South Korean operator, KT Corp, has selected Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) as a vendor for the deployment of its LTE network. For the deployment, NSN will provide 1.8GHz LTE radio equipment, including base stations, and additional services including network integration and commissioning. KT Corp is planning to re-farm its 1.8GHz spectrum to meet growing demand for mobile broadband and smartphone data services. The company plans to be commercially ready by mid 2012.
Virgin Media has confirmed it has trialled and tested its 4G mobile network on fibre connectivity in the UK, ahead of the country’s forthcoming spectrum auctions. The company, which held private tests for 4G in London’s Oxford Street last month, is also considering the launch of a nationwide wireless network using small transmitters for access to its fibre network. For the article click here.
Globalstar has signed a letter of intent with Shahad Al Sahra Trading Est (SAS), under which SAS will own and operate a satellite gateway ground station in Saudi Arabia. The two parties have also established a Satellite Services Agreement. The gateway is already constructed, and will provide mobile satellite voice and data services to all of Saudi Arabia and throughout parts of the surrounding Middle East region. For the article click here.
Clearwire has announced a wholesale and MVNE agreement with Simplexity. As part of the wholesale relationship, Simplexity with become an authorised reseller of Clearwire’s 4G mobile broadband service preferred MVNE and preferred provider for third party branded services. Simplexity is also a customer of troubled LTE start up LightSquared, leading to speculation that it had abandoned the company for Clearwire.
NTT is planning to acquire a 74% stake in Indian data centre provider Netmagic Solutions. Netmagic operates seven Indian data centres in cities including, Mumbai, Chennai, Noida, Delhi and Bangalore and provides collocation and managed hosting services to more than 1000 customers. The acquisition is subject to the approval of the Indian authorities. For the article click here.
Interoute has launched its virtual data centre (VDC) product, a private and public cloud computing platform built into the company’s pan-European multiprotocol label switching/IP network. Customers will be able to house their cloud in any of the 29 European countries covered by the Interoute network. The company says that 40 large enterprise customers took part in the beta phase of the VDC, with many stating that a cloud platform was part of their company plan for 2012. For the article click here.
Orange Armenia, the Armenian mobile subsidiary of France Telecom Orange, has launched commercial DC-HSPA+ in the cities of Yerevan, Gyumri and Vanadzor. During a public demonstration last month the service achieved a maximum download speed of 39Mbps with an average of around 35Mbps. Orange Armenia first began technical testing of the HSPA+ service in November 2011.
Equatorial Guinea has witnessed the launch of a third mobile operator. The latest addition, Guinea Ecuatorial Comunicaciones, is a joint venture between the country’s government (51%) and the Chinese government (49%). According to local sources Equatorial Guinea’s president Obiang Nguema Mbasogo hoped that the company would bolster the country’s telecommunications sector after it had experienced some shortcomings.
