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.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
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).
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.
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.
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."
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.
"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.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Vodafone proposes share among telcos for 4G in Europe
Whereas in Brazil threaten telcos charge higher prices for Internet access - especially by the necessary investments to ensure the quality standards set by Anatel and are not interested in investing in infrastructure sharing, since, today,only the antenna is made of a cooperative - the planet's largest mobile operator by revenue proposed rival to share the costs of the expansion of infrastructure.
The chairman of British Vodafone, Vittorio Colao revealed at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, which suggested the competitors in Germany, Spain and Italy a share of the estimated 30 billion euros ($ 75 billion) to build networks ofsuper-fast in Europe.
According to Vittorio Colao, these new networks are required to meet the seemingly insatiable demand for higher speeds in the connections, even at a time when consumers are not willing to pay much to have this service.
"So far we have not succeeded in convincing them that this is a good idea, but we are very interested. If times are hard and not enough money, we must go for co-investment and co-invested infrastructure terms open, "said the chairman of Vodafone.
Although great European operators have signed agreements to share in recent years, the executive said that the suggestion to divide the deployment of fixedseemed a very big step for competitors consulted.
Colao estimated to be 30 billion euros needed for the construction of new LTE networks in Europe - but they allow operators to charge higher prices to customers.The reduction of revenue, especially with the drop in interconnection rates, the biggest complaint was the first day of MWC.
Co-investment agreements are underway in France. But in Italy and Spain, whereVodafone purchased capacity in the fixed networks of utilities, companies at the moment, focused more heavily on debt payments.
With Europe in the center of the current state of international financial crisis, the telecommunications industry also suffers. A Moody's report, for example,downgraded the status of European telcos, which appear with negative outlook for 2012. There will be a drop in revenue and the industry must shrink 2%.
The chairman of British Vodafone, Vittorio Colao revealed at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, which suggested the competitors in Germany, Spain and Italy a share of the estimated 30 billion euros ($ 75 billion) to build networks ofsuper-fast in Europe.
According to Vittorio Colao, these new networks are required to meet the seemingly insatiable demand for higher speeds in the connections, even at a time when consumers are not willing to pay much to have this service.
"So far we have not succeeded in convincing them that this is a good idea, but we are very interested. If times are hard and not enough money, we must go for co-investment and co-invested infrastructure terms open, "said the chairman of Vodafone.
Although great European operators have signed agreements to share in recent years, the executive said that the suggestion to divide the deployment of fixedseemed a very big step for competitors consulted.
Colao estimated to be 30 billion euros needed for the construction of new LTE networks in Europe - but they allow operators to charge higher prices to customers.The reduction of revenue, especially with the drop in interconnection rates, the biggest complaint was the first day of MWC.
Co-investment agreements are underway in France. But in Italy and Spain, whereVodafone purchased capacity in the fixed networks of utilities, companies at the moment, focused more heavily on debt payments.
With Europe in the center of the current state of international financial crisis, the telecommunications industry also suffers. A Moody's report, for example,downgraded the status of European telcos, which appear with negative outlook for 2012. There will be a drop in revenue and the industry must shrink 2%.
Smartphones: The time of the explosion of low cost terminals
To be accessible to consumers in developing countries, the price of smartphonesto drop below $ 100 - and this can happen with massive orders for cheaperhandsets by mobile operators.
Directed by the hundreds (they are nearly 800) of telcos members of the GSM Association, the message of the President of Airtel, India's largest operator, SunilBharti Mittal, was given the second day of Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, which takes place this week.
"Today we have phones ranging from U.S. $ 18 and $ 20 [~ U.S. $ 35]. Finally we got ultra low cost handsets, which greatly expanded the market. I hope that theGSMA do something similar in the area of smartphones, "said Mittal.
He believes that operators can encourage this movement with orders of 100 millionsmartphones to be sold for less than $ 100 (£ 170).
