: TelecomPaper
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Aamir Ibrahim Appointed as Mobilink Chief Commercial Officer

Jeffrey Hedberg, President and CEO Mobilink, announced key structural changes to Mobilink’s top management. Aamir Ibrahim, one of the founding members of Mobilink from 1994 will be returning to Mobilink as Deputy CEO and Chief Commercial Officer. In this role Aamir will lead all commercial aspects of Mobilink’s various businesses. Aamir has over 20 years of blue chip experience across various countries and industries. He has previously served as Chief Marketing Officer Telenor Pakistan and Chief Strategy Officer Mobilink in addition to various leadership roles at Ford Motor Company in Europe and Middle East.
Source: Mobilink PR
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Armentel (Beeline) Switches on FTTB Service in Yerevan

ArmenTel, which offers fixed and mobile services in Armenia under the Beeline banner of its Russian parent Vimpelcom, has announced the launch of fibre-to-the-building (FTTB) services in the capital Yerevan. Beeline’s new offer boasts four tariff plans with speeds of 10Mbps, 35Mbps, 50Mbps and 70Mbps, priced at AMD5,000 (USD10.44), AMD7,000, AMD10,000 and AMD13,000 per month, respectively.
Source: TeleGeography
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Azercell Announces Operating Results for 2014

Azercell Telecom, the leading mobile operator of Azerbaijan, has left behind another year full of achievements and successes. All of the performance indicators of 2014 once again reaffirmed the current leading position of Azercell, while some indicators show much greater advancements. At the present 51.3 percent of Azerbaijan’s mobile communications market choose Azercell Telecom. Its network covers 99.8 percent of the country’s population. The number of company’s subscribers exceeded 4.5 million people by late 2014.
Source: UzDaily
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Smartphone Apps Processor Revenue Jumped 16 Percent in Q3 2014

The global smartphone applications processor (AP) market grew 16 percent year on year growth to reach $5.6 billion in Q2 2014, according to Strategy Analytics.
Source: Cellular-news
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IoT Will Fire up the Next Generation of Engineers Says ARM and UCL

ARM is partnering with UCL (University College London) to launch a new education kit aimed at developing students’ Internet of Things (IoT) technical skills. The aim is to encourage more graduates to stay in Science, Technology, and Engineering & Maths (STEM) related professions as statistics suggest half leave the sector to pursue careers in unrelated areas.
Source: Cellular-news
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Spectrum Auction Guidelines Approved by PM; GrameenPhone Excluded from 1800MHz Bid

The auction conditions for the sale of additional mobile frequencies in the 2100MHz and 1800MHz bands have been approved with no significant changes by Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina following their submission by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) in December.
Source: TeleGeography
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LTE-A Coverage Reaches 100 Million People; To Cross 1 Billion Mark by 2018

LTE A networks have been actively deployed around the world. At the end of 2014, LTE A covered its first 100 million people worldwide, just 4 years since the network’s inception. ABI Research predicts that the coverage will reach 1 billion in 4 more years.
Source: Cellular-news
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Samsung contracts SKT as vendor for nationwide mobile IoT network

SK Telecom (SKT), South Korea’s largest cellco by subscribers, has reportedly selected Samsung as the sole vendor in a nationwide Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) deployment for its dedicated mobile Internet of Things (IoT) network. Under the terms of the deal, Samsung will provide its AdaptiV Core NFV solution for the rollout of an IoT network, which is scheduled to go live in the first half of 2015, and SKT plans to use this infrastructure for applications including package delivery tracking, CCTV monitoring and city-wide censor monitoring. In a press release confirming the development, Samsung noted that it had successfully completed its virtualized EPC Proof of Concept (PoC) and subsequent trials with SKT back in late 2013.
Source: TeleGeography
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AKEP Opens 2600MHz Tender

Albania’s telecoms watchdog, the Authority of Electronic and Postal Communications (AKEP) has opened a tender for frequencies in the 2600MHz band. The regulator is offering up 14 2×5MHz blocks of paired spectrum in the 2500MHz-2570MHz/2620MHz-2690MHz range and ten 5MHz blocks of unpaired spectrum at 2570MHz-2620MHz. Paired spectrum carries a minimum price of EUR750,000 (USD851,490) per block, whilst the unpaired frequencies have a reserve price of EUR60,000 per block. The deadline for submitting bids is 9 April 2015.
Source: TeleGeography
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4G Coverage to Surpass Third Of Global Population This Year – Report

4G networks will cover over a third of the world’s population by the end of this year, according to data published by the GSMA. The industry association said it has calculated that 4G availability will rise from 27% of the global population last year to 35% by December 2015. Since the first commercial LTE networks were launched in 2009, the number of operators offering 4G services has risen to more than 350 and the number of unique connections has also more than doubled from around 200 million in 2013 to 490 million in December 2014.
Source: Cellular-News
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UzMobile to Develop Both GSM and CDMA Networks

Mobile communication operator UzMobile, a branch of Uzbektelecom, will develop both GSM and CDMA networks, according to deputy director-general of Uzbektelecom Jamol Mahsudov.
Source: UzDaily
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Uzmobile to Launch GSM Network in March

Uzbekistan national operator Uztelecom announced that its mobile unit Uzmobile will launch a GSM network in March. The network will launched in the city and region of Tashkent. Mobile services over GSM, 3G and LTE will be launches across the country in 2016-2017. Uzmobile earlier provided services over CDMA-450. The operator plans to develop its CDMA network in the future.
Source: TelecomPaper
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Armentel Extends Roaming Service

