Vodafone takes on channel

Vodafone has become the latest large mobile operator to leap into the fixed voice and data channel, via its partnership with Gamma Telecom, reports CRN.

The two firms inked a mobile virtual network aggregator wholesale agreement, which allows Gamma's channel partners to offer Vodafone mobile services.

"This is a great deal for the channel," says Rob Davis, Gamma's senior product manager for mobile. "If you look at the world today, there is a predominance of mobility and a huge convergence between mobile and fixed. There are a lot of issues and a lot of opportunities."

Du, the UAE's second national telecoms operator, has converged its fixed and mobile IP transport networks using the Cisco CRS Carrier Routing System, states Telegeography.

The move has enabled fixed-mobile convergence on Du's network, helping to meet the growing demand for high-end broadband services.

Du says the solution will allow the firm to rapidly deploy new high-bandwidth mobile applications and data packages. The network development will also allow Du to improve the speed, flexibility and scalability of mobile-based services to its customers.

Global Convergence Solutions (GCS) has rolled out its channel partner programme with the signing of partners ME-Netcoms and Lead Telecom in the Middle East and Spain, says TMCnet.

GCS has made this initiative a priority in its strategy for 2011, seeking to attain 50% of its revenue from the channel by year-end.

The company aims to help carriers confront the complexities resulting from VOIP and next-generation network technologies, from both an operations and a network management perspective.