Denmark ranks first in global ICT Development Index
The United Nations’ International Telecommunication Union released its annual report on Monday. The ICT Development Index ranks 166 countries on their level of ICT access. South Korea ranked second in the report and almost every country improved their IDI ranking from last year, with the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Arab states showing the highest improvement from last year.
This year’s report places a specialized focus on “big data” from ICT devices. The focus is specifically targeting applications that improve public services such as health care and education. Big data from ICT services are being used to gain insight into public policy and in the future will provide insight into mobile subscription data.
KT Corp pushes partnerships with China Mobile and NTT DoCoMo
KT Chairman Hwang Chang-gyu said the three companies should cooperate to create a mobile transportation card system that can be used universally throughout China, South Korea, and Japan. Chang-gyu met with executives from both companies on Friday and discussed working together on several telecom issues such as “Internet of Things” standardization. The partnership could mean easier business travel for carrier customers as they move throughout Asia.
China Mobile overshadows competition
In the heavily regulated Chinese telecommunications industry, one carrier, China Mobile, has blasted its performance targets for the year while competitors China Unicom and China Telecom can’t boast the same. China Mobile reached its target of 50 million 4G subscribers two months ahead of the year-end goal – the other two operators are only licensed to offer the service in a much more limited geographic area. China Telecom plans to sink more than $16 billion into building out its LTE network over the next few years while China Unicom is investing in selling dual-mode devices. China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issues mobile broadband licenses and regulates the industry.
Vodafone Australia up for sale?
Down under, carrier Vodafone Australia is reportedly in discussions to unload its operations there. Group Chief Executive Vittorio Colao apparently told investors that a sale is possible. Vodafone Australia is a joint venture of U.K.-based Vodafone Group and Hutchison Whampoa Limited, which is based in Hong Kong. While mentioning interest in a possible sale at a conference in Barcelona, Colao also noted that the Australian operation is by no means distressed, so any sale would be at market value.
India to pass U.S. as second-largest Internet user-base
The India Times reports that low-cost smartphones and mobile broadband will eventually turn India into the world’s second-largest Internet user-base. India’s Internet user-base is expected to hit the 300 million mark by the end of 2014 and will surpass the United States by 2016.
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