Optical network spending jumps 16%

Spending on optical network hardware jumped 16% quarter over quarter in the US and the Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, but a predicted slowdown in the Asia-Pacific region is accelerating, reports FierceTelecom.

Infonetics Research reports in a new study that worldwide, optical network hardware spending went up 6.2% overall to $3.23 billion.

Alcatel-Lucent topped Huawei in market share in the third quarter of 2010 thanks to a strong performance in EMEA. The packet-optical transport segment grew 11% sequentially due to strong spending by Verizon.

Cable vandalism could attract a sentence of five years in jail in Kenya if found guilty, according to the Kenya Communications (Amendment) Act, states IT News Africa.

The revelation comes in the wake of an appeal made by Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore, who says cable vandalism still poses a serious threat to the growth of the telecommunications industry in Kenya due to the huge operating losses incurred.

The law is yet to recognise cable theft as a serious threat to communications, but the Communications Commission of Kenya is pushing its case in order to punish culprits and discourage the crime.

Mobile service provider, Expresso Telecom, has unveiled services in Ghana after acquiring the assets of Kasapa Network, says Ghana News Agency.

The Dubai-based Expresso Telecom focuses on operating CDMA mobile networks across West Africa, having acquired Intercellular in Nigeria and Kasapa in Ghana, as well as new licences in Mauritania and Senegal.

Haruna Iddrisu, Ghana Communications Minister lauded the growth in mobile telephony with a penetration rate of 74%, attributing the success to strong oversight and regulatory environment.