DIGEST/WORLD

GSM Marks 15th Anniversary

On July 1, GSM became 15 years old. Today approximately every

third person on the globe has a GSM phone-the 2 bn GSM subscriber milestones

was passed in June, equating to 80% of all mobile users in the world. No other

communication technology has had such a significant impact. In terms of users,

GSM has surpassed the Internet, personal computers and fixed telephone users.

Singtel Selects Ericsson

Ericsson will deliver an ultra-high speed fixed broadband trial

network to SingTel. Based on Ericsson's EDA VDSL2 broadband technology, the

trial network will enable SingTel to deliver the broadband services deployed

over existing copper lines. This will make SingTel the first operator in

Southeast Asia to deploy VDSL2 broadband technology, providing access speed of

up to 100 Mbps on copper. The existing ADSL customer premises equipment (CPE)

can be reused for this service.

Alcatel, SaskTel Sign MoU

Alcatel and SaskTel, have signed an MOU to conduct joint

research and development. The agreement will lead to the creation of

approximately 20 new R&D positions to be based in Saskatchewan that would be

jointly funded by Alcatel and SaskTel. R&D activity resulting from the MoU

will focus on the development of advanced software applications to address

global market needs. Products and services resulting from the collaboration will

be distributed worldwide.

UTStarcom's Margins Up

UTStarcom has reported net sales for the first quarter of 2006

at $596.6 mn. Gross margins for the quarter were 20.5% and GAAP net loss for the

quarter was $10.6 mn. The company generated approximately $54 mn of positive

cash flow from operations and paid down approximately $27 mn in short-term debt

during the quarter.

Huawei's Subscribers Increase

Huawei has announced that the number of its mobile softswitch

subscribers has exceeded 100 mn. As a pioneer in the mobile softswitch industry,

Huawei is the leading provider of softswitch products. In 2003, Huawei launched

the first commercial mobile softswitch product based on 3GPP standard,

demonstrating its leadership in the technology. In the same year, the Chinese

major was the first to introduce 3GPP R4 technologies to GSM network, and

launched a series of commercial products and solutions which were based on

distributed architecture technology.

SCO Plans Investment

The SCO Group has announced a significant new worldwide

investment program that rewards developers for creating innovative, new mobile

applications for wireless handset devices using the company's new edge builder

software developer kit (SDK).

3 Group and Yahoo in Alliance

3 Group, dealing in the 3G arenas, and Yahoo have announced a

global agreement, as part of which the Internet giant will provide its portfolio

of mobile services to 3 worldwide. The two companies will work together to offer

Internet services such as Yahoo Search, Yahoo Mobile Web, Yahoo-Messenger, and

Yahoo Mail on 3's networks around the world. The companies also plan to make

additional Yahoo services available to 3 subscribers in the future.

Datacraft Helps in e-Governance

Datacraft has completed a $1 mn project to optimize the network

infrastructure of a leading Korean service provider to support an e-Government

initiative under the Korean Ministry of Education. The e-Government project

paves the way for a highly efficient digital government that provides online

access, improved administrative procedures and secure knowledge-based services

for Korean citizens.

Cyber Internet Deploys Juniper

Platforms

Cyber Internet Service of Pakistan has selected Juniper Networks

M-series multi service routers and SDX service deployment system to create the

country's first IP/MPLS network. The new network will support Cyber Internet's

launch of multi play services including voice, video and data for business and

residential customers throughout the country. The deployment is being completed

with the assistance of Juniper's local partner, Premier Systems Private.

Huawei Technologies Ups Guidance

Huawei expects contract sales in Asia Pacific to grow by 55 % to

hit $2 bn in 2006. The company announced that its contract sales in Asia,

excluding China, Japan South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong, is expected to jump to

more than $2 bn this year from $1.29 bn in 2005 as it continues to focus on

further deepening its relationship with existing and potential key customers in

the region. Last year, the the Chinese telecom company's global international

sales hit $4.8 bn, which exceeded domestic sales for the first time, accounting

for 57% of its total contract sales of $8.2 bn.

BT in Collaboration with Infosys

Infosys Technologies has helped BT launch rate-adaptive

broadband speeds of up to 8Mbps on a UK-wide basis. The launch is expected to

transform broadband services by offering a flexible range of options that will

support future innovative broadband services such as simultaneous TV, gaming,

video and music downloads. The new BT ADSL MAX suite will see the upgrade of

more than 5,300 exchanges across the UK to cover 99.6% of UK homes and

businesses.

China Telecom Selects Cisco

China Telecom has selected the Cisco Internet Protocol

Next-Generation Network (IP NGN) architecture as the foundation of its 2006

ChinaNet network expansion and has named Cisco as the primary equipment provider

for the project. Cisco's solutions that will be deployed in ChinaNet's

network include the high-end Cisco CRS-1 carrier routing system and significant

upgrades to its existing Cisco 12000 series routers, which will expand the

ChinaNet core network's capabilities, reliability and scalability.

EMC in Deal with AT&T

EMC has announced a licensing deal with AT&T Knowledge

Ventures, the intellectual property unit of AT&T. The agreement allows EMC

to market certain IP network management technology developed for AT&T. Under

terms of the agreement, EMC can now market the EMC Smarts software developed

specifically for AT&T Project Light speed. The EMC Smarts automated analysis

and impact assessment software works in conjunction with Alcatel's 5620

service aware manager (SAM) to more effectively manage the network of Alcatel IP

routers being used as part of AT&T Project Light speed.

ZTE Equipment for Highest Railway

Equipment from ZTE were chosen for the wireless communications

network that provides voice and data services to passengers using the world's

highest altitude rail service-the Qinghai-Tibet Railway. In collaboration with

China Mobile and China Unicom, ZTE´s CDMA and GSM wireless solutions provide

service coverage for the newly built rail system. The wireless communications

network covers the two regions of Qinghai and Tibet, as well as the Golmud and

T´ang-ku-la mountains section, covering nearly 1,000 kms.

SK Telecom Enters Chinese Market

SK Telecom has agreed on strategic cooperation on overall mobile

business and has signed a strategic alliance framework agreement with China

Unicom. SK Telecom has concluded to buy $1 bn worth of convertible bonds of

China Unicom (CUHK), a listed enterprise of China Unicom in Hong Kong.