********************************
EU Reprimands 16 Countries for Uncompetitive Telecoms Markets
formatting link
The European Commission has ruled that no European Union (EU) member countries have a competitive telecoms market. According to Dow Jones reports, 16 out of the 25 member states lacked sufficient competition, while the other nine failed to respond to the EU's inquiries before the 30 September 2005 deadline. From a total of 152 markets...Portugal Telecom Wary of Sonae's Hostile Bid
formatting link
Portugal Telecom has described Sonae's US$12.8 billion-bid for a majority stake as hostile and below the actual or potential worth of the company. In a statement, Portugal Telecom chief executive Miguel Horta e Costa insisted that the bid undervalued Portugal Telecom's current and future worth, warning that it could lead to a break-up of...SingTel Achieves Q3 Net Profit Growth on Mixed Regional Performance
formatting link
In the quarter ending 31 December 2005, SingTel's net profit grew by 16% y/y to S$885 million (US$541.9 million), while underlying net profit rose 4.1% y/y to S$778 million. The net profit increase was mainly boosted by a S$105-million exceptional gain from the partial sale of its stake in Singapore Post. Revenue rose by 4.2% y/y to..."Better Than WiMax" Device Gets FCC Nod
formatting link
Startup xGTM Technology has received FCC approval for its novel wide area wireless network transmitter, an important step for a firm that's looking to buck a seemingly overwhelming trend toward 3G and 802.11 technologies. The xGTM system is based on a new low frequency wireless networking protocol called xMax. Sarasota,...Google Battles Broadband Provider Fee
formatting link
WASHINGTON -- Internet giant Google said Tuesday that the wide variety of Web sites might shrink if broadband providers like AT&T start charging companies for premium access to high-speed networks. The Bell companies promised members of the Senate Commerce Committee that they have no plans to block Internet services. Lawmakers...Bush Wants $3.6B Wi-Fi Tax
formatting link
The Bush administration has asked the Federal Communications Commission to consider imposing fees that would yield about $3.6 billion during the next 10 years on unauctioned spectrum licenses -- a notion widely seen as targeting newer broadband and Wi-Fi services, but presumably also applicable to a wide range of emerging RF...Nortel Takes $2.5B Hit
formatting link
Nortel Networks Ltd. (NYSE/Toronto: NT - message board) is on course to take a $2.473 billion charge to settle outstanding class action lawsuits. It would "remove a significant impediment to Nortel's future success and allow Mike Zafirovski and the Nortel team to move forward," the company's chairman Harry Pearce said in a statement this...US Business Data Services Spending Headed for Slow Decline
formatting link
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Total US business end-user data service expenditures will grow 0.3% to $36.6 billion by the end of 2005, reports In-Stat. Expenditures will increase slightly again in 2006, fueled by broadband Internet access and shifts to IP environments, but start a gradual decline in 2007 as a result of mounting pricing ...Copyright (C) 2005 PricewaterhouseCoopers.