Vivo decides to enter the prepaid market

Vivo decided to fight for the prepaid customer. Harassed by rival TIM, Claro and OI - we are centralizing their strategies accordingly subscriber profile - the carrier announced on Tuesday, 21/01, the Vivo Tudo product, where the customer has prepaid for 100 minutes weekly links mobile Vivo throughout Brazil, Unlimited SMS to customers of the operator and 75 MB for Internet access. All this in one package for U.S. $ 6.90 per week, which is automatically debited from the customer's balance.

The turn of Vivo for prepaid no explanation. Throughout 2013, the operator - the market leader, saw its market share fall - ended 2013 with 28.71% = while the TIM and Claro rivals rose respectively to 26.99% and 25.23% 

The proposed prepaid also becomes interesting to live with the migration of cellular 2G (GSM) to 3G. Much of the subscribers are buying smarpthones with Internet access, but there is still a portion that does not carry data packets. Pre-paid shall be an alternative to postpaid plans to 'ensure' market leadership and increase revenue with data.

But reveals a change in profile. Late last year, President of Vivo, Antonio Carlos Valente, joked competitors by stating that 'Vivo was not selling chip in the square, "a clear reference to the OI, you want to leverage your business mobile prepaid strategy . the operator even celebrated the good performance in the postpaid market with market revenues (26%) and the highest EBITDA (29%) -. between national mobile telcos in November, according to data from Anatel, Vivo totaled 77,661 .206 million active accesses..

Teles lost the 'battle' against WhatsApp and Skype

Prediction from Informa Telecoms & Media, released on Monday, 20/01, says that operators lost the 'window of opportunity' to compete with the OTTs as WhatsApp and Skype. Also according to the consultancy, 2014 will be a decisive year for the future of Joyn, OTT service, launched as a counter attack to free OTTs and low global membership. In Brazil, for example, only Claro joined the global network.

According to the forecast of consulting, operators - aware that the battle is lost and there is no way to recover the users of free systems communicators - should not create more service to compete directly with the OTTs. The layout for this year, maintains & Media Informa, will be able to create offers profit from the use of these services OTTs. And the consulting projects that the Joyn - an initiative created by the GSMA, the body that brings together telcos, to combat the loss of revenue in the SMS and MMS with the OTTs communication - will have a decisive 2014.

The idea with the GSMA Joyn was to create a common and interoperable multimedia messaging service, something like Skype or WhatsApp operators, which act as the evolution of SMS and MMS services. But the initiative had poor adherence. Late last year, a survey conducted by companies and Mobilesquared Tyntec with 40 operators - showed that only 7% of respondents consider that Joyn as the solution to combat the threat of message and called over-the-top services (OTT) .

The impact of free OTTs services like SMS and MMS mobilizes businesses. Futurecom 2013 Acision released a study showing that Brazilians would be willing to join the Joyn, 80% of respondents in Brazil would use such a service since it was free. In Argentina, 60% would use, while Mexico is the least responsive, with the acceptance of 40% of their respondents.

Also in Brazil, the study also showed that SMS coexists with instant messaging services, as consumers use each application according to the groups of interaction and the needs of the moment. At the time of the study, 77% of respondents reported using SMS and instant messaging apps and in addition, 84% have two or more of these applications installed on the phone. 

Deloitte Prediction: Wearable Technologies to Rise

NEW YORK, Jan. 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ – Deloitte predicts smart glasses, fitness bands and watches, should sell about 10 million units in 2014, generating $3 billion according to its Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) Predictions 2014 report released today. Deloitte also predicts that the total global sales of smartphones, tablets, PCs, TV sets and gaming consoles will exceed $750 billion in 2014 and then plateau as consumer usage will continue to converge.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120803/MM52028LOGO-a )

“Our predictions for 2014 touch on a wide variety of topics, but there is some commonality among them. This can be seen specifically with mobile devices including tablets, wearables, phablets and also rugged devices,” said Eric Openshaw, vice chairman, Deloitte LLP and U.S. technology, media and telecommunications leader. “These newer technologies allow enterprises and consumers to become more connected, while opening a wealth of new business and communication opportunities. Enterprises that can capitalize on these new market segments will be well positioned for success in 2014 and beyond.”

