Thursday, March 22, 2012

WxBR will have device for 4G Brazil in late 2012

The president of WxBR, Samuel Lauretti, says his company has competitive prices and LTE (Long Term Evolution) to deliver national operators who compete for the auction of frequencies of Anatel. "In partnership with CPqD, we are preparing to bring to market equipment for the range of 2.5 GHz and 450 MHz," said the executive.

Lauretti also rejects the criticism of the United States or European Union accusing Brazil of resuming the "market reserve". "Any company is able to fit in government policy, but you have to be present here," he concluded

Qualcomm and Telefonica are allied by 3G in Latin America

Qualcomm and Telefonica announced on Thursday, 22/03, an agreement aimed at promoting the adoption of 3G and smartphone in Latin America. The companies are collaborating through a joint effort to bring a wide range of the latest 3G devices to the region, including smart phones equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon processor.

"This collaboration is a great opportunity to help with broadband access and services available and applications, providing connectivity in regions that otherwise would not have access to these resources. We believe that a large segment of the population will have their first Internet experience through a smartphone, and we are proud to contribute to reducing the digital divide, "says Senior Vice President and President of Qualcomm Latin America, Steinhauser.

According to Wireless Intelligence, Latin America currently has more than 90 million 3G connections, which represent about 15% of total mobile connections in the region, indicating that there is a long way to growth. It is estimated that by the end of 2015, about 214 million new 3G connections will be added.

By 2016, Brazil will be the 4th global smartphone market

The Brazil is heading to become, by 2016, the fourth largest market for smartphones - today is the 10th. The projection is the IDC, which expects a 73% increase in sales of equipment this year: ie, 15.4 million phones, compared to 8.9 million in 2011. That is, every 29 minutes smartphones will be sold in the country.

According to IDC, "investment in 4G to be held in 2012 and 2013 probably contribute to the development of this market in Brazil, especially from 2014, where some cities will offer 4G and information exchange will be much faster."

Subsidies, cheaper handsets and plans including prepaid customers speed up sales of mobile phones with Internet access. The 8.9 million smartphones in 2011 has represented a jump of 84% on 4.8 million devices sold in 2010.

The increase in sales has also changed the profile of the market. Devices with Android, Google's gone from 15% to 50% of the market - in line with what we saw in the world, where the increase was 20% to 50%.

Regulation of the quality of the Internet is, is that companies need to change, says Bernard

Although the issue has fallen silent, the Communications Minister Paulo Bernardo, defended on Tuesday, 20/3, the regulations on the quality of the Internet in Brazil are kept unchanged by Anatel. The agency is still reviewing the request for revision in the rules made ​​by Oi

"The regulation will not change. The only thing that has to change is the attitude of the companies, "said Paul Bernard, after hearing before the Commission of Science and Technology of the House of Representatives, held on Tuesday, 20/03. The minister said that prices "crippling" of sorts in the services and quality of Internet access are a direct result of lack of investment in infrastructure operators.

"The main problem to be solved is to increase investment. There are some accommodation businesses, "said Bernardo, in criticizing the impulse that the telcos are giving sales, no counterpart in the expansion of network capacity.

The minister returned to promise exemption measures of networks, but stressed that public funds, as Fust, should only be used to ensure that the service reaches those Brazilians who can not afford.

"We had to postpone [the exemption] last year, but the Ministry of Finance is in agreement, there were meetings with the TCU and the point we do, what to leave for Measure," he said.

Pressed on the economic position of the bill amending the mechanisms for use of Fust, the minister declined to commit - "the ministry acts in accordance with the government." But limited the potential scope of the measure.

"The Fust is to include those without. At rest, the solution is a sector privatized. We will not give support to the telephone or the Internet, "said Paul Bernardo.

