3G Investments Party Ltd., subsidiary of Qualcomm in Australia, was among winners of last week’s 3G auction whose results were below those forecast by govt. 3G Investments won two 10 MHz licenses and “plans to immediately begin preparations to deploy cdma2000 1x/1xEV networks,” company said. As result, commercial 3G service is expected next year, Qualcomm said. Qualcomm was winning bidder at minimum reserve price of $79 million set by Australian Communications Authority. Licenses cover 12.3 million pops in Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney.
Nokia delivered first part of commercial GSM 1900 MHz network to Telecom Italia Mobile (TIM) operations in Peru. Nokia said 2- year agreement was valued at $100 million and would end with full coverage in several cities there by June 2002. Nokia equipment covered under deal includes high-capacity mobile switching equipment, base station controllers, professional services. “This new network is added to the GSM operations that we have in Chile and Venezuela and we intend to have over 100,000 subscribers in Peru by the end of this year,” TIM Peru Gen. Mgr. Fernando Rivera said.
Kathryn Strachan, ex-StreamSearch, named vp-licensing and sponsorships, Zoom Culture… Richard Bressler, ex-AOL Time Warner, appointed senior exec. vp-CFO, Viacom, succeeding Frederic Reynolds, who becomes pres.-CBS TV Stations Div… Betsy Rella, ex-Viacom, named vp-research, Lifetime Entertainment Services… Jay Fine, ex-CBS, appointed managing dir.-National TeleConsultants… Elizabeth Griffiths, ex-Yankee Group, appointed dir.-research, United Telecom Council… Michael Regan, ex- NextWave Telecom, named senior vp-govt. affairs, News Corp… Donald Metzger, ex-TeleCruz Technology, appointed senior vp- worldwide sales, iSurfTV.
Tenn. Senate tax subcommittee will hold April 3 hearing on bill (SB-1484) to increase sales tax on business communications services to 7.5% from 3.5%. Boost would generate roughly $13 million that would be redistributed to incumbent telcos to reduce business intrastate interexchange rates. Measure also would exempt from sales taxes certain types of network equipment for benefit of $10 million that would help offset higher local property tax rates on incumbents because they are classified as public utilities while CLEC property is taxed at lower rate as commercial businesses. Companies would be expected to reduce their intrastate business long distance rates to reflect their tax savings. Residential services wouldn’t be affected.
As might be expected, broadband users take greater advantage of bandwidth-intensive applications than they did as dial-up Internet access customers, according to new study commissioned by Excite@Home. Study, conducted by Harris Interactive, found that broadband subscribers particularly used more audio and video streaming services since switching from dial-up. Specifically, it found that: (1) 93% of broadband users download more MP3 files than before. (2) 90% download more music videos. (3) 89% watch more streaming video. (4) 86% listen to more streaming audio. (5) 79% transfer more large files. (6) 78% share more photos online.
Orblynx introduced updated version of satellite-based content distribution platform Mon. Upgrades include dual-edge caching that doubles cache size, multicasting, content management techniques. Company also announced new pricing system based on megabits delivered to ISP’s customers.
Universal Space Network announced Lockheed Martin chose it to supply NASA with indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity services for former’s Consolidated Space Operations Contract. Contract includes communications, spacecraft command, telemetry, data reduction. Service will allow NASA users to tailor services to mission requirements.
PrimeTime 24 lost Supreme Court appeal Mon. that sought permission to transmit National Football League games to customers in Canada. Court turned down without comment request from PrimeTime 24 that suggested it could send games to subscribers without violating copyright laws. NFL holds copyright authority for broadcasts, but PrimeTime 24 argued federal copyright law didn’t extend beyond boundaries of U.S.
DirecTV received boost for its Spanish-language service as Buenos Aires-based Telefe Internacional joined DirecTV Para Todos, former announced Mon. Argentine company’s programming will become part of DirecTV Para Todos’ Opci?n Extra Especial package at no additional cost.
AT&T Wireless reached agreement with Openet Telecom, which provides platform for service providers to manage subscriber usage information, integrate new and legacy billing systems, provide customer care, data warehousing, fraud management. Companies didn’t disclose terms. Openet said its FusionWorks platform could link subscriber usage patterns from legacy networks, IP infrastructure, 3G systems.