European Union Sets Mobile Data Roaming Caps

Tariffs for international mobile data roaming across the European Union will drop significantly in the next few years under a tentative deal reached this week by Members of the European Parliament and the Danish Presidency of the Council of Ministers. Currently, mobile data roaming services charged to consumers do not have a price ceiling, and the existing legislation capping roaming charges for phone calls, SMS messaging expires on 30 June 2012.


The new tariffs seek to bring roaming costs into line with domestic prices by 2015. A downloaded megabyte would cost no more than 70 cents as of 1 July 2012, 45 cents in 2013 and 20 cents as of 1 July 2014 to consumers. The cost of a one-minute call would not exceed 29 cents as of 1 July 2012 and 19 cents as of July 2014, down from 35 cents under the current legislation. An SMS would cost no more than 9 cents as of 1 July 2012 and 6 cents as of 1 July 2014, down from 11 cents under the current legislation.


The agreement also would force operators to enable customers to buy roaming services separately. This would let the consumer chose alternative service suppliers for roaming whilst retaining their national operators for domestic use and keeping their national phone numbers. The consumer would be able to access mobile local data services while abroad without having to unsubscribe from their existing data roaming contract or arrangement, and while keeping their mobile number. The agreement also proposes facilitating access to the wholesale market for new alternative operators (mobile virtual network operators or MVNOs).
http://www.europa.eu

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Verizon Wireless Prices LTE Mi-Fi at $50

Verizon Wireless will begin selling its Verizon Jetpack 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot- MiFi 4620L starting April 12 for $49.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement.


The Jetpack, which was unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January 2012, was developed by Novatel Wireless. Up to 10 Wi-Fi-enabled devices can be served simultaneously by the LTE connection.


In addition to a multicolor LED status indicator, the Jetpack also features and an interactive OLED display on the face of the device, allowing customers to scroll through menu options, check security settings, view battery life, display data usage alerts.
http://www.verizonwireless.com

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Sprint Offers CDMA Home Alarm Communicator

Sprint is partnering with Uplink, a provider of security alarm solutions, to offer a new Uplink CDMA Alarm Communicator powered by Sprint in the summer of 2012. The M2M solution uses the CDMA network for primary or back-up wireless alarm communications.
http://www.sprint.com

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Telebras Plans Brazil-Angola Cable

Brazil and Angola announced plans for the joint construction of a 6,000km submarine cable across the Atlantic linking Fortaleza and Luanda. Survey work began in November 2011. Telebras is playing a key role.
http://www.telebras.com.br

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Xilinx Ships Virtex-7 for Next Gen Systems

Xilinx announced commercial shipments of its Virtex-7 X690T FPGA, which packs high-speed serial transceivers, highest system bandwidth, and market-optimized FPGA resources.


Xilinx said its Virtex-7 X690T and X1140T FPGAs provide the greatest processing capacity and bandwidth per watt of any FPGA to implement advanced Packet Processing, FEC, Quality-of-Service, Switching, and Traffic Management algorithms as well as next generation EdgeQAM implementations.


"Xilinx has taken its years of experience in serial transceivers – having shipped to date over 75 percent of all FPGAs that include serial transceivers – and combined that with the innovative low power, 28nm 7 series FPGA architecture to deliver a highly optimized family for the Wired Communication marketplace," said Tim Erjavec, senior director of FPGA platforms at Xilinx.
http://www.xilinx.com

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ECI Names First Apollo Optimized Multi-Layer Transport Customer

The Israeli Electric Corporation (IEC) has selected ECI Telecom's new Apollo family of Optimized Multi-Layer Transport (OMLT) platforms, part of ECI’s 1Net packet-optical transport solutions, for its network connectivity needs. As part of this deployment, the IEC ran a successful pilot of the platform’s 100G capabilities. This marks ECI's first announced customer for the Apollo OMLT.


“By deploying this technology, the IEC will contribute to a marked increase in efficiency and a noted improvement in the telecommunications capabilities we are able to provide our customers, bringing Israel to the forefront of communications technology," stated Nava Trinczer, Deputy VP for Information Systems and Communication, and Manager for the Communication and Electronics Unit, IEC.
http://www.ecitele.com

• In November 2011, ECI Telecom announced its next step beyond packet-optical transport system (P-OTS) with a new modular platform that integrates L0 to L3 functionality with a single management system for all layers. The Apollo Optimized Multi-Layer Transport system (OMLT) addresses metro core and regional networks for carriers shifting from traditional ring-based architecture to mesh-based and OTN switching architecture. With the OMLT, ECI's aim is to address shortcomings of packet-optical transport system (P-OTS), especially the need to deploy additional Carrier Ethernet platforms with separate management systems to support advanced data services. The OMLT reduces infrastructure costs by optimizing the whole (multi-layered) architecture instead of the individual parts (layers), while simplifying the provisioning of new wavelength, private line, L2 or L3 services. The OMLT features a Universal fabric supporting OTN, Ethernet and switching between the two. The control plane uses GMPLS across the data (MPLS-TP) and optical layers.
  
