Orascom Buys Stake In Hutch, Enters India

Orascom Telecom has entered the Indian Telecom arena, with the acquisition of 19.3 per cent stakes in Hutchison Telecom

Friday, December 23, 2005: Orascom Telecom has entered the Indian Telecom arena, with the acquisition of 19.3 per cent stakes in Hutchison Telecom. With the deal, Orascom is on its way to some of the high growth mobile markets in Asia. Hutchison already has operations in India and Sri Lanka, while Orascom, the Cairo-based telecom company, has presence in Pakistan and Bangladesh.

According to Naguib Swiris, CEO, Orascom Telecom, ?We have often expressed our keen interest to enter some of the largest and highest growth mobile markets in the world like India, Indonesia and Vietnam. The tie-up with Hutchison Telecom presents Orascom Telecom with exposure to these markets.?

As per the terms of the tie-up, Orascom and Hutchison will combine procurement, apart from signing roaming agreements between all the complementary operations. Orascom will send two representatives to the Hutchison Telecom board. Besides, the company will have its members on the board of Hutchison Essar, in which Hutchison Telecom holds 42 per cent stakes.

Orasom and Hutchison control mobile operators with two billion subscribers in 15 countries.

via [EFY Times]

Nokia supplies its mobile softswitch to Hutchison 3G Austria

Hutchison 3G Austria has selected Nokia to supply its mobile softswitch solution for optimizing Hutchison 3G Austria’s mobile network

NOKIA PRESS RELEASE December 22, 2005

Nokia supplies its mobile softswitch to Hutchison 3G Austria

Espoo, Finland – Hutchison 3G Austria has selected Nokia to supply its mobile softswitch solution for optimizing Hutchison 3G Austria’s mobile network. The 3GPP Release 4 architecture of the Nokia MSC Server System will allow Hutchison 3G Austria to gain significant cost savings in the operation of its WCDMA 3G network and will enable the operator to continue to offer the most advanced mobile multimedia services to its customers. Deliveries have started, with the target of having the system operational by the end of the year.

Nokia also provides a wide range of services, including project management, installation, integration, commissioning and care services. The system continues to be supported by the multitechnology Nokia NetAct(TM) solution.

“We are confident that Nokia’s cost-efficient MSC Server System keeps us ahead in the competition,” said Jan Trionow, Chief Technology Officer, Hutchison 3G Austria. “The Nokia MSC Server allows us to continue offering advanced 3G voice and mobile multimedia services to our customers, while offering a smooth migration path to All-IP in the future.”

“We are pleased to introduce the Nokia MSC Server solution into Hutchison 3G Austria’s network,” said Jorg Erlemeier, General Manager, Networks, Nokia. “The Nokia MSC Server System is a market-leading solution, offering Hutchison 3G Austria cost and operational efficiency.”

Nokia continues as the sole supplier for Hutchison 3G Austria’s core network.

Nokia leads the 3GPP Release 4 mobile softswitch market with over 70 customers for the Nokia MSC Server, over 20 of which are already in live commercial use.

Hutch India launches new website and new logo

A new clean redesigned website and pink logo are on display by the indian mobile service provider

Hutch has launched its new logo and website hutch.in to the public.

Hutch will be operating under this new colors

hutch logo

Please log on the to see for yourself

http://www.hutch.in/home/index.asp

Decision on 3g spectrum by 2006 first quarter

The decision on 3G spectrum is expected to be taken by first quarter of 2006, said Minister of Communications and Information Technology Dayanidhi Maran

NEW DELHI: The government of India is likely to take a decision on 3G spectrum early next year.

?The decision on 3G spectrum is expected to be taken by first quarter of 2006,? said Minister of Communications and Information Technology Dayanidhi Maran.

Speaking on the sidelines of the India Economic Summit, he added, ?We welcome more players in 3G, but the quality and the price at which services would be provided should be competitive, as it is a value-added service.?

He further said, ?3G is not a replacement of 2G. Even when 3G comes into India, investment in 2G would still continue.?

Speaking on the issue of unbundling the last mile, Maran opined, ?Government will not go for unbundling the last mile. I am very happy with the broadband progress and see no necessity for unbundling the last mile.?

He also stressed on the need for provision of more content. ?Price of broadband and PCs have gone down but there is no content to be accessed through these. We have to make sure that it is available,? he said.

He further informed that the new telecom policy would be out next year. ?IndiaOne is also happening and we have removed almost all barriers for its rollout,? he added.

via [ciol]