Newsletter October 2013

EDITORIAL

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Dear Readers,
Saima Telecom has expanded LTE network. Two base stations have been recently established in Tokmak city. Ucell has announced the launch of Dual Carrier (DC) HSPA+ in Tashkent and Samarkand. Megacom has rolled out its third-generation network in the At-Bashi and Aktala areas of Naryn, with 3.5G base stations installed in the villages. Mobile operator Kar-Tel, which offers services under the Beeline Kazakhstan brand, has ‘significantly expanded’ its 3G network in western Kazakhstan region. Azerbaijan’s government is to allocate additional radio spectrum for 4G based services. Azercell Telecom plans to launch voice over LTE later this year.

Qualcomm and Alcatel-Lucent have jointly announced a plan to collaborate to develop small cell base stations together. The two companies said that they plan to jointly invest in a strategic R&D program to develop the next generation of Alcatel-Lucent light Radio Small Cell products featuring Qualcomm Technologies’ FSM9900 family of Small Cell chipsets. Bangladesh’s National Board of Revenue (NBR) has agreed a partial compromise with the mobile networks over the imposition of tax on top of the 3G license fees they may pay in the forthcoming auction. TIM Participacoes (TIM Brasil) has announced the launch of a commercial 4G service in Curitiba’s state capital, Parana. Philippines based Smart Communications has started trials of LTE-Advanced (LTA-A) network upgraded based on a platform supplied by Huawei.

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Industrial News

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Government and mobile industry agree to move forward with next generation wireless networks

Central Asian Cellular Forum (CACF) and TechPolis organized workshop in Islamabad opens debate on upcoming auctions of spectrum for 3G in Pakistan. In a half a day workshop on, “Policy & Regulatory Environment For Next Generation Wireless Networks” Industry and policy makers agreed that Pakistan is moving forward with upgrading its mobile networks to mobile broadband, which will allow fast broadband Internet access as well as better quality voice calls, including video calls. Minister of State for Information Technologies, Anusha Rahman Khan, said at the final keynote speech at the event at the Serena Hotel in Islamabad that government and industry, “have more agreements than disagreements, and where there are disagreements the dialog will continue open.” She said that the leadership of the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) is now in place and will conduct the auctions of 2.1 GHz spectrum. The MoITT Policy Directive giving guidelines to PTA for spectrum auctions for next generation wireless networks has been drafted and is being discussed within the government, said Minister Rahman. Chairman of PTA, Dr. Ismail Shah, stressed to the industry representatives that his doors are open to discuss any aspect of policy that can give operators certainty regarding the regulatory environment they will face once they acquire 2.1 GHz licenses to introduce next generation networks.
Source: PhoneWorld

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PTA advertise a request for proposal for consultant for Spectrum Auction

Soon after getting the policy directives from the Ministry of Information and Technology regarding Spectrum Auction for Third Generation Mobile Services in Pakistan, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has taken its first step forward and has advertised a Request for Proposals (RFP) for consultants of international repute to facilitate the auction process. In the RFP PTA has outline the requirements and responsibilities of the consultants and has stated that the consultant shall assist the client in all necessary steps that are to be taken in order to complete the auction process successfully. Complete Financial and Technical Proposals are to be submitted by the interested parties according to the parameters defined in the RFP before 12th November, 2013. Appointment of new Chairman of PTA has brought good fortune for IT sector in Pakistan. A lot of developments have taken place in last couple of days and the pace the whole process has taken, great things can be expected in the future.
Source: PTA

Telenor Pakistan Introduces SMS Based Customer Service Facility

Telenor Pakistan has introduced ‘Ask 346′ SMS based service, the first human-assisted SMS helpline in the country. This service would help facilitate customers who are seeking assistance for their queries.
Telenor Pakistan’s ASK 346 is a unique service offering that enables customers to send their queries via SMS to 346 and receive a customized response via SMS within ten minutes of initiating the query. This will eliminate the on-call wait time for the customers by offering swift and convenient response to their queries.
Source: Phoneworld

Sky Mobile Expands 3G, GSM Networks

Sky Mobile is continuing with the expansion of its HSPA+ network. The operator recently built new base stations in the town of Balykchy and the village of Orlovka in the Issyk-Kul region, in Karakul and Kerben towns in the Jalal-Abad region, in the village of Kyzyl-Odar in the Talas region, in the villages of At-Bashi and Chaek in the Naryn region, in the villages of Andarak and Uch-Debe and the town of Isfana in the Batken region, as well as in the city of Osh. Sky Mobile has also deployed over 20 GSM base stations across the country.
Source: TelecomPaper

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First International ICT Exhibition Lunches -Kabul, Afghanistan

The 1st Information Technology & Telecommunication Exhibition was held from 24 – 26th September 2013 at the Afghanistan Civil Service Institute in Kabul City. The exhibition launched and initiative of MCIT. This exhibition attended by second vice president of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan H. E. Karim Khalili; Minister of Communication & IT H.E Amirzai Sangin, members of cabinet, members of Afghan Parliament, representatives of ministries of Telecommunications and It from six Asian countries, Civil Society, telecommunication and IT service provider companies heads and professors from government and Private Universities and officials of ministry of Telecommunication & IT (MCIT). The exhibition’s aim was to expose the products and services to people and foreign guests.
Source: MCIT PR

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Zong Honored as the ‘Fastest Growing Cellular Network’ at the RCCI Awards 2013

Zong has been honored with the ‘Fastest Growing Cellular Network’ Award for the year 2013 by Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) at the prestigious 26th Achievement Awards Ceremony held recently. The chief guest on the occasion was the honorable President of Pakistan, Mr. Mamnoon Hussain. Zong started its operations only a few years back in 2008, has taken a giant leap in the competitive market of telecom services by introducing customer centric services for different segments of mobile phone users. Having earned the image of #1 in customer services, Zong continues to expand its network at exponential rate and is now offering the 2nd widest coverage in the country.

Source: Zong PR

Orange Armenia Positive about MNP Implementation Plan

Francis Gelibter, the chief executive of mobile network operator Orange Armenia, has broadly welcomed the government’s progress in terms of implementing mobile number portability (MNP) in the country in meeting of the union of operators providing MNP services. The meeting was convened to announce the tender for the selection of the company that will set up and run a centralized database to handle the scheme. MNP is currently slated to go live in Armenia from January 2014, as per the terms of the regulator. The union of operators was established on 30 July this year and comprises the nation’s three incumbent mobile operators – the other two being K-Telecom CJSC (VivaCell-MTS) and ArmenTel (Beeline).
Source: TeleGeography

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Beeline Uzbekistan Claims 10.2 Mln Subscribers at End-June

Mobile operator Beeline Uzbekistan claims that its subscriber base reached 10.2 million at the end of the second quarter. Its capital expenditure has totaled around USD 1 billion since it launched its activities seven years ago. Beeline’s 3G services are now available to 52 percent of Uzbekistan’s population.

