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AUSTRALIA:
TELSTRA will pay a half-year interim dividend of AUD 0.20 per share to its 1.65 million shareholders, made up of a special dividend of AUD 0.06 per share and interim ordinary dividend of AUD 0.14 per share. The total amount being paid to shareholders is AUD 2.5 billion.
RESEARCH by AMR Interactive for the quarterly Consumer Technographics® report (January/February 2005) found that 90 percent of Australians aged over 15 surveyed have no plans to abandon their fixed-line phones and use a mobile phone exclusively. Of those planning to keep their fixed liines, 71 percent said relying on a mobile phone for all calls was simply too expensive. The research found that 60 percent of those keeping fixed lines were doing so for internet access. The AMR Interactive research supports Telstra's own customer research that identified three key factors why customers were likely to retain their fixed line services. This internal research found that customers value their fixed line service because of the call quality and reliability, the security it offers and above all else, the untimed local calls that mobile plans struggle to match.
0PTUS Mobile has commissioned its 3G mobile network in Canberra, Australia, becoming the first operator to offer 3G WCDMA services in the city. The initial roll-out will target businesses and govt agencies in Canberra. Optus is developing the ‘Always Best Connected’ approach to remote access that automatically selects the best access technology, including GPRS, WiFi and 3G, for the user’s location. This new approach to remote access meets the business market’s demand for reliable and optimal connection.
LUCENT Technologies has announced that Telstra has recently completed a next generation voice engineering trial with residential customers in Victoria, Australia. The successful trial leverages Lucent's NGN Solutions including the Lucent Network Controller, Lucent Network Gateway and third party products from BroadSoft, Acme Packet and Sun Microsystems. Lucent's network integration capabilities from Lucent Worldwide Services (LWS) were a key component of this successful trial in ensuring that the open standards based platform successfully integrated into Telstra's network. The users participating in the trial were able to take advantage of advanced telephony features, which were provided by integrating the various network elements into one complete domain.
OPTUS will increase line rental charges for over 1.1 million residential customers from 1 May 2005, its third price hike since March 2004. The company will charge up to AUD 35.95 per month, the Australian reports. Fixed-to-mobile, long-distance and international call connection charges will rise by AUD 0.02. According to Optus, the price increases are in line with market expectations.
ERICSSON has awarded a two-year, AUD 6 million research deal to Melbourne software developer DEK Technologies, The Australian reports. DEK will provide software and hardware design services for mobile and fixed-line core networks. DEK is headed by Adrian Jensen, former managing director of Ericsson Australia. Another AUD 10 million of work is under negotiations, according to the companies.
MELBOURNE ISP Netspace has agreed for its customers to be used in a trial with Telstra, which could lead the latter to open its Wi-Fi hotspots to wholesale internet customers, The Australian reports. Telstra will use the customer base to test demand for its 400 hotspots over nine months. Netspace said that 3,000-5,000 of its customers have equipment that can access Telstra hotspots. Netspace will resell access to the hotspots in the same way it now resells Telstra’s ADSL service. Customers will pay AUD 7 per hour in a promotional phase, rising to AUD 14 per hour thereafter.
AUSTRALIAN pay TV, internet and mobile phone company Austar made a AUD 7.9 million net profit, including a AUD 3.2 million exceptional gain, on a revenue up 21 percent to AUD 107 million in Q1 2005 vs the year-earlier period. The company’s Ebitda rose by 48 percent to AUD 28.8 million. The company’s overall subscriber base rose by 11,713 in its latest quarter, taking the total to 498,006.
BANGLADESH:
TELENOR subsidiary and Bangladeshian mobile operator GrameenPhone introduced an electronic refil system "FlexiLOAD" for its prepaid customers, comprising around 90 percent of its three million subscribers. With the introduction of this facility, GP pre-paid subscribers will enjoy the freedom of recharging their pre-paid accounts with any amount starting from BDT 50 to BDT 10,000. To recharge the account a subscriber has to go to a GP authorised scratch card retail outlet or point of sales with the FlexiLOAD sign. GP will run a special promotional campaign to mark the launching FlexiLOAD. On recharge of any amount from BDT 300 to BDT 599, the subscriber will enjoy a six-month (180 days +7 days) incoming validity while on recharge of amount ranging from BDT 600 to BDT 10,000, the incoming validity will be one year (365 days +7 days). This special promotional offer will be valid for a month until 28 May. All pre-paid subscribers of GP namely EASY, EASY GOLD and djuice subscribers will use FlexiLOAD, besides which, the current pre-paid scratch cards will also be available in the market.
