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The rise of the Smartphone has caused communications service providers to rethink how they package and price data services. Just as CSPs are shifting their pricing strategies to tiered and segmented pricing, along comes the next must-have smart device, the tablet! Now the challenge is for CSPs to create bundled offers across multiple devices that are intuitive, provide the best value for their customers, and engender customer loyalty across a multitude of new device offerings. A new approach to pricing, packaging and bundling data services is required for success as tablets become pervasive. Find out more.
Teleca, a supplier of solutions and services to the mobile and connected devices industries, today announced that it has acquired UK based SurfKitchen.
SurfKitchen, which has approximately 55 employees, helps mobile operators and their partners overcome the discoverability, usability and fulfillment challenges associated with the delivery of mobile applications and services.
SurfKitchen will stay as an independent business unit within the Teleca organisation. The company will focus globally on the operator segment, concentrating on business development, sales and product research and development. SurfKitchen will be able to make use of Teleca’s global services for its customer deployments.
“This acquisition brings together two companies with very complementary skill sets”, said Michel Quazza, chairman and CEO of SurfKitchen. “We get access to Teleca’s strong presence in the connected devices industry and its extensive partner network, while Teleca can offer its deep knowledge of embedded systems to our operator customers. The result is true end-to-end services that benefit the whole industry and will provide unique differentiation”.
René Svendsen-Tune, CEO at Teleca, added: “The mobile-and connected devices industries are moving from software enabled hardware businesses to hardware enabled software businesses. We see rapid growth in the overall market of content and application consumption, and through this acquisition we can offer mobile operators, platform providers and other layers in the mobile industry complete solutions for applications and content delivery.” www.teleca.comBack to top
2011 mobile operator service revenues to exceed $1 trillion
In 2010, the world’s mobile operator community, composed of more than 900 operators globally, generated US$965 billion in annualised service revenues according to the latest research from analyst firm, Informa Telecoms & Media.
As the impact of the economic downturn on the industry eases and as data continues to offset regulatory-driven pressures on core voice and SMS revenues, overall service revenues are forecast to exceed US$1 trillion for the first time during 2011, before growing to reach US$1.14 trillion by the end of 2015.
“The operators may earn big, but it should never be forgotten that they also invest heavily to generate these returns,” said Thomas Wehmeier, principal analyst at the firm. “Deploying and operating mobile networks to support more than 5.3 billion connections is an extremely resource-intensive business and we estimate that operators worldwide invested more than US$175 billion in capex during 2010 alone. Cumulatively, total capex spend shelled out by operators has been in excess of US$1 trillion over the past decade.”
Informa also forecasted that revenues from all mobile data services, including SMS, will grow to US$453 billion in 2015, up from just over US$253 billion in 2010. “If the media hype is to be believed around the impact of over-the-top VoIP players such as Skype and Viber and the emergence of competing forms of social communication from Facebook and Twitter, you’d be easily pressed into believing that operators should start thinking about writing off their voice businesses,” added Wehmeier. “Such talk is of course foolhardy and revenues from voice services will still make up more than 60% of the industry’s revenue base at the end of 2015.” Back to top
African provider selects Tribold for product management
Internet Solutions (IS), an African IP-based communications service provider has chosen Tribold, a provider of Enterprise Product Management (EPM) software, for its Product and Service Catalog programme.
Andrew Procter, the CIO of IS, commented: “Internet Solutions is focused on improving the customer and sales experience and to do this we needed to ensure our front line teams only sell supported, standardised products and services. We are looking to Tribold EPM to underpin our concept-to-market process and improve data quality across the BSS layer. We selected Tribold EPM for our programme due to the product’s maturity and usability and the added benefit of the deep domain experience delivered by the Tribold team in rolling out product management solutions to the enterprise sector.
“Ernest Margitta, Tribold’s vice president, added: “Working with Internet Solutions we see a joint drive from both their business and IT leadership on cycle time reduction, costs of operations, and bringing more fast track products into the market. These goals are directly aligned with where Tribold EPM can bring real value to our users. We look forward to working together with the Internet Solutions’ team delivering these tangible improvements to their enterprise product range.” www.tribold.comBack to top
MDA revenue assurance deployed by Dutch triple play provider
Martin Dawes Analytics (MDA) has announced that Ziggo, one of the largest media service providers in the Netherlands, has selected its Lavastorm Analytic Engine to ensure the accuracy of its billing and usage calculation operations. Using MDA’s Revenue Assurance Solution, Ziggo, which provides TV, internet and telephone services to nearly 3.1 million customers, aims to maximise revenue performance throughout its complex operations environment.
