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18
May 2009 |
An organisation supporting UK businesses has invested £1 million in companies researching ‘ultra-fast’ broadband.
The Technology Strategy Board, established by he government to promote UK innovation, is ultimately looking at broadband speeds of between one and 10Gbs – said to be 100 to 1,000 times faster than current connections.
There are 13 projects in total, which cost between £30,000 and £100,000. Collaborating with researchers in Europe, these could then lead to better-funded EU research partners... |
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18
May 2009 |
OPTUS has added its voice to the chorus calling for the structural separation of Telstra, outlining four key regulatory changes it considers necessary for the success of the Government's $43 billion national broadband network.
On April 7 the Government announced that the original NBN would be terminated and replaced with a state-owned enterprise to build a $43 billion fibre-to-the-home network.
Amid concern that Telstra would be able to use its market power to hinder the successful rollout of the NBN,... |
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16
May 2009 |
Vodafone is set to use its full-year results next week to announce an acceleration of its £1bn cost-cutting programme, as it grapples with competitive and economic pressures in Europe.
The mobile phone operator is also expected to say it will no longer give revenue guidance, after cutting sales forecasts twice during 2008-09, partly because the economic downturn hurt some of its core European mobile businesses.
The company declined to comment yesterday, as its £1.4bn deal to secure control of South Af... |
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14
May 2009 |
Vodafone has revealed its customers will be able to send texts and picture messages as well as make phone calls from abroad for the same price as in the UK throughout this summer.
From June 1 until the end of August, pay as you go (PAYG) and contract customers who have a 'Vodafone Passport' will have their data-roaming charges abolished when they text or call from abroad. Monthly customers who have a minute or text allowance will be allowed to use these when they make calls or texts from outside the UK.
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14
May 2009 |
After announcing disappointing results, the telecoms giant and services company will cut 15,000 more jobs - heralding bad times ahead for BT staff according to the Communications Workers Union.
BT announced this week that it plans to lay off 15,000 staff after it reported an annual loss of £134m. The company has already shed around 15,000 jobs this year which was about 5000 more than had been expected by industry watchers.
Management at the telecoms and services company admitted that the global recess... |
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14
May 2009 |
UK has unveiled plans to make radical changes to mobile broadband spectrum in an attempt to offer fast internet connectivity to all corners of the country.
But Vodafone and O2 may lost out on gaining extra spectrum share, following proposals published by Government advisor Kip Meek that would see the two mobile companies capped from buying more spectrum in upcoming auctions.
Under the new plans, the UK's five mobile broadband operators will have their 3G licences extended indefinitely, providing they ... |
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14
May 2009 |
Increasing numbers of recession-hit Brits are choosing to work from home in order to save cash, a new report has found.
More than half (55 percent) of employees are working from home more frequently since the financial crisis began, according to research commissioned by BT Business. And the vast majority (88 percent) said their main reason for doing so is the need to save money.
The most widely cited financial saving associated with WFH is not having to get dolled up and 'look the part' for the office... |
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14
May 2009 |
McDonalds has earmarked potential changes to seating plans in some restaurants to prevent free wifi users from monopolising seating, particularly in peak periods.
Anthony Rosenkowitz, IT project manager at McDonalds Australia, said the restaurant chain had exceeded one million user sessions on its free wifi service since launching it in November 2008.
It is on track to hit 3.9 million user sessions before the end of the year, he said.
In the first month since the initial rollout to 92 per cent of r... |
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14
May 2009 |
The European Commission says that it has selected two operators, Inmarsat Ventures and Solaris Mobile, to provide mobile satellite services across Europe. The services, such as high-speed internet access, mobile television and radio or emergency communications, will be provided over a specifically reserved spectrum.
"Mobile satellite services have huge potential: they can enable Europeans to access new communication services, particularly in rural and less populated regions. I therefore welcome that we h... |
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14
May 2009 |
The UK government is investing £1 million to help companies and universities carry out initial research and feasibility studies into technologies that will be needed for the next generation of broadband beyond that currently available, so called Ultra Fast Broadband.
The funds and projects are being channeled through the Technology Strategy Board.
The feasibility projects – each costing between £30,000 and £100,000 – will, in turn, help establish European collaborations that will participate in larger... |
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13
May 2009 |
Qualcomm says that Japan's mobile operators have exceeded 100 million 3G CDMA subscribers as of April 2009, citing data announced by the Telecommunications Carriers Association in Japan.
“Achieving 100 million 3G CDMA subscribers marks a significant milestone for the Japanese wireless industry,” said Dr. Paul E. Jacobs, chairman and chief executive officer of Qualcomm. “Japan's mobile operators and OEMs are known around the world for embracing cutting-edge technologies and services. This strategy has mad... |
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13
May 2009 |
Verizon Communications, the 55% owner of Verizon Wireless has announced plans to sell its landline operations in predominantly rural areas in 14 states to Frontier Communications in an all-stock deal worth US$8.6 billion.
Ivan Seidenberg, chairman and chief executive officer of Verizon, said: “This transaction is an attractive way to add value through a special distribution to our shareholders. Longer term, this transaction is part of our multiyear effort to transform our growth profile and asset base to... |
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13
May 2009 |
The Federal Communications Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to require wireline, wireless and some voice-over-Internet phone service providers to shorten their porting intervals.
In 2007, the FCC had tentatively concluded that it should shorten the interval from four days to two, but in the end decided to cut that number in half again, voting to cut the interval to one business day.
The commission 12 years ago had set the four-day porting requirement for switching a subscriber's number to a new ... |
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12
May 2009 |
Persistent illegal file-sharers should be cut off from the net, an alliance of UK creative industries will tell the government later.
The alliance wants the government to force internet service providers (ISPs) to disconnect users who ignore repeated warnings about sharing illegal content.
John Woodward, head of the UK Film Council, said illegal file-sharing was hurting film-making and risking jobs.
The coalition says more than 50% of net traffic in the UK is illegal content.
Mr Woodward said: "... |
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12
May 2009 |
Fresh from taking on mobile roaming costs, the European Commission has launched a new assault on what it considers to be rip-off costs for mobile termination rates.
EU examines mobile operators termination feesUnlike earlier moves against mobile roaming charges, which involved setting price caps, the latest initiative recommends that national telecom regulators in the 27 European Union member countries take action.
Termination rates are the wholesale fees phone operators charge each other for connecti... |
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