Bharti Tele-Ventures to be renamed as Bharti Airtel

Bharti Tele-Ventures Limited, one of India’s leading telecommunications services provider, is to be renamed Bharti Airtel Limited.

Bharti Tele-Ventures Limited, one of India’s leading telecommunications services provider, is to be renamed Bharti Airtel Limited. The proposal has been approved by the Board of Directors of the Company and will come into effect post approvals from the shareholders and statutory / regulatory clearances.

Source:Televisionpoint.com

Jamdat Launches Games on Hutch

Jamdat Mobile announced the launch of its game titles on Indian cellular service provider Hutch.

Mobile users in India can go bowling, wakeboarding or pitfalling wherever they go, whenever they want. Jamdat Mobile announced the launch of its game titles on Indian cellular service provider Hutch.

Jamdat Bowling, Jamdat Pool, Pitfall! and Wakeboarding are available now on Planet Hutch, Hutch’s data services platform.

Players can choose to play a single game or a 3-game series and maneuver their aim, power and pin meter for maximum control. Jamdat Pool gamers can play eight and nine ball on their mobile phones. Pitfall! is the wireless version of the classic title as players guide Pitfall Harry through more than 200 jungle screens. Wakeboarding features Shaun Murray and other top pros.

“India is a growing market for mobile gaming and Hutch is one of the leading cellular service providers in that market,” Minard Hamilton, Jamdat’s executive vice president of sales and marketing, said in a press release. Hutch’s core consumer base is the urban population, which is the ideal target for Jamdat’s titles, he added.

Rumor Verizon Mobile Music Service Disables MP3s

Rumors have recently begun circulating about an annoying potential drawback of Verizon s V Cast mobile music store, which is set to be launched on January 16th.

Rumors have recently begun circulating about an annoying potential drawback of Verizon?s V Cast mobile music store, which is set to be launched on January 16th.

Apparently, handsets will no longer be able to play MP3 music files after being upgraded to work with the V Cast service. This is reportedly due to an agreement with Microsoft saying that to use Windows Media software with the service, Verizon would have to agree to make phones exclusive to the WMA file format.

via [Teleclick.ca]

Maxis and Reddys buy out Aircel

Malaysias largest telecom company Maxis Communications, in partnership with Apollo Hospitals promoter Reddys will buy Aircel for 1.08 billion dollars

Malaysia?s largest telecom company Maxis Communications, in partnership with Apollo Hospitals promoter Reddys, will buy Aircel for $1.08 billion. Maxis plans to list Aircel.

Maxis will take a direct 65% stake in Aircel by spending $702m. It will hold the remaining stake indirectly through a joint venture, owned 74% by Apollo and 26% by Maxis.

This implies an enterprise valuation of $800m for Aircel. With Aircel?s mobile subscriber base of over 2.2m, the payment per subscriber will be around $364. Vodafone paid $1,000 per subscriber for Bharti while $570 a subscriber was paid by Hutchison Essar for BPL.

Mr Sivasankaran?s Sterling Infotech has been lucky in its fourth attempt to sell Aircel. It had earlier held discussions with Idea Cellular, AFK Sistema of Russia and Hutch.

via [MobilePundit]

Nokia and CommTel expand broadband in the Pacific

CommTel Network Solutions Australia, a value added re-seller of Nokia’s network solutions, has signed an agreement for the supply of Nokia broadband DSL solutions

NOKIA PRESS RELEASE December 28, 2005

Nokia and CommTel expand broadband in the Pacific

Espoo, Finland – CommTel Network Solutions Australia, a value added re-seller of Nokia’s network solutions, has signed an agreement for the supply of Nokia broadband DSL solutions and related services to a new customer, Telecom Cook Islands Ltd in the Pacific, marking a new market entry for Nokia. Deliveries will begin in January 2006 and the system will be up and running during March 2006. This follows on from a similar agreement signed with Solomon Telekom in December 2004.

The Nokia D500 IP DSLAM (Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer) was chosen for the provision of faster Internet access services in these Pacific islands as it delivers integrated IP functionality unlike any other IP DSLAM solution in the broadband industry.

