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Tag: License

  • Nepal Telecom receives 4G license

    Nepal Telecom receives 4G license

    Nepal Telecom has finally received a 4G operating license, clearing the company to launch services on January 1.

    Regulator the Nepal Telecommunications Authority has resolved to issue the license based on the detail rollout plan the operator submitted recently.   Nepal Telecom submitted the rollout plan after receiving initial approval for its 4G application earlier this month.

    With the decision, Nepal Telecom has become the market’s first operator to be cleared to launch 4G services. The operator will use the 1800-MHz spectrum it has been using for 2G services.

    Nepal Telecom plans to commence its rollout in the Kathmandu Valley area and Pokhara, before progressively expanding to other parts of the country.

    The operator had initially proposed to launch services on December 15, but the regulator has decided to delay the launch so the operator can smoothly complete the required preparatory works.

    Two other operators had applied for 4G licenses. One of these applications – submitted by Smart Telecom – has been rejected. The government has yet to make a decision on the second application, submitted by Ncell.

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  • GTel Mobile has become Vietnam’s fourth 4G licensee

    GTel Mobile has become Vietnam’s fourth 4G licensee

    GTel Mobile has become Vietnam’s fourth 4G licensee, joining MobiFone, Viettel and VNPT in securing a license.

    As with the major operators, GTel Mobile has secured permission to deploy 4G services on the 1800-MHz band.

    GTel Mobile is owned by Vietnam’s Global Telecommunications Corporation (GTC).

    The operator was originally established as a joint venture between Russia’s Vimpelcom and GTC, providing services under the Beeline brand, but Vimpelcom sold its indirect 49% stake in April 2012. The company now provides services under the Gmobile brand.

    The news comes days after the government revealed it had allocated 4G licenses to MobiFone, Viettel and VNPT. The telecoms ministry has set a target of ensuring at least 95% of Vietnam’s population is covered with 3G or 4G infrastructure by 2020.

    GTel’s license acquisition leaves Vietnamobile as the market’s only operator yet to secure a 4G license, the report adds.

  • China Telecom said to be interested in Egypt 4G license

    China Telecom said to be interested in Egypt 4G license

    China Telecom has reportedly expressed an interest in expanding into Egypt through the acquisition of a 4G license in the market.

    The operator, along with Saudi Telecom Company, have been in contact with the communications ministry regarding potentially securing licenses in Egypt, a ministry official told.

    But neither operator has yet submitted a formal request, and 4G licenses will only be offered to new entrants if existing players reject the terms of the licenses, the report states.

    Incumbent operators have reportedly been slow to accept the terms offered by the government for 4G licenses. In an example of these terms, Orange’s Egyptian affiliate has been asked to pay 3.54 billion Egyptian pounds ($398.6 million) for a license, and to decide whether to agree by August.

    The fact that international operators are interested in acquiring licenses could increase pressure on the existing entrants to agree to the terms.

    At least some analysts believe that all of Egypt’s existing players will ultimately apply for 4G licenses, which would mean the government would not have sufficient reason to approve the entry of a newcomer. It is therefore uncertain whether China Telecom will be entering the Egyptian market.

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  • HKBN awarded MVNO license

    HKBN awarded MVNO license

    Hong Kong ISP HKBN has secured a license from telecoms regulator OFCA to offer MVNO services in the market.

    OFCA has granted HKBN an expanded services-based operator license to allow the company to offer mobile services using the infrastructure of established mobile network operators.

    The company has signed an agreement with China Mobile Hong Kong, and is in discussions with two other mobile operators, with the goal of launching mobile services for both residential and corporate customers.

    HKBN said it expects to soft-launch mobile services in as early as August this year to complement its existing fixed line services.

    With the addition of MVNO services the company will be able to introduce quad-play offers combining broadband, fixed line telephone, OTT entertainment and mobile services in the same package.

    “This is a strong move to maximize shareholder value by offering a full suite of fixed and mobile services, leveraging our quickly expanding broadband customer base of over 800,000 households,” HKBN CEO and co-owner William Yeung said.

    “Replicating our success in the fixed broadband market,our mobile service will come with strong value propositions, aiming to delight customers with the best customer experience at highly competitive prices.”

    HKBN recently announced that the majority of the company’s supervisory and management-level employees have now invested in the company under its co-ownership program.

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  • Telenor wins 4G license in Pakistan for $395m

    Telenor wins 4G license in Pakistan for $395m

    Norway’s Telenor has secured a 4G license in Pakistan for $395 million as the sole bidder for an 850-MHz spectrum block.

    Telenor Pakistan will join China Mobile subsidiary Zong in holding a 4G license following the auction. The operator is seeking to capitalize on burgeoning demand for mobile broadband in a market where smartphone shipments soared 123% in the first quarter of last year.

    As of the end of April, the number of broadband users in Pakistan grew to nearly 29 million, the report states, marking a higher population penetration than India, Nepal and Bangladesh.

    Telenor Pakistan was the lone bidder for the 10 MHz block of 850-MHz spectrum, even though the auction was open to both domestic and international participants. The government had been hoping to use the auction to attract a new entrant into the market.

    The operator will be allocated the spectrum within 30 days of making its payment.

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  • China awards fourth telecoms license

    China awards fourth telecoms license

    Chinas’ big three operators will have new competition, with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) issuing the nation’s fourth telecoms license to China Broadcasting Network.

    The license will allow China Broadcasting Network to provide domestic internet data transmission and telecoms infrastructure services.

