Minus profit and CEO

Fixed and wireless broadband provider, Telstra, has posted a 1% dip in first half profit and downgraded its full year earnings guidance as the economic downturn weighs on its already struggling fixed line telephone operations, reports ninemsn.

Australia's biggest telco has also begun an internal and external search for a new chief executive, after announcing the 30 June departure of Sol Trujillo.

Trujillo, who ends his four-year tenure at the company to return to the US and spend more time with his family, warned of further job losses at Telstra.

Optus is considering using Web accelerator technology widely across its 3G mobile network to increase the speed its customers can access Web sites on increasingly popular data-rich devices like the iPhone, reports ZDNet Australia.

The carrier started looking at accelerators, also known as proxies, midway through last year, Optus mobile network director Andrew Smith says.

That period had been busy for the carrier, with the company introducing its popular iPhone offers.

Total contracts awarded within the wireless industry for 2008 reached 550 as activity surged in Q4, reports msnbc.

This is according to the latest report from EJL Wireless Research titled 'Global base station contract analysis annual 2008 review'.

"Nokia Siemens Networks secured 56.2% of total contract awards during the 31 December 2008- ended year, beating Huawei (15.5%) and ZTE (14.5%).