The proliferation of mobile communications in developing countries has the potential to bring a wide range of financial services to an entirely new customer base, according to a new report commissioned by the Information for Development Program (infoDev) in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the GSM Association...

First National Bank has selected Clickatell to extend its inContact alert service to Namibia . inContact immediately alerts customers of any transactions on their bank accounts via a text message to their mobile phones...

Two Indian mobile operators, Airtel and Idea Cellular, have agreed to use fastmobile Inc fmX software technology to support a series of message service trials. fastmobile designs and supplies integrated messaging and content services for mobile network operators: the fmX platform is to be used in trials exploring the impact of mobile communications in developing countries...

Lucent Technologies has unveiled its Base Station Router, a Bell Labs innovation that integrates key components of 3G mobile networks into a single network element, thus "flattening" what is typically a more complex architecture...

Quebec-based PolarSat is supplying its FlexiDAMA hub and remote terminals to the Guangdong Dapeng LNG Company...

Indonesian operator Hutchison Telecom Indonesia, a joint venture between Hong Kong-based Hutchison Telecommunications International Ltd and the CP Group of Indonesia, has awarded Nokia with a convergent charging solution contract that will see it provide, integrate and manage an innovative network solution for Hutchison Telecom Indonesia...

Mobile operators in developing countries have bought or ordered more than 12 million mobile phones from Motorola under the Emerging Market Handset programme run by the GSM Association (GSMA).

Mobitel, the Bulgarian mobile operator, has commissioned Openmind Networks to deploy its SMS Intelligent Load Optimiser and its SMS Direct Deliver Router. These new systems enable Mobitel to deal with higher volumes of SMS traffic more efficiently and cost effectively...

Reuters in India has reported a ministerial speech claiming that the country, the world's fastest growing mobile market, could be adding between 6-8 million new users each month once networks reach all potential rural customers. The comments were made by Telecommunications Minister Dayanidhi Maran at 3GSM Barcelona .

Nokia has won a US$170 million GSM/GPRS network expansion deal with China' s Henan Mobile Communications Corporation Ltd. The contract is intended to greatly enhance network capacity and coverage in the Henan province, putting Henan MCC in an extremely competitive position.

Globalcom Satellite is now unveiling the Nera WorldPro 1000 portable satellite terminal. The terminal will operate via Inmarsat's powerful new 4th generation satellite network on a service called BGAN...

Openmind Networks is deploying its SMS personalisation system called My SMS with the Bahrain Telecommunications Company. My SMS enables Batelco to introduce innovative solutions to its customers by offering them new, value-added services based on the most successful non-voice service to date, namely, SMS...

Mobile Telecommunications Limited of Namibia has signed a five-year exclusive contract with Motorola Limited for the supply of GSM/GPRS/EDGE and Canopy access network equipment...

Almost 30% more people (25 million) in Sub-Saharan Africa would have mobile phones if it was not for the unpredictable and short-term approach to regulation in many countries in the region, according to a PriceWaterhouse Coopers study published by the GSM Association (GSMA).

Alec Barton, Publisher of Developing Telecoms, finds great cause for encouragement from 3GSM Barcelona...  

Andrew Corporation has introduced a compact tower-mounted amplifier designed to provide operators with options for coverage and capacity enhancement for 3G networks...

Nokia has won a new MSC Server System contract with Telefónica Móviles Ecuador , which operates under the movistar brand, to enable more cost efficient voice service. Telefónica's subsidiary in Ecuador marks a new customer for Nokia and strengthens cooperation with Telefónica Móviles.

Kuwaiti owned Mobile Telecommunications Company Group (MTC), the largest GSM operator in the region, is to bid for the third GSM licence in Egypt . Mohamed Eid, MTC Country Manager Egypt, has stressed the advantage of winning the contract: employment opportunities for many Egyptians based on a high-quality local labour force.

In a deal valued at US$1.332 billion, MTC has acquired from Sudatel 61% of Sudanese mobile operator Mobitel. Mobitel currently has almost 2 million customers, up 70% in the last year. Funding for this new transaction was secured following the capital increase from an equity rights issue of US$2.3 billion.

Nokia and Greek mobile operator Cosmote have signed an agreement for the supply of WCDMA 3G radio network. With this 3G deal, Nokia, a long-term GSM infrastructure supplier to Cosmote, further cements its role in the development of Cosmote's mobile networks in Greece and elsewhere in the Balkans.

Wataniya Telecom today opened the first High Speed Downlink Packet Access network in the Middle East and Africa region, thereby making it the first operator in these two areas to offer mobile services beyond 3G.

Andrew Corporation has introduced what is believed to be the industry's first all-digital remote radio head, a high-power unit that is intended to provide cost savings and coverage flexibility for global 3G networks...

Nokia has reached a five-year managed services agreement to run Hutchison Essar's network operations in nine circles in India . Nokia will assume the operation of Hutchison Essar's networks in Gujarat , Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Chennai, Uttar Pradesh (East and West), Rajasthan, Haryana and West Bengal , thus allowing the operator to better focus on its customers and core activities...

BSS/OSS supplier Intec has launched a new mobile charging, customer and revenue management solution particularly applicable to the developing world...

Indonesian mobile operator Natrindo Telepon Selular has awarded Ericsson a contract to build, operate and manage its new 3G / WCDMA network in Jakarta and surrounding areas.

Huawei Technologies' global contract sales for 2005 reached US$8.2 billion, a year-on-year growth rate of 40%. The increase is a result of continued market growth in the product areas of wireless mobile network, next generation network, optical networks, data communications, application and software and terminals...

Philippines wireless service provider Smart Communications Inc and Nokia have signed an agreement for the supply of WCDMA 3G network technology. Nokia will deliver a WCDMA 3G radio network, including the Nokia High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) solution, a 3G upgrade to the existing circuit and packet switched networks, and related services.

For the first time ever subscribers in India and China will enjoy direct telecommunication services, including global hubbing, thanks to an agreement signed by Reliance Infocomm and China Telecommunications Corporation...

In response to increasing demand for IP-based solutions with built-in power availability capabilities, American Power Conversion has announced that the Nortel Business Communications Manager 50 now offers an interface to APC’s USB-signalling uninterruptible power supply products...

Just three and a half years after it first arrived in Brazil , GSM is now used by more than 50% of Brazilian mobile phone users. According to the Brazilian regulator Anatel, of the 86 million people with mobile phones in Latin America 's largest country, more than 44 million are connected to GSM networks.

Andrew Corporation has introduced a software system that works with the Teletilt(r) ATC200-1000 local rack-mounted controller and enables real-time adjustments to base station antennas from anywhere an Internet connection is established...