Industrial policy: Exemption of networks is in the hands of Finance

Turned reflexively. Pressured by complaints against the digital divide that separates East and South from the rest of the country, the Ministry of Communications rebate from the beginning of last year, with the promise that network investments have tax incentives. In a meeting with senators on Wednesday, 21/3, was no different.
It was left to the executive secretary of the Minicom, Cezar Alvarez, retouch the makeup of the proposal, "detailing" the special tax regime will have a dozen different parameters to measure the size of tax relief, if networks are new, reform of old, replacement, etc..
The only change on this exemption is that, after several ads with the Provisional benefits - basically the exemption of PIS and Cofins in equipment and civil works - not even that date is more under the control of Minicom.
The official announcement depends, now, when the Ministry of Finance to present the new industrial policy measures - in addition to the announced in August last year - as the expansion of sectors that may change the contribution to Social Security by a percentage on sales.
With so many postponements since the Minister Paulo Bernardo said the relief network, shortly after taking office in Communications, also in January 2011, apparently there was no opportunity to be evaluated by IPEA weights made that this movement can be counterproductive.
"It's a relief that can generate inefficiencies, to the extent that their own private operators tend now to extend the rivalry and therefore increase their own investments in infrastructure," he said, in December, the specialist IPEA, Rodrigo Abdalla.
Minicom for the exonerations are needed before the obligations imposed on businesses, which are the most cited example of coverage constraints linked to the sale of new frequency bands, where the auction of 450 MHz and 2.5 GHz, expected now to June

Cheap and prepaid plans aimed at popularizing the mobile internet

The principal mobile phone operators are betting on an increase in mobile broadband internet this year. The best proof of this are the offerings that range from $ 0.33 / day $ 0.50 / day. With this value, any user can access the mobile web with your cell phone prepaid internet that supports 2G or 3G. Here's what it costs to access the internet on the phone to pre plan.

The interest of this popularity, of course, is not unilateral. Just as companies lower their prices, users from different social classes have more interest in holding the phone the typical activities of the computer. "There is a growing interest in the new class C to use the phone to send messages, which is nothing new, and also access social networks," Albino Serra argued, regional director of St. Paul of course.

According to Anatel (National Telecommunications Agency), Brazil's 47.2 million mobile Internet access. The projection for growth of mobile Internet service in Brazil, according to a study conducted by consultancy Teleco, is that by the end of 2012 there are 73 million hits - an increase of 25 million.

To reach this audience that wants to be increasingly connected, the mobile companies in addition to price, take aggressive actions. "The secret is the capillary plus a killer offer. Our points of sale go to the hospital mortuary, "jokes Julian Teixeira, manager of channels of mass Tim

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Anatel extends consultation on regulation of universal

Anatel extended until the next 28 days, the deadline for sending contributions to the two public consultations on regulations for fixed telephony - which deals with the obligations and the provision of universal services outside the base rate, ie the rural areas.

These are rules for the provision of services to meet deadlines, tariff structure and coverage obligations. In the case of provision outside the Basic Tariff Area, for example, the agency will allow operators to cover higher values.

Contributions for public consultation may be sent by the Interactive System, accessed directly on of Anatel web page (www.anatel.gov.br), up to 24 days of 28/3. Suggestions sent by post must reach the same day to 18h (the address of the agency is Saus, Block 6, Anatel Headquarters - Block F - Ground Floor - Library, CEP 70070-940, Brasilia-DF.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Broadband: There are still investing in Brazil

During the disclosure of the "Balance Huawei Broadband 2012", on Tuesday, 20/03, the president of Teleco - the company's partner in conducting the study - said the context in which broadband (fixed and mobile) is growing in Brazil. According to the executive, the fixed and mobile services tend to be integrated in the future, operators need to be ready for it.

"In practice, we need a fixed network, based on fiber, which comes to home and cell phone transmission towers. And from there are distributed mobile networks. The last mile will be wi-fi "he says. To Tude, the first sign of this integration are the service offerings currently offered by operators, with access speeds increasing.

The study showed that global data traffic nearly doubling every year - AT & T, for example, it grew 80% in 2011 - and this will require investment in infrastructure. "Mainly because Brazil is well in access, is the eighth in the world in broadband, but density is far more developed countries," said Tude.

