The National Communications Regulatory Commission (NCRC), which is the telecom’s regulator in Ukraine, has announced plans to sell a single 3G license later this year. The 15-year valid license will be auctioned on November 30th with the reserve price of UAH 400 million. The winner will “go home” with the license for 25Mhz of radio spectrum.

The regulator also said that it plans to sell three more 3G licenses in the future, although specific timeline was not unveiled.

At the moment, there is only one 3G license which is held by state-owned Ukrtelecom. Other players in the country include Kyivstar (41% of the market), UMC (32.9%), Astelit (21.6%), Ukrainian Radio Systems (3.6%), as well as Ukrtelecom and Golden Telecom, which both have less than 1% each.

[Via: CellularNews]

A renewable company called Helix Wind has recently announced its plans to deliver the first of many wind turbines to the telecommunications companies operating in the U.S. and West Africa. The key selling point of these towers is that they would provide enough energy for the cell phone towers to work sans any wires, hence providing coverage in rural areas at lower cost for the operators.

The first test wind turbines are set to be shipped this month to Eltek NSG in Nigeria, with more of them to be rolled out to other operators in the region, including Zain and MTI.

Currently, mobile network towers in rural areas and developing countries are powered by diesel generators, which contribute to carbon emissions and cost a lot to operate and maintain. In “off the grid” regions, wind is one of those ideal sources of power (along with the Sun), and can be used power-up the towers…

[Via: renewbl]

What can I say – it’s hilarious! Do you happen to have the App Store addiction?

Original (bigger) cartoon is at Geek Culture.

Hong Kong-based SmarTone announced that its Macau subsidiary has been granted a 3G license. The carrier plans to invest over MOP 180 million ($23 million) in the first four years to build its WCDMA-based network.

Commenting on the occasion, SmarTone’s CEO Douglas Li said: “The 3G licence will enable us to introduce more effective competition in the Macau market by offering unique 3G multimedia services which are more compelling than those currently available.”

In addition, SmarTone Macau also welcomed the regulator’s effort for liberalisation of the local and international leased-line market in 2010…

[Via: CellularNews]

Israeli Partner Communications has confirmed that it has submitted a formal bid to buy rival operator, MIRS from Motorola (NYSE: MOT). Partner is not the only carrier that expressed interest in MIRS — all three of Isreal’s incumbent operators want it.

MIRS Communications operates an iDEN network, and has been previously valued at around $300 million. It had an estimated 441,000 subscribers at the end of last year, representing a market share of just under 5%.

For the record, Hutchison Telecom has recently sold its controlling stake in Partner Communications to local handset distributor – Scailex Corp.

Now why would someone want an iDEN network is beyond me. The only reason may be that other players don’t get it. Any thoughts?

[Via: CellularNews]

A company called metaio announced the launch date of its mobile augmented reality platform called junaio. It’s November 2nd, and at least initially, it will be designed for iPhone developers, with plans to introduce Android and Symbian versions in the future, as well.

From the press release:

junaio will change the way we create, access and share information. By combining innovative online and mobile technologies, junaio will allow users to see location-based content through the display of a mobile device. Users can leave traces, messages or objects and visually interact with their friends or anyone else in the world. Already existing web services can be enhanced and completely new ways of interaction can be created. Whether it is social networks, multimedia content or game concepts – virtually anything can be embedded in the real world and connected to a certain place. “The possibilities are endless, we are taking the Internet outside to the real world,” says Thomas Alt, Chief Executive Officer of metaio.

And that’s about all we know at this stage. If you’re into AR stuff, make sure to bookmark junaio’s website and follow their progress…

gsmExchange.com has launched a B2B platform – gsmLeads.com, designed to connect manufacturers with distributors and large wholesale buyers of mobile phones and accessories worldwide. The main idea is help distributors directly connect with manufacturers, hence helping them spread margins at least a bit.

Initially, as far as I can tell, the website is full of Chinese companies (the number is close to 100), which unsurprisingly offer tons of clone devices that could hardly be sold legally outside certain Asian countries. However, the goal is to have major manufacturers on board in the future, though I don’t see that happening as long as they compete with their nemesis (handset clone makers) on the same platform. Then again, who knows, and in either case — whether major brands jump on board or not — I’ve no doubts there’s a future for gsmLeads. You are free to visit the site and judge for yourself…

Thailand’s telecoms regulator, the NTC, approved a draft procedure for the long-planned 3G license auction. The regulator plans to hold a public consultation at the end of this month, where they’ll talk about switching from a percentage of revenues to a fixed fee with lower spectrum costs.

The incumbent operators are already running trials of 3G networks over their existing GSM radio spectrum, while CDMA operator, CAT Telecom is seeking an overseas investor to assist in 3G rollout plans.

The NTC is also planning to auction a series of WiMAX licenses, which apparently will be offered on a regional basis, but that will happen after 3G licenses have been auctioned…

[Via: CellularNews]

Here’s a neat and eco-friendly idea. A transport service in Kenya is using wearable flexible solar panel vests to keep its employees’ mobile phones charged. Bicycle riders, the popular “boda-boda” riders, wear these vests to charge the storage battery, which in turn could be used for providing electricity to a mobile phone. When home, these wests can be mounted on a window or porch and continue to generate electricity as long as there is sunlight.

Boda-boda riders use mobile phones as an essential tool in their business, which includes bicycle rides for individuals who travel from “border to border”, through no man’s land between country borders…

[Via: renewbl]

Vivendi SA, owner of France’s mobile operator SFR, will offer 2 billion EUR (about $2.9 billion) to acquire Brazilian Internet and telecommunications company GVT SA. According to the French media and entertainment company, GVT’s controlling shareholders, Swarth Group and Global Village Telecom, have agreed to sell at least 20% of GVT to Vivendi for 42 reals ($22.9) a share. Once that is completed, Vivendi will launch a public tender offer for the rest of GVT’s shares by the end of the year.

For the record, with annual sales growth of 31.1% between 2006 and 2008, GVT is Brazil’s fastest-growing telecommunications service provider. GVT made sales in the fiscal year ending June 30 of about 1.5 billion Brazilian reals ($800 million) and had about 2.3 million lines in service at the end of June…

[Via: CellularNews]