Source: TelecomPaper

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Ufone Launches Its Branchless Banking Services – Upaisa

Ufone launches its branchless banking services – ‘Upaisa’ which allows customers to have access to yet another way to conduct their financial transactions. The financial services include mobile account, money transfer and utility bills payment. These services are not limited to Ufone subscribers but will also benefit customers of all mobile network operators. Upaisa is the first brand to launch its services with more than 9,000 operational retail outlets which has ensured a detailed orientation of the product for the retailer.
Source: Phoneworld

National ICT Summit Takes Place in Uzbekistan

The Eleventh National Summit of the Information-Communication Technologies (ICT Summit) started in Tashkent within the Week of information-communication technologies InfoCom 2013.The ICT summit is platform for demonstration of achievements and opportunities from introduction of the ICT in various areas of life and activities, discussion of development trends in ICT sector and expansion of international cooperation. This year, over 600 delegates are participated at the summit. Among participants were representatives of international organizations. Among participants are specialists from South Korea, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and others. The participants considered issues related to introduction of ICT in state sector, development of technologies and solutions, Internet and information resources, etc.

Source: uzdaily

Megacom Expands Regional Networks

Megacom announced that it has expanded the coverage of its 3.75 G network in remote areas across the country. Expansion works are currently being carried out in the village of Dzhol-Kolot in the Issyk-Kul region, where the network was also expanded and upgraded in the town of Cholpon and villages of Sary-Oy and Chon-Sary-Oy in August. Its services have been launched in the villages of Podgornoye, Karool-Debe, Ala-Bash, Den-Talaa, Kalkagar in the Issyk-Kul region, and in the agglomerations of Kayn-Ata, Kyzyl-Dzhar, Chychyrkanak, Kysh-Abad, Kuturgan, Tosoy and Altyn-Bulak in the Osh region.

Source: TelecomPaper

Zong Confirms Interest in Buying Warid Telecom

Zong has confirmed that it is seriously considering the acquisition of Warid Telecom, for this purpose, Dubai based investment banking firm MAS ClearSight has been asked to evaluate the deal and assist Zong during the buyout process. A Warid official said that a three to four weeks deadline has been put in place to file the financial bid. It seems that other bidders, such as Mobilink, Etisalat and Ooredoo (formerly QTel), are also seriously bidding this time despite previous failed attempts.
Source: Phoneworld

Tele2 Expands Retail Chain in Eastern Kazakhstan

Mobile operator Tele2 Kazakhstan has opened a new branded retail outlet in the town of Ridder in Eastern Kazakhstan region, offering the full spectrum of its services to customers there. The operator now runs four mono-branded retail outlets in the region.

Source: TelecomPaper

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Technicolor Collaborates with Qualcomm Technologies

Technicolor and Qualcomm Technologies have collaborated to produce a new set-top box, known as SVELTE (Stimulating Video Experience over LTE), featuring LTE technology, terrestrial broadcast and Android OS. A unique combination of the skills offered by entertainment leader, Technicolor, and the mobile expertise of Qualcomm Technologies, the new SVELTE portable media center will feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor to provide novel user experiences to television sets, which includes seamless connectivity, rich TV viewing experiences and console-quality gaming. Materializing LTE as a service and delivering true 3play over the cellular network, the SVELTE portable media center will empower new and improved experiences and redefined “Smart TV” concept.
Source: Qualcomm PR

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PTCL to invest in Fourth International Submarine Cable System

Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited is set to invest in yet another international submarine cable consortium system in collaboration with leading operators in the region. This cable will be spanning from Far East to Europe with multiple landing points in Middle East. This will be PTCLs’ fourth submarine cable system encompassing a multimillion dollar investment. With this cable, PTCL will be adding terabits of bandwidth in its international capacity, besides building redundancy to its existing international infrastructure on eastern and western side of the Arabian Sea. It is anticipated that the agreement will be signed before the end of this year and the cable will be operational as early as in the last quarter of 2015.
Source: PTCL PR

Orange Armenia Expands Retail Chain

Mobile operator Orange Armenia announced that it has opened a new branded retail outlet in the city of Yerevan. The operator currently runs 77 of its own shops and service centers across the country.
Source: TelecomPaper

O! Expands Network in Batken

O! has expanded the coverage of its network in the Batken region. New equipment has been installed in the villages of Orto-Boz, Min-Zhygach, Korgon, Buzhum and Markaz. New base stations have also been deployed in Batken and the capacity of the network has been raised in Kyzyl-Kia and Isfana.

Source: TelecomPaper

Alexey Bulakh Is a New Head of Legal Service of Beeline

Beeline, has appointed Alexey Bulakh as a head of its legal service. He has worked as a lawyer in the Pacific state broadcast company for a year. From 2002 to 2006 Alexey continued his career as a lawyer at CJSC FF Vostok-1. In 2006 he moved to LLC Management Company PIC and Co. From December 2008 he worked as Deputy Manager of the Legal Department at New Telephone Company (Vladivostok). After the merger NTC with VimpelCom Alexey led the group on legal support of Primorski branch Beeline. On 16 August 2013, Alexey Bulakh was appointed as a head of the legal function at Beeline in Uzbekistan.

Source: UzDaily

Tcell Introduces Mobile Money Transfer Service

Tcell has introduced a mobile money transfer services over the USSD-menu. The transfer is possible with a minimum balance of TJS 0.50 after the transaction. Only on-net transfers are possible, and not between Tcell-South and Tcell-North subscribers. Transfers should not exceed TJS 200 per day. Transactions have a commission fee of TJS 0.20 per time.

Source: TelecomPaper

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Orange Starts Mobile TV Promotion

Orange Armenia has started to offer the mobile TV services its voice for only 5MB/AMD rate. In order to watch Orange TV customers should browse orangetv.am on their mobile web browsers where they can find 11 Armenian and 7 foreign TV channels at any time and never miss the awaited TV show, movie or football match, even outside home. The offered exclusive rate will be applied from September 1st to October 31st, after which customers will be able to continue watching their favorite TV channels on the screen of their phones according to their tariff plan.
Source: Orange PR

Dmitry Fisenko Appointed As Director of Corporate Sales Development of Beeline

Dmitry Fisenko has been appointed as director of developing corporate sales of the largest communication operator Beeline (Unitel LLC and Buzton JV). He replaced Sergey Fomenko, who left the post on 24 May 2013. Dmitry Fisenko said he was impressed with potential of development of corporate market in Uzbekistan and high level of Beeline Business team and the company will continue work on introduction of advanced services, including M2M technologies as the operator still has something to offer business clients and soon will present new projects.