Operator Armentel, working under the Beeline Armenia brand, has extended its ‘0 When Roaming’ service until 15 June. Calls are free after the first minute, which costs AMD 200, until the tenth minute. From the eleventh, call minutes again call AMD 200 per minute. The service is accessible for all subscribers using roaming services global wide. Activation of the service is free.
Source: TelecomPaper
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Pakistan Ends January with 136.4 mln Mobile Subscribers

Pakistan had over 136.4 million mobile subscribes at 31 January this year, according to data from Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA). Mobile operator Mobilink led the Pakistani mobile market with over 38.3 million mobile customers at end-January, followed by Telenor (36.5 million), CMPak (27.4 million), Ufone (21.7 million) and Warid (12.3 million).
Source: TelecomPaper
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Zong Introduces Free Live Streaming Cricket Apps for World Cup 2015

On the occasion of Cricket World Cup 2015, Zong the leading cellular company has launched the cricket service application for its valued customers to enjoy cricket matches anytime and anywhere. Zong has launched two cricket apps, CricKit and CricMania. Both Apps are being offered at zero subscription charges.
Source: Zong-PR
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Wi-Fi Offload Traffic for Six Global Regions Through 2019

Most mobile operators around the world are experimenting with Wi Fi networks in some way. In the U.S., for example, mobile operators have rolled out Wi Fi hotzones in congested metro areas. In South Korea and Japan, operators offload a massive amount of data traffic each month to Wi Fi. However, in the Middle East and Africa Wi Fi networks are really just getting started. Wi Fi is a little more advanced in Latin America, depending on the country, but deployments still lag those in more mature wireless markets.
Source: Cellular-news

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Armentel Introduces ‘Let’s Talk’ Voice Offer

Mobile operator Armentel, working under the Beeline Armenia brand, has introduced its new ‘Let’s Talk’ service to subscribers of its ‘Convenient’ tariff. Calls to other Armenian networks cost AMD 15.90 per minute under the service, and the monthly subscription is AMD 990. The service includes unlimited on-net calls.
Source: TelecomPaper
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Azerbaijan Mobile Device Imports Down in 2014

Azerbaijan mobile device imports dropped by 6 percent to 88,000 devices in 2014, according to a statement from the State Statistics Committee. The amount includes handsets, tablets and other devices working on mobile networks. The import value declined by 22.4 percent to USD 5.1 million.
Source: TelecomPaper
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MCHT Awards 4G License to Nar Mobile

Azerbaijani mobile operator Azerfon, which operates under the Nar Mobile banner, has received a license to offer 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology from Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Communications and High Technologies (MCHT). According to CEO Kent McKinley, Nar has ‘already established a network,’ with expansion set to continue throughout 2015. However, an official launch date has not yet been given.
Source: TeleGeography
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Uzbektelecom installs IPTV CDN equipment in Bukhara and Qoqand

Uzbektelecom Joint Stock Company installed IPTV CDN equipment in Bukhara and Qoqand to improve quality of services rendered under Telecom TV brand, the operator said in a statement. Currently Uzbektelecom provides IPTV interactive television services under Telecom TV brand. This service allows users to watch 61 TV channels in SD (Standard Definition) format and use some other services.
Source: UzDaily
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Beeline gives subscribers “presence effect”

Largest communication operator Beeline introduced high-definition voice technology in its 3G network. Technical Director of Unitel LLC Eugene Klyuchev said: “Technologies move forward, but one thing remains constant – the need of subscribers in a reliable voice connection. Therefore, the quality of communication is our strategic priority, and the inclusion of the “effect of presence” is a huge step in this direction. Subscribers expect from a market leader such projects, and we are proud of its successful implementation.”
Source: UzDaily
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Armentel offers premium numbers for bank card holders

Mobile operator Armentel, working under the Beeline Armenia brand, has introduced a premium numbers offer to holders of Mastercard NurCard Gold bank cards. Free Golden numbers are offered to the bank card holders when concluding an annual subscription agreement under the ‘All in 3500-Nur’, ‘All in 5500-Nur’ or ‘All in 7500-Nur’ tariffs from the operator.
Source: TelecomPaper
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Kcell launches ‘Easy Internet’ prepaid service

Kazakshtan mobile operator Kcell, controlled by the TeliaSonera group, has introduced its new ‘Easy Internet’ service to subscribers of its Active prepaid network. The first 2 MB of mobile internet traffic costs KZT 15, and unlimited mobile internet services are accessible for KZT 1 per MB until the end of the day after the expiry of the initial bundle. No subscription is required.
Source: TelecomPaper
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Ucell launches SMS dating service

Uzbekistan mobile operator Ucell, controlled by the TeliaSonera group, in cooperation with the content provider Emotion Trading, has introduced its new ‘USSD Dating’ service to subscribers. A free trial of the service is offered for three days, and it then costs USD 0.05 per day. Contacts can be found by sending SMS to a premium number. The daily subscription includes 100 SMS, and an additional bundle of 100 SMS costs also USD 0.05.
Source: TelecomPaper
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Zong lags behind as 3G, 4G growth continues to pick up speed