  
  The Apollo product launch includes six platforms, along with the LightSoft unified network management system. LightSoft is a graphical automated end-to-end provisioning and management across network layers and technologies. LightSoft's multi-layer interface allows the user to get multiple physical and logical views of the network, facilitating the visualization of connections and correlations between different network layers.

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Cisco to Acquire Clear Access for TR-069 Tools

Cisco agreed to acquire ClearAccess, a privately-held company that provides TR-069-based software to service providers for the provisioning and management of residential and mobile devices. Financial terms were not disclosed.


The acquisition includes ClearAccess' software business and talent. The hardware portion of ClearAccess' business, Smart RG Gateways, will continue forward as a separate company called SmartRG, Inc.


ClearAccess offers the ClearVision Management System, a web-based remote management and applications platform based on the Broadband Forum’s TR-069 suite of protocols. ClearVision provides deep operational visibility to the CPE (e.g. DSL modem, cable, Ethernet gateway, IPTV set-top box, etc.) and a variety of tools which enable the service provider to lower customer churn, reduce truck rolls, and lower support costs. ClearVision also includes advanced applications which can be upsold to subscribers for additional high-margin revenue for the service provider.

ClearAccess is based in Vancouver, Washington.


"The ClearAccess acquisition reinforces Cisco's commitment to service providers by accelerating software architectural advancements in mobility, cloud and managed devices, and video," said Jamie Lerner, vice president and general manager, Cisco Network Management Technology Group, Service Provider Applications. "ClearAccess provides a critical technology that will advance Cisco's mission to offer service providers a complete set of tools to manage their networks, within the home and across any connected device, amid the ongoing proliferation in network traffic."http://www.cisco.com
http://www.clearaccess.com

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Deutsche Telekom Tests 4x4 MIMO LTE with Huawei

Deutsche Telekom, in collaboration with Huawei, has undertaken the world's first LTE 4×4 MIMO field trial, achieving download data rates of up to 250 Mbps. The 4×4 MIMO field trial utilized Huawei's SingleRAN LTE solution.

Deutsche Telekom launched its LTE network in Cologne in June 2011 using the 1.8 GHz frequency band and Huawei's SingleRAN LTE as one solution.

"This is a key milestone in the LTE industry." said Ying Weimin, president of GSM&UMTS&LTE wireless networks, Huawei. "Deutsche Telekom is one of the most innovative operators in the world. We are proud to foster our strategic partnership with Deutsche Telekom and to contribute to the development of mobile broadband. Huawei remains committed to being the best business partner for operators around the world."
http://www.huawei.com

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ZTE Posts 23% Revenue Growth in 2011, but Profits Decline 37%

ZTE reported 2011 revenue of RMB 86.25 billion, an increase of 23.4% compared to 2010. However, net profit fell to RMB 2.06 billion, down 36.6% from 2010’s result. Basic earnings per share were RMB 0.61.


"In 2011, equipment investments by the telecommunications industry varied by region across the globe,�? said ZTE Chairman Mr. Hou Weigui. "During the year, ZTE adjusted its product lines to continue to provide comprehensive integrated solutions to carriers. A range of measures designed to improve efficiency and optimize production processes also were introduced."


Some highlights:


ZTE's domestic and overseas operating revenue grew 22.7% and 24% year-on-year respectively.


Domestic operating revenue was RMB 39.50 billion, accounting for 45.8% of overall operating revenue.


Overseas operating revenue was RMB 46.76 billion, accounting for 54.2%.


ZTE has secured over 30 commercial LTE contracts.


ZTE became the second-fastest growing smartphone company in the world during the year.


ZTE also was the fourth-largest mobile manufacturer in the world in terms of shipments during the year.


By product segment, Carrier Networks generated operating revenue of RMB46.522 billion, representing year-on-year growth of 10.83%. Terminal Products generated operating revenue of RMB26.933 billion, representing year-on-year growth of 52.63%. Operating revenue for Telecommunication Software Systems, Services and Other Products amounted to RMB12.799 billion, representing year-on-year growth of 24.46%.


According to statistics published by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, revenue for the domestic telecommunications sector amounted to RMB901.15 billion for the first eleven months of 2011, representing a year-on-year growth of 9.6%.
http://www.zte.com.cn

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