Source: uzdaily

Mongolia Finalizes LTE Cooperation Deal with KT Corp

The Mongolian government has signed a cooperation agreement with South Korean telco KT Corp to introduce 4G LTE technology in the country. KT Corp has held a 40% stake in Mongolia Telecom since the company was partially privatized in August 1995. The Mongolian mobile market was home to around 3.45 million subscribers at the end of June 2013, translating to a population penetration rate of roughly 120%.

Source: TeleGeography

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Qualcomm to Buys Back $5 Billion of Own Shares

Qualcomm has announced plans to buy back US$5 billion of its own shares from the open stock market. This replaces the prior $5 billion stock repurchase program announced on March 5, 2013, at which time the company also announced a 40 percent increase in the quarterly cash dividend. Since July 24, 2013, the company repurchased approximately 40.1 million shares of common stock for approximately $2.7 billion. At the end of July, the company had 1.7 billion shares traded on the open stock market, giving the company a market capitalization of US$118 billion.

Source: Cellular-News

Mobile Operators Agree To Biometric System Installation

All mobile operators in the country have agreed to install the bio-metric system and increased the SIM verification fee from Rs13 to Rs28 per transaction. The installation of complete biometric equipment at every point of sale (POS) would cost betweenRs35, 000 – Rs40, 000 per outlet. Mobile operators have agreed to bear the cost of purchasing the required devices that will be installed at some 75,000 POS across the country. The installation of the biometric system at some 70,000-75,000 POS across Pakistan will take a minimum of one year and cost approximately Rs2.8bn based on the availability of specialized equipment which will be imported from abroad.

Source: Phoneworld

Beeline Starts To Sell Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 Tablets

Beeline (Unitel LLC and Buzton JV) has started to sell tablet computers Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1. The new device has 10 inch display, 5-megapixel camera, four-core processor with 1400 MHz frequency, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal memory. The tablet works under the operation system Android 4.0.3 and have many innovative functions.

Source: uzdaily

Ufone Introduces Samsung S4 Mini for PKR. 47,900

Ufone launches the Samsung S4 Mini for Ufone users. The S4 Mini is the more compact version of the Samsung Galaxy S4 and it comes packed with the latest Android OS V 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean), a 1.5 GHz Dual-Core Processor, 4.3 inches of Super AMOLED capacitive touch screen, an 8-MP primary camera (2-MP front camera) and 1.5 GB RAM. Samsung S4 Mini will be available for price of PKR. 47,900 with one months’ worth of minutes, SMS and mobile Internet totally free.

Source: Phoneworld

Orange Armenia Quality-Leading Mobile Internet Network in Armenia

For the second time Orange Armenia has been recognized as the leading 3G+ mobile internet network in Armenia, according to the study conducted by the independent “P3 Communications” German consulting firm. The study, based on the use of international standards, has evaluated several parameters, such as access to static websites, including the YouTube homepage, video streaming, sending and receiving emails, file upload and download, latency measurement and website access time. All tests were conducted with commercially available USB modems, smartphones and specific software. The study concluded that Orange Armenia provides the best speed and quality for internet services in Armenia, for all above-mentioned services.
Source: Orange PR

Dmitry Resh to Head Tashkent Branch of Beeline

Dmitry Resh has been appointed as a director of the Tashkent regional branch of the largest communication operator Beeline (Unitel LLC and Buzton JV). The branch renders services to subscribers in Tashkent city, Tashkent and Syrdarya regions. Dmitry Resh said that he is happy to join Tashkent team of Beeline and expressed hope that the team will be able to improve communication service as the company adopted measures in this direction. He said that among his priority tasks is to expand network capacity in Tashkent city, expand 3G network in largest cities of Tashkent and Syrdarya regions.

Source: uzdaily

Ufone Brings the Postpay Smartphone Plan

Ufone brings The Smartphone Plan with the help of Faysal Bank. With the Faysal Bank Smart Plan Offer for Postpay, Users can choose between the Samsung Galaxy S4, the BlackBerry Z10 and the BlackBerry Q10 smart phones. These smart phones are made available in easy installments of 12 months through an industry-first price plan that is totally free of down payment, mark up, security fees and processing fees. Minus all these extra charges and customers can save up to PKR. 19,000 depending on which phone you choose. To take full advantage of your brand new phone, you also get free On-net and Off-net minutes, unlimited SMS and mobile Internet as well as a complimentary golden number of your choice.

Source: Phoneworld

Qualcomm Shows Off Limited Edition SmartWatch

Qualcomm has confirmed plans to launch its own smartwatch by the end of this year, but as a limited edition product more aimed at stimulating the market than dominating it. Designed to serve as a second display to a smartphone, the QualcommToq smartwatch will feature its own Mirasol display technology, a reflective, low-power display that enables an always on viewing experience, wireless charging by WiPower LE technology and stereo Bluetooth audio. At launch, Toq will be compatible with Android 4.0.3 and above mobile devices
Source: Cellular-News

KT Wins 1.8 Ghz Spectrum For LTE Services

KT has won spectrum in the 1.8GHz band for KRW 900 billion for its LTE mobile network service, according to the government. Its local rivals, including SK Telecom and LG Uplus won bandwidth in the 1.8 GHz spectrum for KRW 1.05 trillion and in the 2.6 GHz spectrum for KRW 479 billion respectively. The minimum bidding price for the 1.8 GHz spectrum band won by KT started at KRW 289 billion and the comparable figure for the spectrum band obtained by SK Telecom started at KRW 674 billion.
Source: TelecomPaper

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LTE Continues to Grow in Brazil

The Brazilian telecoms regulator Anatel has revealed that Telefonica subsidiary Vivo was the fastest growing 4GLTE network operator in July, with its user base up 42% to 116,019. The second largest LTE provider, TIM Brasil, saw its own subscriber total jump 85.3% to 66,178, while America Movil unit Claro reported growth of 25% to reach 44,178 customers at end-July. Anatel said there were 257,214 LTE users in Brazil at 31 July, with more than 93,800 of these located in the state of Sao Paulo.

Source: TeleGeography

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Vodafone Extends LTE Network to New Plymouth

Vodafone New Zealand has confirmed that its 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network has been extended to 60% of New Plymouth. The deployment was carried out by long-term associate Nokia Solutions & Networks. Vodafone already boasts LTE coverage of Auckland, Christchurch, Lake Brunner, Queenstown, Wanaka, Taupo, Wellington and Palmerston North. The company’s LTE user base passed the 150,000 mark in late-July.

Source: TeleGeography

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Verizon Not Entering Canada, Confirms CEO

The CEO of Verizon Communications has announced that the US giant is not planning to enter Canada’s wireless market, ending months of speculation and concerns from Canadian operators. The news followed Verizon’s agreement to buy Vodafone Group’s 45% stake in Verizon Wireless for USD130 billion to take full control of its US cellular division.