Pakistan’s mobile data segment expanded by 18.1% in January 2015, with mobile operators adding 1.932 million net new 3G and 4G users in that month, compared to net adds of 1.898 million in December 2014 and 1.057 million the month before that, according to recent data released by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). There were 9.072 million 3G and 4G customers at the end of January 2015, of which 9.023 million were 3G customers whilst the regulator counted 49,098 4G customers at that date, up from just 2,242 the previous month, thanks to the launch of Warid’s 4G network, which added 44,075 Long Term Evolution (LTE) subscriptions in January 2015.
Source: TeleGeography
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Beeline Uzbekistan Launches HD Voice in Regions

Mobile operator Beeline Uzbekistan has introduced its HD Voice service to subscribers in the Tashkent, Syrdarya, Samarkand and Andijan regions, as well as in the city of Kokand. The service was launched on the basis of the Adaptive Multi Rate Wideband technology and works on the 3G network of the operator.
Source: TelecomPaper
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Sky Mobile Revenues Rise 18% in Q4

Mobile operator Sky Mobile, working under the Beeline Kyrgyzstan brand, said mobile revenues for the fourth quarter advanced by 18 percent year-on-year to KGS 2.5 billion.
Source: TelecomPaper
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By 2017, Mobiles to Account for 50 Percent of Digital Commerce Revenue

Rampant interest in mobile payments is expected by 2015, along with a significant increase in mobile commerce. Due to this, Gartner predicts that by 2017, U.S. customers’ mobile engagement behavior will drive mobile commerce revenue in the U.S. to 50 percent of U.S. digital commerce revenue. A recent Gartner survey found that mobile commerce currently generates 22 percent of digital commerce revenue.
Source: Cellular-news
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Armentel Mobile Revenues Decline 6% in Q4

Mobile operator Armentel, working under the Beeline Armenia brand, said revenues decreased by 6 percent year-on-year to AMD 6.2 billion in the fourth quarter of 2014 due to a decline in voice revenue. Mobile data revenue grew 15 percent to AMD 634 million.
Source: TelecomPaper
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Radio Chip for the ‘Internet of Things’

At this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the big theme was the “Internet of things” the idea that everything in the human environment, from kitchen appliances to industrial equipment, could be equipped with sensors and processors that can exchange data, helping with maintenance and the coordination of tasks.
Source: Cellular-news
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Beeline revenue in Uzbekistan reaches 718m in 2014

Revenue of Beeline in Uzbekistan reached US$718 million in 2014, which rose by 6.9% compared to 2013, Vimpelcom Ltd said in its financial report. The revenue of the operator rose by 7.1% in the fourth quarter of 2014 compared to the same quarter of 2013 and reached US$187 million.
Source: UzDaily
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Beeline expands CAMEL-roaming in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Largest communication operator Beeline expanded its international voice roaming. CAMEL-roaming service in Bosnia and Herzegovina will be now available as well through Eronet.
Source: UzDaily
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Kazakh Mobile Registration Drive Causes 276,000 Cut-Offs

Over 276,000 mobile telephone numbers have been disconnected after the mandatory handset registration deadline. More than 1.6 million telephone numbers had been designated as unidentified and 1.340 million numbers were registered. The programme has been carried out as preparatory action to the introduction of Mobile Number Porting (MNP) services in Kazakhstan. The introduction of MNP is due by the middle of this year.
Source: TelecomPaper
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Takom Sells Package with White-Label Smartphone

Mobile operator Takom, working under the Beeline Tajikistan brand, has started selling a service package together with the Beeline Smart 3 white-label smartphone. The package provides the smartphone, a Sim connected to the operator’s ‘Non-Stop’ tariff, a 4 GB bundle and 400 SMSs, for four months. The package costs TJS 339.
Source: TelecomPaper
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SKT, Samsung demoing 7.55Gbps mobile data speeds

South Korea’s largest cellco by subscribers SK Telecom (SKT) has announced plans to partner with Samsung Electronics to demonstrate ‘3D Beamforming,’ an antenna technology that supports high-speed data transmission, at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next week. According to the operator, it expects to use 3D Beamforming using millimeter-wave (mmWave) frequency bands to demonstrate a record mobile date speed of 7.55Gbps.
Source: TeleGeography
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4G orgy: cellcos rush to launch LTE following licensing

Ecuadorian cellcos Claro and Movistar have released statements to local press declaring their intentions to launch 4G LTE mobile services as soon as possible, following the news a few days ago that the private sector duo had completed negotiations with the government on licensing terms. Commercial LTE services should appear within six weeks, providing competition to the country’s only existing LTE service offered by state-run CNT. The president of Telefonica-backed Movistar was quoted as claiming that limited-coverage LTE services will be available within five-to-six weeks in several areas of the country, while Movistar has budgeted USD150 million investment for the year.
Source: TeleGeography
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Vodacom Tanzania plans to invest TZS 140 billion in 2015

Vodacom Tanzania plans to invest TZS 140 billion to enhance its network in 2015 and this will cover 2G and 3G network expansion, products and services, IT infrastructure and M-Pesa. MD Rene Meza said the operator invested TZS 180 billion in network expansion in 2014, which he said had a tremendous impact on the network, and saw the operator sign 1.7 million new customers.
Source: TelecomPaper
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Facebook Still Most Popular, But Other Social Media Growing

Thirteen percent of Dutch Facebook users expect to use the social network less in 2015, according to a study by Multiscope. Only 6 percent expect to use Facebook more, and especially 18-34 year-olds are turning away from the social network. Nevertheless, Facebook remains the most popular social network in the Netherlands, and LinkedIn and Instagram also continue to grow.
Source: TelecomPaper
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Samatel to Relaunch MVNO Services as Teo