“MDA’s software is enabling us to create detailed insight in the capturing and processing of our revenue generating activities in both a structured and highly automated manner,” said Mark Bergsma, manager of revenue assurance at Ziggo. “We are now continuously able to identify and assess different areas where revenue is at risk, and take corrective actions where appropriate.”
Drew Rockwell, CEO of MDA, added: “MDA continues to excel in the media space and we’re pleased to play a part in the growing success of an industry leader such as Ziggo. Using our analytic engine, we’re able to equip Ziggo with the analytic and control capabilities to better manage the revenue stream complexity which risks financial, operational, and customer performance. As the business continues to change and grow, MDA will continue to provide the technology and service that is essential to maximise operations. The combination of our technology and the resourcefulness of Ziggo’s teams mean that it can put controls in place that maximise revenue today and de-risk Ziggo’s future performance and growth.” www.martindawessystems.comBack to top
UK MVNO Viacloud chooses Redknee for billing and customer management
Viacloud, a global alternative mobile services company, has selected Redknee’s billing, rating, settlement and customer care solution to support the launch of its UK operations.
Viacloud’s UK operation is focused on supporting new and existing mobile operators to cost-effectively develop targeted services offerings. Redknee’s real-time billing and settlement solution is designed to help MVNOs to deploy and manage their own billing, settlement and customer care facility in order to have more control and flexibility over the customer experience.
The Redknee solution will also manage Viacloud’s partner, customer care and interconnect requirements as it increases its partners and launches MVNOs from its platform as a Mobile Virtual Network Aggregator.
Mutaz Otaibi, Viacloud’s CEO, commented: “We are committed to providing innovative solutions to our clients and selected Redknee for its reputation in successfully launching into competitive markets and gain market share.”
Redknee’s real-time converged billing platform is set to enable Viacloud to offer the benefits of real-time promotions, reduced operating costs and advanced customer care to MVNOs quickly and effectively.
Lucas Skoczkowski, the vendor’s CEO added: “We are pleased to be supporting Viacloud’s growth strategy. Redknee’s flexible and open solutions are empowering enterprising service providers to enhance the customer experience and launch more innovative services in order to differentiate themselves. At Redknee, we believe that customer insight, flexibility to offer competitive services and a robust subscriber experience will be essential to driving profitable growth for these customers, and continue to invest in our solutions to support them.” www.redknee.comBack to top
Oracle updates Service Delivery product family with new releases
Oracle has unveiled the latest releases for its Communications Service Delivery product family designed to help communications service providers (CSPs) implement Next-Generation Intelligent Network (NGIN) solutions for IN replacement and evolution, network-enabled application stores (NEAS), IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) and Long Term Evolution (LTE) network value added services.
Designed to help CSPs monetise innovative new services that leverage existing network assets, maximise profitability and accelerate time to market, the new releases include the fifth iterations of the its Communications Services Gatekeeper, Communications Service Broker, Communications Converged Application Server and Communications Presence.
With increasing industry demands being placed upon them, Peter Mottishaw, principal analyst, AnalysysMason, explained that CSPs must offer next-generation intelligent network solutions and new applications to mobile customers in a quick and cost-effective manner.
“The enhancements to the Oracle Communications Service Delivery product family will enable communications service providers to deliver greater value from next-generation network assets,” he said.
Liam Maxwell, vice president of products, Oracle Communications, said that the latest releases of these key components demonstrated the company’s ongoing commitment to leveraging best-of-breed technologies from its key SDP acquisitions – including BEA, Convergin and Hotsip – and enhancing them to deliver next-generation SDP and NGIN capabilities for CSPs.