“Having initially launched Internet services in 2003, Telecom Cook Islands is now able to migrate customers from our existing ATM network to the benefits that IP provides for multimedia services,” says Robert McFadzien, Manager, Information Systems, Telecom Cook Islands.

“This represents a milestone in our sales channel structure, highlighting the effectiveness of our collaborators in offering Nokia broadband solutions. As utilities, authorities and operators move towards IP-based networks, the Nokia D500 is a perfect extension to the continuing portfolio of Nokia narrowband and Nokia microwave radio solutions,” says Alf Kysenius, Sales Director, Networks, Nokia.

The Nokia D500 is a complete IP-based multiservice access node platform for providing both quality of service and secure authentication. It supports the latest DSL standards, for example ADSL2+ G, for increased bandwidth, as well as existing ATM-based DSL services. With IP Multicasting capability and telephony utilising fixed-to-mobile convergence standards, such as SIP, the Nokia D500 provides residential homes and businesses access to video, voice and data services, on phones, PCs, TVs and mobile devices.

“Solomon Telekom is now offering fast Internet access to business customers, adding extra capacity, coverage and bandwidth to the existing network,” says Aydin Ada, Manager Information Systems, Solomon Telekom.

Having supplied broadband to customers in the area such as Telecom New Zealand since 1999, Nokia has a renowned track record in carrier-class broadband and narrowband products. Nokia works together with key partners to enable broadband services for more than 50 customers across the globe, covering the European, Asia-Pacific, China, and the Americas markets.

About CommTel
CommTel Network Solutions Pty Ltd, based in Melbourne, Australia, is a specialist company, providing Design, Engineering and Integration of advanced telecommunications systems to Carrier and Dedicated Networks Customers in the Oceania and APAC Regions. CommTel’s core expertise is the application of new and advanced DSL and optical fibre transmission technologies to applications in the carrier, power utility, oil and gas, and transport markets.

About Telecom Cook Islands
Telecom Cook Islands Ltd (TCI) is the sole provider of telecommunications in the Cook Islands. TCI is a private company owned by Telecom New Zealand (TNZ) Ltd (60%) and the Cook Islands Government (40%). In operation since July 1991, TCI provides local, national and international telecommunications as well as internet services.

About Solomon Telekom Company
Solomon Telekom Company Limited is a joint venture company between Solomon Islands National Provident Fund, which hold 51% of the shares, and Cable & Wireless Plc of the United Kingdom which holds 41.9% of shares and the Investment Corporation of the Solomon Islands which owns 7.1 % of the shares.

About Nokia
Nokia is a world leader in mobile communications, driving the growth and sustainability of the broader mobility industry. Nokia connects people to each other and the information that matters to them with easy-to-use and innovative products like mobile phones, devices and solutions for imaging, games, media and businesses. Nokia provides equipment, solutions and services for network operators and corporations.

New Hutch shop at Parrys Chennai

Subscribers are to benefit from value-added service offered by Hutch in the wake of a new shop inaugurated at Parry’s recently.

Subscribers are to benefit from value-added service offered by Hutch in the wake of a new shop inaugurated at Parry’s recently. Sankara Narayanan, chief operating officer launched the shop located at Armenian Street. With a subscriber base of over 3 lakh, Hutch’s retail presence in Chennai now covers six exclusive Hutch shops and a mobile shop that reaches customers at their convenience across the city wherever they are. The new colours of Hutch have been successfully incorporated in all elements of the new shop starting with the branding to all client service team uniforms. ‘The Hutch shop is a one-stop shop aimed at addressing all customer needs and providing superior customer service and enhanced user experience at a next door location. Our objective is to offer our customers a bright. friendly and comfortable helpdesk at a convenient location’, said the COO.

Orascom Buys Stake In Hutch, Enters India

Orascom Telecom has entered the Indian Telecom arena, with the acquisition of 19.3 per cent stakes in Hutchison Telecom

Friday, December 23, 2005: Orascom Telecom has entered the Indian Telecom arena, with the acquisition of 19.3 per cent stakes in Hutchison Telecom. With the deal, Orascom is on its way to some of the high growth mobile markets in Asia. Hutchison already has operations in India and Sri Lanka, while Orascom, the Cairo-based telecom company, has presence in Pakistan and Bangladesh.

