South Korean mobile network operator KT Corp has confirmed that it expects to launch commercial voice-over-Long Term Evolution (VoLTE) services in October this year, the JoongAng Daily reports. According to the local news source, KT will launch trials of the service this weekend, with around 300 people across the country selected for the pilot.
South Africa-based Vodacom Group has reported consolidated revenues of ZAR17.02 billion (USD2.08 billion) for the three months ended 30 June 2012, up 9.3% on the corresponding year-earlier period.
India’s Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) have deferred making a decision on the reserve prices for 2G spectrum in the upcoming auction, reports the Business Standard. The EGoM has asked that the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) draw up a new study assessing the impact of a variety of price levels and has requested that the regulator look into the effect of implementing spectrum usage charges of between 3% and 8%
Amnet Costa Rica, a subsidiary of Millicom International Cellular’s (MIC’s) cable operator arm Amnet, has announced that from 23 July it will be rebranded under the preferred ‘Tigo’ banner of its Luxembourg-based parent. Commenting on the name change, Angelo Iannuzzelli, the manager of Amnet Costa Rica said the triple-play provider will be launching new services to coincide with the launch of the new moniker.
Canada’s Cogeco Cable, has agreed to buy US cableco Atlantic Broadband for USD1.36 billion, allowing the company to expand into its neighbour market after a failed attempt to gain a foothold in Europe with Portugal’s Cabovisao. Cogeco is purchasing the company from private-equity firms Abry Partners and Oak Hill Capital Partners in a deal that is expected to be completed by end-2012
The board of Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) yesterday approved the draft of revised regulations aimed at preventing foreign dominance in the local telecoms industry, the Bangkok Post reports. The regulations will take effect next week, said Settapong Malisuwan, chairman of the NBTC's telecom committee, who stated that the rules are designed to help local telecoms operators avoid breaching the Telecommunications Business Act and the Foreign Business Act, preventing possible foreign dominance, with overseas shareholdings capped at 49%.
Swedish telecoms groups Tele2 has posted consolidated revenues for the second quarter of 2012 of SEK11.064 billion (USD1.591 billion), up by 10% from SEK10.078 billion in the same quarter of last year, as a result of sustained growth in mobile services and an additional boost from the newly purchased and integrated operations and assets of Network Norway. However, EBITDA was negatively affected by significant increases in marketing spending, and dropped by 3% year-on-year to SEK2.715 billion in the three months ended 30 June 2012, while operating profit (EBIT) fell by 18% to SEK1.427 billion and net profit slumped by 23% to SEK849 million.