Source: TeleGeography

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Bidding begins in Taiwan’s 4G spectrum auction

Taiwan’s National Communications Commission has kicked off the bidding in its auction of LTE-suitable spectrum. Having approved all seven companies that had applied to take part in the sale process last month, the auction itself could now take as long as a month to be completed. In total, the government is offering a total of 270MHz of spectrum in the 700MHz, 900MHz and 1800MHz bands, and having outlined the starting prices for the 4G-suitable spectrum in May 2013, should the government sell all the frequencies at the lowest price, it will raise approximately TWD35.9 billion (USD1.2 billion) in total.

Source: TeleGeography

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Vodafone Spain Expands 4G Network Coverage

Vodafone Spain has revealed that it is extending its network footprint. It will launch 4G in eight new cities throughout the months of September and October, those being: Santander, La Coruna and Zaragoza (September) and Cordoba, Vigo, Murcia, Gijon and Oviedo (October). As such, it has said that it will offer 58% outdoor and 27% indoor coverage in each of the new cities at launch, with those figures expected to rise to 70% and 40%, respectively, by December 2013. In already launched LTE locations it now boasts 85% outdoor coverage and 60% in-building coverage.

Source: TeleGeography

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Samsung Completes First Stage of MTS LTE Rollout in Pskov

Russian wireless giant MTS has announced that Samsung Electronics has completed the first stage of the carrier’s Long Term Evolution (LTE) deployment in the Pskov region. Testing is now underway, and by the end of 2013 theoretical downlink transmission speeds of up to 75Mbps will be available to subscribers in the following cities: Pskov, Velikie Luki, Ostrov, Nevel, Opochka, Novosokolniki and Pustoshka. The new network will operate in the Frequency Division Duplex (FDD)-LTE standard.

Source: TeleGeography

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Robi Launches 3G Network in Bangladesh

Robi Axiata has launched its HSPA enabled 3G network, with coverage initially available in Dhaka and Chittagong. However, customers are not able to sign up for the service immediately as the regulator still has not approved the tariffs being offered. That approval is expected in next coming days. Robi has branded the third generation (3G) services as 3.5G, as the operator has gone for more advanced technologies than 3G. Other operators who have got 3G licenses will offer similar services.

Source: Cellular-News

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LTE Network Deployed on Pacific Island Nation

Kiribati has deployed an LTE network supplied by Lemko and Partner Challenge Network. Lemko said that the network it has deployed solves issues of remoteness by eliminating backhaul to a central or hosted core. The highly distributed nature of the population coupled with the technical and commercial difficulties of only having satellite backhaul have made this a very exciting and successful project. Lemko says that it made use of LTE over satellite, meshed satellite networks and a distributed and virtualized EPC mobile core in the deployment.

Source: Cellular-News

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T-Mobile US Expands LTE Lineup with LG G2, LG Optimus F6

T-Mobile US has announced it is expanding its LTE device lineup with the LG G2 and LG Optimus F6 smartphones. The LG G2 features a 5.2-inch full HD display, a 13-megapixel camera, a rear key design and the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor. The flagship device will be available to qualified customers for USD 99.99 down with twenty-four equal monthly payments of USD 21. The smartphone will be offered in a black finish and white finish, which will only be offered online.

Source: TelecomPaper

Nex-Tech Set To Deploy LTE in Kansas

Nex-Tech Wireless has announced plans to begin rolling out a 4G LTE network across its Midwest footprint by the end of the year. The deployment will use equipment from Ericsson and leverage the carrier’s current 1900MHz spectrum holdings. According to RCR Wireless the initial rollout will cover the cities of Hays, Great Bend and Salina (all Kansas). Nex-Tech currently provides CDMA-based services across 43 counties in Kansas and four counties in Colorado.
Source: TeleGeography

SK Telecom Plans to Improve Download Speeds over LTE Next Year

SK Telecom has outlined what it intends to do with the radio spectrum it won in earlier month’s auction.
With wider LTE bandwidth, the company will be able to offer 20 MHz downlink LTE service that supports up to 150 Mbps speed. SK Telecom said that it will begin offering LTE service using wider spectrum channels in the Seoul Metropolitan Area by the end of this year and secure nationwide coverage by July 2014. In addition, SK Telecom plans to combine its bandwidths in the 1800 MHz (20 MHz bandwidth) and 800MHz (10 MHz) spectrums to offer up to 225 Mbps speed by next year.

Source: Cellular-News

Bangladesh Caries out Long Delayed 3G License Auction

Bangladesh’s long delayed 3G license auction finally got under way with four mobile networks bidding for the available radio spectrum. By the end of bidding, the government had raised US$525 million from the mobile networks, and can expect to end up with US$735 million once the state-owned network’s contribution is included. The largest mobile network, Grameenphone bid US$210 million for 10 MHz of spectrum. The other three bidders, Banglalink, Robi and Airtel each paid US$105 million for 5 MHz of spectrum each. Citycell was refused permission to enter the auction after it missed the deadline to pay a deposit to the regulator.

Source: Cellular-News

Telefonica and Alca-Lu Sign LTE Rollout Agreement

Alcatel-Lucent and Spain’s Telefonica have inked a deal under which the former will become the reference supplier for the latter’s domestic 4G LTE network. Telefonica Espana has called on the French-US vendor for the deployment of around 8,000 LTE base stations, while it will also provide its 5620 Service Aware Manager (5620 SAM). Further, under the terms of the agreement Alca-Lu will deliver installation and turnkey project management services in the initial phase of the project, as well as systems integration, maintenance and configuration optimization to reduce time-to-market for the Spanish operator.

Source: TeleGeography

Grameenphone to Launch 3G Network Next Month

Grameenphone is planning to launch its 3G network sometime in the first half of next month. Grameenphone is planning to give 3G coverage in selected areas of Dhaka City and Chittagong by October, while 7 divisional cities will come under coverage by December this year. Dhaka City, Narayangonj and Gazipur will be covered by November.