Omani telecoms operator Sama Telecommunications (Samatel) has been renamed as Integrated Telecommunications Oman (TeO) and plans to relaunch its mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) and voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) services later this year. According to a company statement, TeO ‘already has a dynamic, young and multi-cultural management team in place, with a vision to bring innovative telecommunications and technology solutions for the corporate, government and consumer sectors in Oman’.
Source: TeleGeography
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GT-Tell Buyer SEATEL Investing in 4G Rollout

South East Asia Telecom Cambodia (SEATEL Cambodia), the local unit of Singapore-registered South East Asia Telecom Group (SEATEL Group), plans to invest a total of USD500 million in the rollout and operation of a 4G network in Cambodia over the next few years. SEATEL Group president Han Hanchou said that the firm’s investment is split into three phases over the next two-to-three years; the first phase was started in August 2014 and saw around USD100 million spent on the construction of SEATEL’s Cambodian headquarters in the capital Phnom Penh and the purchase of 5,500km of fibre-optic cables.
Source: TeleGeography
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Ofcom imposes 90% geographic coverage commitment

UK telecoms regulator Ofcom has varied the licenses of the country’s four mobile network operators with a view to improving mobile coverage across the country. In announcing the development the watchdog said it followed an agreement reached between the Government and EE, O2 UK, Vodafone UK and Three UK in December 2014 to increase mobile coverage. As per the license variations all four cellcos have committed to providing voice coverage across 90% of the UK’s landmass by the end of 2017. In light of these variations, meanwhile, Ofcom has said it plans to consult further on the annual license fees for the 900MHz and 1800MHz spectrum bands, noting that the Government had directed it in 2010 to revise the charges to reflect full market value after the completion of the 4G auction.
Source: TeleGeography
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Orange Madagascar, Airtel Preparing to Launch LTE

Orange Madagascar is preparing to roll out a 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network in 2015. Speaking at a press conference in Ankorondrano on 6 February, Barre commented: ‘We want to strengthen our leading position in the market of mobile telephony. This is why we are making every effort to develop new products for the purpose of satisfying customers.’ However, Orange has yet to provide a concrete launch date for its planned 4G network.
Source: TeleGeography
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Vodafone Italia notches 1.2m 4G customers; LTE coverage reaches 80%

Vodafone Italy has announced that its 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network now covers 80% of the population, equivalent to 3,500 municipalities. Meanwhile, the cellco’s ‘4G+’-branded LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) network is now active in more than 150 locations; the upgrade was introduced in November 2014 and offers end-users downlink transmission speeds of up to 225Mbps. Elsewhere, voice-over-LTE (VoLTE) connectivity is available in Milan, Rome and Ivrea. Finally, Vodafone notes that more than 1.2 million customers have signed up to its 4G plans to date.
Source: TeleGeography
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UK telcos 2015 Growth 4x Faster than GDP – Report

UK telcos’ will grow by 11% in 2015, four times the expected 2.6% rate for the country’s GDP, a report by Barclays’ Technology, Media and Telecoms unit claimed. According to the report, things are looking even better for 2016 with respondents expecting annual growth to reach 13%.
Source: Telecoms.com
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Cloud, Mobility, and Big Data to Shape North African IT in 2015

The North Africa region will push ahead with IT transformation initiatives throughout the course of 2015, spurred on by growing adoption of ‘3rd Platform’ technologies such as cloud, mobility, and Big Data. That’s according to International Data Corporation’s newly released predictions for the year ahead, with the global advisory services firm expecting IT decision makers across the region to make a bigger push to implement mobile business intelligence, predictive analytics, and metadata management solutions.
Source: Cellular-news
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LTE sale begins on 10 February

Poland’s Office of Electronic Communications (UKE) has announced that its auction of 800MHz and 2600MHz Long Term Evolution (LTE) 4G mobile spectrum is to begin on 10 February. Six firms have already pre-registered as bidders: existing cellular providers Orange Polska, T-Mobile Poland, P4 and Polkomtel, plus Hubb Investments, which is controlled by broadcast infrastructure firm Emitel, and NetNet, which is owned by the son of a senior Polkomtel executive and business partner of Polkomtel shareholder Zygmunt Solorz-Zak.
Source: TeleGeography
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China Mobile, Huawei complete uplink CA field trial

China Mobile and equipment vendor Huawei Technologies have completed what they claim to be ‘the world’s first uplink Carrier Aggregation (CA) field testing and validation’ over Jiangsu Mobile’s commercial network. The trial showed a 180% increase in uplink rates by utilizing uplink CA and 64QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) technologies. Alongside the uplink CA verification, China Mobile has also started upgrading the entire network in Shenzhen to Time Division Duplex (TDD) LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) technology by enabling downlink CA.
Source: TeleGeography
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FCC’s Auction 97 concludes; total bids reach USD44.89bn

After more than two months and 341 rounds of bidding, the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) Auction 97 proceedings concluded on 29 January, earning the watchdog USD44.89 billion in total potential winning bids. According to RCR Wireless just three of the 1,614 licenses that were on sale went unsold. The identities of the bidders are expected to be revealed next month when the FCC establishes a deadline for down-payments.
Source: TeleGeography
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LTA to amend licensing regime to allow new mobile operator

National industry regulator the Liberian Telecommunications Authority (LTA) is reportedly in the process of amending the country’s Licensing and Authorization Regulations in a move designed to allow the entry of another mobile player in the market, and offer financial support to struggling incumbent operators.
Source: TeleGeography
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Biometric Authentication App Downloads to Reach 770 Million by 2019

A new report from Juniper Research has found that that more than 770 million biometric authentication applications will be downloaded per annum by 2019, up from just 6 million this year and dramatically reducing dependence on alphanumeric passwords in the mobile phone market.
Source: Cellular-news
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Viva la Best 4G Coverage!

