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Category: Telecom

Retail News Asia is committed to providing both local and global retailers with the latest Telecom & Telco news throughout the Asian market. This on a daily base.

  • Tata Comms launches VR/AR prize for F1 racing

    Tata Comms launches VR/AR prize for F1 racing

    Tata Communications has launched a new competition focused on how VR and AR technologies can make Formula 1 racing more immersive for fans.

    The 2016 F1 Connectivity Innovation Prize is also designed to help the teams work more effectively together in the run-up to and during each Grand Prix.

    The aim of the $50,000 prize is to inspire fans worldwide to harness their technical know-how and passion for F1 racing to drive innovation in the sport through two technology challenges.

    Tata Communications is the official connectivity provider of Formula 1, enabling the sport to seamlessly reach its tens of millions of fans across the globe.

    The first challenge, set by Formula One Management, calls on technology enthusiasts to develop a solution that uses VR and AR to enable fans at home to experience a Grand Prix virtually.

    The solution should allow fans who are not at the live event to immerse themselves into the world of F1 racing, from the pit lane and the Formula One Paddock Club, to the drivers’ parade and the starting grid formation.

    “We want to give as many fans as possible the opportunity to experience first-hand the thrill of a Grand Prix – and VR or AR could enable us to do just that,” said John Morrison, CTO of Formula One Management and one of the judges.

    “These technologies represent the next big innovation opportunity for the sport. In the not-too-distant future, they could enable fans to get virtually transported to a Grand Prix, complementing and enriching the race experience,” said Morrison.

    Julie Woods-Moss, Tata Communications’ CMO and CEO of its NextGen Business, said that in the last two years, the F1 Connectivity Innovation Prize has grown into a major platform for showcasing the huge potential of data and superfast connectivity in boosting F1 teams’ competitiveness, and in bringing fans closer to the sport.

    “We now invite fans from all over the world to share their ideas for how VR and AR could take fan engagement to the next level,” she said.

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  • Consistel said to pull ahead in Singapore telco bid

    Consistel said to pull ahead in Singapore telco bid

    Singapore’s Consistel is reportedly pulling ahead of MyRepublic in the race to secure funding to make a play to become the market’s fourth mobile operator.

    Consistel has so far lined up at least S$400 million ($293.8 million) worth of the S$1 billion in funding it plans to raise ahead of a planned spectrum auction in the third quarter, and expects to be able to raise the remainder by the end of the month, citing a Maybank analyst.

    Consistel is reportedly considering a range of funding options, including term loans, equity, and potentially vendor financing.

    By contrast, MyRepublic had aimed to complete an S$250 million funding round by April, but has so far not reported any progress with this goal.

    Consistel is a wireless networking equipment provider specializing in distributed antenna systems (DAS). The company first expressed an interest in becoming Singapore’s fourth MNO – through subsidiary OMGtel – in 2014, not long after MyRepublic announced its MNO ambitions.

    Regulator IDA plans to hold an auction to select Singapore’s fourth mobile operator in the third quarter, with a reserve price of around S$35 million. A dedicated auction for the potential new market entrants will be held ahead of a general auction open to all takers.

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  • DoCoMo licenses wireless patents to Huawei

    DoCoMo licenses wireless patents to Huawei

    Japan’s NTT DoCoMo announced it has granted a standards-essential patent license for its wireless technologies to equipment vendor Huawei.

    The operator has now granted patent licenses to more than 10 companies and plans to pursue more such licensing deals in the future.

    As a result of its extensive R&D efforts over the past two decades, DoCoMo currently holds more than 5,300 standards-essential patents for W-CDMA, LTE and LTE-A technologies, the company said.

    The company licenses its patents both as part of patent pools lumping together interrelated standards-essential patents from multiple vendors, and through direct deals with individual licensees.

    Financial terms of the licensing deal have not been disclosed. DoCoMo said it plans to build up 5G intellectual property as it continues to contribute to the development of the standard, and will continue to pursue licensing deals for its patents via patent pools and individual negotiations.

