July 9 (Reuters) – India is working to sort out restrictions on Chinese telecom equipment imports, Telecom Secretary P.J. Thomas said on Friday, but did not provide a timeframe for a decision. “We are working on that. We had a discussion with organisations, associations and they have of course helped us with their own suggestions,” he told reporters. (Reporting by Devidutta Tripathy; Editing by Ranjit Gangadharan)
S.Korea KT to offer Google’s Nexus One smartphone
May 31, 2010 By Leave a Comment
May 31 (Reuters) – KT (030200.KS), South Korea’s top fixed-line operator and No. 2 mobile carrier, said on Monday it would offer Google’s (GOOG.O) Nexus One smartphone from late June, building on its success with Apple’s (AAPL.O) iPhone.
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KT Corp also said it planned to set up a company to sell and lease mobile WiMAX telecom equipment in cooperation with Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) and an unidentified U.S. company.
Mobile operators are pinning hopes on smartphones to boost wireless data usage and grow revenue. KT has benefited from iPhone’s popularity and its own broad WiFi network but is facing increasing competition from rival SK Telecom (017670.KS). (Reporting by Rhee So-eui; Editing by Jonathan Hopfner)
Ramesh told not to exceed his brief, won”t resign for now: Sources
May 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment
New Delhi, May 13 (ANI): Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh is unlikely to resign from the Union cabinet for the moment, but has been told by the Congress leadership not to overstep his brief.
The reported dressing down comes a day after he met Union Home Minister P.Chidambaram for about ten minutes to explain his stance on the controversial comments that he made in China with regard to the Indian Home MInistry.
Some sources had said earlier that the minister had offered to step down when he met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday, but others in the ministry and in the Congress have said that this is incorrect and added that Ramesh has no plans to quit.
Last week, Ramesh said the Home Ministry”s policies towards Chinese companies were “alarmist” and “paranoid”, and he had to explain his stand to the Prime Minister and to Sonia Gandhi.
Ramesh”s remarks were made in the context of a company named Huawei Technologies, which is a major manufacturer of telecom equipment, which has been lobbying to operate in India.
Ramesh is a Rajya Sabha member from Andhra Pradesh and his term in the Upper House of Parliament comes to an end next month. The Congress leadership in Andhra Pradesh is reportedly reluctant to re-nominate him in the wake of his refusal as a minister to give permission and environment clearance to build a memorial for former chief minister Y.S. Rajashekhara Reddy in a forest area where his chopper went down on September 2 last year. (ANI)
Nokia Siemens Networks to upgrade Idea Cellular network
June 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment
New Delhi: Telecom equipment vendor Nokia Siemens Network will upgrade the existing mobile services network of Idea Cellular to enable it to carry high-end data-GPRS services.
The services will be enabled by Nokia Siemens Networks’ GPRS (general packet radio service) technology
and Unified Charging Solution (UCS evolve), NSN said in a statement.
Idea Cellular, the country’s fifth largest telecom operator, is upgrading its network in 22 areas to tap the lucrative value added data services market. By March 2010, IDEA subscribers will be able to enjoy multimedia messaging, email, web browsing, online music and other innovative mobile services, it said.
It will add GPRS capability to 10 IDEA telecom service areas while the existing GPRS capability in 12 other areas will be expanded.
“The value added services market in India holds tremendous potential. The greater opportunity lies in data services, and in expanding our capabilities and service portfolio in this area.
“The right technology foundation is fundamental to our success, and it needs to include not just a method of delivering services, but of monetizing them effectively,” IDEA Cellular Chief Technology Officer Anil Tandan said.
As part of the project, Nokia Siemens Networks has also designed and will implement a charging solution that will enable Idea to use a single system across these locations for the new services for both prepaid and postpaid subscribers.
Nokia Siemens Networks Country Head Michael Kuehner said, “Our solution will not only help IDEA Cellular build new revenue streams but also deliver greater quality of service.”
The IDEA service areas where Nokia Siemens Networks will add GPRS capability are Mumbai, Orissa, Tamil Nadu including Chennai, Kolkata & West Bengal, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Punjab, Assam & North East.
Nokia Siemens Networks will upgrade IDEA’s existing GPRS capacity in the service areas of Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh East, Uttar Pradesh West, Haryana, Kerala, Bihar, Maharashtra and Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Idea is a leading GSM mobile services operator with over 45 million subscribers.
Bureau Report
UPDATE 1-S.Korea KT to offer Google’s Nexus One smartphone
* To offer Nexus One from late June in addition to iPhone
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* To set up mobile WiMAX gear firm with Samsung, Intel
* No decision on 4G iPhone, working on WiMAX export deals (Adds CEO comments, details)
SEOUL, May 31 (Reuters) – KT (030200.KS), South Korea’s top fixed-line operator and No. 2 mobile carrier, said on Monday it would offer Google’s (GOOG.O) Nexus One smartphone from late June, building on its success with Apple’s (AAPL.O) iPhone.
As mobile operators pin big hopes on smartphones to boost wireless data usage and revenue, KT has enjoyed an early lead with iPhone’s popularity and its own broad WiFi network.
But it faces growing competition from bigger mobile rival SK Telecom (017670.KS), which is expected to gain on a smartphone drive with Android phones, especially from Samsung Electronics (005930.KS).
South Korean smartphone users jumped to about 2 million at end-May from just 200,000 in June last year, according to KT.
To maintain the smartphone momentum, KT has to continue bringing in successful devices and strengthening its network and software support, while dealing with government moves to cap telecom companies’ marketing spending.
KT CEO Lee Suk-chae said the company planned to set up a company to sell and lease mobile WiMAX telecom equipment jointly with Samsung Electronics, Intel Corp (INTC.O) and financial investors.
The new company, expected to be launched in August with 320 billion won ($268 million) in capital, will provide WiMAX gear for KT’s coverage expansion for the high-speed wireless Internet.
KT is also working to introduce mobile WiMAX business in South America and Africa, Lee said.
“We will continue to invest in WiFi and Wibro (mobile WiMAX) networks to build on our leading position in networks,” Lee told a news conference.
“We will also target global markets with smart technologies,” he said, referring to network technologies used in building energy-saving power grid and other advanced infrastructure.
KT has made no decision on whether or when it will introduce Apple’s next iPhone model, Pyo Hyun-myung, mobile business group president, told the conference. ($1=1194.5 Won) (Reporting by Rhee So-eui; Editing by Nick Macfie)