Mobile operator Viva Bahrain offers the widest 4G coverage in the country according to an audit from the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA). At the end of 2014 Viva’s 4G network covered 99.7% of the Bahraini population, ahead of rival operators Zain Bahrain (96.2%) and Batelco (91%). Viva’s 4G coverage in capital city Manama was rated at 100%, while the operator offered 99.9%, 99.2% and 99% coverage in the central, northern and southern regions, respectively.
Source: TeleGeography
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MagtiCom Launches LTE in Main Cities

MagtiCom, Georgia’s largest mobile operator by subscribers, has announced that it launched commercial 4GLTE services on 1 February. A number of 4G tariffs are on offer, ranging from GEL3 (USD1.5) for 30MB (valid for 30 days) to GEL60 for 15GB, with an ‘unlimited’ data option priced at GEL150. LTE network coverage is currently available in Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi, Kobuleti, Poti, Gudauri and Bakuriani, but services will be expanded to other areas in the next few months.
Source: TeleGeography
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Digicel Dominica Launches 4G Data Network

Roseau-based mobile operator Digicel Dominica has announced the launch of its 4G data network, four months after rival Cable & Wireless Dominica (LIME) switched on the country’s first 4G data network in October last year. Digicel Dominica promises to provide customers with super-fast and reliable mobile data connectivity, and to support the launch, has unveiled a new range of 4G-ready smartphones and data packages for consumer and business users. Starting from XCD2.50 (USD0.93) per 24-hour period (‘Day Pass’) for pre-pay users, Digicel is offering ‘unlimited’ free access to popular social media applications such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and Twitter.
Source: TeleGeography
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Government Clears Way for Q2 Spectrum Auction

Germany’s Federal Cabinet has approved an amendment to regulations to allow frequencies in the 700MHz band to be used for the rollout of high speed mobile broadband in rural areas of the country. The move paves the way for the Federal Network Agency’s (FNA, also known as Bundesnetzagentur or BNetzA) auction of mobile spectrum in the 700MHz, 900MHz and 1800MHz frequency bands, which is scheduled to take place during May and June.
Source: TeleGeography
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Kyivstar Prepares for 3G

Ukraine’s largest cellco Kyivstar has disclosed that it has made tender guarantees for its participation in the country’s upcoming auction for licences in the UMTS (3G) 2100MHz band, while commencing tests of 3G equipment in anticipation of winning an operating concession when the tender results are revealed on 16 February.
Source: TeleGeography
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CBL, Digicel and Virgin Compete for Second License

The Bahamian government has received three bids for the nation’s second mobile license and is on track to name a winner in May. Nine domestic and international firms registered for the Request for Proposals (RFP) package, but only three bids were submitted. Local triple-play provider Cable Bahamas Ltd (CBL) has thrown its hat into the ring alongside pan-Caribbean provider Digicel and UK-backed Virgin Mobile, which offers services in its other markets as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO). Other hopefuls had included local firms Limitless Bahamas (formerly IP Solutions International [IPSI]) and newcomer Junkanoo Mobile. The concession will be awarded via a two-stage process, the first phase of which will see the three proposals evaluated by a committee of experts and members of the government’s Cellular Liberalisation Task Force (CLTF).
Source: TeleGeography
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Trio Receive 1800MHz Licenses

Serbian telecoms watchdog the Republic Agency for Electronic Communications (RATEL) has concluded the auction of 1800MHz frequencies and has awarded technology neutral concessions to each of the three incumbent cellcos. The trio – Telenor Serbia, Mobilkom Serbia (VIP Mobile) and Mobile Telephony of Serbia (MTS), the wireless arm of state-backed fixed line incumbent Telekom Srbija – were the only bidders, and each won two 2×5MHz blocks of paired spectrum in the 1710MHz-1785MHz/1805MHz-1880MHz range.
Source: TeleGeography
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Kyivstar, MTS, Astelit buy 3G licences for total of USD311m

Ukraine’s National Commission for the State Regulation of Communications and Informatization (NCCIR orNKRZI) on23 February 2015 completed the long-awaited auction for three 15-year nationwide 3G (UMTS) 2100MHz mobile operating licenses, raising a total of UAH8.770 billion (USD311 million), with all three existing Ukrainian GSM network operators gaining a 2×15MHz concession. The NCCIR reported on its website that Turkish-Ukrainian venture Astelit (life:)) paid the highest price for its 3G frequencies, winning the first block with a bid of UAH3.355 billion. Russian-owned MTS Ukraine (the country’s second largest cellco by users) placed the second-highest bid in the auction, acquiring UMTS block number two for UAH2.715 billion. The third 3G auction lot was awarded to Ukraine’s cellular market leader by users Kyivstar (backed by Russian-controlled, Amsterdam-based Vimpelcom), which paid UAH2.700 billion.
Source: TeleGeography
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NCC to OPEN 2500MHz/2600MHz Bands for 4G Use