  • Malaysia’s Axiata Digital invests $16 mn in e-commerce enabler StoreKing

    Malaysia’s Axiata Digital invests $16 mn in e-commerce enabler StoreKing

    Malaysian telecom operator Axiata Group Berhad has invested $16 million in Bangalore-based StoreKing, an e-commerce startup that helps retailers to sell products in small towns, through wholly owned unit Axiata Digital.

    This is Axiata Digital’s first investment in India, StoreKing said in a statement.

    Axiata Group, however, is not new to India; it owns about 20% of Indian telecom operator Idea Cellular Ltd.

    StoreKing, run by LocalCube Commerce Pvt. Ltd, ties up with retail store owners in small towns to provide self-service shopping experience to rural shoppers via its digital kiosks.

    The company had earlier raised $6 million from Luxembourg-headquartered venture capital firm Mangrove Capital Partners. Mangrove Capital is an early-stage investor in internet and software startups, and counts voice chat app Skype and instant messaging aggregator Nimbuzz among its past portfolio companies.

    StoreKing has roughly 16,000 mobile kiosks across south India, and delivers about 150,000 orders every month. The startup plans to reach 100,000 retailers by 2017 and up to 250,000 by 2019. It also plans to expand to Axiata’s markets in the near future.

    “StoreKing has created a platform that solves the fundamental constraints in our markets with last-mile logistics and payments, while building trust amongst mass-market consumers. It is pivotal in bringing the rest of our consumers into the digital sphere,” said Mohd Khairil Abdullah, CEO, Axiata Digital.

    The Bangalore-based startup was founded in 2012 by Sridhar Gundaiah, a computer science engineer who previously worked with online travel agency Via.com, and Govardhan Krishnappa, who previously worked with Via Adz and MACS Infosolution. Gundaiah had also founded a location-based startup Yulop and in the past worked at Yellow Tag and EDS.

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  • Vietnamese broadcaster builds out OTT service offering

    Vietnamese broadcaster builds out OTT service offering

    Vietnam Television (VTV), Vietnam’s leading broadcaster, is using Harmonic equipment to support efficient delivery of high-quality content, including premium sports events, via its new live OTT offering. VTV has augmented its existing installation of Harmonic gear to accelerate deployment and the launch of new OTT services.

    “OTT TV has quickly become a popular choice among consumers in Vietnam, but the success of such services still depends on delivery of compelling content characterized by exceptional visual quality,” said Pham Anh Chien, MD, VTV Digital Center. “Harmonic addresses these requirements with its acclaimed portfolio of low-latency IP video products, which ensure that we can deliver even fast-paced live sports events with remarkable picture quality. As a result, we’re equipped to offer the best possible service to our OTT customers watching here in Vietnam and in overseas markets.”

    “Providing engaging content and ensuring exceptional video quality, VTV is setting a high standard not only for the Vietnamese market, but also for the markets worldwide that are tapping into its OTT services,” said Tony Berthaud, VP of sales, APAC, Harmonic. “As the company adds to its OTT offering, the readily scalable nature of Harmonic video infrastructure will facilitate smooth, cost-effective growth.”

  • Naver uses VisualOn platform to power Line TV application

    Naver uses VisualOn platform to power Line TV application

    VisualOn’s OnStream MediaPlayer+ is now integrated into Korea’s Naver Player for Line TV service for iOS and Android devices.

    The aim is to enable scalable cross-platform media playback for global streaming media brands for a high-quality video playback experience,

    Naver Player enables Naver’s various live broadcasts and VOD videos to be viewed on iOS and Android devices with higher stability, quality, and scalability than the built-in device video player. Additionally, the platform features a one-touch notification function and an audio-only mode.