CHINA:
US VENDOR Motorola aims to sell USD 40 mobile handsets in China later in 2005 under a strategy to boost its sales in the country, reports Dow Jones Newswires citing chairman and CEO Edward J Zander. The USD 40 handsets will be supplieds to mobile operators in China. Motorola's cheapest mobile phone in China is currently USD 66.
ACCORDING to a study by business information providers visiongain, the mobile market in China has become fiercer since second-half of the 1990s. With a huge potential subscriber base, China's Internet and mobile
markets still have a low and moderate penetration level respectively, vs other leading world markets. The number of mobile subscribers in China will grow to 386 million subscribers by end-2005, rising to 580 million by end-2010, according to Nidhir Maudgalya, visiongain's Telecommunications analyst. The figure was 334 million at end-2004. With a penetration rate of 25.7 percent, the mobile market in China is far from saturation levels. However, mobile operators in the mainland are faced with decreasing ARPU rates.
ALCATEL has launched its IPTV Solution Centre for the Asia Pacific region in Shanghai, China. The centre brings first-hand triple play experience to Alcatel's telecoms operator customers. It is managed by, and located inside the premises, to Chinese subsidiary Alcatel Shanghai Bell. The new centre means Alcatel will be more
With the establishment of the Center, Alcatel will be more strongly positioned to support telecom operators across the region to deliver triple play services.
TELECOMS software, solutions and services provider AsiaInfo Holdings has named Steve Zhang as its new CEO and President, replacing Xingsheng Zhang, who has stepped down. Steve Zhang is the COE of AsiaInfo Technologies, telecoms business subsidiary. The group had a revenue down eight percent to USD 29.4 million in Q1 2005 vs the year-earlier period. The gross margin rose to 39 percent from 38 percent. Net income for the first quarter was USD1.4 million vs USD 2 million in the year-earlier period.
CHINA'S telecom industry recorded revenues of CNY 136.52 billion (USD 16.53 billion) in Q1 2005, up by 9.1 percent vs the year-earlier period, according to the Ministry of Information Industry. Revenues for March 2005, were up by 9.9 percent to CNY 47.89 billion (USD 5.8 billion) vs CNY 43.59 billion (USD 5.28 billion) in February 2005. In Q1 2005, local fixed-line phone traffic volumes rose by 5.4 percent to 169.03 billion minutes vs the year-earlier period. Long-distance fixed-line phone traffic rose by 19.5 percent to 19.79 billion minutes. Domestic long-distance fixed-line phone traffic was up 19.7 percent to 19.54 billion minutes. International outgoing fixed-line traffic was up 0.7 percent to 122.433 million minutes. Total mobile phone traffic rose by 34.1 percent to 274.885 billion minutes, including domestic long-distance mobile traffic up 16.4 percent to 16.78 billion, international mobile traffic up 3.7 percent to 71.87 million minutes and traffic to Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan up 6.6 percent to 83.28 million minutes. Domestic IP traffic rose by 16.8 percent to 30.74 billion minutes, international IP phone traffic rose by 34.6 percent to 301.06 million minutes and IP phone traffic to Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan fell by 4.1 percent to 266.72 million minutes. The mobile phone penetration rate was 25.9 percent at end-March, the same as a month earlier. There were 349.05 million mobile phone users and 325.4 million fixed-line phone users at the end of March. There were 45.05 millino dial-up internet access registered users and 67,288 special-line internet access users and 28.33 million broadband internet access users at end-March.
INDIA:
INDIAN mobile operators have announced cuts to roaming airtime rates from INR 3 to INR 1.99 per minute, with effect from 01 May 2005, reports The Economic Times. Mumbai-based operator Hutch has unveiled a new zero rental plan for contract customers where the user gets talktime equal to the full value of the monthly fees. The new roaming rates were announced by Hutch and Airtel, with BPL Mobile saying it would march the rates of other operators.
ESSAR Group has made a hostile move to buy out the foreign partners in Spice Telecom, cellular service provider in Karnataka and Punjab with around 1.5 million subscribers, reports The Economic Times. Essar has approached AIG, Darby and Distacom, which control more than 75 percent of Spice Telecom's equity directly and indirectly. Spice Telecom is currently controlled by BK Modie group, which is upset with the move by Essar.
RELIANCE Infocomm has posted net profit of INR 51 crore for FY 2004/2005, vs a loss of INR 390 crore a year earlier, reports The Economic Times. It had revenue of INR 5,387 crore, up 99 percent year-on-year.
