Philippine Navy taps PLDT for integrated communications system

Philippine Navy taps PLDT for integrated communications system

The Philippine Navy has tapped the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) to set up an integrated communications system that will link the country’s naval forces.

The Philippine Navy now relies on PLDT’s IP VPN (Internet Protocol – Virtual Private Network) backbone for video conferencing, data and voice transmissions of its six naval groups stationed in different parts of the archipelago.

IP VPN is delivered using PLDT’s IP network infrastructure to provide a secure network that is more cost-efficient compared to traditional solutions.

Dual SIM card phones to aid Christchurch recovery efforts

Dual SIM card phones to aid Christchurch recovery efforts

2degrees and Vodafone are providing Christchurch Earthquake Operations centre staff with dual-SIM card mobile phones to aid the rescue and recovery effort.

The LG 310 phones, which carry 2degrees and Vodafone SIM cards, will provide rescue staff with simultaneous access to both networks as they continue their investigation of premises around the city.

The benefit of ‘dual SIM’ mobile phones is that if one company’s network is not operating, the phone can make calls and texts on the other’s.
The companies have pre-loaded 200 of the phones with credit so they are ready to use immediately.

Although Vodafone and 2degrees operate their own separate networks in Christchurch, the underlying GSM technology is the same."

Delivering multi-access, multi-media, fixed and mobile convergence services to Malaysia

Delivering multi-access, multi-media, fixed and mobile convergence services to Malaysia

Celcom Axiata Berhad (“Celcom”) and Telekom Malaysia Berhad (“TM”) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) towards delivering multi-access, multi-media, fixed and mobile convergence services to Malaysian consumers.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Deputy Minister of Information, Communications and Culture, Y.B. Dato’ Joseph Salang. Signing on behalf of their respective companies were Dato’ Sri Shazalli Ramly, Chief Executive Officer of Celcom and Dato’ Sri Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa, Group Chief Executive Officer of TM.

The MoU, which is unprecedented in scope, encompasses several areas of collaboration, specifically High Speed Broadband (HSBB) Services comprising HSBB (Access) and HSBB (Transmission); Wholesale Internet Access (WIA), Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) access, Fiber Network System via Wholesale Long Term lease and Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) services.

Vodafone Aus writes to subscribers about network performance

Vodafone has today written to its customers to share plans that will bring improvements to network performance and customer service.

“We want our customers to be happy with the network, service and value they receive from us,” said Nigel Dews, CEO Vodafone Hutchison Australia.

Part of the letter said...

From mid-2010, explosive growth in the popularity of smartphones and mobile broadband led to a sharp increase in data use in some areas, which could have been better supported by earlier coverage and capacity upgrades. At the same time specific technical faults complicated the network improvements planned.

“As we worked through upgrading and adding new capacity into the network we experienced some software faults which added to a very frustrating network experience for some customers,” said Michael Young, Chief Technology Officer at Vodafone Hutchison Australia. “We also discovered that some of the new and upgraded sites were either resetting autonomously or interfering with other neighbouring sites – causing intermittent and immediate disruptions to voice and data traffic for some customers.”

Plans that were announced in October 2010 have been fast-tracked, with support from scores of network engineers, additional staff from vendor partners and capital investment, to give customers better signal strength, faster data and better coverage - including a new 3G network. The new 850MHz network works particularly well with smartphones and mobile broadband, including a new quad band mobile broadband modem launched last week. 386 sites in the new network have been deployed, with a total of 1500 planned.

Vodafone is also working with world-leading network technology vendor, Huawei to replace 2G and 3G equipment at all base stations throughout Australia (which makes up the radio access network(RAN)) as part of its overall plan to improve mobile coverage and download speeds.

Investment is also being made in future technology known as 4G (or Long Term Evolution – LTE – of 3G). The trials of the technology we ran last year were very successful, achieving speeds of up to 73Mbps with the new Huawei equipment in place. As devices become available we will be able to rollout LTE right across both of our 3G networks.

PLDT powers first Wi-Fi enabled bus line

PLDT powers first Wi-Fi enabled bus line

JAC Liner, one of the leading bus lines in the country, has become the first bus line to offer free Wi-Fi access in its buses with the help of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT).

Through PLDT SME Nation, PLDT’s group that focuses on small and medium enterprises, 90 percent of JAC Liner’s buses that ply routes to Lucena and Mauban in Quezon, Biñan and Sta. Rosa in Laguna, and Marinduque, now have free Wi-Fi internet for passengers.