    Ranked one of the top 100 companies that matter most in online video by Streaming Media Magazine, VisualOn was chosen by Naver for the partnership for its market-proven multimedia software. Naver’s customers can now access high-quality, live TV streams and recorded shows on all the connected iOS and Android devices anywhere and at any time.

    “The Korean market is a crucial region for Naver and VisualOn due to its high volume of mobile consumers that expect a high-quality viewing experience no matter where they are,” said Andy Lin, CEO, VisualOn.

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  • Mediacorp-Singapore launches Toggle Red Button

    Mediacorp-Singapore launches Toggle Red Button

    The Toggle Red Button, based on Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV (HbbTV), has been launched by Mediacorp-Singapore for its OTT service. This will now together live broadcast TV and Toggle’s VOD services into a single seamless environment.

    Mediacorp is the first company in Asia to deploy HbbTV technology. The technology has been widely deployed across Europe, Australia and New Zealand with adoption rates up to 80% in some markets and a range of services such as games, voting and contextualized advertising

    The technology rides on Mediacorp’s Digital TV (DVB-T2) network and seamlessly combines broadcast with broadband TV. The service is delivered via HbbTV-enabled Smart TVs that are certified for the Toggle Red Button service, and available on selected models by major TV manufacturers.

    Key features of the service include direct access to Toggle’s catalogue of more than 12,000 hours of Mediacorp TV shows and Toggle Original content as well as an Electronic Program Guide (EPG), which provides program information, synopses, and schedules.

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  • Dtac plans major prepaid brand revamp

    Dtac plans major prepaid brand revamp

    Thailand’s Dtac has announced a major prepaid brand revamp and introduced new promotional tariff plans as  part of efforts to attract at least 1 million digital consumers to its prepaid subscriber base.

    As part of the revamp, Dtac will replace its Happy prepaid brand as it moves to bring all its prepaid brands under the Dtac umbrella.

    The operator has allocated 200 million baht ($5.7 million) this year towards marketing the Dtac prepaid brand.

    Dtac has also introduced plans offering unlimited internet access and free calls within Dtac networks for 29 baht ($0.83) per day.

    Prepaid customers will also be offered free YouTube streaming from midnight to 8am and 24 hour music streaming.

    Around 80% of Dtac’s 25.5 million subscribers are prepaid customers, with the wide majority using the operator’s 3G network, statistics provided by the company show. Around 68% of Dtac’s prepaid customers own a smartphone.

  • BT seals deal to manage Exact network

    BT seals deal to manage Exact network

    BT has won a new contract to design, build and manage a fully secure global network for Exact, a provider of cloud business software.

    The 4-year contract covers the creation of an integrated IT infrastructure supporting internal applications and services used by Exact’s 1,600 employees in 14 countries across Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia.

    Next to an optimized global network, BT will provide connectivity into the global data centers hosting Exact’s business applications and data. The contract also leverages BT Cloud Connect for a high performance network connection to Microsoft Azure.

    BT will provide extensive, cloud-based protection against cyber threats, blocking known and zero-day threats before they reach the network. Lastly, BT will take over and manage Exact’s in-office – fixed and wireless – networks and help drive employee productivity by providing voice, video, conferencing and remote access services.

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  • Salesforce moves into eCommerce with $2.8b M&A

    Salesforce moves into eCommerce with $2.8b M&A

    Salesforce.com is moving beyond CRM and into e-commerce with the acquisition of cloud service provider Demandware.

    It will use the purchase to kick-start a new field of business, the Salesforce Commerce Cloud, it said Wednesday.

    The company already has its Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Marketing Cloud, Analytics Cloud.

    By rebranding Demandware Commerce Cloud as its own, Salesforce will be able to combine e-commerce, order management, point-of-sale, store operations and predictive intelligence into its own platform.

    Commerce Cloud will allow Salesforce customers to connect with their own clients in new ways, the company said, while Demandware customers will gain access to sales, marketing and analytics functions from Salesforce.