Taiwan’s National Communications Commission (NCC) has reconfirmed plans to release the 2500MHz and 2600MHz frequency bands for the provision of 4G services. With a spectrum auction now expected to take place at the end of the third quarter of 2015. NCC chairman Howard Shyr was cited as saying that the commission will conduct an information session next month in which it will set out the rules of the auction, among other things, while also providing operators an opportunity to offer feedback on the plans.
Source: TeleGeography
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Togocel Targets 4G Network Launch in 2015

Togo Cellulaire (Togocel), the mobile arm of fixed line incumbent Togo Telecom, plans to launch the tiny African nation’s first 4G mobile network this year and roll out mobile banking. Details of the launch are scant concerning the terms of the award, coverage requirements and anticipated launch date, while many in the Republic have reacted with some bemusement, arguing that the cellco’s current 3G network is inadequate at best, and efforts should be made to improve that before even considering 4G.
Source: TeleGeography
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TeliaSonera Issues Bond of EUR 500 mln

Network access and telecommunication services provider, TeliaSonera has issued a bond of EUR 500 million in a twenty-year deal maturing in February 2035, under its existing EUR 12 billion EMTN (Euro Medium Term Note) programme. The Re-offer yield was set at 1.70 percent p.a. equivalent to Mid-swaps +63 bp.
Source: TelecomPaper
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Tele2 Launches 4G Connectivity for M2M

Sweden-based Tele2 Group has announced the launch of 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) connectivity for Machine-to-Machine (M2M) and Internet of Things (IoT) implementations. The firm claims to be only the second operator worldwide to introduce 4G technology for M2M/IoT connections, with services available via Tele2 subsidiaries as well as roaming partners.
Source: TeleGeography
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MTS Extends 1800MHz LTE Network to St Petersburg

Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) Russia has announced that it has switched on its new 1800MHz Long Term Evolution (LTE) network in St Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast, augmenting the coverage currently offered by its 800MHz and 2600MHz 4G platforms. Around 10% of the cellco’s LTE base stations in the aforementioned areas have been reconfigured to support the new frequency band.
Source: TeleGeography
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Movistar Launches LTE in Caracas, Puerto La Cruz

Movistar Venezuela has switched on its Long Term Evolution (LTE) network in the cities of Caracas and Puerto La Cruz, becoming the second operator in the country to offer 4G connectivity after rival Digitel, which launchedLTE in July 2013. Going forward, Movistar is set to deploy a total of 240 4G base transceiver stations (BTS) across the two cities during the course of 1Q15.
Source: TeleGeography
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UPCOMING EVENTS

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Mobile World Congress Shanghai

Previously known as Mobile Asia Expo, Mobile World Congress Shanghai will celebrate the amazing possibilities that mobile brings us. The 3-day mobile technology showcase provides extensive opportunities to network, conduct business, as well as explore and experience the latest trends, products and services emerging from the global mobile ecosystem. The event will take place on 15-17 July at the Shanghai.
Please visit:

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Convergence Africa World

The Exhibitions India Group which has played an integral role in the changing landscape of the Information and Communication environment in South Asia, has now joined hands with AfriEXPOS, Africa’s premier expo organizer to bring its expertise through Convergence Africa World. The event will take place from 17th to 19th June, 2015 in Nairobi, Kenya.
Please visit:

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5th Annual Telecom Customer Experience, Loyalty & Retention Summit

This Summit will bring together leading executives from the telecom industries to tackle and overcome current industry issues. This event will look at the critical topics and trends currently impacting telcos in Africa. The summit is all set to take place on 17th and 18th August, 2015 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Please visit:http://telco.fextons.com/?utm_source=url&utm_medium=CACF&utm_campaign=web

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WebRTC Global Summit

The WebRTC Global Summit will showcase some of these applications and give attendees a great idea on how WebRTC can build on revenue, the technical challenges as well as the solutions. The event will take place on 14 – 15 April 2015 at Hilton Tower Bridge, London.
Please visit:http://webrtc-conference.com/?utm_source=url&utm_medium=CACF&utm_campaign=web

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CommunicAsia2015

At CommunicAsia2015, the latest innovative technologies from Big Data, Business Analytics, Cloud technologies, IoT, to Zigbee will be unveiled. As Asia’s largest integrated ICT event, CommunicAsia2015 is held concurrently with EnterpriseIT2015 and BroadcastAsia2015 from 2 to 5 June 2015 at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore.
Please visit:http://www.magenta-global.com.sg/Iran-Telecom-IT-Global-Summit-2014/

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Fixed Access Networks Summit

The event is taking place from 22-23 April 2015 at Radisson Blu Hotel, Berlin with an aim to Combine the Strengths of the Latest DSL Acceleration, Fibre and Cable Technologies to Deliver Gigabit Broadband. Please visit:http://fixedaccesssummit.com/?utm_source=mp&utm_medium=cacf&utm_campaign=mp

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CONVERGENCE INDIA (21st-23rd January, 2015, New Dehli, India)

Organised and managed by Oman International Trade and Exhibitions and led by the Information Technology Authority of Oman, COMEX has evolved into one of the most recognized and established ICT exhibitions in the Gulf. The event will take place from 27th April 2015-1st May, 2015 at Oman International Exhibition Centre, Muscat, Oman. Please visit:http://comex.om/2015/en/

