Telecom NZ CDMA to close July 2012

Telecom NZ CDMA to close July 2012

Telecom has today confirmed that its CDMA mobile network will close on 31 July, 2012, following previous statements that the network would be maintained until mid-2012.

Since the launch of the XT mobile network in 2009, Telecom has said it would close the CDMA network around mid-2012. While the CDMA network will continue to operate as normal until then, after the closure devices on the CDMA network will not be able to make or receive calls and texts, or use data.

Vodafone and Essar Announce Agreements for Sale of Essar Stake in Vodafone Essar Limited

Vodafone and Essar Announce Agreements for Sale of Essar Stake in Vodafone Essar Limited

On 1 July 2011, Vodafone Group, Essar Communications (Mauritius) Limited (“ECML”) and ETHL Communications Holdings Limited (“ECHL”) agreed the terms under which ECML and ECHL will sell their direct and indirect shareholdings in Vodafone Essar Limited (“VEL”).

Under the terms of the agreements, ECML's wholly owned subsidiaries, Essar Communications limited (“ECL”) and Essar Com Limited (“ECom”), have sold their entire 22% shareholdings in VEL, and ECHL will dispose of its 11% shareholding in VEL. Further, the parties have agreed that all outstanding claims between them are terminated, and that all future claims have been renounced. The parties have also agreed to cooperate fully in seeking all regulatory approvals necessary for the completion of these transactions.

SK Telecom Opens New Mobile Era with 4G LTE

SK Telecom Opens New Mobile Era with 4G LTE

SK Telecom (NYSE: SKM) today held a ceremony to declare the launch of Korea's first commercial LTE service, thereby opening the 4G era in full swing.

In April 2011, the company held a 4G LTE network demonstration for the first time in Korea at its Bundang Building's LTE Test-bed to showcase its advanced LTE technology by comparing speeds of 4G LTE and 3G WCDMA; showing LTE-based 3D video streaming and high definition video content download/ streaming; and demonstrating high definition video call between two handsets, one located in a moving bus and the other in the Bundang Building.

LTE is a next-generation network that enables ultra high-speed data service by providing maximum downlink speed of 75Mbps, which is five times faster than that of 3G WCDMA network (HSUPA) and maximum downlink speed of 37.5Mbps, which is seven times faster than that of 3G WCDMA, and even 1.9 times faster than Wibro that provides maximum downlink speed of 39.8Mbps and maximum uplink speed of 10Mbps.

PCCW Global and Tinet bridge Ethernet services

PCCW Global and Tinet bridge Ethernet services

PCCW Global Limited, a subsidiary of Hong Kong's premier telecommunications provider, PCCW Limited, and Tinet, a Neutral Tandem company (Nasdaq: TNDM) and a global carrier focusing on the IP and Ethernet wholesale markets, have bridged their Ethernet services for improved network coverage and service availability.

PCCW Global and Tinet will collaborate to provide global Ethernet services to meet their customers' demands for high quality and cost-effective international connectivity connecting more than 70 countries worldwide. The two operators will complement each other's Ethernet capabilities in providing customers with a seamless experience especially for connectivity in Asia, Europe and the Americas.

This first cooperation between PCCW Global and Tinet will combine PCCW Global's expertise in international connectivity with Tinet's international Ethernet presence.

SingTel Group signs agreements for S$3.7 billion of credit facilities with international banks - SingTel

SingTel Group signs agreements for S$3.7 billion of credit facilities with international banks

Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SingTel) today announced its subsidiaries entered into agreements for total credit facilities of approximately S$3.7 billion for general corporate purposes and to refinance existing facilities.

In Singapore, SingTel’s SingTel Group Treasury Pte Ltd., signed the agreement for a three-year S$2.16 billion committed revolving credit facility with 12 banks, comprising Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited, Bank of America, N.A., The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., Citibank N.A., Deutsche Bank AG, DBS Bank Ltd., The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd., Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited, Standard Chartered Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and United Overseas Bank Limited. This facility is guaranteed by SingTel.

In Australia, Optus Finance Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of SingTel Optus Pty Limited (Optus), signed a three-year A$1.2 billion committed revolving facility agreement with 12 banks, comprising Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited, Bank of America, N.A., Barclays Bank PLC, The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., BNP Paribas, Citibank, N.A., Sydney Branch, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, The HongKong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, Sydney Branch, JP Morgan Chase Bank, NA., Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd., Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited and Westpac Banking Corporation. This facility is guaranteed by Optus and certain of its subsidiaries.

Ms Jeann Low, SingTel’s Group Chief Financial Officer, said: “The SingTel Group appreciates and is very pleased with the level of support from our bankers, both in Singapore and Australia.”

DoT bats for BSNL, C-DOT & ITI synergy

DoT bats for BSNL, C-DOT & ITI synergy

The Indian state is looking at merging its ailing tech firms into one bigger organisation to benefit from increased coverage and the sharing of resources. The state owns both MTNL and BSNL which compete in an MNO sector which benefits from major globe inputs from Vodafone, Maxis, Singtel, Etisalat and other huge mobile firms.

With some 86m subscribers BSNL is not a duff opertion, and with the merging of MTNL the 2 would have over 90m subscribers. This makes the state the 4th place MNO in a market of 15 (14 if you merge the state) active MNOs.

...having said that, when we tried to access the BSNL website today it would not load.

Telstra CFO John Stanhope to retire

Telstra CFO John Stanhope to retire

Telstra today announced that Chief Financial Officer, John Stanhope, will retire on 30 December 2011.

DOCOMO to Become Japan’s First Mobile Operator to Offer Phone-to-Phone Service for Overseas Mobile Remittances

DOCOMO to Become Japan’s First Mobile Operator to Offer Phone-to-Phone Service for Overseas Mobile Remittances

NTT DOCOMO, INC. announced today that it will become Japan’s first mobile operator to offer a convenient mobile service for overseas remittances, including phone-to-phone money transfers to the Philippines, when it launches “docomo Money Transfer™” on July 7.

Remittances to the Philippines will be possible from i-mode™-compatible DOCOMO phones to SMART Money, a reloadable payment card operated by Smart Communications, Inc., a subsidiary of DOCOMO partner Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT). Beneficiaries will be able to confirm receipt promptly by accessing their SMART Money card via a Smart mobile phone.

Vodafone Fiji - Water Bill through M-PAiSA

Vodafone Fiji - Water Bill through M-PAiSA

If you are one of those many people who forget to pay their water bills on time, this may just be the service for you. Vodafone in partnership with Water Authority of Fiji have now opened up the M-PAiSA bill pay service for WAF clients to pay their water bills directly from their mobile phones.

The Acting CEO of WAF, Mr. Opetaia Ravai said, “WAF is owed a substantial amount in unpaid bills. This has a ripple on effect on ability to deliver this very essential service and basic need to the people of Fiji. We realize that the longer a bill remains uncollected the less likely chance of it being collected as people have competing financial obligations which they need to fulfil. We also realise that convenience is key factor in timely collections. Our decision to open up Vodafone’s M-PAiSA is to allow our clients a convenient payment option to pay their bills on time. Mobile phones seem to be a man’s best friend accompanying him everywhere he goes. Therefore, it makes sense for WAF to capitalize on these gadgets capabilities to assist in our bill payments.”