Search This Telecom News Blog

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

UNCERTAINTY WEIGHS ON FRANCE TELECOM

France Telecom said first-quarter EBITDA was EUR3.76 billion (USD4.9 billion), a 5.5 percent decrease from the same period last year. Sales in the quarter were EUR10.96 billion, down 2.7 percent on a comparable basis, but only down by 0.3 percent excluding regulatory charges. The operator said this was broadly in line with its objective of stable revenues in 2010, excluding regulatory changes. It expects that the combined effect of tougher regulation across its markets will reduce revenues by EUR1 billion this year, FT writes. The company saw higher revenues from mobile operations in France and Spain – excluding regulatory changes – a slower decline in Poland, and a 7.3-percent increase in the Middle East and Africa. Growth in new start-up services in several African countries was 22 percent. (Financial Times)
 
AMÉRICA MÓVIL SUBSCRIBER SURGE
Carlos Slim’s América Móvil posted EBITDA of MXN42.3 billion for the first quarter, a 12.4 percent increase over a year ago. It increased its subscriber base by 5.5 million, to 206.4 million wireless subscribers, adding more than one million each in Brazil, Mexico and the US through its subsidiary Tracfone. (Financial Times)
 
CURBS ON 'STATE SECRETS' ONLINE
An amended State Secrets Law passed by the standing committee of China's legislature yesterday, to be put into effect October 1, stipulates that “Internet and other public information networking operators and service providers must cooperate in state secrets investigations by the police, state security and prosecutorial institutions”, according to a statement carried by state media. The statement said Internet and telecom service providers had to report the revelation of state secrets on their networks, keep related records and submit the evidence, FT writes. (Financial Times) 
 
INDIA BANS CHINESE TELECOM IMPORTS
The Indian government has begun blocking purchases of telecom equipment from Chinese vendors on the basis of national security concerns, wreaking havoc on the rapidly-growing Indian mobile industry. New Delhi has long been accused of blocking the purchase of some Chinese telecom equipment due to fears Beijing might embed spying devices in its networks, FT writes. Commenting on the situation, ZTE said, “This is apparently not normal commercial behavior but something related to political factors, and it is not appropriate for us to comment on political issues.” Chinese officials were unavailable for comment. (Financial Times)

No comments:

Post a Comment