Source: Cellular-News

Orange’s 4G Network Now Covers 390 Towns

Orange France has announced that the footprint of its 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network has been extended to cover all arrondissements of the capital Paris and 37 additional towns in the surrounding area, bringing the total number of agglomerations with access to the 4G network to 54 (including 390 towns in mainland France). The company is also planning to accelerate the rollout of its 4G LTE network deployment, by increasing the planned coverage to 40% of the population by year-end, up by ten percentage points from the previously announced 30. Orange also reported that 250,000 customers have already subscribed to its LTE services.
Source: TeleGeography

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Telefonica Launches 4G Services in Spain on 13 September

Telefonica has announced its 4G services offering in Spain on 13 September. The launch leverages the network sharing agreements signed with Yoigo at the beginning of August. These agreements allow Movistar to offer its customers mobile services on Yoigo’s 4G network. Movistar will soon announce pricing details for its 4G commercial offer. In parallel, Telefonica is also building its own 4G LTE network in Spain, with Alcatel-Lucent and Ericsson as network equipment suppliers. Alcatel-Lucent and Ericsson will deploy LTE infrastructure in around 2,200 nodes this year, to reach 63 Spanish municipalities in 19 provinces, covering around 50 percent of the Spanish population or 20 million customers.
Source: TelecomPaper

US Cellular Targets 133 LTE Markets by End-2013

US Cellular has reiterated its plans to extend its 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network to a total of 133 markets by the end of 2013, up from the current figure of 92. US Cellular inaugurated its LTE network in March 2012 in selected cities in Iowa, Maine, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin; the cellco had previously claimed to be the first wireless carrier to offer LTE in several of these markets.
Source: TeleGeography

Optus Inaugurates TD-LTE Network in Four Cities

Optus has launched commercial services over a TD-LTE network. Around 22 TD-LTE-enabled sites were switched on in Melbourne, along with 33 sites across Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide. Its TD-LTE and FD-LTE rollouts it aims to cover 70% of the metropolitan population by mid-2014.’ At launch Optus activated 13 TDD-LTE sites in the nation’s capital, giving it coverage of ‘selected parts of the city’. Looking ahead, Optus said that would expand to more than 50 sites during the second half of 2013.

Source: TeleGeography

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Ooredoo Expands 4G Coverage

Qatar’s Ooredoo has announced that its 4G LTE mobile network – launched in April – now covers ‘all’ of capital Doha and Al Wakrah, while it has added coverage in three more cities over the past few months, namely Dukhan, Shahaniya and Sumaysimah. Since launching the LTE network, Ooredoo has increased the number of base station sites by 150%, more than doubling network coverage. Customers can also use 4G at the Sealine Beach Resort and at the Losail International Circuit during major racing events.

Source: TeleGeography

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Vodafone Stepping Up Greek 4G Development

Vodafone Group’s CEO Vittorio Colao said that the UK-based giant plans to use some of the proceeds from the recent sale of its stake in US cellco Verizon Wireless to speed up 4G LTE mobile network development in Greece. Under its ‘Project Spring’ plan, Vodafone intends to increase CAPEX by an additional GBP6 billion (USD9.5 billion) over three years to accelerate network development across its established European footprint and emerging markets.

Source: TeleGeography

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T-Mobile Launching Consumer LTE Network on 18 Nov

T-Mobile Netherlands has announced the official commercial launch date for its consumer 4G LTE mobile broadband services, which will be available to all post- and pre-paid network users with a compatible device from across Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht. The 1800MHz LTE network will cover around 29% of the population at its official launch, and is being expanded in phases, with T-Mobile targeting coverage of 56% in the first half of 2014, 83% in H2 2014, 93% in H1 2015 and ‘100%’ by the end of 2015.

Source: TeleGeography

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Telkomsel to Deploy LTE in Bali Ahead Of APEC Summit

Telkomsel has unveiled plans to deploy a 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network in Nusa Dua, Bali ahead of the imminent Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. Telkomsel will deploy a total of 39 1800MHz base transceiver stations (BTS), each of which will support around 300 users. 5,000 LTE-suitable SIM cards are expected to be made available for use during the conference, which commences on 5 October.

Source: TeleGeography

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Oman Government to Sell 19% Stake in Omantel

The Oman government is taking a second look at reducing its stake in the local telecoms operator, Omantel. The government has said that it plans to sell a 19% stake in the company, which is less than the aborted attempt to sell 25% of the company back in 2008. That sale was cancelled following the global banking crisis. The company is worth around US$3.1 billion, so the government should end up with nearly US$600 million from its share sale.Following the sale, the government will reduce its stake from 70 percent to 51 percent, and so it will still have control over the company.

Source: TeleGeography

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Apple Shows off Two New iPhone Smartphones

Apple has, as expected, shown off two new versions of its iPhone handset range — the 5S and 5C smartphones. Apple iPhone 5s comes with an all-new A7 chip, which Apple says makes the iPhone 5s the world’s first smartphone with 64-bit desktop-class architecture. Apple also engineered iOS 7 and all the built-in apps to maximize the performance of the A7 chip. The 5c smartphone comes with an 8-megapixel camera, and the lower powered A6 chip, but also supports more LTE frequency bands and comes with iOS7 software.

Source: Cellular-News

Mobilis, Nedjma, Djezzy Approved For 3G Auction

Regulatory Authority for Post and Telecommunications (ARPT) held a public bid opening for the award of 3G licenses in Algeria on 15 September 2013, in the presence of Zohra Derdouri, the new Minister of Post and Information Technology and Communication, and representatives of the three mobile operators. The bids submitted by the three mobile operators – Mobilis, Nedjma and Djezzy – have all been accepted by the watchdog. The next stage of the bidding process includes the evaluation of the submitted proposals; the companies eligible to obtain 3G license will be announced on 15 October.

Source: TeleGeography

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Optus Calls On Visionstream for LTE Deployment

Visionstream has announced that it has been handed a contract for civil and services work in the deployment of Optus’s LTE mobile network. In a deal valued at up toAUD240 million (USD218 million), Visionstream will act as the preferred supplier for the civil and services upgrade to over 1,200 existing Optus mobile sites, as well as for sites across the country. The work carried out by Visionstream will include radio design, site acquisition, site design, construction, installation, commissioning and optimization of the Optus mobile network. Commencement works, planning and mobilization is expected to get underway ‘in the coming days’.

Source: TeleGeography

MTS Belarus to Add HD Voice on 3G Network

MTS Belarus says it is trialing high definition (HD) voice technology which, if successful, will be introduced in its 3G network. The firm’s CEO Vladimir Karpovich said that they are currently completing testing technology HD voice. Soon MTS will introduce a new codec [using almost twice wider frequency range than that used in the present AMR-codec], offering much better sound quality and intelligibility of speech during a conversation in a noisy environment.

Source: TeleGeogrpahy

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Digicel Secures LTE-Suitable Spectrum

Digicel Cayman Islands has announced that it has been awarded spectrum suitable for the provision of LTE services. In July 2013 the Information and Communications Technology Authority (ICTA) revealed that rival operator LIME had won a beauty contest for 2×24MHz frequency blocks in the 700MHz band, effectively leaving Digicel empty-handed. However, the regulator has revealed that it will now award Digicel a 20MHz block, also in the 700MHz band. The cellco says it will launch LTE across all three of the islands comprising the country before the end of the year.

Source: TeleGeography

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Three Bidders Apply for Belgium’s 800 MHz Spectrum Auction

Belgium’s telecoms regulator has confirmed that it has received three applications to participate in its digital dividend spectrum auction. The call for bidders was issued in August, and the deadline to submit applications expired on 23rd September. Three licenses are available in total, each comprising 2 x 10 MHz, for a 20-year period. One of the three licenses includes additional obligations as regards the coverage of a number of rural areas. The minimum price per license amounts to EUR 120 million, although the lack of a fourth bidder would suggest that the licenses will be sold for close to the reserve price when the auction starts.