According to Naguib Swiris, CEO, Orascom Telecom, ?We have often expressed our keen interest to enter some of the largest and highest growth mobile markets in the world like India, Indonesia and Vietnam. The tie-up with Hutchison Telecom presents Orascom Telecom with exposure to these markets.?

As per the terms of the tie-up, Orascom and Hutchison will combine procurement, apart from signing roaming agreements between all the complementary operations. Orascom will send two representatives to the Hutchison Telecom board. Besides, the company will have its members on the board of Hutchison Essar, in which Hutchison Telecom holds 42 per cent stakes.

Orasom and Hutchison control mobile operators with two billion subscribers in 15 countries.

via [EFY Times]

Motorola launches Made in India phone

Motorola has finally launched a Made in India phone, which will be marketed through Hutch at below Rs 1,700

NEW DELHI: Motorola has finally launched a ‘Made in India’ phone, which will be marketed through Hutch at below Rs 1,700, bundled with free talk time of around Rs 700, taking the effective price to sub-Rs 1,000.

Launching the C115 model, Motorola officials said although this model would not be available in the retail market, there were more phones in the C11x series that would be available over the next year and they would all be in the sub-Rs 1,700 range.

Although the company did not say who was making C115 in India, it is believed that Flextronics is doing it.

Read More

Nokia supplies its mobile softswitch to Hutchison 3G Austria

Hutchison 3G Austria has selected Nokia to supply its mobile softswitch solution for optimizing Hutchison 3G Austria’s mobile network

NOKIA PRESS RELEASE December 22, 2005

Nokia supplies its mobile softswitch to Hutchison 3G Austria

Espoo, Finland – Hutchison 3G Austria has selected Nokia to supply its mobile softswitch solution for optimizing Hutchison 3G Austria’s mobile network. The 3GPP Release 4 architecture of the Nokia MSC Server System will allow Hutchison 3G Austria to gain significant cost savings in the operation of its WCDMA 3G network and will enable the operator to continue to offer the most advanced mobile multimedia services to its customers. Deliveries have started, with the target of having the system operational by the end of the year.

Nokia also provides a wide range of services, including project management, installation, integration, commissioning and care services. The system continues to be supported by the multitechnology Nokia NetAct(TM) solution.

“We are confident that Nokia’s cost-efficient MSC Server System keeps us ahead in the competition,” said Jan Trionow, Chief Technology Officer, Hutchison 3G Austria. “The Nokia MSC Server allows us to continue offering advanced 3G voice and mobile multimedia services to our customers, while offering a smooth migration path to All-IP in the future.”

“We are pleased to introduce the Nokia MSC Server solution into Hutchison 3G Austria’s network,” said Jorg Erlemeier, General Manager, Networks, Nokia. “The Nokia MSC Server System is a market-leading solution, offering Hutchison 3G Austria cost and operational efficiency.”

Nokia continues as the sole supplier for Hutchison 3G Austria’s core network.

Nokia leads the 3GPP Release 4 mobile softswitch market with over 70 customers for the Nokia MSC Server, over 20 of which are already in live commercial use.

Airtel and Bird to laucnh 1399 prepaid offer

Bird mobiles a chinese mobile maker and india’s Airtel have partnered to offer a bundled handset and connection for just 1399 rupees

Bird Phones, the Chinese cell phone company, has entered into a ‘bundling’ pact with Airtel under which a connection and handset is being provided for just Rs1399 but with a lock-in-period.

Adarsh Shastri, Director, Marketing, Bird Phones, said, “We shall be offering a handset for just Rs1399 along with a pre-paid connection of Airtel which also includes Rs600 worth free talk-time to be spread over six months. The scheme involves huge subsidy which is being shared by both parties.”

The scheme was launched in first week of November in six circles and the company sold 65,000 handsets in first 20 days, Shastri claimed.

“Our target is to supply five lakh handsets till end of current fiscal,” he added.

The same model of handset is being sold at Rs3,000 in the open market. The bundled (handset plus Airtel pre-paid connection) scheme comes with a 8-month lock-in-period whereby the consumer is barred from using the same handset for another connection.