For Mittal, the service offering wireless access is the only practical solution formost people in countries like India and Bangladesh, or Africa. "We offer very inexpensive smartphones," he insisted. The question put forward by the president of Mitel is very close to the Brazilian reality. Today, for example, the 3G cellular - mostly smarpthones-account for less than 20% of active terminals of the base.
Directed by the hundreds (they are nearly 800) of telcos members of the GSM Association, the message of the President of Airtel, India's largest operator, SunilBharti Mittal, was given the second day of Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, which takes place this week.
"Today we have phones ranging from U.S. $ 18 and $ 20 [~ U.S. $ 35]. Finally we got ultra low cost handsets, which greatly expanded the market. I hope that theGSMA do something similar in the area of smartphones, "said Mittal.
He believes that operators can encourage this movement with orders of 100 millionsmartphones to be sold for less than $ 100 (£ 170).
For Mittal, the service offering wireless access is the only practical solution formost people in countries like India and Bangladesh, or Africa. "We offer very inexpensive smartphones," he insisted. The question put forward by the president of Mitel is very close to the Brazilian reality. Today, for example, the 3G cellular - mostly smarpthones-account for less than 20% of active terminals of the base.
Advice was set against quality regulation by Anatel
The PricewaterhouseCoopers International, announced today (28) by Anatel as "Entity for Measuring Quality" of Brazilian broadband - with technical support from the British SamKnows - was against the Rules of the Quality Management ofMultimedia Communication Service (SCM-RGQ ) created by the regulatory agency. So we now have to comply to the letter, to ensure quality service to theconsumer.
The confusion began when the Anatel put in January this year for public consultation the "Application for Cancellation filed by TNL PCS S / A (Hi), some devices of the Regulations for the Management of Quality of Service for Multimedia Communications (RGQ-SCM) and Quality Management of Personal Mobile Service (SMP-RGQ). "The purpose of the regulatory agency was to gather suggestions on possible market changes to the text.
On February 1 this year, the representative of PricewaterhouseCoopersInternational Limited, Anderson Carlos Santos Ramires, the considerationspresented in this international consultancy, which were contrary to the adoption of the regulation of SCM.
"Good Regulatory Practices"
According to PricewaterhouseCoopers' use of regulatory measures should beadopted when there is a specific issue whose resolution can not be achieved through market mechanisms. "
While I believe the adoption of a regulation is "legitimate and effective tool" to provide the information necessary to Anatel for the good performance of its functions, the consultancy supports the thesis that the agency should have taken into account "the size, level of maturity and structure of the market. "Withoutstudying this problem, the consultant believes that the Anatel could exceed "in charge", the benefit that would seek to give consumers "from a regulatory standpoint."
PwC reported that in August 2011, at the request of SindiTelebrasil - entity thatdefends the interests of telephone companies - an international study conductedin 10 countries and assessed the level of existing regulation to measure the quality of broadband. This study was conducted in the United States, South Korea, Germany, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Chile, India and Italy. It tookinto account that these 10 countries represent 40% of todal subscribersworldwide service. Queswtões sought to answer the following:
(i) the understanding of the approach adopted by the Regulators for the Quality ofBroadband Services;
(ii) the understanding of the parameters used in the measurement and transparency of the results of the Quality of Broadband,
(iii) understanding of the penalties adopted;
(iv) consumer perceptions, and
(v) the effectiveness of the approach adopted.
"The study showed that none of the 10 countries evaluated and implemented aspecific regulation, mainly determined quality goals for Broadband to be followed.Instead, the measures have been used by regulatory agencies to increasetransparency for consumers in relation the quality and price offered by the publication of comparative information on the services between the carriers, "saidPwC, against precisely the regulation to force companies to meet quality targets in broadband.
According to the consultancy, the measures adopted by these countries are goingin the direction of establishing "variations in service quality", so that consumers can make their own choices, thereby creating competitive pressure that forces the providers to improve their performance .
PwC also found that there are still countries where there is "no evidence ofintervention" in them and that consumer protection agencies are responsible formeasuring and disseminating results on the quality of services provided by operators.
