Tatum Anderson

Poor internet links mar Africa's satellite data access

Scidev.net 22 March 2010 

A landmark decision to allow free access to key earth observation data has failed to impact Africa sufficiently because of poor internet connections, say researchers more>>

Launching your own satellite — the pros and cons

SciDev.net, November 11, 2009

Developing nations are building their own satellites despite freely available Western data. Do the gains outweigh the costs, asks Tatum Anderson.

India's aim to launch two more satellites in the next three years has highlighted the trend for developing countries to add their own presence to the West's already extensive space portfolio — sometimes at major cost to their finances. 

For rest of this article go to SciDev.net 

Rural medics to get mobile advice 'hotline'

Scidev.net April 7, 2009

A pilot initiative to provide rural community health workers, nurses and doctors with advice on diagnosis and treatment via mobile phones is to launch in Ghana later this year. Read more>>

New mobile phone runs on solar power

SciDev.net, March 6, 2009

 

A solar-powered mobile phone aimed at consumers without access to electricity goes into production next month More>> .

 

Africa fiber rollouts pick up pace, driven by mobile

  Telecom Markets, Feb 5, 2009

Nigerian operator 21st Century Technologies began deploying a nationwide GPON network last month, starting with 10,000 homes in Lagos. It joins a fiber boom taking place in the country, Africa’s most populous More>>

South Africa opens up network licences

 Capacity magazine, Feb 2009

 A new licensing regime could, in theory, allow hundreds of small companies to build their own networks and provide wholesale, as well as retail services.

New submarine cables critical to broadband growth in MEA

  Telecom Markets, Jan 22, 2009

Submarine cable operators laying new cables around Africa and the Middle East say the effects of Somali piracy are a crucial consideration when rolling out undersea networks.

Tata’s wireless broadband strategy

 

 January 9, 2009

 

The strategy of Indian wireless broadband provider Tata Communications during 2009, rests to a large extent on the outcome of the Indian auctions, which are expected to take place imminently.     The company, the primary telecommunications vehicle of the giant Indian Tata Group, wants to buy WiMAX licences in More >>

Russian op has big HSPA plans, but spectrum delays could cause problems

 There is no 3G spectrum available in Russia’s capital city, Moscow, even though Russian mobile operators have been issued 3G licenses and the largest, Mobile TeleSystems, has embarked on a large-scale deployment of 3.6Mbps HSDPA throughout the country More >>

Sweden's CESAR plans to light up fiber competition in 2009

  December 10, 2008

Sweden's CESAR project is planning to add lit-fiber wavelengths and metro Ethernet services to its portfolio from February, in a bid to strengthen the project's challenge to incumbent Telia. CESAR is intended to attract major service providers to municipal fiber-to-the-home networks by providing a single point of contact for dealing More >>

Network sharing is a must, says Zain

December 10, 2008, Africa Middle East Wireless Analyst

Mobile operator group Zain is considering the tower company model used in India to enable low-cost mobile network construction in Africa.

Vodafone tackles data growth and network costs in a challenging market

  November 17, 2008

 

After less than four months in the job, Vodafone's new CEO Vittorio Colao must steer one of the world's largest mobile operator groups through the most challenging financial environment to hit the mobile industry in its short life.    In January this year the company confidently reported huge growth in More >>

 

Software-defined radio promises cheaper network upgrades in the future

November 12, 2008 3G Wireless Broadband

If the slew of recent announcements is to be believed, operators will be able to install base stations operating on one air-interface standard and use software to upgrade to others at a fraction of the cost of replacing hardware. But not everyone is convinced. The technology on which such upgrades

Green telecoms movement powered by looming energy crunch

October 21, 2008, Telecom Markets

Operators and vendors are investing heavily in environmentally friendly initiatives, even though the telecoms industry contributes only 1% of global greenhouse-gas emissions and next-generation technologies promise to make networks even more energy-efficient.

Case Study: AT&T's mobile data strategy

October 15, 2008. 3G Wireless Broadband

An ambitious network-rollout plan and a portfolio including the latest devices are contributing to AT&T's rising data revenues, making it the carrier to watch in October, when the company is set to release its first set of results since it launched the iPhone 3G in July.

