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Mobile Operators – How to be lean and not mean
Whenever regulators or consumer groups protest about high prices in some parts of the telecommunications market, operators are quick to respond with justifications for these prices.
The making and sustaining of a good, effective regulator
The theory of a good, effective regulator says that it should be independent, competent, adequately resourced, and accountable.
Evidence and justification for major reductions in South Africa’s mobile interconnection rates (MTR)
There is a mounting and increasingly incontrovertible body of evidence and experience from throughout the world that the high mobile termination rates (MTR) prevailing in South Africa (1.25 rands per minute) cannot be justified on the basis of costs.
Digital Strategies and the Value and Limitations of Wireless Access
In many countries broadband wireless access is playing a growing role in enhancing accessibility to and adoption of broadband services.
“Net Neutrality”: In the crossfire of politics, social values and disruptive technologies
“Net neutrality” has become a sound bite that conceals the diversity and complexity of the issues that it raises and the choices that it involves.
VoIP over Mobile Networks: A Curse or a Mixed Blessing for Operators?
The inclusion of VoIP capabilities in mobile terminal devices has multiple potential consequences for mobile operators and others. This commentary focuses on mobile operators, and the outlook for their current and potential new revenues, as well as their costs.
History of the 2.6GHz Band
To gain a proper perspective on the importance and value of the 2.6GHz band for terrestrial mobile communications, it is instructive to review the sequence of events and decisions that have led up the special position which this band now occupies.
International Mobile Price Comparisons – Limitations of the OECD’s Methodology
The OECD has reported the following: “Finland, the Netherlands and Sweden have the lowest prices for mobile phone calls among OECD countries, according to the latest OECD Communications Outlook. The highest were found in Canada, Spain and the United States.” (source) Unfortunately this finding is fundamentally misleading. The details of the methodology that is employed, while applicable across many countries, are inappropriate for North America.
Social Media – Much More Than An Issue of Public Relations
Many businesses are trying to adjust to and cope with what sometimes seems like a “perfect storm” of rising costs, stagnant or declining markets, regulatory and policy changes, a credit crunch, and in some sectors uncertain or even declining product pipelines and expiring patents (think pharmaceutical) and/or contentious issues of intellectual property rights (think ICT), as well as major shifts in demographics. These forces are driving significant shifts in how many products and ser vices are developed, marketed, sold, and delivered.
Japan as an example of Green IT
Japan is an example of how long term forecasts of potentially huge increases in energy consumption and CO2 emissions are stimulating Green IT initiatives both to reduce the energy required “per byte stored, displayed, processed, and transmitted”, and to build a much more energy-efficient society and economy.