US-based VelaTel Global Communications (formerly ChinaTel) announced on Tuesday that it has finalised financing contracts with Chinese telecoms equipment giant ZTE to increase its existing equipment and software orders for the deployment and expansion of wireless networks in Montenegro and Croatia, reports SeeNews. TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database says that under a 2010 agreement, ZTE is VelaTel’s preferred provider of equipment, software, operational services and financing for WiMAX wireless broadband networks, and VelaTel has reported that ZTE is providing 85% of its CAPEX needs; in December 2011 VelaTel revealed that it had already placed a USD4.8 million order with ZTE to roll out 75 WiMAX base stations in Croatia (via its Novi-Net subsidiary) and Montenegro (where it owns Montenegro Connect).
VelaTel finalises WiMAX expansion plans in Croatia, Montenegro
HAKOM extends broadband tender to August
Croatian telecoms regulator, the Postal & Electronic Communications Agency (HAKOM), has extended a bidding deadline in a public tender for the award of state aid to roll out broadband networks in underserved, remote areas, to 20 August from 15 June.
Gateway steps up terrestrial network initiative
Pan-African telecoms service supplier Gateway Communications has announced that it has brought additional capacity from submarine cable SAT-3 to landlocked Botswana via South Africa, under its Southern African Development Community (SADC) initiative. Customers can now access high speed, reliable connectivity, which will help to improve Botswana’s economic sectors, including mining, tourism and agriculture
Oi reports tripling in Q1 profits as business plan gains traction
Brazilian telecoms group Oi SA, the company formed through the restructuring of Telemar Participacoes’ former operating divisions Brasil Telecom, Tele Norte Leste Participacoes, Coari Participacoes and Telemar Norte Leste, says net income tripled to BRL346 million (USD174 million) for the first three months of this year, up from BRL93 million in Q1 2011.
Eircom rescue plan thrown into doubt following court application
Eircom’s rescue plan, currently in the throes of being finalised by the court-appointed examiner Michael McAteer, has been thrown into doubt following an unprecedented application to the Commercial Court, which is expected to be heard today. Local press reports say that with McAteer poised to conclude a rehabilitation plan with Eircom’s creditors on Friday, New York-based DW Investment Management, which is representing 52.4% of creditors holding EUR350 million (USD448 million) in floating rate loan notes in troubled carrier Eircom, and Hong Kong-based Hutchison Whampoa, the parent company of Irish mobile phone operator 3, are seeking recourse through the courts following the examiner’s decision last week to reject a revised EUR2 billion cash offer from 3 Ireland and Hutch.
Djezzy sees 7% increase in sales in Q1 2012
The Algerian telco Djezzy, which is backed by the Russia-based telecoms group Vimpelcom, has reported a 7% rise in sales for the first three months of 2012 to DZD34.3 billion (USD457 million), which the operator attributed to an increased focus on higher-end subscribers. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) grew 8% year-on-year to reach DZD20.6 billion, while subscriber numbers were up 14% at 17.69 million
Subtel and Entel complete rural connectivity project
Chilean telecoms regulator the Sub-Secretaria de Telecomunicaciones (Subtel) has announced the completion of its public-private initiative, to deliver broadband services to remote rural communities. The project, which saw Subtel partner with local operator Entel and was launched December 2009, rolled out wireless broadband networks to 1,474 towns and villages allowing around three million Chileans to access the internet more easily. The project cost USD110 million, with Entel providing USD65 million, and USD45 million coming from the Fund for the Development of Telecommunications (FDT) and the Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications (MTT).
Regulator to investigate Claro outage
Argentina’s telecoms regulator Comision Nacional de Comunicaciones (CNC) will investigate the possibility of imposing sanctions on mobile operator Claro, following an outage on the America Movil-owned company’s network in parts of Buenos Aires earlier this month, BNamerica reports, citing state news service Telam.
Hungarian cellcos rail against new telecoms tax
Hungary’s three leading mobile network operators – T-Mobile Hungary, Telenor (formerly Pannon) and Vodafone – have protested to the government that its proposed new tax on the industry reneges on its earlier promise to the industry. In a statement, the three firms said they were ‘shocked to learn [that] the government amended its planned tax on telephone calls’
SPTC finally ceases sale of Fixedfone, ONE offerings
The Swaziland Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (SPTC) has finally stopped selling its contentious fixed-wireless and mobile products, The Times of Swaziland reports. In March 2012 the SPTC reportedly made an offer to withdraw its ‘ONE’ mobile phone and fixed-wireless ‘Fixedfone’ services from the market, in a bid to end its bitter ongoing dispute with the country’s sole mobile operator, MTN Swaziland. The offer was made on the eve of a hearing at the International Court of Arbitration in Geneva which sought to put an end to the feud
- TNL (Oi) sets aside USD3.25bn for 2012 CAPEX April 19, 2012
- Tata drops out of running for CWW April 19, 2012
- TeliaSonera’s EBITDA falls 0.7% on 3.5% revenue increase April 19, 2012
- Telia Denmark raises LTE upload speeds April 19, 2012
- STC reports 60% rise in Q1 net profit April 19, 2012
- CAT puts 3G plans on hold; TOT told to do same May 18, 2012
- Look before you Leap; cellco to expand LTE coverage to 65m people by 2014 May 18, 2012
- Videotron delivers on 200Mbps promise May 18, 2012
- T-Mobile has no plans to introduce LTE handsets May 18, 2012
- Antares to merge with mobile TV operator Dominanta? May 18, 2012
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