India's Department of Telecom (DoT) has specified which spectrum will be available if and when the 3G licences are finally auctioned, Cellular News reported. The document shows that the government could earn an additional Rs 21,480 if the frequencies are auctioned according to the finance ministry's formula.
The regulator and DoT are still in dispute over the plans and pricing for the 3G licence auction. The regulator wants no more than seven 3G licences awarded per circle, while the DoT is keen to sell the spectrum in one tranche. Also the DoT is proposing a reserve price of Rs 4,040 for pan-India 3G spectrum, which is double the amount proposed by the regulator.
According to the plan, just four operators could be offered radio spectrum in Delhi. As the two state controlled operators, BSNL and MTNL have already snapped up two licenses in each license zone (circle), this leave space for just two private firms to compete for the 3G licenses.
Source: GSMA Mobile Business Briefing
Friday, June 19, 2009
AT&T Beefs Up Wi-Fi Support For iPhone
Source: informationweek
AT&T (NYSE: T) is trying to make it easier for iPhone users to switch between 3G networks and public Wi-Fi hotspots by including auto-authentication with the 3.0 software.
Current iPhone users get free access to AT&T's 20,000 public Wi-Fi hotspots at Starbucks, McDonald's, and other public locations. But the process for logging in was considered tedious by many, as a user had to enter the phone number, receive a text message, and then click on a link in that SMS to get access to the Wi-Fi.
With the 3.0 software, iPhone handsets can detect a hotspot and automatically log in without the two-step authentication process. The service is free for iPhone and iPhone 3G users with the latest firmware, and it will be baked into the upcoming iPhone 3G S.
"Auto-authentication makes it even easier for iPhone customers to stay connected on the nation's fastest 3G network and the nation's largest Wi-Fi network," said Ralph de la Vega, CEO of AT&T Mobility, in a statement. "With access to our U.S. hotspots, customers are receiving a great value, with a fast, reliable broadband connection virtually anywhere, through 3G or Wi-Fi."
The move comes as the carrier is seeing increased interest in mobile Wi-Fi access, and it said more than 4 million connections at AT&T hotspots were made with smartphones. The company does also allow some Research In Motion BlackBerry smartphones to connect for free as well, but most industry watchers estimate the iPhone accounts for a majority of those hotspot connections. The move also has the potential benefit of easing demand on AT&T's mobile data network, which has been a source of complaint for some iPhone users.
AT&T (NYSE: T) is trying to make it easier for iPhone users to switch between 3G networks and public Wi-Fi hotspots by including auto-authentication with the 3.0 software.
Current iPhone users get free access to AT&T's 20,000 public Wi-Fi hotspots at Starbucks, McDonald's, and other public locations. But the process for logging in was considered tedious by many, as a user had to enter the phone number, receive a text message, and then click on a link in that SMS to get access to the Wi-Fi.
With the 3.0 software, iPhone handsets can detect a hotspot and automatically log in without the two-step authentication process. The service is free for iPhone and iPhone 3G users with the latest firmware, and it will be baked into the upcoming iPhone 3G S.
"Auto-authentication makes it even easier for iPhone customers to stay connected on the nation's fastest 3G network and the nation's largest Wi-Fi network," said Ralph de la Vega, CEO of AT&T Mobility, in a statement. "With access to our U.S. hotspots, customers are receiving a great value, with a fast, reliable broadband connection virtually anywhere, through 3G or Wi-Fi."
The move comes as the carrier is seeing increased interest in mobile Wi-Fi access, and it said more than 4 million connections at AT&T hotspots were made with smartphones. The company does also allow some Research In Motion BlackBerry smartphones to connect for free as well, but most industry watchers estimate the iPhone accounts for a majority of those hotspot connections. The move also has the potential benefit of easing demand on AT&T's mobile data network, which has been a source of complaint for some iPhone users.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
US lawmakers investigate exclusive handset deals
Source: GSMA
Four US senators have called for the FCC, the US communications regulator, to review the deals made by mobile operators to offer certain devices on an exclusive basis, arguing that the arrangements may distort market competition. Reuters reports that, in a letter to the FCC's acting chairman Michael Copps, the lawmakers urged the regulator to "examine this issue carefully and act expeditiously should you find that exclusivity agreements unfairly restrict consumer choice or adversely impact competition in the commercial wireless marketplace." The letter was signed by three Democrats, John Kerry (chairman of the senate commerce subcommittee on communications, technology and the Internet), Byron Dorgan and Amy Klobuchar, and a Republican, Roger Wicker.
The politicians did not identify any specific deals they were concerned about, but high-profile 'exclusive' arrangements in the US include AT&T offering Apple's iPhone, Verizon Wireless' LG Voyager and Sprint's deal to offer the new Palm Pre. In the letter to the FCC, the senators asked if such arrangements limited consumers' access to new handsets, manipulated competition between operators and discouraged innovation. They added they will hold a hearing tomorrow to examine competition issues and determine if legislative action is necessary.