    “There are so many ways it accelerates our mission to transform retail,” Demandware CEO Tom Ebling said in a conference call to discuss the deal.

    Being part of Salesforce will add to Demandware’s credibility when approaching large accounts, he said.

    It will also help the company expand to new countries. “We’ve just got started in places like Japan and Italy but there are many other untapped geographies for us,” he said.

    A third area where it will benefit is omnichannel marketing, helping retailers engage customers everywhere. “The combination of CRM capabilities, knowledge of the customer, with the commerce engine will be a way to accelerate that capability,” he said.

    Salesforce’s Chief Product Officer Alex Dayon said the deal will increase its customers’ insight into their business.

    “Our customers’ information systems are going to be powered by data. You need a complete view of your customers. Having commerce as part of the CRM platform is important,” he said during the same conference call.

    He hammered home the need for more data in response to a question about Salesforce’s ad targeting capabilities.

    “For us it’s all about the data, whether you use your own data, your own targeting, or whether you connect to companies like Google or Facebook,” he said.

    The companies expect to close the deal, worth around $2.8 billion net of cash acquired, before August.

  • Globe launches first 700-MHz base station

    Globe launches first 700-MHz base station

    Philippine operators Globe and PLDT have wasted no time in taking advantage of their newly-acquired 700-MHz spectrum holdings.

    Globe Telecom has announced it has activated the nation’s first cell site that utilizes the 700-MHz band, less than a week after Globe and PLDT each acquired half of San Miguel Corporation’s (SMC) telecom assets.

    Globe executive Joel Agustin said the company plans an initial rollout of around 200 sites using the 700-MHz band.

    “The intention is that the first batch of the 200 sites we plan to roll out will be in areas where connectivity matters most to our customers as well as in locations with high convergence of users like here in the National Capital Region,” he said.

    Agustin said the 700-MHz band will be essential for the company’s efforts to improve indoor data coverage and to deploy LTE-based broadband in rural areas.

    PLDT separately announced that its wireless broadband unit Smart Communications will start using the 700-MHz spectrum it acquired through the SMC transaction this year as part of the accelerated deployment of its LTE service.

    The operator revealed it has been holding discussions with device manufacturers to introduce more affordable LTE smartphones and tablets compatible with the 700-MHz band into the country.

    Around 45% of subscribers to PLDT’s two wireless brands – Smart and Sun Cellular – are now using smartphones, up from 30% in 2015. But at present the majority of these are 3G/HSPA only handsets.

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  • New Zealand opens technology center in Vietnam

    New Zealand opens technology center in Vietnam

    New Zealand has opened a new technology center at Quang Tring Software City in Ho Chi Minh City.

    The Kiwi Technology Center is envisioned to be a hub for New Zealand tech companies investing and doing business in Vietnam and the ASEAN region.

    The first companies to set up shop in the center include software services business Augen Software Group which won the Vietnam IT Excellence award last year, healthcare technology companies Orion Health and HealthTech and apparel manufacturing optimization firm ShapeShifter.

    “This is a fantastic opportunity for New Zealand technology companies and I look forward to more of them utilizing the Kiwi Connection hub and meeting with businesses from around the region who want to work with New Zealand companies and use technology services from within ASEAN,” said New Zealand’s Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce in a statement.

    Joyce also announced last week a project to build a New Zealand-Vietnam friendship bridge in Ho Chi Minh City to celebrate the ties between the two countries.

    Vietnam is New Zealand’s fastest growing trade market in Southeast Asia, with merchandise exports reportedly doubling since 2007.

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  • Nokia identifies top five reasons for mobile churn

    Nokia identifies top five reasons for mobile churn

    Mobile subscribers worldwide are placing more importance on customer service and value as network quality improves, research from Nokia indicates.

    The top five factors motivating the decision to select or leave operators are cost and billing, network quality, customer care and service and device portfolios, a global survey shows.

