FIC rolls out more channels, HD options on StarHub TV

FIC rolls out more channels, HD options on StarHub TV

FOX International Channels (FIC) and StarHub announced today that the two entertainment and lifestyle channels will now be re-tiered to their respective Basic Groups. To further enhance the audience’s viewing experience, FIC will also launch two more channels in HD format—FOX Family Movies HD (StarHub TV Channel 663) and tvN HD (StarHub TV Channel 874)—from 28 November 2011.

FX, synonymous for its cutting-edge programming, brings about bolder and edgier content that pushes the boundaries of television. In the month of November,viewers can look forward to the exclusive premiere of dark comedy It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, when the American television sitcom returns for its fifth season. Emmy-winning drama series Mad Men will also debut its third season on FX.

tvN,the number one Korean entertainment channel in Asia, is set to wow Korean enthusiasts in the region, especially Singapore, when the channel broadcasts Asia’s biggest music awards show—2011 Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA)LIVE—on 29 November 2011 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.Singapore will be the second overseas country outside of South Korea to present the major music awards show.

StarHub subscribers can also catch 2011 MAMA’s fantastic showcase of talented and popular artistes from South Korea and its visually spectacular pyrotechnics in full HD glory on the tvN HD channel. tvN HD, which is a simulcast channel to tvN in high definition format, is available for free preview to Chinese Entertainment Basic Group customers with the HubStation HD or HD Interactive set-top box from 28 November 2011 till 30 June 2012.

FOX Family Movies will follow suit with the introduction of its HD format in Fox Family Movies HD, under the STAR Movies Pack. Available across Asia in dual-language English and Mandarin, FOX Family Movies is home to the greatestand most beloved family films, such as Aladdin, Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert and Alice in Wonderland, from major Hollywood studios.

“FX and tvN’s being re-tiered to their respective basic groups is a testament to the high quality entertainment content offered by FOX International Channels and expanding availability to an even larger group of viewers in Singapore. As Asia’s leading pay TV network, FIC aims to entertain audiences across all demographics and on all platforms. In addition, with the launching of new high definition channels such as tvN HD and FOX Family Movies HD, FIC remains the leading provider of HD services to audiences across the region and in Singapore,” said Mr. Avinash Himatsinghani, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Southeast Asia of FOX International Channels.

“StarHub is pleased to offer greater value to our basic Lifestyle and Chinese Entertainment package subscribers through the addition of the FX and tvN channels at no extra cost,” said Ms. Iris Wee, StarHub’s Vice President of Home Solutions & Content. “Introducing the tvN HD and FOX Family Movies HD channels will also provide our customers with an enhanced HD viewing experience. This strengthens StarHub’s HD proposition in offering the most comprehensive content choices in standard definition as well as high definition,” she added. “StarHub is always exploring ways to bring more benefits to our customers, and we will continue working with our longstanding partner FIC to do just that.”

FX, tvN and FOX Family Movies are part of FIC’s portfolio of channels with multiple genres such as Channel [V] China, Channel [V] International, Channel [V]Taiwan, FOX, Nat Geo Wild, National Geographic Channel, Phoenix Chinese Channel, Sky News, STAR Movies, STAR Plus, STAR Vijay and STAR World.

Bharti Airtel implements Customer Experience Management platform (CEM)

Bharti Airtel implements Customer Experience Management platform (CEM)

Bharti Airtel today announced that it has implemented a Customer Experience Management (CEM) platform into its network to optimize and enrich user experience of its customers. The operator has chosen Nokia Siemens Networks to provide and deploy its CEM platform and services across India. The CEM platform will maintain and store real-time experience metrics for every subscriber in the network enabling Bharti Airtel to proactively cater to customer needs.

“The implementation of CEM is an added impetus to our constant endeavor of offering best in class service experience to our customers across GSM, EDGE and 3G networks,” said Jagbir Singh, director network group at Bharti Airtel. “It will enable us to identify the root cause of a problem and rectify the same before the subscriber experiences any impairment in service delivery. This will clearly help us maintain an edge in the mobile broadband arena.”

“Our CEM solution will enable Bharti Airtel to enhance its service experience. For instance, it can proactively correct device settings without any intervention from the customer care,” added Sandeep Girotra, head of India region at Nokia Siemens Networks. “In addition, it can assist the marketing teams by providing new insights about subscribers’ usage and preferences, and hence enhance Bharti Airtel’s capabilities to create customer delight.”

