airtel Bangladesh crosses milestone of 5 million customers

airtel Bangladesh crosses milestone of 5 million customers

Bharti Airtel, a leading global telecommunications company with operations in 19 countries across Asia and Africa, today announced that it has crossed the 5 million customers mark in Bangladesh - becoming the fastest growing mobile services operator in the country. With this, airtel Bangladesh will continue to strengthen its network reach in the country and stay committed towards contributing to the growth of telecom in Bangladesh through affordable services. In January 2010, Bharti had acquired 70 percent stake in Warid Telecom and subsequently launched brand airtel in Bangladesh in December 2010.

Telstra goes HD Voice in Aus

Mobile voice calls go HD over largest HD Voice network in the world on the Next G® network - Media Announcement – About Telstra

Telstra has unveiled the mobile phone equivalent of switching from Standard Definition to High Definition Television with the launch of High Definition Voice calling across its entire Next G® mobile network.

Mike Wright, Executive Director, Telstra Networks & Access Technologies said “The difference between a standard and HD call is the voice equivalent of comparing a VHS with a blue-ray DVD, HD Voice calling sounds like you’re talking face to face, even if you are hundreds or thousands of kilometres apart.”

HD Voice is made possible using state of the art technology known as Wideband Adaptive Multi-Rate coding (WB-AMR). The wider dynamic range means over twice the range of voice frequencies are transmitted allowing customers to hear the full range of a person’s voice and makes it much clearer to distinguish between similar sounds like ‘S’ and ‘F’.

“HD-voice calls will require the caller and receiver to be using compatible handsets on the Telstra Next G® mobile network for the full benefits of the technology. We expect our customers will really value HD Voice as another distinguishing feature of the Next G® mobile network,” said Mr Wright.

Optus reaches landmark agreement with NBN Co on HFC network

Optus reaches landmark agreement with NBN Co on HFC network

Optus announced today that it had reached a landmark agreement with NBN Co on the migration of its Hybrid Fibre Coaxial Cable (HFC) customers to the National Broadband Network (NBN).

Under the agreement, Optus will begin the progressive migration of its customers to the NBN once the network is rolled out in an area and is ready to provide services to customers currently served by Optus’ HFC network.

Mike Quigley, NBN Co Chief Executive said, “A definitive agreement with Optus, Australia’s second largest ISP, represents a significant step in the journey towards a true level playing field for retail broadband services”.

Telstra signs NBN Definitive Agreements

Telstra signs NBN Definitive Agreements

Telstra has today signed Definitive Agreements with NBN Co and the Commonwealth for its participation in the rollout of the National Broadband Network (NBN).

“After rigorously assessing the options before it, including the regulatory and commercial implications of each, the Telstra Board expects to recommend that shareholders approve a proposal to participate in the NBN rollout, subject to the conditions precedent being satisfied.” Telstra Chairman Catherine Livingstone said.

The agreements provide Telstra with replacement revenue, through disconnection payments as the rollout of the NBN occurs, and new revenues, through access payments for the use of Telstra’s infrastructure over an assumed average 30 year period. Consistent with the Financial Heads of Agreement signed in June 2010, the arrangements under the Definitive Agreements and associated Government policy commitments are expected to deliver approximately $11 billion in post-tax net present value over their long-term life. This value will not be in the form of an upfront payment, but is the present value of payments to be received over many years. This value is also subject to a range of dependencies and assumptions over the life of the agreements.

Maxis customers in Johor Bahru get fastest WBB speeds

Maxis customers in Johor Bahru get fastest WBB speeds

Customers of Maxis Berhad ('Maxis'), the country's leading integrated communications service provider, may rest easy in the knowledge that they enjoy the fastest broadband speeds in Johor Bahru. The Company reaffirmed its position as the market leader in broadband network coverage when it was declared the 'speed king' by leading publication Mobile World, based on a comprehensive road test conducted in Johor Bahru by the magazine. The road test was carried out in different locations in Johor Bahru, specifically in City Square, Danga Bay and Desa Cemerlang.

