France Telecom has issued nearly $1.39 billion in new securities. The funds will be used to pay off other debt that is coming due next year.
http://www.francetelecom.com
http://www.francetelecom.com
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Neutral Tandem to Acquire Tinet SpA
Neutral Tandem, 
which provides tandem interconnection services to wireless, wireline, cable and broadband telephony companies across the U.S., has agreed to acquire Tinet SpA, an Italian based global carrier exclusively committed to the IP Transit and Ethernet wholesale market. Neutral Tandem will pay approximately EUR 74.5 million (approximately $94.9 million), which includes the assumption of approximately EUR 5.2 million in cash (approximately $6.6 million) and the assumption of approximately EUR 18.2 million euros in long-term
debt (approximately $23.2 million).
Based in Chicago, Neutral Tandem serves 155 markets in 189 LATAs across the U.S., including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle, Miami, New York City and Washington D.C.
The deal expands Neutral Tandem's IP-based network internationally, enabling global end-to-end delivery of
wholesale Voice, IP and Ethernet solutions.
"This acquisition redefines Neutral Tandem from a strictly voice interconnection company into a global IP-based network services company focused on delivering global connectivity for a variety of media, including voice, data and video," said Rian Wren, President and CEO of Neutral Tandem.
Tinet, formerly the carrier arm of Tiscali Group, has a network presence and customers in EMEA, Americas and APAC.
http://www.neutraltandem.com
http://www.tinet.net
which provides tandem interconnection services to wireless, wireline, cable and broadband telephony companies across the U.S., has agreed to acquire Tinet SpA, an Italian based global carrier exclusively committed to the IP Transit and Ethernet wholesale market. Neutral Tandem will pay approximately EUR 74.5 million (approximately $94.9 million), which includes the assumption of approximately EUR 5.2 million in cash (approximately $6.6 million) and the assumption of approximately EUR 18.2 million euros in long-termdebt (approximately $23.2 million).
Based in Chicago, Neutral Tandem serves 155 markets in 189 LATAs across the U.S., including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle, Miami, New York City and Washington D.C.
The deal expands Neutral Tandem's IP-based network internationally, enabling global end-to-end delivery of
wholesale Voice, IP and Ethernet solutions.
"This acquisition redefines Neutral Tandem from a strictly voice interconnection company into a global IP-based network services company focused on delivering global connectivity for a variety of media, including voice, data and video," said Rian Wren, President and CEO of Neutral Tandem.
Tinet, formerly the carrier arm of Tiscali Group, has a network presence and customers in EMEA, Americas and APAC.
http://www.neutraltandem.com
http://www.tinet.net
Orange Business Services Outlines 5-Year Conquest Plan
In line with the "conquest 2015" plan presented by France Telecom-Orange earlier this summer, Orange Business Services outlined key elements of its five year plan to become "the global leader for the integration of communication solutions." At the heart of its strategy will be prioritized focus on growth in cloud computing, video, the Internet-of-Things and service in emerging countries.
Specifically, strategic objectives in these four growth areas include:
"In a context where IT and telecoms are once again becoming a core concern for business leaders, we are guided by one key ambition: to become the leader for the integration of communication solutions for businesses in France and worldwide by 2015, consolidating our position as an IT infrastructures operator, making telecoms and IT converge," stated Vivek Badrinath, Executive VP of Orange Business Services.
http://www.orange.com
Specifically, strategic objectives in these four growth areas include:
- Cloud Computing: Generating 500 million euros on cloud computing by 2015 by accelerating its developments focusing on cloud-ready networks, "as a service" infrastructures, "as a service" collaborative solutions and communications, and application stores.
- Internet-of-Things: Selling 10 million SIM cards by 2015 on the M2M market (or internet of things), capitalizing on: the development of services lbeyond connectivity, its dedicated international expertise center in Brussels and its role as the driving force for the standardization of the market.
- Video Conferencing: Becoming number 1 for videoconferencing in France and one of the top three worldwide. The guiding principles include: interoperability of terminals and networks, development of managed and hosted solutions, as well as simplification of uses through user support.
- Emerging Markets: Generating 1 billion euros in revenues in emerging countries, by both supporting international customers with the development of their activities in these countries and strengthening its own presence alongside local multinationals.
