The Russian Parliamentary elections are due in 2011, and we could see citizens opting to use their mobile phones to vote. The Central Elections Commission is looking to develop a Java-based application which could be downloaded to phones to allow secure voting services. As we’re talking about a Java-based app, it means that virtually every…
North Korea mobile phone users reach 20,000 mark!
While the world is still stunned with North Korea’s trial of long-range missiles, the country’s mobile operator keeps adding new subscribers to its network. According to an article in Tokyo-based Choson Sinbo, as of now about 20,000 North Koreans and some foreigners in the country are using mobile phones following the launch of a new…
Hutchison launches GSM network in Vietnam
The owner of the mobile operator 3, Hutchison Telecom, keeps expanding its worldwide operations, and as of April 9th, along with Hanoi Telecom Joint Stock Company they have a new mobile network in Vietnam, functioning in the country’s 64 provinces! Commenting on the announcement, Hutchison Telecom’s CEO, Dennis Lui, said: “The launch of Vietnamobile completes…
Indonesia and Chile to auction 3G licenses in the next few months
Governments of two developing nations, Indonesia and Chile, are preparing to auction-off new 3G spectrum in the next few months. In the case of Indonesia, this will be the second time the government will offer frequencies up for auction. Earlier tender led to only one local operator (Telkomsel) meeting the government’s reserve price of IDR160…
Two European satellite companies set to win S-band radio rights
Two European satellite companies — UK-based Inmarsat and Solaris Mobile, a joint venture between Luxembourg-based SES Astra and France’s Eutelsat — are expected to be given 18-year rights to S-band radio spectrum in 27 countries across Europe, leaving two US bidders, ICO Global Communications and TerreStar, empty-handed. The S-band licence is potentially highly valuable. When…
Belgium to issue fourth mobile licence
By the end of this year, Belgian government will issue a fourth mobile telecoms licence in an effort to spur further competition. As a result, a newcomer could in principle begin operating in 2010. According to Anne Everard, vice director in charge of communications for Economy Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne, “Operators have indicated interest and…
Finland’s Sonera to enhance its turbo 3G network this year
This year, Finland-based mobile operator, Sonera (part of TeliaSonera) will speed up the build-out of its high-speed mobile network. The plan is to enhance the existing turbo 3G network currently serving about 250 towns and localities, to additional 100 new places. As a result, more than 1,000 new base stations will be introduced, with the…
Indonesia will broadcast general election information by SMS
It’s kinda strange and nice at the same time to see a developing nation like Indonesia going well beyond many developed nations, in terms of using mobile technology. That said I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Indonesia will broadcast the information of 2009 general elections, scheduled on April 9th, via SMS to around 155…
Russian government to take stake in an Indian operator?
The Russian government is reportedly interested to take an indirect stake in an Indian mobile phone network. According to a copy of the government budget, Russia has set aside 23.7 billion rubles for acquiring shares in the new Indian mobile phone network, Shyam Telelink, an amount that is sufficient to buy a 20% stake in…
China Mobile stats impress!
China Mobile released some stats for the last year, which because of the carrier’s scale impress. Let’s briefly go through them: Last year, China Mobile subscribers sent 607.1 billion text messages, up more than 100 billion over the operator’s 2007 SMS totals. The total subscriber count is now closing in on the 464 million mark…