Source: Cellular-News

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STC Claims 76.1% 4G Network Coverage

Saudi Telecom Company has revealed that its 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network now covers 76.1% of the Kingdom’s population. The network, which was launched in September 2011, now comprises more than 7,000 base stations, and the operator is continuing to expand its footprint with a view to reaching its target of 90% coverage by end-2014. STC claims it currently handles over 90% of all data traffic in Saudi Arabia over its fixed and wireless networks which connect to various international submarine cables such as SEA-ME-WE-3, SEA-ME-WE-4 and FLAG.

Source: TeleGeography

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4G Networks to Overtake 3G for Mobile Data Traffic by 2016

Even though 4G’s share of cellular subscriptions stood at a meager 2.9% at the end of 2Q 2013, it is expected to account for slightly more than 20% of the total data consumed on mobile networks worldwide this year. After surpassing 3G networks in 2016, 4G networks will go on to capture two-thirds of data traffic by 2018. 4G data traffic will surge at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 82.2% between this year and 2018. Underpinning this trend is the aggressive LTE network deployment by wireless operators and the expanding portfolio of smartphones and tablets which are also falling in price. Despite growing at the slowest rate, Internet surfing will still contribute to 27% of the data traffic consumed.

Source: Cellular-News

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Bouygues Telecom to Launch LTE Network on 1st October

France’s Bouygues Telecom has said that 63% of the French population will be covered by its LTE network. Bouygues Telecom is taking the initiative of offering a one-month, no-obligation trial period to anyone with an unlocked LTE capable handset. Bouygues Telecom is also unveiling a new Sensation 4G plan that includes 16GB of data, the biggest package of all mobile consumer plans in France. There will also be smaller data allowances at 8GB and 16GB. Contract customers will also be able to upgrade their handsets every twelve months.
Source: Cellular-News

Batelco Selects Ericsson for LTE and 3G Upgrades

Batelco has selected Ericsson as the sole supplier for its LTE and WCDMA expansion plans in the country. Ericsson will install LTE base stations in the new areas and upgrade the Evolved Packet Core network. Support for LTE roaming is also introduced by means of the new Ericsson Diameter Signaling Controller. Financial terms, and the size of the contract were not disclosed.
Source: Cellular-News

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Digicel Extends LTE Footprint in Antigua and Barbuda

Digicel has announced that its operational unit in Antigua and Barbuda has expanded its 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network with the installation of a new site serving the Gunthorpes, Lightfoot, Sea View Farm and Potters community. Earlier this month, Digicel completed a customer satisfaction survey calling hundreds of its customers and were very encouraged by the results with 85% of people describing themselves as either happy or very happy with their service.

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Trio of Deployments See AT&T Reach 400 LTE Market Milestone

AT&T Mobility has confirmed that it has extended its 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network to a total of 400 markets, following deployments in three new locations. The new markets afforded 4G connectivity are Alexander City, Alabama; Concord, New Hampshire; and Jamestown, New York. The mobile giant notes that its LTE networks now cover 240 million people nationwide.

Source: TeleGeography

BlackBerry Announces Its Latest Smartphone – BlackBerry Z30

Blackberry has announced its latest smartphone – BlackBerry Z30; which looks like the biggest, fastest and most advanced smartphone blackberry ever had. It features a stunning 5inch display, latest BB10 OS version 10.2 and many new eye-catching features designed to enhance the BlackBerry 10 experience.
BlackBerry 10 OS version 10.2 continues to refine the unique communications experience of the platform. You can now get a preview of any message as it arrives in whatever app you’re in, and immediately dismiss it or tap it to read the full content and respond. In addition, if your phone is locked, you can tap the various icons on the Lock Screen to see an instant preview of your most recent messages and notifications.
Source: Phoneworld

AT&T Completes Alltel Acquisition

AT&T has completed its previously announced acquisition of Atlantic Tele-Network’s retail wireless assets operated under the Alltel brand. AT&T acquired wireless properties in six states, including spectrum licenses, network assets, retail stores and approximately 590,000 subscribers. The former Alltel network covers approximately 4.5 million people in mainly rural areas in Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, North Carolina, Ohio and South Carolina. AT&T purchased the wireless properties for US$780 million and plans to migrate Alltel customers to the AT&T network by the middle of next year.

Source: Cellular-News

Fairfax to Buy Blackberry for $4.7 Billion

Prem Watsa’s company Fairfax Holdings Limited has come forward with an offer to buy all the shares that they don’t own right now at $9 a share, giving a selling out price of $ 4.7 billion. He indicated that if this deal succeeds, BlackBerry’s prime focus would be its corporate clients. The company already owns 10 per cent of BlackBerry’s shares. The company has floated a letter of intent before the BlackBerry board. BlackBerry can review other offers and take a final decision before November 4th, 2013 – at which point, the board would have to either accept or reject the deal.

Source: Mobigayaan

Amazon Shows Off New Kindle Tablets

Amazon has shown off three new Kindle tablets — the Kindle Fire HD, the Kindle Fire HDX 7, and Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 — and a new OS for its devices. The new software, Fire OS 3.0 “Mojito,” powers the Kindle Fire tablets with Android app compatibility, although apps can only be downloaded from Amazon’s own app store. The HDX models come with the Snapdragon 800 processor running at 2.2 GHz provides over 3x the processing power compared to the previous generation. A front-facing HD camera works with the Skype VoIP app, plus there is a new 8 megapixel wide- aperture rear-facing camera on the 8.9″ Fire HDX.
Source: Cellular-News

Nokia Shows Off Mobile Phone with Urdu Language Support

Nokia has shown off its first ever mobile phone that supports the Urdu language the Nokia 114. Nokia 114, a feature phone with Urdu language capability was launched at an event by Shri Kapil Sibal, Minister of Communications and Information Technology along with Mr. P. Balaji, Managing Director, Nokia India in Delhi. The new Nokia 114 offers the cloud-accelerated Nokia Xpress browser allowing users to consume less data by up to 90%, by compressing websites in the cloud. The Nokia 114 is a Dual SIM phone that enables users to switch between SIMs without having to remove their battery or turn off their phone. The Easy Swap technology can personalize and remember up to five different SIM cards.

Source: Cellular-News

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Apple Offering Up to $280 for Older iPhones

Apple has started a trade-in and recycling programme in the USA for older iPhones which the company then plans to resell in other countries. The company will pay customers up to US$280 for their old handsets, although the customer has to also have an existing — or take out a new — iPhone contract with a mobile network. The handsets being returned have to be in working order, and shown to be so in the Apple stores. The recycling programme is being run by Brightstar for Apple.