For more than a decade, Deloitte’s TMT Predictions have forecasted many of the most influential trends in technology, media and telecommunications — making them a key source of market intelligence for businesses in all sectors.

The most significant TMT predictions to impact the marketplace in 2014:

1.       Wearables: the eyes have it — Smart glasses, fitness bands and watches, should sell about 10 million units in 2014, generating $3 billion. Of these wearable computer form factors, smart glasses should generate most revenues, from sales of about four million units at an average selling price (ASP) of $500. Smart fitness bands should sell four million units, at an ASP of$140; smart watches should sell about two million units at an ASP of $200.

2.      The Converged Living Room: a plateau approaches — Global sales of smartphones, tablets, PCs, TV sets and videogame consoles will exceed $750 billion in 2014, up $50 billion from 2013 and almost double the 2010 total. However, a plateau appears likely: sales are expected to continue growing, but at a slower rate than over the past 10 years, with an estimated ceiling of about $800 billion per year.

3.       Massive Open Online Courses: the future is bright — Student registrations in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) will be double compared to 2012 to over 10 million courses, but the low completion rates mean that less than 0.2 percent of all courses completed in 2014 will be MOOCs. The growing awareness of online education will force educational institutions to increase investment in this area, drive more acceptance of online education as it becomes accredited and increase adoption by corporate training groups.

4.       eVisits: the 21st century housecall — There will be 100 million eVisits globally, potentially saving over $5 billion when compared to the cost of in-person doctor visits  and representing growth of 400 percent from 2012 levels.

5.       Television measurement: for better and worse — Measurement of the viewing of domestic television programs is increasingly reflecting the growth of online viewing thanks to the introduction of hybrid measurement, which enables the inclusion of viewing taking place on PCs, tablets and smartphones into overall viewing numbers, and also includes other data sets, such as set-top box channel selections and video-on-demand server logs.

6.       Phablets are not a Phad, but they may be peaking — Shipments of phablets, smartphones with 5.0-6.9 inch screens, will represent a quarter of smartphones sold, or 300 million units. That is double the 2013 volume, and 10 times 2012 sales. But after initial rapid consumer success, 2014 may mark a ‘peak phablet’ year, as only a (sizeable) minority of smartphones users will want to handle such a large device.

7.       The smartphone generation gap: Over 55? There’s no app for that — Those over 55 years of age will be the age group experiencing the fastest year-on-year rises in smartphone penetration across developed markets. Ownership should rise between 45 to 50 percent by year-end, lower than the approximately 70 percent penetration rate for 18-54 year olds, but a 25 percent increase from 2013.  

8.       Rugged devices at $250: reinventing the business case for mobile field force — The entry price for a ruggedized, connected data device that can be used by some field force workers, as well as to undertake tasks such as car rental check-in inspections, inspecting highways or delivering packages, will fall to $250

BT trials new network tech for ‘Internet of Things’

BT has begun trialling a new technology from tech company Neul on machine-to-machine (M2M) communications using ‘white space’ technology.

These tests involve sending traffic information to and from moving vehicles via gaps – or ‘white spaces’ – in the frequencies bands used for digital TV broadcasting.

White space networking could enable up to 50 billion devices to be connected wirelessly to the internet by 2020, say BT.

“The internet of things market has huge potential, but existing short-range and cellular networking technologies are unable to meet the requirements of many applications we see,” Mark Harrop, director of mobile strategy at BT, said. “A networking technology that can provide deep indoor coverage, last for many years from a single battery, is simple to use, and comes at the right price point is essential for realizing the true potential of the internet of things.”

Bins that ask to be emptied

BT has been conducting these trials since late last year, but now they are using the new NeulNET system. The NeulNET system provides two-way, wide area M2M networking that Neul claims “far outreaches today’s GPRS, 3G, CDMA and LTE WAN solutions”.

The NeulNET system uses an antenna-equipped base station that can provide wireless coverage in a radius of up to five kilometers, along with terminal modules that can run for up to 15 years on two AA batteries and can communicate from deep within buildings or underground.

The system, delivered by Neul as a cloud-based managed communication service, can operate in either licensed or unlicensed spectrum, and across a wide range of frequency bands.

Neul adds that it expects to announce further deployments of its NeulNET technology throughout 2014. It says the system could enable smart-city applications ranging from waste-disposal bins that “ask to be emptied” to green-belt areas and farms that are monitored and watered efficiently.

