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Cellphone users risk fines in Russia

South African cellphone users visiting the Russian Federation risk spot fines for failing to declare their handsets at customs, says Joan Joffe, group executive (corporate affairs) of Vodacom.

European cellular market growing fickle, unstable

A recent study by the International Data Corporation (IDC) has found that declining prices and different payment methods such as prepaid have increased cellular penetration, but as competition intensifies and prices fall, the European cellular market grows more fickle and unstable.

BMI-TechKnowledge

2:30

Oct 2, 1998

Accord and M-Tel join forces

JSE-listed Accord Technologies has joined forces with cellular service provider M-Tel, forming a new company - of which 65% will be held by Accord and 35% by M-Tel - to operate a number of retail and phone rental stores.

1:10

EntireX

Sept 28, 1998

Mainframe talks to cell phones

Users of mainframe batch programs can now send messages directly to cellular phones - using EntireX middleware software, Software AG`s platform for Windows-based software applications, cellular phones can receive short service messages. [Local rep: SPL]

1:50

Sept 8, 1998

First MTN network outside SA goes live

MTN, Abraxas Solutions and Computer Answers have completed the first African cellular network installation outside South Africa. The cellular telephony network installation in Rwanda is live, with the Uganda installation due for completion on 11 September. Another installation has been scheduled for Swaziland before the end of the year, the companies said.

1:20

GSM

Aug 4, 1998

GSM cracks 100 million milestone

The Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), the world`s leading digital cellular standard, passed the 100 million user milestone 18 months ahead of the industry prediction and six years after the first GSM network was launched in Finland, Vodacom said. Joan Joffe, group executive (corporate affairs) of Vodacom, said revised forecasts now anticipate 120 million GSM users by the end of 1998, almost double that at the close of 1997 (66 million users). "In the light of GSM`s dominance of the world`s mobile telecommunications market, it is a pity that Satra did not prescribe GSM as the standard for the two new cellular network licences," Joffe said.

Cellular bidders outraged as two licences awarded

Following the recommendation by the SA Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (Satra) that two additional cellular licences be issued, potential empowerment bidders lashed out at the move, reports Sunday Times (2 August). Bidders felt there was room for only one more network and expressed concerns about duplication of infrastructure, according to Sunday Times Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Broadcasting Jay Naidoo said the recommendation was in line with his ambitions for the industry.

SATRA to open up cellular market

South Africa could be on its way to having two more cellular operators in the country. SATRA today recommended to the Government that two additional cellular operators would help alleviate the problems of the low telephone penetration rates within South Africa. The new operators would be permitted to consider all types of cellular technologies to ensure their financial viability and to roll out services to all parts of SA. Interested parties will have to wait for the Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Broadcasting to issue an invitation to apply for licences. Additional cellular licences could be issued during the first quarter of 1999.

Evidence suggests interference with cellular testing

Network operator Vodacom says testings of cellular network quality conducted recently by its competitor were not impartial and fair. "Vodacom has evidence that MTN had the ability and operation in place to influence the results of the testing in their favour," said Alan Knott-Craig, CEO of the Vodacom Group. Auditors KPMG who were contracted to ensure that the MTN tests were impartial and fair said in a statement, "(we) withdraw our opinion that the test was impartial and fair" until the matter is resolved to its satisfaction. KPMG also said MTN had conceded that it had monitored the test vehicles.

Siemens increases investment in Zimbabwe

Siemens Mobile Networks (SA) has extended its contract with state-owned NetOne, the first and only existing cellular network in Zimbabwe, to triple its capacity from 20 000 to 60 000 subscribers.