MTN: net profit slips despite 9.2% growth in revenues
Telegeography
South African mobile group MTN has posted net profit of ZAR14.65 billion (USD1.97 billion) for the full year ended 31 December 2009, down from ZAR15.32 billion a year earlier. CEO Phuthuma Nhleko said: ‘Movements in exchange rates in the year, mainly in the South African rand and Nigerian naira, had a substantially negative impact on the group’s financial results.’
Pacific Fibre plans international fibre cable connecting Oz, NZ and US
A newly formed company called Pacific Fibre is seeking funding to build a 5.12Tbps capacity fibre-optic cable connecting Australia, New Zealand and the USA which is planned to be ready for use in 2013. The initial proposal is for a cable which will deliver five times the capacity of the existing Southern Cross system.
VMAX to Spend TWD1.5 Billion to Promote WiMAX in 2010
Telegeography
Taiwanese WiMAX specialist VMAX Telecom has announced that it plans to invest around TWD1.5 billion (USD47.17 million) in the expansion and promotion of its wireless broadband services in Taipei throughout 2010, reports DigiTimes.
New Mobile WiMAX Service in Perth
Daily Wireless
Vivid Wireless has lauched a WiMAX network in Perth, Australia, using Huawei gear, reports Dailywireless reader Grant Bartlett. Currently coverage is limited to Perth, but is likely to expand to other cities, reports Bartlett.
Leap Shuts Some Stores, Reduces Headcount
Phonescoop.com
Leap Wireless recently indicated that it has permanently closed 27 — about 10% — of its 269 Cricket Wireless stores. It has also laid off 180 people, trimming its staff level down to 4,200 employees around the country.
Judge May Harpoon Verizon-Frontier Deal
Telegeography
Administrative law judge Lisa M Tapia has advised state regulators to not approve a deal which will see Verizon divest operations in 14 states to Frontier Communications in a deal worth USD8.6 billion. As reported by CommsUpdate, the deal, which will see fixed line service for a total of 4.8 million customers change hands, was agreed between the two parties in May 2009 but has been awaiting regulatory approval for the best part of a year.
Cellphone, Cable, Satellite TV Tops in U.S. Customer Complaints
Telecompetitor
Cell phone, the cable & satellite TV industry and banks led the way as disgruntled customers filed 9.7% more complaints to the Better Business Bureau last year than they did in 2008. Amidst the tough economic and financial times, the public also turned to the BBB more than 65 million times for help researching companies, the non-profit announced.
Hutchison Telecom Hong Kong Holdings Revenues Grow 4%
Telegeography
Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings (HTHKH) has released its audited results for the year ended 31 December 2009, posting 4% growth in consolidated revenue to HKD8.449 billion (USD1.089 billion). Turnover of the mobile business – Hutchison Telephone Company (3) – grew 3% to HKD5.578 billion, reflecting data revenue growth of over 50%, whilst mobile operating profit grew 97% to HKD483 million.
Tata, Qtel Form TGN Gulf Partnership
Telegeography
Qatar Telecom (Qtel) and India’s Tata Communications yesterday officially confirmed their partnership for the construction of the Tata Global Network (TGN) Gulf Project, which will see Qtel establish a landing station for the regional undersea network. The TGN Gulf project is designed to connect the Gulf region directly to the world’s major business hubs and city centres, improving connectivity and providing the foundations for next generation communications technology
Sprint Sees Growth Ahead and Vows to Get Aggressive on Debt
Seeking Alpha
Sprint Nextel (S) is getting a boost today after announcing that it will continue strict cost management in an effort to aggressively pay down debt. During a discussion with analysts, Sprint’s CFO Bob Brust reiterated their goals to reduce the debt burden which has slowly declined since the Nextel acquisition, too slowly for many investors.
National Broadband Plan Debate May Take Over Where Health Care Debate Ends
More details are becoming available about the National Broadband Plan that the Federal Communications Commission is set to release later this month. One thing is for certain: It may give more fuel, for financial and partisan reasons, to those who have been arguing over health care and other issues since the day President Obama took office.
Forbes Lists Top 20 U.S. Broadband Cities
Daily Wireless
Forbes has published its annual list of the most broadband-connected U.S. cities. Their clickable map and list shows Raleigh, NC the most broadband connected.
Verizon Hitting 40-50 Megabits Per Second In 4G Field Trials
Seeking Alpha
Verizon Wireless (VZ) said Monday that its 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) field trials are producing download speeds of 40 to 50 megabits per second with upload speeds half that tally. Verizon has touted its LTE rollout as it looks to get a year jump on AT&T’s 4G rollout and trump early movers such as Clearwire, which is rolling out next-gen wireless services via WiMax technology.
BSNL To Scrap ‘Mega-Tender’
State-owned Indian telco Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has confirmed that it has decided to scrap its USD10 billion 93-million GSM line ‘mega-tender’ following repeated delays and disputes. According to the Economic Times, BSNL will issue a fresh tender…
T-Mobile Launches International Pass Plan
T-Mobile is launching its new International Pass for prepay customers from tomorrow, allowing customers to stay in touch with friends and family around the world from as little as 5p per minute. The International Pass gives excellent call rates to over 50 popular countries, with up to 75% off calls to mobiles, up to 50% cheaper calls to landlines and 25% lower text rates than before.