Source: http://www.machinetomachinemagazine.com/2014/01/17/bt-trials-new-network-tech-for-internet-of-things/?goback=.gde_73311_member_5830952359269793796#!

4G Brazil: João Rezende and Paulo Bernardo missed in predictions

At least for the government, the accession of the Brazilian 4G was not expected. In April last year, the launch of 4G services in the country, the president of Anatel, Resende, and Communications Minister Paulo Bernardo, made a bet: Brazil had over 4 million hits assets 4G in December. Missed out. November, latest data released by agênica, finished with 923 400 hits
"I'll pay for dinner, but will 'fine' because it did not work," joked the minister after a meeting on the morning of Wednesday, 8/1, in which Resende was also present. "Who he was wrong, I said I'd be a million", defended the president of Anatel

When Claro launched its 4G operation in Brasilia at April, Resende, Anatel, excited, said the country would have 4 million 4G by the end of 2013. He reproduced a number whispered by handset manufacturers. Paulo Bernardo, however, found little. Days later, when extending such kindness to Spanish Vivo provoked: "I find it very conservative. Let's have more. So much so that I'm betting a dinner with Rezende "

 Admittedly smartphones and tablets supported the electronics industry in 2013. Throughout the year, the 62 million phones sold, 31.9 million were 'smart', but the vast majority was still facing migration from 2G to 3G.

Joining the 4G did not explode as expected. Especially because the service coverage is still considered small in the country - the service is competitive in the host cities of the World Cup, since all the telcos are already active with its capital in these networks. By the number of Anatel, 2014 will be another year for telcos invest in migration from 2G to 3G. The 4G will follow for a portion of the population.

Data usage grows 40% every generation smartphones

A survey of British Actix - specializing in software for mobile networks - indicates that data consumption is significantly higher with each new generation of smartphones. In numbers, the results indicate that the traffic volume grows 40%.

"The networks have been scrambling to meet the growing demand for data. First with the passage of feature phones to smartphones, now with the upgrade to high capacity equipment. Every generation traffic grows 40% per device, "says the director of global marketing at Actix, Neil Coleman.

The study, which sought to assess the pressures on radio access networks - ie between base stations and handsets - analyzed more than 100,000 equipment used mobile networks in Europe and the United States over the past year.

According to the study, the smartphones of 2013 consumed seven times more data than those launched in 2009 - and 40% more than the year 2012. And yet, that tablet users consume more than twice the data that smartphones.

Equipment with access to hotspots consume nine times more data than in cellular networks. "95% of data is being consumed by smartphones, but with the growth in sales of cheaper tablets operators will be faced with equipment 'hungry' for data," says Coleman.

Other results indicate that handsets Apple consume almost twice as much data per session than the average Android phones. The iPhones were in the top three positions among the smartphones that consume data (4, 4 and 5). Among the 10 models that use more data, four are from Samsung.

Broadband: 4G is equivalent to growth of 3G

The connections of fixed and mobile broadband exceed 43.7 million in 2017, excluding M2M and navigation smartphone and cell reveals the Barômetro Banda Larga 2.0, released by Cisco on Tuesday, 29/10. Growth of 54.2% between 2013 and 2017 must be caused by increasing access to mobile data, driven by major sporting events in the country.

Besides the projection for the next four years, the study conducted by IDC Latin America, brings a detailed analysis of the Internet between January and June 2013, when Brazil reached 27.1 million connections, where the fixed grew 4 5% while moves up 8.7% in the period, with 36.5 mobile connections per 100 fixed. By the end of 2013, the country should reach 28.3 million connections.

The survey shows that the most cost-effective fixed broadband has contributed to the increasing speed of Internet connections. The call 2.0 Fixed broadband with speeds of 2 Mbps or more, increased by 7% in the first six months of the year, up nearly six times higher than the 1.0 bandwidth (128 Kbps to 2 Mbps). 2.0 The Broadband connections totaled 11.75 million in June 2013, with 43.2% of this total are in the range of 10 Mbps or more.

Mobile access, which considers connections to PC via modem and tablet, reached 7.26 million in June 2013. This edition of the Barometer also started to measure the 4G, launched in April 2013. In just three months, this technology has reached the milestone of 174,000 subscribers, a value close to the average quarterly growth of 3G base. During the semester, the 3G subscriptions grew by 6.1%.

