WiMAX: A reality check
July 23: Telecom Magazine reports that WiMAX, a high-speed wireless service, is gaining momentum worldwide. Latest figures show WiMAX equipment sales rose nearly 50 percent in 2007 to US$800 million. WiMAX networks have been deployed in some 80 countries with 2.2 million customers, and growth is expected to continue.
West Africa: Call Rates May Drop to Le200 Per Minute
July 23: A Concord Times article says that international call rates in Africa may drop by as much as 80% in a few months, going by a gateway and submarine cable operators' pledges. The rate charged at present by local operators in Sierra Leone is around 50 cents but this may drop to 6-7 cents per minute under the new regime.
Malaysia: Telekom Malaysia broadband network still on course
July 23: According to TeleGeography, Telekom Malaysia (TM), the former monopoly fixed line operator, has claimed that its national high speed broadband project is proceeding as planned, according to Reuters. Ratification of the contract for the installation of the network by the government had been expected at the beginning of July 2008, but was postponed, leading to speculation that the project had hit difficulties.
Russia: Mobile commerce services
July 23: On 9 July 2008 an ICU meeting on the Mobile Payments Project took place. Representatives of Russian mobile operators and financial institutions were present. The group decided to start work on the creation of an m-commerce system in Russia. The concept of the United Coordination Center (UCC) was approved. The aim of the Center is to organize a universal payment service for subscribers of all mobile operators and work out conditions for joining the Universal Payment Platform (UPP) of banks and other payment platforms.
Proprietary source: Factiva / Total Telecom
Chile: Subtel grants Swedcom MVNO license
July 23: Chilean wireless solutions provider Swedcom has received a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) license from telecoms regulator Subtel, Swedcom general manager and director Wuilian Salamanca told BNamericas. The executive said the company is still developing both the technical and economic business models but expects a commercial launch in approximately 12 months.
Proprietary source: Factiva / Business News Americas

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