"Thus, we can not establish a clear and direct relationship between the level of regulation, its effectiveness and impact on competition and on the improvement of the quality standards of broadband from the adoption of regulations specific quality goals in countries analyzed. in these markets, only India has implemented the mandatory disclosure of service performance and do not represent specific regulation of the same levels of quality, "concluded the consultancy.
Anatel closed the public consultation of the application of TNL / PCS (Oi) the last day of February 1, without having released yet on whether or not the request forannulment of the regulation of quality of broadband that she herself created, basedthe arguments of the utility companies and forwarded suggestions.
This question and more a decision today, to choose PricewaterhouseCoopers as "entity to measure Quality," suggest that the regulatory body is totally lost with respect to routes that will take over the supervision of the services provided by operators in the future Brazilian broadband .
The confusion began when the Anatel put in January this year for public consultation the "Application for Cancellation filed by TNL PCS S / A (Hi), some devices of the Regulations for the Management of Quality of Service for Multimedia Communications (RGQ-SCM) and Quality Management of Personal Mobile Service (SMP-RGQ). "The purpose of the regulatory agency was to gather suggestions on possible market changes to the text.
On February 1 this year, the representative of PricewaterhouseCoopersInternational Limited, Anderson Carlos Santos Ramires, the considerationspresented in this international consultancy, which were contrary to the adoption of the regulation of SCM.
"Good Regulatory Practices"
According to PricewaterhouseCoopers' use of regulatory measures should beadopted when there is a specific issue whose resolution can not be achieved through market mechanisms. "
While I believe the adoption of a regulation is "legitimate and effective tool" to provide the information necessary to Anatel for the good performance of its functions, the consultancy supports the thesis that the agency should have taken into account "the size, level of maturity and structure of the market. "Withoutstudying this problem, the consultant believes that the Anatel could exceed "in charge", the benefit that would seek to give consumers "from a regulatory standpoint."
PwC reported that in August 2011, at the request of SindiTelebrasil - entity thatdefends the interests of telephone companies - an international study conductedin 10 countries and assessed the level of existing regulation to measure the quality of broadband. This study was conducted in the United States, South Korea, Germany, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Chile, India and Italy. It tookinto account that these 10 countries represent 40% of todal subscribersworldwide service. Queswtões sought to answer the following:
(i) the understanding of the approach adopted by the Regulators for the Quality ofBroadband Services;
(ii) the understanding of the parameters used in the measurement and transparency of the results of the Quality of Broadband,
(iii) understanding of the penalties adopted;
(iv) consumer perceptions, and
(v) the effectiveness of the approach adopted.
"The study showed that none of the 10 countries evaluated and implemented aspecific regulation, mainly determined quality goals for Broadband to be followed.Instead, the measures have been used by regulatory agencies to increasetransparency for consumers in relation the quality and price offered by the publication of comparative information on the services between the carriers, "saidPwC, against precisely the regulation to force companies to meet quality targets in broadband.
According to the consultancy, the measures adopted by these countries are goingin the direction of establishing "variations in service quality", so that consumers can make their own choices, thereby creating competitive pressure that forces the providers to improve their performance .
PwC also found that there are still countries where there is "no evidence ofintervention" in them and that consumer protection agencies are responsible formeasuring and disseminating results on the quality of services provided by operators.
"Thus, we can not establish a clear and direct relationship between the level of regulation, its effectiveness and impact on competition and on the improvement of the quality standards of broadband from the adoption of regulations specific quality goals in countries analyzed. in these markets, only India has implemented the mandatory disclosure of service performance and do not represent specific regulation of the same levels of quality, "concluded the consultancy.
Anatel closed the public consultation of the application of TNL / PCS (Oi) the last day of February 1, without having released yet on whether or not the request forannulment of the regulation of quality of broadband that she herself created, basedthe arguments of the utility companies and forwarded suggestions.
This question and more a decision today, to choose PricewaterhouseCoopers as "entity to measure Quality," suggest that the regulatory body is totally lost with respect to routes that will take over the supervision of the services provided by operators in the future Brazilian broadband .
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