It doesn’t matter if a provider is offering 3G or 4G – whatever device is being used, it needs to be able to connect to the network. As the demand for smartphones increases in developing markets, picking up a connection has become increasingly difficult...

Chip manufacturer Qualcomm has cited emerging markets as the main driver behind the revenue and profit that it reported in Q4 2012...

Mobile operators across the globe are being squeezed by decreasing revenues per user, and a seemingly insatiable demand by users for more data. To efficiently manage the rapidly growing increase in data traffic in their networks, mobile operators need to build and improve their infrastructure in a much smarter way than they have hitherto done. Telecoms expert Peter Karaszi take a look at some new infrastructural solutions that can help mobile operators do just that...

The global cost of copper has increased by nearly 285 per cent over the last nine years from £1260 a metric tonne in 2003 to around £4843 a metric tonne today. It’s a trend that looks set to continue, with global demand expected to rise by more than 40 per cent by 2020. Such hefty prices have become a perpetual concern for the global telecommunications industry, which traditionally uses copper wire and cabling for network grounding and transmission lines...

Cloud computing offers many benefits for the Small, Micro and Medium Enterprise (SMME), including the ability to access the latest technology to optimise business efficiency, improved scalability and flexibility. On top of these is the advantage of moving this technology from a capital expense to an operational expense with a monthly bill for services instead of a large investment for technology infrastructure and software...

The top priority of any wireless provider is to make sure that the wireless signal from a device gets into the ground as soon as possible. To do this, it’s crucial to make efficient use of the available spectrum...

The term ‘cellular backhaul’ covers more now than it did two or three years ago, encompassing a far broader range of technologies  that have become more widespread, including internet services offered by digital devices as well as remote or maritime communications facilitated by small cells...

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have launched a new partnership called the ‘m-Health’ Initiative to use mobile technology, in particular text messaging and apps, to help combat non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases and chronic respiratory diseases...

In an industry that’s always looking forward to the newest developments, saying that a technology is ‘mature’ could be considered a slight. However, far from being outdated, some technologies simply need a bit of time to grow before they can flourish, and the prevalence of carrier Ethernet services shows that this technology has well and truly arrived. With an established set of standards and a raft of benefits to operators, Ethernet services are an increasingly attractive prospect for players in emerging markets...

Businesses looking for a secure virtual environment will only consider the private cloud in the near future, says research firm IDC. According to the researcher, the private cloud is the closest to a virtualised infrastructure which offers better controls...

Two new devices have been added to Nokia’s Asha Touch range, a collection of relatively low-cost, mid-tier devices which are largely focussed on emerging markets...

Increasing broadband and smartphone penetration, in particular as a result of the launch of 4G networks, is affecting data growth across the BRIC markets. With a focus on India and Russia, DT looks at the impact this is having and the trends that are expected to emerge in this arena over the next few years...

A new iPhone unveiling is a cataclysmic event in the telecoms industry, and the impact will be felt just as much in emerging markets – indeed, perhaps even more. DT editor James Barton spoke to Mervyn Kelly of network specialist Ciena to discuss the impact the iPhone 5 will have on data usage, and how operators in emerging markets can hope to optimise their networks to cope with this...

As network traffic increases, operators are constantly on the lookout for technologies that can help them better manage network congestion and provide better load balancing between the various nodes...

With the current mobile messaging landscape developing at an impressive rate, remaining relevant in this fast paced environment is becoming an increasing challenge for all industry players, particularly as handsets evolve, networks mature and new services continue to launch in the market. However, while relevancy is of primary focus for mobile operators globally, when developing their future strategies one thing is certain, new services must evolve in line with technical innovation and be tailored to meet consumers’ expectation and demand...

Data is getting bigger, virtualisation is expanding, and data protection applications are ill-prepared to deal with the challenges this model poses. There is a distinct need within virtualised environments to improve visibility and transparency, as virtual machines simply lack the level of visibility seen in physical environments...

We are going through a radical shift in the way people work and use computers. Increasing availability and affordability of wireless broadband is giving the global workforce true mobility, for the first time in history. Many of them will use smartly designed mobile rugged computers for their everyday computing and communication needs, instead of traditional laptops.

Regulation and compliance requirements are still evolving in many markets when it comes to mobile commerce.

This is not a new channel for operators alone: Many banks also lack experience with mobile payments, remittance and other transactions. Various government bodies that regulate both mobile operators and financial services are also learning their way around mobile. Many regulators simply rely on existing rules for older types of transactions, such as card or cash payments. Regulation of mobile commerce as an industry is still a way off...

In many emerging markets, communication service providers (CSPs) are often the biggest technology companies present, with the largest data centres and IT infrastructures in any given country or area. CSPs are therefore well placed to respond to the increase in demand for data resulting from the rapid deployment of the internet in emerging economies, whether via mobile or otherwise...

Leading international operator Bharti Airtel has launched a cloud platform, allowing it to offer hosted SaaS and IaaS applications to small and large enterprises on a pay as you go model...

With large, untapped subscriber reservoirs ripe for the picking, the opportunity for mobile operators to grow rapidly in the emerging markets is enormous...

One of the leading platforms in the mobile financial services sector is to be offered as a hosted model, extending benefits to members of the ecosystem...

Information Technology (IT) has become intrinsic to the day-to-day operations of modern businesses, and enterprises in the healthcare sector are no exception...

The low-cost smartphone could finally be upon us, with Vodafone announcing that it will launch the Smart II across 25 of its markets...

New statistics unveiled by a major broadband analyst have revealed that while many emerging markets are showing major growth, other have struggled to meet expectations. Comparing numbers from three years ago with current reports, Point Topic has released its results showing which emerging markets have weathered the broadband ‘crunch’...

Data consumption has risen dramatically across the globe following the widespread availability of 3G, and with LTE deploying worldwide this trend does not look set to slow. However, operators in many emerging markets are having difficulty supplying the requisite capacity. Fortunately, innovative new backhauling techniques are emerging as a means of addressing this issue...

Database security is possibly the most important and complex implementation project any organisation will undertake. Not only is it critical to ensure that information contained within the database is secure from a host of external threats, including viruses, phishing scams and the like, the need for internal security is also increasing...

The adoption of Smartphone and tablet technology across the world – from developed through to developing nations – has generated a global phenomenon of data-hungry customers...

Today’s wireless operators have to deal with ever-growing numbers of SIM cards. Most operators employ a process where SIM cards are pre-provisioned in the network before shipping into distribution channels, but these resources become increasingly strained as SIM card volumes increase...

The volume of traffic traversing networks today is rising faster than revenues, sending operators’ revenue per bit spiraling downward. The really bad news, however, is that it doesn’t look like the situation is going to improve anytime soon...

Cable & Wireless Worldwide (CWW) has responded to requests from its two potential buyers to extend the deadline for submitting a bid...

Two of the major industry players attempting to bid for Cable & Wireless Worldwide have expressed their wish for the submission deadline to be extended...

This year will almost certainly see China overtake the US to become the largest smartphone market in the world...