The industry ponders how to divide the digital dividend

October 1, 2008 3G Wireless Broadband

One of biggest challenges facing the mobile communications industry is figuring out how best to manage the spectrum set to be freed up when terrestrial television broadcasts move from analog to digital technology. The switch will make available spectrum in the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) band, creating what is known as the digital dividend.

Chinese vendor faces competing demands in bid for top-tier status

September 17, 2008 3G Wireless Broadband

Chinese vendor ZTE is carving out a reputation as a successful network-equipment manufacturer but faces opposing drains on its resources. It is attempting to both increase its global market share and serve China, one of the fastest-growing markets in the world.

Alternative-energy trials disappoint, says GSMA

September 17, 2008 Middle East Africa Wireless Analyst

Trials of mobile base stations powered by alternative energy sources – such as solar and wind, which are potentially important in Africa and parts of the Middle East – have been woefully inadequate.

Rising energy prices add impetus to greening of the mobile industry

September 3, 2008 3G Wireless Broadband

Many mobile operators and vendors have pledged in corporate-responsibility reports to reduce their carbon footprints. But the major reason behind the mobile industry’s frenetic scramble toward environmentally friendly networks seems to be rising oil prices and the related increase in energy bills.

Technology patchwork means no standard will dominate

August 6, 2008, 3G Wireless Broadband

Mobile broadcast TV services are taking off in Europe.

Nokia/Qualcomm patent pact could lead to more collaboration

August 6, 2008 3G Wireless Broadband

The settlement of a bitter patent war between Qualcomm and Nokia could end up benefiting both companies as they change their long-term strategies, and it could lead to more collaboration between the two former adversaries.

Kuwait-based operator continues march to spot in global top 10 by 2011

July 23, 2008, 3G Wireless Broadband

Zain’s quiet entry into Saudi Arabia in June marked the creation of its 22nd operation, in a footprint spanning Africa and the Middle East. The launch characterizes Zain’s ambition to be one of the top 10 telecoms groups in the world by 2011.

Zain takes a flexible approach to wireless broadband

July 23, 2008, Middle East and Africa Wireless Analyst

Zain is poised to launch services in Saudi Arabia, a country that is widely regarded as offering huge potential for high-speed Internet-access services, sparking interest in the group's wireless-broadband strategy.

All Eyes On Latest Qualcomm-Nokia Court Battle’s Impact On Patents And Licensing

Intellectual Property Watch, 18 July 2008

An important court case in the ongoing saga between two of the mobile industry’s most influential technology firms begins next week.

The case is a crucial stage in the ongoing disagreement between the two equipment manufacturers - Finnish Nokia and US Qualcomm - that has become increasingly acrimonious over recent years and resulted in numerous patent infringement cases all over the world.

MEPs move to force operators to close digital divide

Telecom Markets  July 1,  2008

Two members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are pushing for legislation that would force operators to provide basic broadband services to every home in the European Union (EU), plus cheaper tariffs for low-income users.

Revival in embedded wireless modules

3G Wireless Broadband, May 28, 2008

The market for embedded wireless modules could be heading for a shakeup in 2008 as new vendors and modules, including the first dual-mode modem, start to appear.

Mobile Phone Manufacturers Seek To Control Rising IP Costs

April 21, 2008 Intellectual Property Watch

A proposal by some of the world’s largest mobile phone equipment manufacturers to limit royalty fees on a next-generation wireless technology is the latest in a series of initiatives to try and control spiralling intellectual property costs.

Emerging markets drive changes in vendor thinking

April 16, 2008, 3G Wireless Broadband

As the global economy slows, emerging markets are becoming even more vital to the survival of mobile equipment manufacturers.

India Cancer Patients Seek To Use Courts For Access To Patented Drugs

Intellectual Property Watch, April 3,  2008

One of the most vocal voices for the interests of cancer patients in India says it will use the courts to force the Indian government to declare cancer a national emergency, in an attempt to make cancer drugs affordable to sufferers.

To read the rest of this story on the Intellectual Property Watch website click here.

Managing your contacts; Solutions for keeping your data organised and safe

VS magazine: March 08

Please go straight to the National Council of Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) website to see the rest of this story.