News In Brief: BT, Paradigm, Ericsson, Telefonica, FCC

Staff writer | March 10, 2010

telecomseurope.net

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Convergence Group’s networks business is consolidating its leased line and Ethernet supply chains in the UK, through a £10 million (€11 million), five-year, deal with BT Wholesale.

The £3.6 billion (€3.96 billion) Skynet 5 government satellite project, the operation of which has been outsourced to Paridigm Secure Communications, will be extended with the addition of a fourth spacecraft to support satellite deployments.

Ericsson shareholders will vote on whether to keep the current board of directors, and add CEO Hans Vestberg and Mike Volpi to the board, at an AGM to be held next month.

Telefonica is considering teaming up with a consortium of small Mexican telephone and cable operators to submit a bid for a fiber network owned by the state electricity monopoly. The government is auctioning off the network to create an alternative to using operation owned by tycoon Carlos Slim's Telmex.

US regulator FCC is considering assigning a portion of the nation's airwaves for the provision of free wireless internet services.

BT is taking control of Australian hearing technology firm Cochlear’s network services. The pair agreed a $3 million (€2.2 million) deal covering managed services that will see BT consolidate the firm’s network providers, and prioritize core business applications.

European satellite communications provider Satlynx will be re-branded GE-Satcom to reflect its position as a GE company. It initially retained its brand to maintain customer relationships, but says the time is now right to switch.

Metaswitch Networks says it can now offer fixed-line and wireless carriers seamless migration of networks, services, and subscribers to IP, after purchasing service broker solutions provider AppTrigger.

Samsung is reportedly gunning for a slice of the e-books market with the launch of its first e-reader. The Samsung eReader is available in the US, offering access to a million electronic titles from Barnes & Noble.

Facebook is mulling the addition of location services to its current social networking functions. The services would allow users to see where friends are and clear the way for targeted advertising, reports state.

LG Electronics today launched an Android-based smartphone in its domestic market. Reuters reports the move is designed to boost the vendor’s flagging position relative to rival manufacturers, by plugging gaps in its smartphone portfolio.

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Staff writer