Source: Cellular-News

Android Mobile App Revenues to Hit USD 6.8 Bln This Year

Android smartphone mobile app revenues will reach around USD 6.8 billion by year-end, nearly doubling its revenues from the previous year, according to a report from ABI Research. Android smartphone app revenues are expected to grow from 59.1 percent to 65.9 percent when compared to iOS smartphone app revenues over the next twelve months. The report also shows that Apple’s iOS still leads all the other mobile operating systems’ revenues by a significant margin. However, the greater number of Android smartphones in use is clawing back Apple’s lead in this market. This year, Android smartphones are expected to ship by a factor of more than three-to-one to iPhones.
Source: TelecomPaper

Former Nokia Exec Sets Up Newkia to Sell Android Smartphones

A former senior Nokia executive has set up his own mobile phone company that aims to develop Android based smartphones, “Newkia”. Nokia’s former Asia-Pacific boss, Thomas Zilliacus said that the company should have gone with Android originally instead of Microsoft as while the Nokia hardware is still worthy, customers are put off by the small Windows app market and general ecosystem. Zilliacus said that he tried to buy out Nokia a year ago but was unable to raise enough funds to do so despite approaching several global sovereign wealth and equity funds. The new company will however be based in Singapore, although R&D will be carried out in Finland. The new company aims to launch its first handset within a year.

Source: Cellular-News

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AT&T Completes $1.9 Billion Radio Spectrum Deal

AT&T said that it has completed its acquisition of wireless spectrum in the lower 700 MHz band B block from Verizon Wireless. The acquired licenses cover 42 million people in 18 states. AT&T said that the spectrum would support is deployment of LTE network, which currently covers more than 225 million people, with plans to reach nearly 270 million people by the end of 2013, and to substantially complete the build by summer 2014. In exchange for the 700 MHz spectrum, AT&T paid $1.9 billion in cash and transferred Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) spectrum licenses in Phoenix, Ariz.; Los Angeles and Fresno, Calif.; Albuquerque, N.M.; and Portland, Ore.

Source: Cellular-News

Viva Announces Upgrade to LTE-A

Viva has announced plans to upgrade its 4G wireless network to Long Term Evolution Advanced (LTE-A) technology, which it says will provide theoretical peak download speeds of 1Gbps. Viva’s core network has already been upgraded to support LTE-A and the operator has now begun end-user trials on its access network. A commercial launch date for the new technology has not been disclosed.

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Android Announces Its Latest Version – Android Kitkat

Google announces the very next version of Android i-e “Android KitKat”. It’s the first time that the technology giant has chosen a branded name for Android. Android is the operating system that powers over 1 billion smartphones and tablets. Since these devices make our lives so sweet, each Android version is named after a dessert. The details were later agreed on earlier this year at the Mobile World Congress, but kept secret until a giant Android icon made from a KitKat bar was unveiled outside the company’s head office.
Source: Phoneworld

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UPCOMING EVENTS

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The Mobile 360 Series-Middle East conference

The Mobile 360 Series-Middle East conference will be held 21-22 October and will be co-located with GITEX at the Dubai World Trade Centre in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This regional conference offers leaders in the mobile industry a platform to meet and discuss the key issues specific to the Middle East market. For more information, visit http://www.mobile360series.com/middle-east/
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The 2013 Qualcomm 3G/LTE Summit

The 2013 Qualcomm 3G/LTE Summit by Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. returns to Hong Kong this December 10–12. This year continuing to unite more worldwide device manufacturers, operators, and software & component technology companies who are working in various segments within the mobile industry. Please visit: https://3gltesummit.qualcomm.com/
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ITU Telecom World 2013

ITU Telecom World 2013, the leading platform for debate, knowledge-sharing and networking for the global ICT community. ITU Telecom World 2013 will be held in Bangkok, Thailand, from 19 -22 November, bringing together a highly influential mix of leaders from across the public and private sectors. Ministers, industry CEOs, UN agencies, regulators, academics, digital thought-leaders and media will explore the impact of the current transformation of the ICT industry under the theme “Embracing change in a digital world”. Please visit: www.world2013.itu.int

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2nd Annual Telecoms Fraud & Revenue Assurance Forum

2nd Telecoms Fraud & Revenue Assurance Forum is taking place on 25-26 November, 2013 this years in Dubai, UAE. Continuous advances in technology and the rapid proliferation of smart devices are constantly changing fraud threats and posing new RA challenges. This year’s programme will examine emerging fraud trends and explore how operators can enhance their RA capabilities to combat revenue leakage more effectively in an ever-changing environment.
For Detailed Information about the event visit: http://tavess.com/TelecomsFraudRA2013/

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Broadband World Forum 2013 which will be held on 22nd – 24th October 2013

Broadband World Forum 2013 which will be held on 22nd – 24th October 2013 at Convention center, Amsterdam. Broadband World Forum 2013 is the world’s largest Broadband event attracting thousands of decision-makers from across the globe. The 2013 conference agenda will deliver an impressive 5 tracks over 3 days. The packed 3 day programme will be delivered by 250+ service provider speakers and panelists. With 200+ exhibitors the world class exhibition will showcase ground breaking broadband technologies, applications, solutions and services. Please visit: http://www.broadbandworldforum.com/
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Mobile Wallet Asia 2013

Mobile Wallet Asia 2013 (formerly known as Mobile Financial Services Asia) will to be held at Singapore from 29 October – 1 November 2013. Mobile Wallet Asia 2013 highlight important market trends, sharing latest best practices and latest innovations in this mobile payments and commerce revolution.
For more information, visit http://www.mobilewallet-asia.com

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Phone World Magazine

CACF has launched 10th web 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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[columns indent=”25″ bottom=”25″] [column]
[/column] [column] Name Sony Xperia Z Ultra
GENERAL
2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 – all versions
3G Network HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 – all versions
4G Network LTE 700 / 850 / 900/ 1700 / 1900 / 2100 / 2600 – C6806
LTE 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 / 2600 – C6833
DATA GPRS/EDGE/Speed/WLAN/BLUE TOOTH/ USB/NFC/
Operating System Android OS, v4.2 (Jelly Bean)
Chipset Qualcomm MSM8274 or MSM8974 Snapdragon 800

[/column] [column]
[/column] [column] Name LG Nexus 5
GENERAL
2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100
HSDPA 900 / 2100
4G Network LTE
DATA GPRS/EDGE/Speed/WLAN/BLUE TOOTH/ USB/
Operating System Android OS, v4.4 (KitKat)
Chipset Qualcomm MSM8974 Snapdragon 800
[/column] [/columns]

[columns indent=”25″ bottom=”25″] [column]
[/column] [column] Name Apple iPhone 5s
GENERAL
2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 – all models
CDMA 800 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 – A1533 (CDMA), A1453
3G Network HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 – A1533 (GSM), A1453
CDMA2000 1xEV-DO – A1533 (CDMA), A1453
HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 – A1457, A1530
4G Network LTE- all models
DATA GPRS/EDGE/Speed/WLAN/BLUE TOOTH/ USB/
Operating System iOS 7.0.1
Chipset Apple A7