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Phone World Magazine

CACF has launched 10th Edition of Phone World Magazine covering the devices and their ecosystem serving to bridge the gap between the OEMs, Operators, Distributors, Retailers, and the Consumers. Phone World 9th Edition is available in Pakistani markets. Pdf is available on www.phoneworld.com.pk . PhoneWorld website has latest local telecom news, handsets and also has blog section. For subscription email to: info@phoneworld.com.pk
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3G DEVICE SECTION

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[/column] [column] NameHuawei Ascend G7
GENERAL
2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 – all versions
3G Network HSDPA 900 / 2100 – L01,HSDPA 850 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 – L03
4G Network LTE 800 / 900 / 1800 / 2100 / 2600 (Bands 1, 3, 7, 8, 20) – L01
DATA GPRS/EDGE/Speed/WLAN/BLUE TOOTH/ USB/Radio/NFS
Operating System Android OS, v4.4.2 (KitKat)
Chipset Qualcomm Snapdragon
CPU Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A53

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[/column] [column] Name Samsung Galaxy S6
GENERAL
2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G Network LTE
DATA GPRS/EDGE/Speed/WLAN/BLUE TOOTH/ USB/GPS/NFS/Infrared port
Operating System Android OS, v5.0.2 (Lollipop)
Chipset Exynos 7420
CPU Mali-T760
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[/column] [column] NameMicrosoft Lumia 532
GENERAL
2G NetworkGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
DATA GPRS/EDGE/Speed/WLAN/BLUE TOOTH/ USB/Radio/GPS
Operating System Microsoft Windows Phone 8.1
Chipset Qualcomm MSM8212 Snapdragon 200
CPU Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7

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[/column] [column] Name LG G2
GENERAL
2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 – D800, D802, D802TA, VS980, LS980
3G Network HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 – D802, D802TA, VS980,CDMA2000 1xEV-DO – VS980, LS980
4G Network LTE 800 / 900 / 1800 / 2100 / 2600
(Bands 1, 3, 7, 8, 20) – D802
DATA GPRS/EDGE/Speed/WLAN/BLUE TOOTH/ USB/Radio/Infrared Port/GPS/NFC
Operating System Android OS, v4.2.2 (Jelly Bean), upgradable to v4.4.2 (KitKat)
Sensors Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
CPU Adreno 330
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VENDORS/OEM SECTION

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Huawei Consumer Business Group Announces 2014 Financial Performance

Huawei Consumer Business Group (BG) has announced its 2014 financial performance. Total sales revenue increased 30% year-on-year to USD 12.2 billion, crossing the 10 billion mark for the first time. Shipment grew by 7.8% to a total of 138 million devices in 2014, including 75 million smartphones, representing a year-on-year increase of 45%.
Source: Huawei PR
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Ericsson Selected by Airtel for 3G Rollout in Niger

Airtel Niger, the country’s largest mobile operator by subscribers, has selected Ericsson for the deployment of a 3G end-to-end network to deliver high speed mobile broadband service to the cellco’s customer base. The network, which extends across the country, comprises radio base stations based on the Swedish vendor’s latest multi-standard radio access portfolio, RBS 6000; the RNC 3280 radio network controller; and the latest core technology, which will boost the capacity of the network and transform it with IP functionality. Ericsson says the RBS 6000 multi-standard radio base station substantially reduces power consumption, lowering operational expenditure for Airtel and reducing the long-term environmental impact.
Source: TeleGeography
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Worldwide Tablet Shipments Fall for the First Time – Down by 12% in Q4 2014

Huawei has announced it has partnered with UK based mobile network operator, EE, and Qualcomm Technologies to complete LTE category 9 testing, which has achieved download speeds of up to 410Mbps.
Source: Cellular-news
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Samsung Launches Galaxy A7 Smartphone in India

Samsung has launched its Galaxy A7 smartphone jn India, at INR 30,499. The smartphone is available online at the company’s official e-store. The A7 comes with two quad-core processors, 16 GB internal memory (expandable to 64 GB with a microSD card), 2 GB RAM, 5.5-inch display, a 2,600 mAh battery and Android 4.4.
Source: TelecomPaper
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Samsung launches Smart School in Senegal

The Senegal Ministry of Education and Samsung Electronics Africa has announced the launch of a mobile education solution aimed at creating positive change and providing an advanced and interactive classroom experience for learners.
Source: Samsung-PR
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Ericsson and Unitel First in Africa with 450 Mbps on a Commercial LTE Network

Ericsson and Unitel have announced the successful demonstration of the end to end LTE-A Carrier Aggregation (CA) solution capable of supporting data speeds up to 450 Mbps.
Source: Cellular-news
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ZTE to Build Expanded LTE Network for U Mobile in Malaysia

ZTE says that it has signed a cooperation framework agreement with U Mobile to expand the operator’s 3G and LTE networks in Malaysia.
Source: Cellular-news
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Huawei Opens Research and Development (R&D) Campus in Bangalore

Huawei has announced the launch of its new Research & Development campus situated in Bangalore, India as a part of its commitment to contribute to Indian government’s “Make in India” agenda.
Source: Cellular-news
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Ericsson Expands Systems Integration Capabilities for OSS/BSS

Ericsson has entered into an agreement to acquire the assets of TimelessMIND, a Canada based consulting and systems Integration Company specializing in operations and business support systems (OSS BSS).
Source: Cellular-news
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Microsoft Devices Launches the Most Affordable Lumia 435 and Lumia 532 in Pakistan

