Adult content dilemma looming for NBNs
The rollout of national broadband networks for the early-adopter countries is uncovering some very interesting challenges. That least expected is the slow take-up of subscribers to the blindingly fast fiber networks. Is it because the technology is scary, the cost too high or consumers are happy with what they have? Whatever the reason, suggestions are [...]
Dutch drop ‘net neutrality’ bomb
Mobile operators in The Netherlands must be wondering what hit them. The Dutch parliament, acting with speed and ferocity rarely seen, has introduced net neutrality legislation that will have far-reaching effects on the viability, future profitability and even survival, of companies such as KPN, Vodafone and T-Mobile. If other European countries and the European Commission [...]
Euro ‘Google Tax’ battle looms
The telecoms industry as we know it is about to go through some massive changes, and some of them are going to be ugly, very ugly. A ‘colliding worlds’ scenario is taking shape in Europe that will have ramifications worldwide because it includes network operators, regulators, online content providers and a hapless public. Read more…..
Apple eating humble pie? Hardly!
The headlines all concur, Nokia wins the patent battle with Apple, but the real facts around the settlement may never come fully to light. That’s because neither party had anything to gain by continuing expensive litigation. Any loss of face by Apple and bottom line gains by Nokia will likely be short lived. I’m afraid [...]
Remember Nokia?
I can remember the days when solid corporations could withstand economic up and downs for decades going from strength to strength. This was and era when shareholders considered ‘blue chips’ a solid long term investment – and they usually were. However, times have changed. Take the case of Nokia, for example. Top of the mobile [...]
Facebook and Finance – friends or foes?
It’s not often that leading figures from one industry care to enter the inner sanctum of another to lay out some home truths. It happened twice this week in Dublin at TM Forum’s Management World and it got me thinking. Read more……
Data plans – have we got it wrong?
Rumors of the death of ‘all you can eat’ (AYCE) plans may be a little premature and the reasons for their imminent resurgence may surprise you. We all know that they were first introduced to encourage mobile subscribers to start utilizing the data capabilities of mobile networks. We also know that the take-up of data [...]
Capitalizing on globalizing
There is no question that SingTel should be overjoyed by the performance of its Australian property, Optus. It’s like the good old days for Australia’s number two telecommunications company which posted a 19 percent increase in fourth-quarter net profit from a rise in operating revenues of only 4.1 percent, underpinned by a rise in mobile [...]
Microsoft+Skype – a marriage made in xxxx?
I have been watching, with some fascination, the different takes on the Microsoft acquisition of Skype. In an interview on CNBC Steve Ballmer stressed heavily the growing role of Microsoft in the communications space as he dominated six of the seven minutes allocated to he and Skype CEO, Tony Bates. The world’s press took different [...]
Skype swallowed up, who’s next?
The rumor mill has been running overtime this last week in the telecoms industry. Perhaps the most prominent, and certainly the most vocal are those claiming that Skype is about to be acquired – AGAIN! You will remember back in October 2005 that Skype’s private shareholders enjoyed a big payout when Skype was first bought [...]