Currently, the scheme is available in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh (East and West), West Bengal, Orissa and Bihar, he said adding the company was planning to cover all India soon.

read more

India Can Wait; Airtel To Launch 3G Services In Seychelles Soon

India will have to wait for 3G services for some more time. But not Seychelles. Airtel, India’s leading mobile telephone service provider, will shortly launch 3G mobile services in Seychelles.

India will have to wait for 3G services for some more time. But not Seychelles. Airtel, India’s leading mobile telephone service provider, will shortly launch 3G mobile services in Seychelles. Telecom Seychelles Limited, owned by Bharti Tele-Ventures, has been providing mobile and basic telephone services in Seychelles for the last 7 years under the Airtel brand, It will invest 44 million Seychelles Rupees for rolling out the services.

The new 3G and GPRS network will add a new dimension to the services provided to all Postpaid and Prepaid customers and roamers. This upgrade will open a gateway to Broadband Internet Access, Video Calling, Picture Messaging (MMS), Data Cards, Prepaid Roaming, Advanced Billing System and loads of other Value Added Services. The new 3G upgrade will also provide fast and more reliable Internet access of up to 384 kbps as against 10 kbps in 2G or 30 KBPS in GPRS, the release said.

The 3G Network will be on the IMT 2000 Band (3GSM) enabling complete alignment with the world standard. This will ensure seamless roaming with the rest of the world. Besides the upgrade Airtel is adding new Base Stations to expand its coverage to more islands.

via [contentsutra]

Hutch India launches new website and new logo

A new clean redesigned website and pink logo are on display by the indian mobile service provider

Hutch has launched its new logo and website hutch.in to the public.

Hutch will be operating under this new colors

hutch logo

Please log on the to see for yourself

http://www.hutch.in/home/index.asp

Nokia powers Eurotel WCDMA 3G network in the Czech Republic

The leading Czech mobile operator Eurotel Praha, spol. s.r.o. has launched the first WCDMA 3G network in the Czech Republic. The launch follows the successful live demonstration of 3G services, such as video call and Internet browsing and file transfer with Nokia High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) at the Brno trade show in October 2005

NOKIA PRESS RELEASE December 5, 2005

Nokia powers Eurotel’s WCDMA 3G network in the Czech Republic

Nokia and Eurotel test HSDPA in live network

Espoo, Finland – The leading Czech mobile operator Eurotel Praha, spol. s.r.o. has launched the first WCDMA 3G network in the Czech Republic. The launch follows the successful live demonstration of 3G services, such as video call and Internet browsing and file transfer with Nokia High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) at the Brno trade show in October 2005. In the first phase, the 3G services are available in Prague and Brno, but are expanding rapidly to other parts of the country.

“We are pleased to announce another notable first – being Czech Republic’s first mobile operator to launch services such as mobile TV, live video, full-track music downloads and video call, powered by WCDMA 3G, to our customers. This is a natural expansion of our current services and will strengthen our position as the market innovator,” says Stanislav Kura, Chief Strategy and Product Development Officer, Eurotel Praha, spol. s.r.o. “We are pleased to see that Nokia’s capability in WCDMA 3G network deployment helped us to launch the service in record time and according to our plans.”

Nokia and Eurotel are currently also trialling HSDPA, which is an important step in bringing faster mobile services to consumers. The two companies have completed an HSDPA call, reaching 1.8 Mbps download speed, in Eurotel’s live network using Nokia’s 3G network technology. “Internet browsing is a great example of the benefits that HSDPA will bring to consumers. It also demonstrates Eurotel’s commitment to maintaining leadership in broadband mobile data services,” says Stanislav Kura. “We are satisfied with Nokia’s solution and their support in making this high-quality HSDPA call and looking forward to put it in commercial operation.”

“We are very pleased to continue our long term and successful cooperation with Eurotel and join hands to achieve an important milestone in the Czech Republic’s mobile communications through the commercial launch of WCDMA 3G services,” says Matti Palom?ki, Country Director, Networks, Nokia. “Nokia is proud to cooperate with Eurotel in shaping the future of mobile multimedia communications.”