Microsoft Mobile Devices & Services announced the availability of Lumia 435 Dual SIM and Lumia 532 Dual SIM smartphones, the most affordable Lumia devices to date in Pakistan. Offering the latest Windows Phone 8.1 capabilities at incredible prices, both Lumia 435 Dual SIM and Lumia 532 Dual SIM deliver smartphone experiences that help people do more on the go.
Source: Microsoft-PR
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Samsung to Acquire LoopPay, a Digital Wallet Platform

Samsung Electronics has agreed to acquire LoopPay, a mobile wallet solutions provider that turns existing magnetic stripe readers into secure, contactless receivers. LoopPay says that its technology has the potential to work in approximately 90% of existing point-of-sale (POS) terminals, according to internal research, with no investment in new infrastructure required by merchants.
Source: Cellular-news
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Ericsson Unveils Generational Shift in How Mobile Networks are Built

In big cities like New York, the air space above buildings is valuable real estate think the Manhattan skyline. Where there is no room to build out, urban planners build upward. Ericsson is opening up the same opportunity to operators struggling with site acquisition challenges in densely populated areas, allowing them to utilize wall space in existing sites and safely add 5 times the capacity to towers.
Source: Cellular-news
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LG G3 and Google Cardboard Bring Mobile Virtual Reality to Everyday Life

More Consumers Get Access to Affordable and Powerful VR Experience with LG’s VR for G3 Giveaway. LG Electronics (LG) and Google are making virtual reality (VR) more accessible to mainstream consumers. LG today announced a free VR for G3 giveaway for customers who purchase new LG G3 smartphones. LG’s VR for G3 works with Google Cardboard and enables G3 owners to experience a variety of VR-compatible apps and games that they can download on the Google Play store.
Source: LG PR
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Ericsson and SingTel Partner to Explore Future of 5G

Ericsson and SingTel have announced their partnership to evaluate and test technologies that are candidates for future 5G standardization. The two companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore future 5G networks and to address a wide range of use cases from consumers to industries. The companies will also study how 5G technology can support Singapore’s vision of being a “Smart Nation.”
Source: Cellular-news
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Alcatel-Lucent Reports Successful Turnaround in 2014

French Alcatel-Lucent has reported its 4th quarter and full year results showing improved profit margin for 2014 following the infrastructure vendor’s cost-saving plan dubbed the Shift Plan. Alcatel-Lucent said through its fixed cost savings of €30 million in the final quarter, €16 million net in reinvestments in market segments and channels, as well as accelerated R&D it managed to save €675 million, representing over 70% of the Shift Plan target.
Source: Telecoms.com
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Ericsson, Qualcomm Achieve 450Mbps Downlink in LTE-U Trial

Swedish vendor Ericsson has announced that it is working with Qualcomm Technologies and several major wireless operators carriers to trial unlicensed Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology using the 5GHz band. Referred to as License Assisted Access (LAA) or LTE-Unlicensed (LTE-U), Ericsson confirmed that the platform achieved peak downlink transmission speeds of 450Mbps in laboratory conditions in Ottawa, Canada and Stockholm, Sweden. Ericsson’s LTE-U tests have essentially aggregated licensed and unlicensed spectrum bands, pairing a 20MHz block of licensed spectrum with a 40MHz block of unlicensed 5 GHz WI-Fi spectrum.
Source: TeleGeography
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Ericsson teams up with Entel forLTE-700

Chilean cellco Entel has signed a strategic partnership deal with Ericsson for the development of its 700MHz 4G network. The project will last two years and the lower band Long Term Evolution (LTE) platform will augment Entel’s existing 2600MHz 4G network, improving coverage and service quality. LTE-700 services are expected to be launched commercially within that 24-month period though, as the regulator requires that the frequencies are put to use within 18 months of their allocation. However, due to delays caused by several legal challenges to the award of the licenses, sector watchdog Subtel has yet to distribute the 700MHz authorisations, but is expected to do so within H1 2015.
Source: TeleGeography
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Huawei to deploy fibre to 140,000 Hungarian homes

Chinese technology giant Huawei is set to spend nearly HUF10 billion (USD36.66 million) on the development of broadband technology in Hungary, as well as expanding its regional innovation centre, which is situated outside of Budapest. The Chinese vendor plans to lay around 1,000km of fibre-optic cable, supplying broadband to 140,000 Hungarian homes.
Source: TeleGeography
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Nokia, Coriant Claim First Mobile Backhaul SON Solution

Finnish kit vendor and optical networking specialist Coriant have announced what they claimed is the first ever solution brining self-organizing network (SON) technology to mobile backhaul. Nokia claimed the solution offers the same level of functionality but with 20% less transport infrastructure than in current networks. The solution combines advanced analytics and software defined networking (SDN), and according to Nokia it reconfigures network resources based on analysis of the factors impacting customer experience and service level agreements. The vendor claimed the technology reverses the traditional order where services have to adapt to the networks.
Source: UzDaily
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Samsung Electronics Unveils Its Vision for Living Smarter at the 2015 Samsung MENA Forum with Next-Generation Technology

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., showcased its vision for smarter living at the 2015 Samsung MENA Forum in Antalya. Samsung demonstrated its new line up of sleek Galaxy A smartphones, which offer ways of capturing and sharing digital experiences.
Source: Samsung PR
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