DSL posts strong growth in '05
DSL providers added about 5.2 million subscribers in 2005, compared with 4.2 million in 2004, according to Leichtman Research. Meanwhile, cable operators added 4.4 million broadband subscribers in 2005, about the same as 2004. DSL's success may reflect recent price cuts. Red Herring (3/29)  
| | | | |
 | |  |
| | CASE STUDY: Customer-Focused Strategies for Lean Operators.
| | |
 |  |
|
| | | | |
 | Business & Industry Watch |  |  |
| |
| |
Alcatel board gathers to discuss Lucent deal
Alcatel's board met today to discuss a possible merger with Lucent Technologies. Talks are reported to be in the final stages, but some hurdles remain, such as security concerns over Bell Labs and U.S. shareholder concerns. The Boston Globe (3/30)
Lucent could get IPTV boost from Alcatel merger: A merger with Alcatel would give Lucent Technologies a major boost in the IPTV arena, according to analysts. Alcatel's strong business in the access network market also could boost Lucent's managed services business. Light Reading (3/29)
Skype booms in China
Chinese are flocking to the free PC-to-PC VoIP service offered by Skype Technologies, but SkypeOut, a service that lets users make PC-to-phone calls, is off limits per government regulations. Efforts to curb SkypeOut use -- some tech- savvy customers have found ways around the rules -- reflect Beijing's desire to let state-owned carriers China Telecommunications Corp. and Netcom have a first crack at the PC-to-phone market. The Wall Street Journal (3/29)
Growth to slow for China's fixed-line operators: China's fixed-line operators face the prospect of slower subscriber growth in coming years, according to a report by Analysys International. cellular-news (U.K.) (3/30)
Google to invest $1B in AOL with new pact
Google will invest $1 billion in Time Warner's America Online, as part of an expanded alliance with its largest advertising partner. Under the deal, the online search giant receives 5% of AOL in exchange for a $1 billion investment to be made by the end of June, and AOL also gains $300 million in Google advertising credits. San Jose Mercury News (Calif.)/Associated Press (3/30)
DirecTV says broadband offering won't arrive till year's end
DirecTV Group says it won't launch its broadband service until the end of this year. The satcaster most likely will choose a system based on WiMAX -- the wireless-communications technology that can transmit data at the rate of 40 mbps -- according to the company's EVP. Multichannel News (3/29)
Nokia raises growth forecast for handset market
Nokia CEO Jorma Ollila projected the handset market would grow about 15% in 2006, compared with a previous forecast of about 10%. Growth in the market is being driven by demand for phones in China and India, two of the world's fastest-growing markets, Ollila said. Bloomberg (3/30)
Didn't make the technology sessions? Get the presentations!
An important addition to your technology library, the extremely popular TelecomNEXT Paper Presentations delivered at TelecomNEXT are now available for purchase. Learn what's next in communications and entertainment by reading what some of the brightest minds in the industry are saying about such topics as: IPTV, IMS, WiMAX, VoIP, FMC and more. It's the complete TelecomNEXT experience! Buy them today! Price: $229.
Sling Media says it's good for cable, broadcast
Sling Media said its Slingbox technology would help cable and broadcast TV networks reach more viewers, even though Sling's goal is to untether users from their TV sets. Light Reading (3/29)
Open source poised to shake up phone gear business
Forbes profiles Mark Spencer, creator of Asterisk, an open-source software program designed for Internet phones. Anyone running Asterisk can customize his phone system to offer dozens of features, while also eliminating the need to use traditional switches. Although Asterisk isn't completely mainstream yet, it has received attention from big companies, which are keeping a close eye on open-source players. Forbes (4/10)
Barton predicts franchise bill will pass this year
Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, the chairman of the U.S. House Commerce Committee, says "the odds are 2 to 1 that the president" will sign a new telecommunications bill by the end of this legislative session. Among other things, the bill creates a national franchise system for telecoms entering the TV business. Broadcasting & Cable (3/29), TVWeek.com (3/29), Multichannel News (3/30)
Debate emerges over China's 3G plans
China is under the gun to launch 3G wireless services by the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, but it remains unclear how the rollout will unfold. Although the government has paid to develop a homegrown standard for 3G networks, China Mobile and other wireless carriers believe established Western technology would make the deployment easier. The rift reflects a broader debate over how much of a role the government should play in the telecom industry's development. The Wall Street Journal (3/30)
| |
| LeadQuote |
| |
| |
|
 | The idea is not to block every shot. The idea is to make your opponent believe that you might block every shot."
|
|
|
| |
| 
v1.gif)