    With the license the company willl be able to provide key telecoms services including broadband, calling and text messages, Shanghai Daily reported. The company will offer services via its subsidiary China Cable Television Network, which operates cable TV services nationwide.
    Chinas’ big three operators will have new competition, with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) issuing the nation’s fourth telecoms license to China Broadcasting Network.

    The license will allow China Broadcasting Network to provide domestic internet data transmission and telecoms infrastructure services.

    With the license the company willl be able to provide key telecoms services including broadband, calling and text messages, Shanghai Daily reported. The company will offer services via its subsidiary China Cable Television Network, which operates cable TV services nationwide.

    A spokesperson for the MIIT said the introduction of a new operator is expected to improve market competition, as well as technology innovation and integration.

    The allocation is also in line with the ministry’s three-network convergence project, which aims to combine telecoms, television and internet services into a single network.

    China Broadcasting Network was founded in 2014 and has registered capital of 4.5 billion yuan ($691.9 million).

    Shares in incumbent operators China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom all declined slightly in the wake of the news. But Reuters reports that the introduction of China Broadcasting Network to have little impact on the operators’ businesses in the short term, due in part to the broadcaster’s capital constraints.
    A spokesperson for the MIIT said the introduction of a new operator is expected to improve market competition, as well as technology innovation and integration.

    The allocation is also in line with the ministry’s three-network convergence project, which aims to combine telecoms, television and internet services into a single network.

    China Broadcasting Network was founded in 2014 and has registered capital of 4.5 billion yuan ($691.9 million).

    Shares in incumbent operators China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom all declined slightly in the wake of the news. But Reuters reports that the introduction of China Broadcasting Network to have little impact on the operators’ businesses in the short term, due in part to the broadcaster’s capital constraints.

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  • Thai 4G: Deputy PM tightens reauction timeline

    Thai 4G: Deputy PM tightens reauction timeline

    Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krueangam who has stepped into the mess left after Jas Mobile Broadband walked away without paying for its 900-MHz licence. He has stated that there would be no need to invoke the junta’s absolute power clause in the interim constitution just yet – though he did give the telecom regulator strict marching orders.

    He said the NBTC must successfully auction off the spectrum at a price that is not less than what Jas bid and must do so within one year. It it fails then Jasmine must be held responsible for any shortfall.

    Earlier NBTC Takorn Tantasit had put a timeframe of 4 months for an auction with the starting price of Jas’ winning bid and a second auction one year after that if it fails to go.

    Takorn said the starting price might be lowered to Dtac’s last bid of $1.98 billion (70.18 billion baht)  instead of Jas Mobile’s winning bid of $2.14 billion (75.65 billion baht) or even a round figure of 70 billion baht.

    The auction guarantee would rise to between 10 to 30% of the revised opening bid (previously it was 5% of 12.88 billion baht opening bid)

    Takorn said the draft auction rules would be finished by April 12 which would then be put out for public comment between April 18 to May 23 and should be formalised in the Royal Gazette by 31 May. The auction will be held by June 20 at the latest.

    Takorn said that Dtac had protested TrueMove’s inclusion in the auction given that they already had won half the 900-MHz spectrum. However, Takorn said the NBTC insists that True will be eligible to take part.

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  • E-Land ready to rumble for a duty-free license

    E-Land ready to rumble for a duty-free license

    Just a few days shy of the deadline to apply for a Seoul duty-free business license, E-Land announced plans to join the fray.

    The conglomerate, whose businesses span from retail and fashion to restaurants, said Thursday that it plans to build a duty-free shop at a property near the hip Hongik University area in Mapo District, northwestern Seoul, where it is currently working with GS Engineering & Construction to build a luxury hotel.

    The company will collaborate with the area’s 20,000 shop owners, street performers and artists to give a new perspective on duty-free shopping, setting itself apart from other competitors that have located their shops in larger, more commercial areas with other big-brand stores.

    It has plans to build an outdoor performance arena by the shop where young artists, independent bands and even K-pop stars will be invited to perform daily. E-Land will also work with the district’s well-known shops and restaurants to draw more foreign tourists to the neighborhood, the company said.

    It recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Wanda Tourism and Dufry Duty Free for collaborations on its duty-free business. Wanda Tourism, a unit of Wanda Group, is one of the biggest tour agencies in China, and E-Land expects the partnership to help bring in more than 1 million VIP customers from the country per year. Dufry, a Swiss duty-free franchise and the world’s biggest duty-free store operator with over 2,000 worldwide, will share luxury retailing strategies with E-Land.

    “Around 70 percent of local duty-free sales come from the Chinese,” said an E-Land official. “As an influential brand in China with over 20 years of Chinese retail experience under our belt, we will expand the size of the local duty-free market.”

    The company currently operates 44 brands and 7,300 stores in China, ranging from restaurants to shops specializing in fast fashion brands.

    Competition for duty-free licenses is getting fiercer by the day, with almost every major conglomerate – including Lotte, Shinsegae, Hyundai, Samsung-affiliate Shilla, SK Networks and Hanwha – having submitted a bid.

    Sluggish sales at other retail outlets, including department stores and discount retail chains, have forced companies to shift their focus to duty free, which offers double-digit profit margins and growing sales. According to the Korea Customs Service, Korea’s duty-free market was worth 8 trillion won ($7.2 billion) as of last year, compared to 4.8 trillion won in 2010.

    Korea Customs Service is scheduled to make a decision about the licenses in July, two of which will be given to conglomerates and one to a midsize firm.

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