[/column] [column]
[/column] [column] Name Samsung Galaxy Round
GENERAL
2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network HSDPA
4G Network LTE-A
DATA GPRS/EDGE/Speed/WLAN/BLUE TOOTH/ USB/
Operating System Android OS, v4.3 (Jelly Bean)
Chipset Qualcomm Snapdragon 800
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VENDORS/OEM SECTION

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Huawei to Roll out 100G Backbone for Polkomtel

Polkomtel (Plus), has selected Huawei to deploy a 100Gbps backbone network, incorporating its SingleBackbone solution. Polkomtel has embarked on the project to prevent potential bandwidth congestion in relation to its ongoing deployment of Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology. Huawei’s solution enables high bandwidth and efficient multi-service transport, allowing Polkomtel’s network to simultaneously carry mobile and fixed network services. The SingleBackbone solution provides high bandwidth and simplified network operations and management through IP and optical transport network (OTN) synergy.

Source: TeleGeography

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Ericsson Wins Iraqi LTE Deployment Contract

Ericsson has been awarded a contract to deploy Iraq’s first TDD based LTE network in the country, on behalf of the internet and communications provider, Tishknet. The service will be launched in the northeastern Kurdistan region. The agreement includes the Ericsson RBS 6000 family of base stations along with the company’s Evolved Packet Core network, with Evolved Packet Gateway on the SSR 8000 family of Smart Services Routers. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Source: Cellular-News

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ZTE and CSL Demo 300Mbps-Capable LTE-A Network

ZTE Corp and Hong Kong cellco CSL have completed a demonstration of Hong Kong’s first 300Mbps-ready 4GLTE-Advanced (LTE-A) network, using the Chinese vendor’s carrier aggregation (CA) technology, which combines multiple carrier frequencies into one channel, increasing peak transmission speeds. CSL’s spectrum resources include 2×20MHz blocks in both the 1800MHz and 2600MHz frequency bands for 4G services, the widest combined bandwidth in the two specific bands amongst Hong Kong cellcos.
Source: TeleGeography

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Huawei Rules Out Bids to Buy BlackBerry or HTC

Huawei has ruled out bidding for another mobile phone manufacturer, such as HTC or BlackBerry in the wake of Nokia’s sale to Microsoft. Huawei’s smartphone chief, Richard Yu had previously said that the company might consider acquisitions, but this was later claimed to be a mistranslation of his original comments. Chen Lifang, a member of Huawei’s executive board, said the company had not considered a bid for HTC. Ms Chen also rejected any suggestion of an approach for BlackBerry.

Source: Cellular-News

Blackberry Joins FIDO Alliance and Board

BlackBerry has joined the FIDO (Fast Identity Online) Alliance, an industry consortium for online authentication with standards-based specifications, and has also been appointed the board of directors. FIDO members share technology and collaborate to deliver open specifications for universal authentication that enables FIDO-compliant authentication methods to be interoperable, more secure and private and easier to use. BlackBerry is among the first mobile platform and mobile device suppliers to engage with the FIDO Alliance.

Source: TelecomPaper

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NSN Wins Dutch LTE Contract

Nokia Solutions and Networks have announced that it will implement an LTE network for Tele2 Netherlands. Under the contract, NSN is the supplier of the nationwide Greenfield radio access network and related services to enable new 4G services, using the operator’s 2.6GHz and 800MHz frequency bands. Under the contract, NSN will provide its Single RAN advanced platform, which is based on its Flexi Multiradio 10 Base Station. As well as providing the NSN Radio Access security solution for authentication and data protection, the company will also implement the NetAct network management system to enable consolidated configuration, monitoring and optimization of the operator’s LTE network.

Source: Cellular-News

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Samsung Introduces Galaxy Note 10.1

Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 Edition) at technology trade show IFA in Berlin. The new device comes in a new leather-effect rear casing edged with stitching and offers multitasking features as well as new uses for the S Pen stylus. The S Pen 2.0 that comes with the Galaxy Note 10.1 offers a new Air Command wheel feature. Also on the Air Command wheel is the new Scrapbook app for saving snippets of text, pictures, web pages and other content. The new tablet offers a Multi Window feature that divides the screen in half between two apps and also allows users to drag and drop content between the two applications or call up apps in a corner and send them back until needed. The new device will be available in 16GB, 32GB or 64GB models.

Source: TelecomPaper

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Sony Mobile Shows Off its New Waterproof Smartphone, Xperia Z1

Sony Mobile has shown off a new waterproof smartphone, the Xperia Z1. The Xperia Z1 features Sony’s award-winning “G Lens” with a 27mm wide angle and bright F2.0 aperture, custom made large 1/2.3-type CMOS image sensor Exmor RS for mobile with 20.7 megapixel camera and a BIONZ for mobile image processing engine. High shutter speeds and 3x clear image zoom also prevents shots from being blurred while enabling them to be captured at distance. Xperia Z1 features the fully integrated Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor with 2.2 GHz quad-core CPU and LTE. The smartphone is also waterproof and dust resistant (IP55 & IP58).

Source: Cellular-News

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LG Announces G Pad 8.3 with Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 Processor

LG has finally announced their much awaited new tablet the LG G Pad 8.3 just before its official debut during their press conference. This new addition to the G series offers a slim and lightweight build for comfortable usage and a big enough battery of 4,600 mAh for long durability with full HD display having 1920 x 1200 pixels resolution. The Tablet packs a 1.7 GHz quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor along with 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage. The device operates on the Android v4.2.2 with user experience features made specifically for the larger screens.

Source: LG PR

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HTC Shows Off Two New Smartphones

HTC has shown off two new smartphones and a new bass sound subwoofer accessory for its existing HTC One handsets. The HTC Desire 601 combines a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400, dual-core, 1.4GHz processor and LTE connectivity. The display screen is a 4.5-inch model and it comes with a 5 megapixel camera. The HTC Desire 300 comes with a 4.3 inch screen and Qualcomm Snapdragon dual-core, 1GHz processor. The new accessory, the HTC BoomBass, is a Bluetooth-enabled subwoofer with a dedicated amplifier that works with the HTC One family’s BoomSound.

Source: Cellular-News

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Huawei Ascend P6 Clinches EISA Award

The European Imaging and Sound Association (EISA) have chosen this year’s best mobile devices for Europe. Huawei’s Ascend P6 has won the “consumer smartphone of the year”, 2013-2014. At the EISA Awards, the Ascend P6 has received great reviews across the board and remarkably has been able to get the attention it deserves in the Western market. Notably, the phone has already got readily acceptance in London market because of its outstanding features.

Source: Huawei PR

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