Illustrating: the density of fixed broadband in Brazil is 8.5 accesses per 100 inhabitants. The average for OECD countries (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) is 25.5 accesses per 100 inhabitants. It is expected that Brazil reaches 20 accesses per 100 inhabitants, only in 2016.

"To this there is the need to invest in infrastructure, which means coming up with the fiber closer to the house of subscribers," said Tude. In practice, an estimate made by Teleco and Huawei shows that bring fiber to all Brazilian households represent an investment of $ 100 billion.

Digital TV: Argentina 'stealing' Brazilian market in Latin America

While government policy for the production of equipment for digital TV follows the indefinite Rousseff government, the government tries to fill the vacuum left by Brazil. Last week, it was reported that Venezuela will buy 300,000 digital converters DTT and 13 stations. Agreement is valued at $ 51 million.

The agreement was signed between the Minister of Argentina, Julio de Vido, and the Minister of Science and Technology of Venezuela, Jorge Arreaza. According to the president of the Venezuelan state television, CANTV, Manuel Fernandez, the first seven DTT stations will be in great instaldas Caracas, capital of the country and will benefit about 7 million inhabitants, 25% of the population. For this population is also being commissioned to import 300 000 converters.

In Brazil, industrial policy favoring the use of converters into the TV. Both the government struck a deal with manufacturers to enforce the use of Ginga, national interactive software in 75% of handsets in 2013.

The production of isolated converters - big bet Lula government intervention in the management of Helio Costa, in front of the Ministry of Communications - no longer strategic, although the old TVs still have a strong impact on the country-based TVs.

Portugal Telecom launches 4G network

Portugal Telecom (PT) announced on Monday, 12/03, the launch of 4G network in your country. By the end of this month, a total of one hundred capitals of districts and the Portuguese islands are covered with the LTE network, which comprises about 20% of the population of that country.

And the plan to expand 4G coverage of PT is aggressive: by the end of April, or more than 80% of the population with 4G coverage, reaching the end of 2012 with more than 90% of the Portuguese met.

PT's strategy also hopes to increase the consumption of solutions like Medigraf (consultation and clinical diagnoses at a distance) and E-Learning, distance learning as an activity of government services.

PT determined that the cost of service begins with 49.99 euros ($ 120) and speeds of 50 Mbps and 100 Mbps, the offer also provides for the sharing of Internet access between two devices (computer, smartphone or tablet) simultaneously, for an additional 15 euros / month ($ 36).

Monday, March 19, 2012

Cellular Telecommunications: Crisis pushes 3G goes far away and the enabling of new lines

Brazil finished in February 2012 with nearly 247.6 million active lines and in mobile teledensity of 126.45 lines per 100 inhabitants. The absolute number of new qualifications (2.4 million) is the largest recorded in the month of February in the last 13 years and represents an increase of 0.99% compared to January 2012. 3G terminals (mobile broadband) totaled 47.2 million hits.

The relevant fact is the strong growth of 3G in Brazil. The WCDMA, Third Generation, already accounts for 15.72% of the base, with only 3G phones - 38,928,376 million. The access terminals (modems) had 3.34%, or 8,259,093 million. Adding both the 3G reaches 19.06% of total Brazilian mobile telephony. The growth of technology is a detail to be observed - 4.62% - compared to January of this year, a pace that shows that the new qualifications are happening in 3G.

Also in February, according to Anatel, the total access lines in operation in the country, 202.8 million were prepaid (81.89%) and 44.8 million postpaid (18.11%). In February, the teledensity increased by 0.93% (up from 125.29 in January 2012 to 126.45). Twenty-six Federal States have access to a higher rate per capita in service.

In the competition for mobile telephony, Vivo following in the lead with 29.85% market share, or 73,916,795 million subscribers. The TIM is consolidated in the second position with 26.62% or 65,916,842 million subscribers. The course sees its distance to the TIM - who fought a duel in 2010 strong - and increasing sum 24.66% or 61,066,484 million. The Hi follows the last position with 18.56% or 45,965,200 million subscribers.

