NetOne inaugurates new switching centre

Zimbabwean state-run cellco NetOne has commissioned a new mobile switching centre in Bulawayo in the south of the country, at a cost of USD45 million. As well as mobile voice calls, the switching centre also supports broadband internet and packet data traffic, and is designed to improve network reliability, availability and security in the southern region. As reported by Telecompaper, the new network facilities, sourced from Huawei Technologies using a loan from China Export & Import Bank, will also enable NetOne subscribers to use internet services on their mobile phones.

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OVETEL NetOne inaugurates new switching centre

DoJ seeks to postpone AT, T-Mobile court hearing; is deal dead in the water?

The US Department of Justice (DoJ) reportedly intends to file a motion this week that will see it postpone the court proceedings relating to its challenge to AT&T Mobility’s proposed USD39 billion acquisition of rival cellco T-Mobile USA. According to Dow Jones Newswires, DoJ lawyer Joseph Wayland has indicated that legal action against the controversial merger is no longer necessary, because the companies have formally withdrawn their application for approval by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Wayland said that the DoJ will either ask the federal court to stay the court proceedings, or simply withdraw its case until the companies once again attempt to seek approval with the FCC

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OVETEL DoJ seeks to postpone AT&T, T-Mobile court hearing; is deal dead in the water?

Osnova Telekom goes on the offensive over LTE spectrum

Osnova Telekom, the controversial start-up company which is partly-owned (25.1%) by Voyentelekom, a holding company controlled by the Ministry of Defence, has confirmed that it intends to actively pursue frequencies in the 790MHz-862MHz spectrum band, with a view to launching a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network. Although the operator was authorised to oversee the formation of an ‘experimental dual-purpose LTE zone’ which would comprise a primary network used to provide services on a commercial basis, and a confidential telecoms subsystem used by the government and the Ministry of Defence, in January 2011, its commercial plans stalled amid pressure from the country’s established telecoms operators.

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OVETEL Osnova Telekom goes on the offensive over LTE spectrum

Competition watchdog favours lower termination rates for MVNOS, paper says

The French competition authority has lined up behind national regulator Arcep in supporting its proposal for lower voice call termination rates for new mobile start-up Free Mobile and other full mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) than for the three incumbent cellcos, Telecompaper writes. Unconfirmed reports suggest the authority prefers ex-ante regulation in the case of the Iliad group’s would-be newcomer Free Mobile, as well as for MVNOs Lycamobile, Omea Telecom and NRJ Mobile. The paper says the competition authority has stressed the need to strive for an ongoing reduction in mobile termination rates, including setting asymmetric rates in instances it deems will address ‘competitive distortions’ in the market.

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OVETEL Competition watchdog favours lower termination rates for MVNOS, paper says

ComCom raises minimum transmission speed, lowers maximum price

Switzerland’s telecoms regulator, the Federal Communication Commission (ComCom) has increased the minimum transmission speed required under the universal service licence, and lowered the cost ceiling for a connection.

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OVETEL ComCom raises minimum transmission speed, lowers maximum price

MCMC reconfirms intention to allocate 2.6GHz spectrum

More than a year after first announcing plans to hand a number of operators spectrum in the 2.6GHz band, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has confirmed that nine companies will indeed gain new frequencies. According to the Star Online, however, the blocks of spectrum which will be handed out will be smaller than originally planned.

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OVETEL MCMC reconfirms intention to allocate 2.6GHz spectrum

Smart Mobile widens network coverage

Cambodian wireless operator Smart Mobile has expanded network coverage to the provinces of Oddar Meanchey, Preah Vihear and Mondulkiri, Telecompaper reports. The company's GSM/GPRS/EDGE mobile services currently cover around 80% of the population and roughly 50% of the country's territory, while Smart Mobile’s HSPA+ mobile broadband network, which was commercially launched in August 2011, is available in 14 provinces

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OVETEL Smart Mobile widens network coverage