Today is the Last Day to Save on Registration for WCAI Summer Summit and Symposium at 4G World
WCAI
Today, June 25 is the last day to register for the WCAI's International Symposium and 4G World at a big discount. Please use the WCAI Discount Code 4GWMS19 to save up to $900. The show will be held on Oct. 18-21 at the McCormick Place in Chicago. The agenda is available here. WCAI members who plan to attend the WCAI's Summer Summit next week in Herndon, VA (U.S.) should also register by June 25 to receive complementary admission. After June 25, the registration rate will go up to $79. The Summit will be held on June 30-July 1 in conjunction with an FCC event on the National Broadband Plan. The Summit agenda is available More

Australian Government Confirms Digital Dividend Spectrum to Go on Sale Late-2012
TeleGeography
The Australian government has confirmed it intends to sell off 126MHz of ultra-high frequency spectrum to be used for wireless communications services as part of the digital dividend, according to ComputerWorld. Having called for submissions from interested parties as to how best to utilize the freed-up spectrum earlier this year, the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy has released details of the government's plans based on that feedback.More

What Factors Should Operators Consider When Planning WiMAX or TD-LTE Networks?
WiMAX.com
Despite the success of recent operator trials, by most accounts a commercially viable TD-LTE ecosystem is still several years away. Therefore for operators planning to deploy WiMAX or TD-LTE, the two most important factors are the operator's business model and the timing of when they are planning to deploy their network. For existing WiMAX operators focused on the fixed and portable markets, sticking with WiMAX and incorporating some of the new upcoming features with "803.16e enhanced" makes the most sense, according to Jonathan Jaeger, WiMAX Solutions Marketing Director for WCAI member Aviat Networks. For new operators planning to deploy now, and where full mobility is not the primary driving factor, WiMAX would also continue to be the best option. For operators planning to deploy in 18-24 months (early 2012), and where mobility is a significant part of the business case, TD-LTE may be an option to consider, says Jaeger.More

Globe Explores LTE Technology
Manila Bulletin
Globe Telecom continues testing LTE technology as it aims to bring the latest mobile broadband innovation. Local LTE testing is being undertaken in conjunction with parent firm Singapore Telecom, who has spearheaded efforts for LTE trials across affiliates in Asia and Australia. The trials will take about six to nine months and are meant to help determine the best approach and strategy for LTE adoption locally. The trials will also lay the groundwork to establish a regionally compatible LTE network.More

Indian MTNL Offers 3G Roaming Option to Alternative Operators
TeleGeography
State-owned telco Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) has reportedly called for bids from those operators interested in roaming over its 3G network in Delhi and Mumbai. According to the Economic Times, MTNL has claimed that by putting such agreements in place with rival operators it could generate an annual turnover of around INR3 billion (USD$64.6 million), which it said would make its 3G operations commercially viable.More

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Hedge Fund Harbinger Capital Bets Big on 4G
BusinessWeek
Philip Falcone's Harbinger Capital Partners has placed a large and risky bet on 4G wireless Internet service by paying an estimated $500 million for SkyTerra Communications. The hedge fund's filings with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission lay out a plan to build 36,000 radio towers and send up two satellites. The spectrum Harbinger picked up in the deal could be worth up to $7 billion, based on a Credit Suisse (CS) analysis of the value of wireless licenses. Like most hedge funds, Harbinger lacks a track record running companies, and the deal is a gamble whether the firm pursues a national rollout or sells the spectrum to another company. To get FCC approval for the SkyTerra deal, Falcone committed to building a wireless network that can serve 100 million Americans by the end of 2012. By 2016 the network must cover 260 million people. If Harbinger misses these targets, the FCC can declare its rights to use SkyTerra's spectrum "null and void," according to a March FCC filing. More

Report Forecasts USD57 Billon Growth in Central and Latin American Telecom Market
Analysys Mason
Rising disposable incomes and sustained investment in mobile networks are driving significant growth in telecom markets in Central and Latin America (CALA), according to a report by Analysys Mason. Service revenue will grow at a CAGR of 8% from USD131 billion (EUR93.9 billion) in 2009 to USD$188 billion (EUR129 billion) in 2014, the report said. This is in stark contrast to the situation in the mature markets of North America, Western Europe and parts of the Asia–Pacific region, where operators struggle to achieve meaningful growth. More