"In a context where IT and telecoms are once again becoming a core concern for business leaders, we are guided by one key ambition: to become the leader for the integration of communication solutions for businesses in France and worldwide by 2015, consolidating our position as an IT infrastructures operator, making telecoms and IT converge," stated Vivek Badrinath, Executive VP of Orange Business Services.
http://www.orange.com
- In July 2010, France Telecom-Orange announced a five year strategic plan to transform its corporate culture and conquer new markets and new business opportunities in the coming digital economy of billions of interconnected devices. The plans were disclosed by Stephane Richard, who said the company faced unprecedented social crisis in France, a fast-changing ecosystem as technological development continues to accelerate, and a tense competitive and regulatory environment. Richard took over management of the company earlier this year.
A key element of the plan is that Orange plans to grow its customer base from close to 200 million at present to 300 million by 2015 across its entire footprint. The company is ruling out any transformational mergers or deals.
China Telecom Tests 100 GE with Alcatel-Lucent
China Telecom's Beijing Research Institute has tested Alcatel-Lucent's 100G solution, including its 7750 Service Router equipped with 100 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces.
"This success with China Telecom further highlights Alcatel-Lucent's leading position in the 100 GE arena and confirms that we can help our customers in China and around the world efficiently scale their enterprise, mobile and residential activities," said Romano Valussi, president of Alcatel-Lucent Shanghai Bell. "Our solution also aligns with China's national strategy to converge telecom, internet and TV &radio broadcasting networks, and the grand scale application of video services."
Alcatel-Lucent also noted that, to date, it has shipped more than 70,000 IP/MPLS service router portfolio systems, deployed by over 350 service providers in 110 countries.
http://www.alcatel-lucent.com
"This success with China Telecom further highlights Alcatel-Lucent's leading position in the 100 GE arena and confirms that we can help our customers in China and around the world efficiently scale their enterprise, mobile and residential activities," said Romano Valussi, president of Alcatel-Lucent Shanghai Bell. "Our solution also aligns with China's national strategy to converge telecom, internet and TV &radio broadcasting networks, and the grand scale application of video services."
Alcatel-Lucent also noted that, to date, it has shipped more than 70,000 IP/MPLS service router portfolio systems, deployed by over 350 service providers in 110 countries.
http://www.alcatel-lucent.com
Spain's Abertis Telecom Deploys Cisco ASR 9000
Abertis Telecom,
a provider of video and Carrier Ethernet transport to broadcasters and the broader telecom market in Spain, is deploying an IP/MPLS system based on Cisco ASR 9000 Series Aggregation Services Routers and Cisco 7600 Series Routers. The network is being upgraded to handle more bandwidth and new capabilities, such as video contribution, video production, Carrier Ethernet transport, and primary distribution and content distribution services across Spain. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Video capabilities of the Cisco Carrier Ethernet system include high-performance multicast and in-line video performance monitoring. Abertis provides stringent service-level agreements to its customers for zero-loss video transport. In addition, the Cisco ASR 9000 Series is designed to deliver a per-slot capacity of up to 400 Gbps and to scale up to 6.4 terabits per second along with rich-service capabilities.
http://www.cisco.com
a provider of video and Carrier Ethernet transport to broadcasters and the broader telecom market in Spain, is deploying an IP/MPLS system based on Cisco ASR 9000 Series Aggregation Services Routers and Cisco 7600 Series Routers. The network is being upgraded to handle more bandwidth and new capabilities, such as video contribution, video production, Carrier Ethernet transport, and primary distribution and content distribution services across Spain. Financial terms were not disclosed.Video capabilities of the Cisco Carrier Ethernet system include high-performance multicast and in-line video performance monitoring. Abertis provides stringent service-level agreements to its customers for zero-loss video transport. In addition, the Cisco ASR 9000 Series is designed to deliver a per-slot capacity of up to 400 Gbps and to scale up to 6.4 terabits per second along with rich-service capabilities.
http://www.cisco.com
AT&T Opens Complaint Torrent on Facebook
AT&T sent an email 
to its customer base thanking them for their patronage and highlighting the company's ongoing investments and upgrades in its network. The letter ends by inviting customers to share their thoughts about their AT&T wireless experience on the company's Facebook page. A torrent of responses follows.