Smartphones grow 124% in 12 months in Brazil

The broadband access and mobile totaled 63.5 million in February, up 70% over the same month last year. According to balance of the Brazilian Association of Telecommunications (Telebrasil), in the last twelve months, 26 million new accessions were added to the total customer base fast internet in the country, which means the activation of a new access almost every second.

Of the total 63.5 million hits reached in February, 16.3 million are broadband connections fixed and 47.2 million mobile broadband. The fixed broadband customer base increased by 2.4 million hits in the last twelve months, which represents an increase of 18% compared with February 2011.

The number of mobile broadband access doubled in this period, an increase of 23.6 million new connections. Of the total mobile users, 8.3 million are modems and 38.9 million 3G phones, including smartphones. The segment of third-generation cellular has grown 124% since February last year.

According to still Telebrasil in 2012, 119 municipalities have received the networks of third generation (3G). Throughout Brazil, 2,769 municipalities have fast 3G internet coverage, concentrating 84% of the population of the country fixed broadband networks, in turn, are installed in all municipalities.

The Telebrasil also said that broadband now comes free of charge to students from more than 59,200 urban public elementary and secondary education in Brazil by the Broadband in Schools program. Only in 2011, maintains body, were activated new connection points at 4,506 schools, representing more than 12 institutions connected per day.

700 MHz: Anatel begins the process of defining the digital dividend

The struggle between TV operators and telcos by the 700 MHz band has everything to become increasingly fierce. Anatel began to discuss a proposal for this year studies are carried out to define what will be done with this slice of spectrum.

It is a more accelerated than the government agency and adopted over the past year, despite repeated calls from the telephone, in particular, the furniture, the band - taken as a priority for the sector, interested in offering mobile broadband.

To heat up the debate on 700 MHz, the Anatel has recovered, at the request of the Ministry of Communications, a public consultation which created mold in the regulator since 2007, then a possible revision of the allocation of 746 MHz to 806 MHz used by TV retransmitting - the channels 60-69.

Throughout this period, although the agency has evaluated the possibility of allocating part of this band to fixed telephony and Internet services, eventually concluded to keep the spectrum as it is until 2016 - the target year for the full transition from analog to digital television.


On the one side, it makes sense not to change the track now, because the spectrum is greater hunger for mobile operators, but the SMP even made part of the possibilities of disposing of this piece of spectrum in the public consultation.

However, already in 2012 by proposing an indication of what will be done after the switch-off in 2016, the agency decides to treat just the digital dividend, ie radio frequencies that can be returned by television broadcasters due to the digitization of signals .

The proposal of the rapporteur, advisor Jarbas Valente - and chairman of Anatel spectrum - provides for the completion of studies "for completion by December 2012, aiming to define the future of spectrum," "considering digital TV and the global harmonization of applications use the track. "

The decision was postponed, probably for a week, by request of the counselor views Emilia Ribeiro. But as well summed up the advisor Marcelo Bechara, the proposal "indicates an important signaling and has put the debate in the 700 MHz band."

Anatel wants to auction 3.5 GHz still in 2012

In the final stages for the auction of the bandwidths of 450 MHz and 2.5 GHz, the president of Anatel, John Rao, vowed on Wednesday, 14/3 in the Senate, the bidding frequency of 3.5 GHz also be performed even in 2012.

"Although we are making this announcement of 450 MHz / 2.5 GHz, 3.5 GHz band is a priority for this year. We had a discussion about the interference in the dishes, but this will be resolved, "he said.

The President of Anatel, a solution to the interference is being discussed between the regulator and Abert. "By May we should have a solution to make the auction even in 2012," he added.

The broadcasters, who are in Band C (up to 3.7 GHz) and extended C-band (3.6 GHz) frequency important for the reception of signals, complain that the operations in the range of 3.5 GHz (especially band wide) affect viewers using satellite dishes - which they estimate to 20 million people.