JAPAN:
LOCKHEED Martin has been granted an authorisation to proceed by Broadcasting Satellite System (B-SAT) of Japan to build its next geostationary telecommunications satellite. Designated BSAT-3a, the 1.8-kW satellite will provide direct broadcast services throughout Japan following its scheduled launch the second quarter of 2007. B-SAT and Lockheed Martin expect to sign the contract for this satellite in the next few weeks. BSAT-3a will comprise eight 130W Ku-band channels and will be located at 110 degrees East longitude. With a design life of over 13 years, BSAT-3a is based on the A2100A platform.
INTEGRATED electronics groups in Japan forecast profit growth in the current FY to be limited, as demand for digital electronic products, including DVD players and flat-panel TVs, misses its bullish expectations, reports Financial Times. Fujitsu and NEC have forecast a moderate turnaround, following a problematic 12 months. Computers-to-software group Fujitsu forecasts flat sales of JPY 4.85 trillion and operating profits 9 per cent up at JPY 175 billion. Net profit is forecast to rise 57 per cent to JPY 50 billion. NEC is accelerating cost cutting to achieve a rise of almost 15 per cent in operating profits in this FY, after a disappointing performance last year. NEC is forecast to see sales rise 3 per cent to JPY 5 trillion, helped by a robust market for its systems integration services, higher demand for fixed-line telecoms systems and a turnaround in the electronic devices market. Operating profits are forecast to rise to JPY 150 billion for the full year, but net profits are expected to drop to JPY 60 billion.
OSAKA, Japan-based consumer electronics maker Matsushita Electric Industrial had JPY 308.49 billion consolidated operating profit in the FY to 31 March 2005, up 58 percent from JPY 195.5 billion in the year-earlier period, reports Reuters. The result exceeded analysts' forecasts. The rise was helped by strong sales of DVD recorders, flat TVs, and home appliances, and a further rise is forecast for the current FY. For the current FY, consolidated operating profit will be JPY 330 billion.
IT AND comms solutions provider Fujitsu has posted consolidated net sales of JPY 4.76 trillion for its FY to 31 March 2005, roughly even vs a year earlier, with net profit of JPY 31.9 billion, vs JPY 49.7 billion a year earlier, and operating profit of JPY 160.1 billion. For the FY to end-March 2006, Fujitsu is forecasting net sales of JPY 4.85 trillion, operating profit of JPY 175 billion, and net profit of JPY 50 billion.
TOKYO, Japan-based consumer electronics maker Pioneer has posted a group net loss of JPY 8.79 billion for the FY to end-March 2005, vs net profit of JPY 28.84 billion a year earlier, as its margins were hit by intense price competition. Group sales were up 4.7 percent from JPY 700.89 billion to JPY 733.65 billion, as operating profit fell 95 percent to JPY 2.59 billion, from JPY 47.17 billion.
NEC has posted group net profit of JPY 3.25 billion for its FY 4th-qtr to March 2005, down 77 percent from JPY 14.42 billion a year earlier, on group sales down 1.5 percent year-on-year from JPY 1.458 trillion to JPY 1.436 trillion. Group operating profit was down 44 percent to JPY 51.20 billion. It had full-year net sales of JPY 4.86 trillion, down 1.1 percent from JPY 4.91 trillion, with net profit up 65.2 percent to JPY 67.9 billion, from JPY 41.1 billion. For the FY to 31 March 2006, NEC is forecasting a 12 percent drop in group net profit to JPY 60 billion and 3 percent sales growth to JPY 5 trillion.
CASIO Hitachi Mobile Communications will boost the number of handsets its ships for the au mobile service of KDDI by 50 percent in the 1st-half of the current FY, reports the Nikkei Business Daily. It will ship 6-7 models under the Hitachi and Casio brand names from late-June through August 2005, up from four in the 2nd-half of the last FY.
SONY will consider an IPO for Sony Communication Network (SCN), internet services subsidiary, in FY 2005, reports the Nihon Keizai Shimbun. SCN provides the So-net internet access services, along with online shopping. Currently listed as tracking stock, an IPO would allow SCN to operare more independently.
SONY Group made a consolidated net profit up 85.1 percent to JPY 163.8 billion on sales and operating revenue down 4.5 percent to JPY 7.16 trillion in its FY to end-March 2005 vs JPY 88.5 billion on JPY 7.5 trillion a year earlier. The group's operating profit rose by 15.2 percent to JPY 113.9 billion from JPY 98.9 billion. Sony's electronics business made a USD 34.3 billion operating loss on a USD 5.02 trillion revenue in its latest FY vs a USD 6.8 billion operating loss on JPY 5.04 trillion a year earlier. Sony's game business had an operating profit down 36.1 percent to JPY 43.2 billion on a revenue down 6.5 percent to JPY 729.8 billion vs JPY 67.6 billion on JPY 780 billion.