http://www.facebook.com/att
to its customer base thanking them for their patronage and highlighting the company's ongoing investments and upgrades in its network. The letter ends by inviting customers to share their thoughts about their AT&T wireless experience on the company's Facebook page. A torrent of responses follows.http://www.facebook.com/att
Verizon Wireless Switches CFO
Verizon Wireless named Andrew Davies as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective November 15. He replaces John Townsend, who has been named Regional Chief Financial Officer - Europe for Vodafone Group, effective November 15. Townsend has been CFO of Verizon Wireless since January 2005. Davies joined Vodafone in September 2003. For the past three years, he has served as CFO of Vodafone Essar, the Indian subsidiary of Vodafone Group with operations across India serving more than 111 million customers.
http://www.verizonwireless.com
http://www.verizonwireless.com
MobileIron Opens its Mobile Device Management with Partner APIs
MobileIron, which supplies a smartphone management system for enterprises, announced the release of its Virtual Smartphone Platform 3.0 focused on partner enablement. This includes a Mobility API that enables channel partners to integrate MobileIron data and actions with other enterprise systems and build their own applications for mobile device management, security and analytics.
The Mobility API was also designed to ensure that partners can add additional services they may need in the future, such as telecom expense management, location-based applications, and business intelligence, effectively future-proofing their MobileIron investment.
"MobileIron 3.0 represents a new phase of enterprise mobility," said Bob Tinker, CEO of MobileIron. "Our customers and partners can now use our platform to extend their mobile service offerings. Unlike legacy device management companies, we are uniquely positioned to be able to deliver this functionality through our virtual data architecture, which provides visibility into the data, apps, and activities of a smartphone and lends itself naturally to broader applications."http://www.mobileiron.com
The Mobility API was also designed to ensure that partners can add additional services they may need in the future, such as telecom expense management, location-based applications, and business intelligence, effectively future-proofing their MobileIron investment.
"MobileIron 3.0 represents a new phase of enterprise mobility," said Bob Tinker, CEO of MobileIron. "Our customers and partners can now use our platform to extend their mobile service offerings. Unlike legacy device management companies, we are uniquely positioned to be able to deliver this functionality through our virtual data architecture, which provides visibility into the data, apps, and activities of a smartphone and lends itself naturally to broader applications."http://www.mobileiron.com
- In August 2010, MobileIron, a start-up based in Mountain View, California, has raised $16 million in Series C financing for its multi-OS smartphone management solutions.
New Zealand Shortlists FTTH Players; Telecom Responds
Crown Fibre Holdings Limited (CFH), which was chartered by the Government of New Zealand to manage a nationwide rollout of FTTH Ultra-Fast Broadband, published a short list of 14 parties for regional construction.
Crown Fibre Holdings aims to bring Ultra-Fast Broadband to 75 percent of New Zealanders over ten years, concentrating in the first six years on priority broadband users such as businesses, schools and health services, plus green field developments and certain tranches of residential areas.
Three parties, representing a significant portion of the UFB build, have been selected for prioritized negotiations:
Notably absent was Telecom New Zealand, the incumbent operator.
For its part, Telecom New Zealand said it submitted a national proposal covering all UFB and Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI) areas. The carrier confirmed that it had been short listed by CFH, but was not on the list of three for prioritised negotiations. Telecom New Zealand reiterated key elements of its national proposal:
Crown Fibre Holdings aims to bring Ultra-Fast Broadband to 75 percent of New Zealanders over ten years, concentrating in the first six years on priority broadband users such as businesses, schools and health services, plus green field developments and certain tranches of residential areas.
Three parties, representing a significant portion of the UFB build, have been selected for prioritized negotiations:
- Alpine Energy (Timaru);
- The Central North Island Fibre Consortium (Hamilton - including Cambridge and Te Awamutu - Tauranga, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Hawera and Tokoroa); and
- Northpower (Whangarei).
Notably absent was Telecom New Zealand, the incumbent operator.
For its part, Telecom New Zealand said it submitted a national proposal covering all UFB and Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI) areas. The carrier confirmed that it had been short listed by CFH, but was not on the list of three for prioritised negotiations. Telecom New Zealand reiterated key elements of its national proposal:
- co-investing with the Crown to achieve the 75% coverage objective by 2019;
- splitting into two entirely separate companies (structural separation);
- integration of the RBI to extend the reach of fibre into rural areas.