Telecom New Zealand today announced it will offer iPhone 4S

In the News : Telecom NZ Limited

Telecom New Zealand today announced it will offer iPhone 4S beginning Friday, November 11. iPhone 4S will be available starting at $0 for the 16GB model, $49 for the 32GB model and $249 for the 64GB model with a new two-year contract and data plan. Telecom will also offer iPhone 4 8GB and iPhone 3GS starting at $0 with a new two-year contract and data plan.

iPhone will be available at Telecom retail stores and online at telecom.co.nz/iPhone. Customers can pre-order iPhone 4S at telecom.co.nz/iPhone, and Gen-i clients can pre-order iPhone through their client manager.

iPhone 4S is the most amazing iPhone yet, packed with incredible new features including Apple’s dual-core A5 chip for blazing fast performance and stunning graphics; an all new camera with advanced optics and full 1080p HD resolution video recording. With the launch of iPhone 4S also comes the launch of iOS 5, the world’s most advanced mobile operating system with over 200 new features; and iCloud, a breakthrough set of free cloud services that work with your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac or PC to automatically and wirelessly store your content in iCloud and push it to all your devices.

“We are delighted to bring the innovative iPhone 4S to Telecom New Zealand customers," said Telecom retail CEO, Alan Gourdie. "With the capability and performance of Telecom's mobile services, customers will enjoy using the many new features of iPhone 4S on our network."

From 12:01 AM on Friday, November 11, customers will be able to purchase iPhone 4S from Telecom’s concept stores in central Auckland (167 Victoria St West) and central Wellington (42 Willis St). Customers will also be able to purchase from Christchurch (Moorhouse Ave) and Dunedin (101 George Street). iPhone 4S, iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS will also be available from all other Telecom stores nationwide from November 11 from 9:00 AM.

World of Apps for Vodafone Fiji Blackberry Users

World of Apps for Vodafone Fiji Blackberry Users

This week Vodafone Fiji officially announced the launch of App World for its BlackBerry customers. Vodafone Fiji's BlackBerry users now have access to BlackBerry's latest offering; App World, which as the name suggests, is a constellation of applications for Blackberry devices. App World is free to access and many of the 300,000 applications, 40,000 games and 14,000 themes are free to download, with such offerings as Facebook, Twitter, BBM and even an application which turns your BlackBerry into two torches, free.

Boasting Apps that include Music & Audio; Finance; Business; Health and Wellness; Photo & Video; Education; Entertainment; Sports & Recreation, as well as ten games categories comprising of such titles as Action; Board Games; Cards; Movies & TV Themes and Sports, Blackberry App World gives the BlackBerry user myriad ways to play, enjoy entertainment, find out about the world around them and manage their lives.

The App World application can be downloaded via the Blackberry browser at http://mobile.blackberry.com and by navigating through to the App World link. However most Vodafone Blackberry users will get the application pushed to their devices automatically.

Vodafone's Manager VAS, Chaminda Senewiratne said that they have been working with their partner Research In Motion for a few months now to launch App World for their Fiji customers. Customers are excited and we have received positive feedback about App World. Another first for Fiji from Vodafone.

Vodafone Fiji : Interconnect Price Determination

Vodafone Fiji : Interconnect Price Determination (8 Nov 2011)

The price determination by Commerce Commission on interconnect call termination rates for calls generated and terminating locally is in line with the glide path reduction in the interconnect rates agreed earlier between the Commission and the operators. Accordingly, there is no real surprise in the local interconnect price determination. The new rates come into effect from the 17th of November. Vodafone is technically ready to make appropriate changes in its interconnect billing meters to reflect the new charges from the effective date.

The changes in the interconnect rates are applicable at the wholesale level and will definitely have a negative impact on Vodafone revenues. Vodafone will conduct its own analysis on the level of this impact before it finalizes any new tariffs and plans going forward.

For inbound international calls, there has been an increase in the termination rate from US16.5 cents to US22.00 cents. These changes really do not impact Vodafone in any way because Vodafone Fiji as an operator does not bring in international call traffic into the country. However, the 9 cents call handling charges payable to network operators in the country on whose network the international traffic is terminated is welcomed by Vodafone. The decision by the Commerce Commission to levy such charges on those bringing in international traffic but not owning any network in the country is welcome given the huge investment required to maintain network infrastructure. Benefitting from market arbitrage due to pricing disparity between different markets without real investment in the network, if not corrected could have debilitating effect on network infrastructure owners.

We also note that the Commission has changed the proposed interconnect rate on local calls agreed to earlier from 11.5 cents to 10 cents for the period 17th November 2012 to 16th November 2013. Whilst, we would have preferred this to remain at 11.5 cents for more measured price adjustments, we nonetheless have to start gearing for a steeper decline next year.