“These new and enhanced product capabilities will help our customers reduce costs and accelerate time to market for tomorrow’s innovative, revenue-generating communication services,” he added. www.oracle.comBack to top
Convergys Introduces 4G Solution to Optimise Telecom Profits
Convergys, a global leader in relationship management, has launched the Convergys 4G Solution, a next generation billing and customer care platform designed to enhance telecom operators’ ability to monetise their high speed voice and data network.
With their 3G networks under strain and in a bid to improve customer satisfaction and open the door to new offerings like high definition videos, 3-D experiences, and graphic-intensive games, CSPs are under pressure to monetise networks by swiftly launching new products, service bundles, and pricing models – particularly through the use of incoming 4G technology.
For those saddled with legacy billing systems that may find it difficult to keep up with the increased market demands and transaction volumes associated with 4G, Convergys says that its future-proof design can help not only from 3G to 4G, but towards the future of wireless standards and technology too.
The solution also enables operators to identify what is worth charging for and what is not. For example, masses of low value data records cost more to charge for than the operator will make, so the solution enables providers to charge for those records in aggregate. In addition, CSPs are able to scale billing operations up or down based on business requirements driven by seasonality, changing customer behaviours, and other factors.
Bob Lento, Convergys President, Information Management, said, “Whether or when providers see a return on all the smart phone traffic on their networks hinges on a different set of ‘smarts’ in the back office.” www.convergys.comBack to top
Singapore’s OpenNet reaches major milestone in target to bring optical fibre to every home and office
OpenNet consortium, which has committed to deploy fibre to every home and office in Singapore, has announced that it has achieved its target of 60% nationwide coverage by 2010 and is on track to reach 95% within two years.
Meeting this target completes the second phase of its fibre network rollout which has been achieved with the support of Alcatel-Lucent’s Business and Operations Support Systems (BSS/OSS).
Alcatel-Lucent provided the entire end-to-end BSS/OSS solution for the Next Generation National Broadband Network environment, enabling OpenNet to be fully automated in its operations.
Rajeev Singh-Molares, president of Alcatel-Lucent’s activities in Asia-Pacific, congratulated OpenNet on the major milestone.
“It is a significant step towards the successful rollout of Singapore’s Next Gen NBN, he said. “We are committed to providing OpenNet with unique expertise combining IT, OSS/BSS, network integration, service delivery platforms (SDP) and multi-vendor application integration. This is a large deployment on an aggressive schedule, and we look forward to working with OpenNet on the successful completion of this project.”
The solution provided OpenNet with an open access environment, allowing them to provide vital services and handling interactions with other Operating Companies and Qualifying Parties. www.alcatel-lucent.comBack to top
Metaswitch recruits Dorey to help fuel EMEA growth
Metaswitch Networks, a leading provider of carrier systems and communications software solutions, has appointed Richard Dorey as its new vice president of sales for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
The move comes as the company looks to quickly boost resources for global product development and expand its EMEA sales team in response to growing operator demands and market opportunities.
Dorey was most recently VP of Sales for Western Europe at GENBAND and brings more than 20 years’ successful telecoms experience to the role.
“With over 600 network operator customers worldwide and clear leadership in applications and IP networks, we intend to strengthen that market position and our revenue growth in EMEA,” said Mike Ward, senior vice president of sales at Metaswitch Networks. “The burgeoning international development team, plus the addition of Richard Dorey, reinforces our intent to further our presence across the region.” www.metaswitch.comBack to top
Kleczek leaves Comarch for Clarity
Clarity, a provider of Unified Telecommunications Operational Management solutions designed to simplify operations, has announced the appointment of Pawel Kleczek as Vice President of Business Development for Central and Eastern Europe.
Previously sales director in the Telecommunications Business Unit at Comarch, where he spent the past 11 years, Kleczek will be responsible for Clarity’s expansion into the Central and Eastern Europe markets.
Jon Newbery, CEO of Clarity, said he was delighted to welcome Kleczek to the firm with his outstanding background in the market and the communications sector.
“His business development experience will be a valuable resource for Clarity as we continue to build strong relationships with customers such as VIVACOM, in this fast developing region,” he added. www.clarity.comBack to top
What’s On in Comms
3G, HSPA & LTE Optimisation 15-16 March, 2011 Hotel Sofitel Munich Bayerpost, London www.3gconference.com
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