As part of the deal announced in September, Nokia provides Eurotel radio and packet core networks, including state-of-the-art 3GPP Release 4 MSC Server System, Nokia Flexi Intelligent Service Node (ISN), Nokia IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) and HSDPA-ready Nokia UltraSite WCDMA base stations. Nokia also provides the Nokia NetAct(TM) network management solution, and services for network planning and implementation, operation and maintenance, and training.

The Nokia HSDPA is a cost-optimized, high performance solution with a software upgrade to the WCDMA 3G network that offers end users significantly faster download speeds. Operators upgrading their networks with the Nokia HSDPA solution can take advantage of improved data rates and throughput, enhancing the efficiency of the network to support a higher number of users at a lower cost per user. The Nokia HSDPA solution allows operators to provide enhanced end-user services at significantly lower cost per bit. Currently, several operators are testing the first HSDPA release, showing encouraging test results.

Later, an upgrade to High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA) with enhanced upload speeds will be available in a similar manner. Nokia upload speed is already 384 kbps. Nokia already has over 20 HSDPA contracts, 7 of which have been published.

About Eurotel Praha, spol. s r.o.
Eurotel Praha, spol. s r.o. reported almost 4.5 million customers in its nework at the end of September 2005. The mobile telephone networks of Eurotel 900/1800 MHz and 450 MHz cover a territory which has 99 percent of the population of the Czech Republic (more than 10 million people). Eurotel holds a UMTS license for the operation of 3rd generation mobile services.

As well as services for post-paid customers on billed tariffs, Eurotel offers prepaid cards under the brand name Go and a full range and content of multi-media services, including video, MMS, voice services, WAP and SMS. Eurotel is the only mobile operator in the Czech Republic which offers the two most advanced GSM (wireless) data transfer technologies. General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) and GSM High-Speed Circuit-Switched Data (HSCSD) are available to contractual customers and customers with prepaid services. Eurotel as the first operator in Europe offers the CDMA2000 1xEV-DO high speed Internet access in its 450 MHz network. The high quality of Eurotel services includes SuperSound technology, which ensures a clean voice connection and 397 roaming partners in 160 countries around the world.

Eurotel Praha is a limited liability company (spol. s r. o.), and is owned (100%) by CESK? TELECOM, a. s.

About Nokia
Nokia is a world leader in mobile communications, driving the growth and sustainability of the broader mobility industry. Nokia connects people to each other and the information that matters to them with easy-to-use and innovative products like mobile phones, devices and solutions for imaging, games, media and businesses. Nokia provides equipment, solutions and services for network operators and corporations.

Airtel launched its network services in Koraput and Rayagada districts

Airtel launched its network services in Koraput and Rayagada districts making its foray into several areas of southern Orissa and spreading its operations to 300 towns in less than one year of its operations.

Statesman News Service
BHUBANESWAR, Dec. 4. ? Airtel launched its network services in Koraput and Rayagada districts making its foray into several areas of southern Orissa and spreading its operations to 300 towns in less than one year of its operations.
It has also announced to bring additional 100 towns under its network coverage before March 2006.
With this total towns under Airtel coverage will go up to 400 in Orissa.

via [The Statesman]

Decision on 3g spectrum by 2006 first quarter

The decision on 3G spectrum is expected to be taken by first quarter of 2006, said Minister of Communications and Information Technology Dayanidhi Maran

NEW DELHI: The government of India is likely to take a decision on 3G spectrum early next year.

?The decision on 3G spectrum is expected to be taken by first quarter of 2006,? said Minister of Communications and Information Technology Dayanidhi Maran.

Speaking on the sidelines of the India Economic Summit, he added, ?We welcome more players in 3G, but the quality and the price at which services would be provided should be competitive, as it is a value-added service.?

He further said, ?3G is not a replacement of 2G. Even when 3G comes into India, investment in 2G would still continue.?

Speaking on the issue of unbundling the last mile, Maran opined, ?Government will not go for unbundling the last mile. I am very happy with the broadband progress and see no necessity for unbundling the last mile.?

He also stressed on the need for provision of more content. ?Price of broadband and PCs have gone down but there is no content to be accessed through these. We have to make sure that it is available,? he said.

He further informed that the new telecom policy would be out next year. ?IndiaOne is also happening and we have removed almost all barriers for its rollout,? he added.

via [ciol]