NBTC hints at potential changes to foreign ownership regulations

Thailand’s newly formed telecoms regulator, the National Broadcasting & Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has hinted that upcoming hearings could lead to a revision of the country’s foreign ownership regulations, which aim to restrict the influence of overseas shareholders in Thai communications operators in order to protect national interests. Specifically, a hearing on 30 November is planned to discuss the Foreign Dominance Notification which became effective on 31 August, having been introduced by an acting line-up of the NBTC consisting of members of the outgoing National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

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OVETEL NBTC hints at potential changes to foreign ownership regulations

Rostelecom ramps up Volga broadband investment plan

Russian national operator Rostelecom plans to increase its investments in the Volga Federal District by 33% in 2012, earmarking funding of around RUB8 billion (USD259.9 million). Speaking to reporters, Marat Dolgoarshinnykh, commercial director of the company’s interregional branch, revealed that Rostelecom plans to use the additional CAPEX to introduce fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) broadband technology and 3G mobile connectivity to the Volga Federal District, which forms the south-eastern part of European Russia. As a result of the investment Dolgoarshinnykh said that Rostelecom hopes to expand its broadband subscriber base in the Volga Federal District by more than 15% in 2012, to around 1.5 million users.

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OVETEL Rostelecom ramps up Volga broadband investment plan

PLDT begins construction work on ASE submarine project

Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) has begun work on the construction of its portion of the new Asia Sub-Marine Cable Express (ASE) undersea fibre-optic system, designed to improve internet transmission speeds in the Asia-Pacific region.

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OVETEL PLDT begins construction work on ASE submarine project

CRC establishes forum for NGN deployment

Colombia’s telecoms watchdog, the Comision de Regulacion de Comunicaciones (CRC) has formed an industrial group to oversee the deployment of the country's next generation network (NGN). The group intends to provide an open platform for discussion and promote cooperation between the sector’s players for the development of a nationwide NGN

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OVETEL CRC establishes forum for NGN deployment

MCIT plans to license first three MVNOs in 2012

Saudi Arabian communications minister Muhammad Jameel Mulla has announced that the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) plans to issue three mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) licences in early-2012, whilst confirming that the regulator does not intend to open the market for a fourth player. ArabNews.com quotes the communications chief as saying: ‘Virtual communications services do not require any new network … We don't have any plan to license a new company to provide cell phone service’. Although rumours that the MCIT intended to endorse the entrance of MVNOs into the sector have circulated since 2009, Mulla’s announcement marks the first formal acknowledgment of the watchdog’s plan.

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OVETEL MCIT plans to license first three MVNOs in 2012

Openreach set for commercial PIA launch as product trials prove successful

Openreach, the network arm of UK fixed line incumbent BT, and Japan’s Fujitsu have announced that ‘strong progress’ has been made in trials of the former’s duct and pole sharing products. In a press release issued by BT, the telco noted that Fujitsu last week connected its first end-users via the incumbent’s duct and pole infrastructure as part of trials of fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) technology in the Wirral.

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OVETEL Openreach set for commercial PIA launch as product trials prove successful

ArmenTel to offer customers ‘alternative’ fixed line tariffs from next year

ARKA News Agency reports that Armenian incumbent fixed line operator ArmenTel will offer its subscribers ‘new alternative packages’ of voice telephony services from 12 January 2012. The new tariff plans were approved on Wednesday in the meeting of the Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) – the telecoms regulator. The packages include monthly subscriber payment, services for local and international calls, as well as calls to mobile networks.

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OVETEL ArmenTel to offer customers ‘alternative’ fixed line tariffs from next year