'The results from this road test only confirm what we at Maxis have long known - that we do indeed offer the most reliable and fastest wireless broadband experience in Malaysia. This achievement is a result of Maxis' tireless efforts in enhancing our capacity and coverage to ensure our customers, be it in Johor Bahru or other parts of the country, can enjoy seamless broadband connectivity while on the go. In line with our goal to provide broadband access to all Malaysians, we are proud to announce that most of Johor Bahru and surrounding areas are already equipped with 3G coverage with plans for more cities to be covered," said Jean-Pascal van Overbeke, Maxis' Chief Operating Officer, at a media luncheon held today.

Telstra launches world’s fastest 3G hotspot

Telstra launches world’s fastest 3G hotspot

Australians now have access to the world’s fastest 3G hotspot with the launch today of the Telstra Ultimate® Mobile Wi-Fi – a battery-powered device that shares Next G® mobile broadband connectivity with up to five devices simultaneously.

Warwick Bray, Executive Director, Telstra Mobile Products said a surge in laptop, tablet and smartphone ownership meant Australians were increasingly turning to fast mobile broadband connectivity to get the most out of their devices on the go.

“Australians are now taking a growing range of Wi-Fi enabled devices with them when they’re outside the home and office. However managing separate mobile broadband accounts for each gadget can be a hassle. The Ultimate® Mobile Wi-Fi device makes it easy for customers to connect up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices simultaneously at speeds up to four times faster than currently achievable using similar competitor 3G Wi-Fi hotspot products in capital CBDs and selected regional areas."

M1 to deploy South East Asia's first commercial LTE network

M1 to deploy South East Asia's first commercial LTE network

M1 Limited (M1), a leading provider of mobile, broadband and fixed communications services, today further reaffirms its technology leadership in the wireless space by announcing the launch of its Long Term Evolution (LTE) based Next Generation Mobile Network on 21 June 2011 - the first in South East Asia.

M1’s dual band LTE network, operating on both the 1.8 GHz and 2.6 GHz frequency bands, will have an initial theoretical downlink speed of 75 Mbps and uplink speed of 37.5 Mbps. By end 2012, the theoretical downlink and uplink speeds will be upgraded to 150 Mbps and 75 Mbps respectively.

Robi launches ‘Axiata Roam’ Single Rate Roaming

Robi Axiata Limited recently launched an enhanced international roaming proposition for its customers, following the earlier and extremely well-received ‘Local Rate Roaming’ campaign. The new proposition as part of the “Axiata Roam” offer, will significantly improve customers’ roaming experience when they use a Robi connection when traveling abroad.

The international roaming offer comprises of a single low rate for all calls back home to Bangladesh, all SMS, and all local calls to the visiting country, without having to worry about high roaming call charges. This unique roaming proposition, which applies to both prepaid and postpaid connections, is applicable when traveling within Axiata’s network of mobile operators in Malaysia (Celcom), Indonesia (XL), Sri Lanka (Dialog) and Cambodia (Hello). Under the offer, international roaming customers of Robi will be paying only Tk 15 per minute (including VAT) for local calls and calls home, and per SMS to any destination.

The offer is further beneficial to postpaid roamers, as data (internet) roaming would be absolutely free of charge when in these participating operator networks.

On the occasion of launching this service, Robi's Managing Director and CEO Michael Kuehner said, “With this offer Robi hopes to cement its position as the leading operator in international roaming in Bangladesh and bring international connectivity offerings that are of tremendous value to our customers. The unique offer will enable Robi international roamers to benefit from affordable rates and keep in touch more often with near and dear ones back home.”

Targeted at travelers and corporate customers, the initiative is another unique Robi offer, leveraging on its regional footprint and Axiata group synergies, to provide an unmatchable proposition that extends across Asia.

SamoaTel shares C-Level posts

Newly acquired SamoaTel has seen current CEO Lealali Faletoese Asaua voluntarily resign from his position. Asaua stepped into the role when Mike Johnstone vacated the position.

BlueSky's Tiafau Douglas Creevey confirmed that mass redundancies were not on the cards but senior management posts would be shared across the 2 Samoan MNOs.

Samoaobserver