Other highlights of the study:

• The Fixed Broadband connections totaled 10.1% of the population and 33.7 % of households .The Broadband 2.0 exceeded 11.75 million connections , this means a penetration of 6 per 100 inhabitants .
• The cable modem connections already exceed 31 % of the fixed connections in Brazil .
• The average speed increased to 209 Kbps in the last six months and 556 Kbps in the last year . The main reason for this increase was the introduction of high speeds at most competitive prices with good market acceptance.
• Operators are focusing offers the intermediate velocities ( 2Mbps ) and upper ( 5Mbps + ) , R $ 64 average price charged for access during raised . With this, the user experience has improved and digital media , content and B2C should be increasingly exploited .
• The corporate user has also stimulated the increase of broadband in the country , with the demand for cloud-based applications , as well as other factors such as data centers , big data and mobility.
• Of the total 43.7 million connections ( fixed and mobile ) in 2017 , the mobile account for 36 % and broadband connections will reach 2.0 % of the 72 fixed .
• The installed base of devices will grow by 26 million between 2013 and 2017 . An increase of over 30 % compared to the end of 2013 . This will drive the adoption of broadband (all speeds), which will grow by about 15 million . The growth in the number of devices per connection will boost the supply of higher speeds .  

4G: According to Anatel makes TVs for allocation band 700 Mhz

Earned the scolding of TV broadcasters. When deciding on the regulation with the allocation of the 700 MHz band, this Thursday, 31/10, the Anatel found a way out: approved standard, but it only comes into effect after the compliance demands of broadcasters, ie solutions to interference and channel redesign.

"The bid band can only occur to the extent that issues are resolved coexistence," said the draftsman, Rodrigo Zerbone explaining that "this resolution only come into effect as well as the Regulation on the date of publication of the notice."

 As reminded Marcelo Bechara, "this auction is not just booster of wireless broadband in the fourth generation in a band that should be exploited for this. But there is another question, which is the transition of the Brazilian digital TV. And the question is how to encourage compatible with a segment also scanning service as important as the other. "

Overcome the 'diplomatic crisis' with television, the use of the 700 MHz band for mobile broadband will bring news. First, it confirms the idea of ​​sharing the model RAN Sharing for smaller cities - with a surprise: the agency indicates that not only will allow sharing of equipment, but also the spectrum.

The rule does not define on how small are the cities that could have RAN Sharing at 700 MHz, but as already indicated the counselor Jarbas Valente, the idea is that the locations of up to 30 thousand inhabitants that possibility is feasible, even with a single carrier administering the 40 +40 MHz

Otherwise, in the larger cities than the cut line - yet to be clearly defined in the same announcement, the cap was fixed at 10 to 10 MHz carriers - which in practice means that there are conditions of each of the four major telcos take your loaf mobile spectrum.

Another novelty is that although the preferred setting for systems FDD, TDD systems may be allowed, provided of course that such solutions do not cause harmful interference. FDD and TDD duplexing and forms are generally associated to fixed and mobile solutions, respectively.

It was also guaranteed in the regulation a slice of the 700 MHz band for security activities - Police and Armed Forces. This share will be at least 5 +5 MHz, although foreseen the possibility of the edict to bring a loaf bigger than that.

Finally, it is expressly mentioned in the regulation that the telecom operators should "bear the costs of redistribution and the solutions to the problems of harmful interference in radio systems." 

700 MHz: Brazilian government now speaks at auction in June 2014

Even the close of the first half of 2014, the Communications Minister Paulo Bernardo, expects to make the concession auction frequency of 700 megahertz (MHz). "We're talking in April. However can always have a delay because of public consultation, "the minister said on Monday, 30/09, during an event at the Federation of Industries of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Firjan).

Bernardo admitted that the government intends to bring forward the goals of broadband 3G and 4G. "Our idea is in [the announcement of] 700 Mhz auction, put over a number of goals, including the anticipation of 3G." This should occur within interior municipalities that do not have this service. In addition, the ministry wants to take to connect all cities with fiber optic lines. The goal of universal Internet 3G is 2017. "But we can anticipate one year, a year and a half," said Minister of Communications. For 4G, the target remains 2019. Nessa, said that "we will not change."