JAPAN accounts for 80 percent of global VoIP users, an unsuprising fact considering the high cost of traditional fixed-line calls in Japan, reports The Associated Press. The spread of VoIP in Japan has been boosted by Softbank offering free modems on the street to promote broadband.
NEW ZEALAND:
TELECOM New Zealand will add over 30 tunes to its range of New Zealand Ringtones and Caller Tunes available for download to Telecom mobile phones. This will help mobile phone users celebrate the New Zealand Music Month in May, as New Zealanders show their support for local music. New Zealand music already accounts for about 15 percent of mobile phone content downloaded from Telecom.
PHILIPPINES:
PHILIPPINE Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) has said that its mobile phone unit, Smart Communications, has concluded the acquisition of Pilipino Telephone (Piltel), cellular affiliate of PLDT, reports Dow Jones. Smart is now owner of 92.14 percent of the total outstanding common shares of Piltel, thus consolidating PLDT 's wireless business under Smart, according to PLDT in a disclosure to the stock exchange. PLDT entered into a subscription and assignment deal with Smart covering the transfer and assignment to Smart of almost 767 million shares of Piltel owned by PLDT.
SINGAPORE:
THE Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) will be adopting the auction method to allocate spectrum for wireless broadband access (WBA). The move is because, at the close of applications from parties interested to obtain WBA spectrum rights, the demand for spectrum exceeds the available spectrum lots. The open and market-driven auction method will be adopted as it is the most transparent, fair and efficient way to allocate spectrum to those who value it most. At the close of applications and Initial Offers for WBA spectrum on 21 April, seven applications, totalling 38 Initial Offers, were received. IDA annouced earlier that it will be making available 140MHz of WBA bandwidth in the 2.3GHz and 2.5GHz frequency bands. This will be divided into 25 lots to be allocated to successful applicants. All seven applicants have been qualified, and the auction is due to start on 16 May 2005. The applicants are; inter-touch Holdings (Singapore), MobileOne, Pacific Internet, Qala Singapore, Singapore Telecom Mobile, StarHub, and Zone Telecom.
TAIWAN, PROVINCE OF CHINA:
OPTICAL to 40 Gbps migration equipment provider Mintera and Taiwan's Chunghwa Telecom have announced the selection and installation of Mintera's MI-40000 at Chunghwa Telecom Labs’ 40 Gbps DWDM pilot transmission initiative.The unit’s network, using Mintera's MI-40000 systems, positions the company to provide 10 Gbps and/or 40 Gbps wavelength services as an ‘overlay’ solution to their existing 2.5 or 10 Gbps optical line infrastructure. The transport system can also perform as a stand-alone 40 Gbps network; increasing performance and service options while reducing costs. CHT-TL's Request for Proposal, issued last June, specified equipment to transmit 40 Gbps DWDM channels over 500 km of G.655 fibre, and represents the first tender bid in Asia for 40 Gigabit transport equipment.
THAILAND:
THE Thai govt has rejected a proposed minumum salary of THB 400,000/month for the six board directors and chairman of the new National Telecoms Commission, reports the Bangkok Post. The govt believes these salaries would be too high for those undertaking state duties. The NTC has proposed THB 400,000 per month for the directors and THB 500,000 per month for the chairman. The govt says the chairman will get THB 114,000 per month, with each director getting THB 104,500 per month.
THAI mobile operator DTAC warns it may have to stop taking new customers within six weeks unless new numbers are approved for the company, reports the Bangkok Post. DTAC will petition the National Telecoms Commission (NTC) to push for TOT to allocate it numbers. DTAC says it needs an extra 2.5 million numbers. It had 8.1 million subscribers at end-March 2005, adding around 140,000 new customers in March alone.
WORLD:
KODIAK Networks, leading provider of advanced wireless voice systems, has reached a global licensing and marketing agreement with Samsung Electronics, mobile phone manufacturer, to develop handsets. The handsets will be based on Kodiak Networks advanced wireless system technology, which enables a suite of premium, instant voice services applications, including push-to-talk (PTT). Under the strategic licensing agreement, the two companies will jointly market PTT handsets with Kodiak client software to network operators worldwide. This client version offers customers the latest voice applications, including Kodiak Voice Bridge – instant group conferencing and Kodiak Voice Notes – instant voice messaging. Samsung will develop a wide range of Kodiak-enabled phones to address all market requirements, including handsets in a variety of form factors.
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