Four US senators have called for the FCC, the US communications regulator, to review the deals made by mobile operators to offer certain devices on an exclusive basis, arguing that the arrangements may distort market competition. Reuters reports that, in a letter to the FCC's acting chairman Michael Copps, the lawmakers urged the regulator to "examine this issue carefully and act expeditiously should you find that exclusivity agreements unfairly restrict consumer choice or adversely impact competition in the commercial wireless marketplace." The letter was signed by three Democrats, John Kerry (chairman of the senate commerce subcommittee on communications, technology and the Internet), Byron Dorgan and Amy Klobuchar, and a Republican, Roger Wicker.
The politicians did not identify any specific deals they were concerned about, but high-profile 'exclusive' arrangements in the US include AT&T offering Apple's iPhone, Verizon Wireless' LG Voyager and Sprint's deal to offer the new Palm Pre. In the letter to the FCC, the senators asked if such arrangements limited consumers' access to new handsets, manipulated competition between operators and discouraged innovation. They added they will hold a hearing tomorrow to examine competition issues and determine if legislative action is necessary.
India 3G auctions to raise US$5.2B, says minister
Source: GSMA
India's Department of Telecoms plans to auction 3G and/or WiMAX spectrum in 20 of India's 22 telecom service areas. The auction has been delayed numerous times but is still expected to take place before year-end. Among the delays has been the Indian government's reported insistence that the original starting price of INR20.20 billion (US$420 million) for the licenses should be doubled. State-owned mobile operators BSNL and MTNL have already begun 3G network rollout, though both will eventually be required to pay a license fee equivalent to the highest price paid in the private auction [shadow pricing]. The auction was originally scheduled to take place in January this year.
India's Department of Telecoms plans to auction 3G and/or WiMAX spectrum in 20 of India's 22 telecom service areas. The auction has been delayed numerous times but is still expected to take place before year-end. Among the delays has been the Indian government's reported insistence that the original starting price of INR20.20 billion (US$420 million) for the licenses should be doubled. State-owned mobile operators BSNL and MTNL have already begun 3G network rollout, though both will eventually be required to pay a license fee equivalent to the highest price paid in the private auction [shadow pricing]. The auction was originally scheduled to take place in January this year.
Fourth French 3G license price could be raised
The price of France's long-awaited fourth 3G network license is likely to be EUR240 million and not EUR206 million, according to a Telecompaper report that cites French newspaper Les Echos.
The French government is expected to start the process before the end of July, with the new operator to be selected in the first quarter of 2010. The original price of EUR206 million was a third of the amount paid by Orange France, SFR and Bouygues Telecom for their licences, which came with three times as much spectrum.
The French government is keen to issue further 3G licenses in order to boost competition in its domestic 3G market, which remains dominated by just three operators. An attempt in 2007 to auction the fourth license was abandoned after it generated just one bid - from Iliad subsidiary Free Mobile - that was deemed too low.
The French government is expected to start the process before the end of July, with the new operator to be selected in the first quarter of 2010. The original price of EUR206 million was a third of the amount paid by Orange France, SFR and Bouygues Telecom for their licences, which came with three times as much spectrum.
The French government is keen to issue further 3G licenses in order to boost competition in its domestic 3G market, which remains dominated by just three operators. An attempt in 2007 to auction the fourth license was abandoned after it generated just one bid - from Iliad subsidiary Free Mobile - that was deemed too low.
12 Operators Launching 3G LTE Services in 2010
Source: 3G.co.uk
The first operators intending to deploy LTE include Verizon Wireless, MetroPCS Wireless, and U.S. Cellular in the United States; NTT-DOCOMO and KDDI in Japan; TeliaSonera, Tele2 and Telenor in Europe; and the world’s largest operator, China Mobile, which intends to launch in 2011. KT and SK Telecom are expected to launch in Korea 2010, but there has been little fanfare so far.
Verizon Wireless chose Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, and Starent.
NTT-DOCOMO chose Ericsson, NEC and Fujitsu.
TeliaSonera chose Ericsson and Huawei.
Tele2 and Telenor chose Huawei.
The first operators intending to deploy LTE include Verizon Wireless, MetroPCS Wireless, and U.S. Cellular in the United States; NTT-DOCOMO and KDDI in Japan; TeliaSonera, Tele2 and Telenor in Europe; and the world’s largest operator, China Mobile, which intends to launch in 2011. KT and SK Telecom are expected to launch in Korea 2010, but there has been little fanfare so far.
Verizon Wireless chose Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, and Starent.
NTT-DOCOMO chose Ericsson, NEC and Fujitsu.
TeliaSonera chose Ericsson and Huawei.
Tele2 and Telenor chose Huawei.
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