The frequency 700 MHz is being handcrafted with more care because today it is used by television industry high penetration and political strength, present in 97% of households, the minister said. "Again, the focus will be facing the deployment of infrastructure." With the requirement of early 3G, the service will be conducted throughout Brazil in 2014 or 2015. Calculations by the minister, about 1500 cities do not have fiber optic network and 200, located in the middle of the Amazon rainforest and other hard to reach places, the service should not ever get. Must be covered by satellite.

Telebrasil: broadband access exceeds 114.7 million in August

Number of broadband connections exceeded 114.7 million in August this year, with a rate of 41% growth compared to August 2012. According to a survey of the Brazilian Telecommunications Association (Telebrasil), 33.4 million accesses were activated in the last twelve months. Since the beginning of the year, 28.6 million hits have been activated at a rate of 1.4 new connections per second.

A High speed internet over the mobile network on 3G and 4G reached a total of 93.2 million accesses in August, with 49.4% growth compared to August 2012. In mobile broadband, 78.2 million are mobile phone connections, including smartphones, and 15 million are data terminals, including modems and access to the internet connecting chips machine-machine (M2M).

In fixed broadband accesses totaled 21.5 million in August. Of this total, 2.6 million connections were activated in the last twelve months, an increase of 13% in the period. The number of fixed broadband connections means that 39% of the Brazilian urban homes have high speed internet. The fixed broadband infrastructure is present in every single Brazilian city.

 The expansion also given the network coverage of mobile broadband, which grew 14%, with activation of 412 new cities in the last 12 months. Altogether, the third generation networks are installed in 3,461 cities, home to 90% of Brazilians. This total number of cities that is more than three times the coverage obligations stated in the announcement, we are connecting 928 cities by April 2013. Just this year, 176 municipalities received the 3G networks.

The 4G, which allows speed internet connection up to ten times faster than 3G, already has over 380,000 hits. The 4G now reaches 57 cities, number nine times more than the requirement set by the bidding documents, which was to cover only the six host cities of the FIFA Confederations Cup, met in April

Vivo has roaming agreement for 4G

Vivo is the first carrier in Brazil to provide international roaming agreement for 4G. The service is already available for customers from Sao Paulo who travel to the United States. Today, 04/10, users throughout Brazil will have the service available, reveals the company's statement.

Vivo, however, does not reveal the name of the operator with which closed the settlement of roaming. The service cost was set at R $ 29.90 per day with unlimited usage, a model similar to that adopted for the 3G roaming.

Also according to Vivo, until December, 10 other destinations will be added in the roaming package. Moreover, foreigners who come to Brazil will take advantage of 3G and 4G services. Roaming is a necessary theme for the 2014 World Cup, when it predicts the presence of thousands of international tourists.

TIM and Claro catch duel by 3G coverage

With the Vivo coverage of the leading third generation network, with over 2500municipalities, the rivals forget the beginning of the year and accelerate their strategies. The course has reached 675 locations. TIM, in turn, reached 502municipalities. Oi Even, even at a slower pace, has also invested more.

Increased 3G coverage in Brazil is on the back of telecom strategy, in particular, TIMof offering mobile broadband outside the cell. No wonder, TIM, according to theportal Teleco, released on Monday, 06/02, the operator was the most increased itsinfrastructure. In the third quarter of last year, the coverage was in only 281 locations.In January, reached 502, an increase of almost 80%.

The Claro, which lost its second place ranking in the mobile phone to TIM, after aperiod of significant stagnation in your network, also decided to expand its infrastructure. In the third quarter of last year, the tele was present in 491 locations. InJanuary, the coverage went to 675 municipalities, an increase of about 35%.

Even Oi, what is the 'lantern' 3G coverage, also decided to invest more ininfrastructure. The tele in the third quarter of 2011 was present in 213 municipalitiesin January reached 261 locations. increase a little above 20%.

Despite the increase in infrastructure investment, the 3G network is still very concentrated. According to the portal Teleco, in December 2011, 1921municipalities were served by only one operator, characterizing the non-competition.The dispute focused on telecom only 154 of 5,560 municipalities in the country. In total, 2,939 municipalities in December, followed without service.