    Customer care has grown to be about on par with network quality as a deciding factor for whether to stay with a mobile operator, the results suggest.

    Respondents indicated that customer care has 60% more impact on their loyalty than it did just two years ago.

    This is partly also due to the fact that networks are improving in mature markets. Customers in these regions reported a 13 percentage point improvement in their satisfaction with internet connection quality compared to 2014. But in emerging markets there was a slight decline.

    More than two thirds of respondents indicated they would leave an operator over network quality issues, with the speed and consistency of internet connections mattering more than either voice quality or network coverage.

    Respondents using 4G were 38% more likely to be satisfied with their data speed and 24% more likely to be satisfied with data consistency.

    But the report also suggests that 4G adoption remains far from universal. In the past year, only 38% of the respondents signed up for 4G, and almost a third do not know if their operators offer the technology.

    Price remains the most important factor when it comes to customer acquisition and retention, the survey shows.

    But mobile customers – particularly in mature markets – will often choose easy-to-understand terms and conditions over price. Nokia said this suggests that customers want more transparency when it comes to contract terms, rate structures and data fees.

    “We can see the marketing battles to acquire mobile subscribers are fierce. What we don’t see as well is the work operators do every day to retain customers. Our study shows how important that work is – and also how challenging it is as customers, attached to their phones, demand higher levels of service,” Nokia applications and analytics president Bhaskar Gorti said.

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  • Global telcos eye stake in Vietnam’s Mobifone

    Global telcos eye stake in Vietnam’s Mobifone

    A number of international telecoms operators have reportedly expressed an interest in participating in the privatization of Vietnamese state-owned operator Mobifone.

    Companies including Norway’s Telenor, Sweden’s Comviq and Australia’s Telstra have shown interest in acquiring stakes in the company.

    Mobifone has an estimated brand value of $539 million. Plans for the privatization of the company have been in consideration since 2005 but the process has been repeatedly delayed.

    Now the government is pushing to complete the process in 2016-2017 as part of a push to hasten the privatization of state-owned enterprises.

    Australia’s Telstra could be a key partner for the operator. Telstra had previously been involved in the Vietnamese market as part of a partnership with Viet Nam Post and Communications, but exited the market in 2003. Now the operator is looking to return to the market by participating in the privatization of Vietnam’s telecom enterprises.

    Comviq is meanwhile a former partner to Mobifone and so it also has history in the market, while Telenor has been aggressively pursuing Asian expansion.

  • PCCW’s Viu debuts in Indonesia

    PCCW’s Viu debuts in Indonesia

    Vuclip, a PCCW Media company launched in Indonesia the over-the-top (OTT) video-on-demand (VOD) service Viu, which has already rolled out in Malaysia, India, Hong Kong and Singapore.

    To amplify its efforts to deliver throughout Indonesia, Vuclip has entered into strategic partnerships with IndiHome Fiber, Telkomsel and Samsung.

    These partnerships enable Viu subscribers to experience content that is delivered “at the fastest speeds, through the most reliable networks, on a variety of devices, at the most competitive rates available.”

    For IndiHome Fiber-to-the-Home (FTH) subscribers, Viu content will be delivered through Telkom’s bundled speed plans on the FTH network.

    Telkomsel and Vuclip have strategically partnered for Indonesians to enjoy Viu content through Telkomsel broadband networks, and special bundled data package pricing for consumers.

    Through Viu’s exclusive device partnership with Samsung, Samsung Galaxy users with select smartphones and tablets can access all Viu content when they activate the “Viu partner offer” via their Samsung Galaxy devices.

    “Mobile devices have driven internet growth in Indonesia. The number of Samsung Galaxy users who enjoy video streaming has also shown significant growth,” said Denny Galant, head of product marketing at Samsung Electronics Indonesia.

    Through our partnership, our Samsung Galaxy users with selected Samsung Galaxy models will be pampered with the latest Asian serials and other unlimited contents for 12 months,” said Galant.

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