Editor’s Note: Wireless operators are a busy bunch, and as such RCR Wireless News will attempt to gather some of the important announcements that may slip through the cracks from the world’s largest carriers in a weekly wrap-up. Enjoy!
–Rural wireless operator Nex-Tech Wireless commercially launched LTE services across portions of its network, following up on a previous commitment for such a launch earlier this year. The network was deployed with help from equipment provider Ericsson and uses the carrier’s current 1.9 GHz spectrum holdings with the LTE service using Band Class 25 equipment similar to that being used by Sprint and a handful of other rural operators.
The first phase of the LTE rollout includes the cities of Hays, Great Bend, Salina, Beloit, Concordia, Ellis, McPherson, Scott City, Norton, Colby, Russell, Plainville, Lyons and Stockton, Kan. The carrier plans to announce additional markets next year. Nex-Tech, which is a subsidiary of Rural Telephone, Golden Belt Telephone and Mutual Telephone, currently provides CDMA-based services across 43 counties in Kansas and four counties in Colorado.
In connection with the LTE launch, Nex-Tech also began offering the Motorola Moto X and LG F7 smartphones, with plans to update the currently available Apple iPhone 5, 5C and 5S with LTE capabilities “soon.”
–Speaking of Apple products, Consumer Cellular said it plans to begin offering the iPhone 5S, 5C and 4S models on Dec. 13. Consumer Cellular offers service through a mobile virtual network operator agreement with AT&T Mobility.
Consumer Cellular, which was recently praised in a Consumer Reports customer satisfaction survey, said the Apple products would be available through its EasyPay financing program. That program calls for an upfront payment of between $50 and $150 depending on iPhone model, with consumers paying an additional $25 per month on top of their selected rate plan until the device is paid off.
–Ericsson said it has signed a contract with Canadian telecommunications provider Telus to develop and deploy an IP multimedia subsystem platform designed to allow Telus to offer converged voice, data and video calling services over its wireline and wireless networks.
Telus explained that the platform will allow it to further consolidate its network “framework” and allow the operator to generate new revenue streams through services based on rich communication services and voice over LTE. Ericsson noted that it has signed more than 110 commercial IMS contracts worldwide, with 70 of those in commercial operation.
–Sweden-based telecommunications provider TeliaSonera announced late last week that it had fired CFO Per-Arne Blomquist among a total of four executives following an investigation into the company’s business dealings Uzbekistan. Christian Luiga, head of the company’s CEO office, has taken on the CFO position in an “acting” basis.
The change came following a review by the law firm Norton Rose Fullbright, which conducted a review of transactions and agreements made between TeliaSonera and partners in Eurasia. The review, which was initially tasked in April, is ongoing.
“On the basis of the information and conclusions to date it is evident to TeliaSonera’s board and CEO that the processes for conducting some transactions have not been in line with sound business practices. As a consequence four individuals will now leave the company,” TeliaSonera noted in a statement.
“Together with the board I have come to the conclusion that the way some transactions in the past were managed does not live up to the high standards of business ethics and transparency that TeliaSonera wants to stand for,” explained Johan Dennelind, president and CEO of TeliaSonera, said in a statement. “Based on Norton Rose Fulbright’s findings I am taking necessary actions. It is the responsibility of all our employees, including senior management, to ensure that we maintain high standards of business ethics and to implement necessary governance and compliance to uphold them. Going forward we need strong leadership on all levels to create a sound culture.”
—T-Mobile Czech Republic announced a deal to deploy Amdocs’ Convergent Charging and Billing solution in a move to update its billing system. Amdocs claims the system, which also runs its Enterprise Product Catalog, can provide real-time capabilities for approximately three million postpaid wireless customers.
Financial terms of the deal were not released.
Additional carrier news can be found on the RCR Wireless News “Carriers” page.
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