MuniWireless

A remarkable quote from Ivan Seidenberg, CEO of Verizon, the last true believer in the magic of free markets. The last time we trusted market players to spend money correctly with few restrictions, the global financial system blew up. There is no political support for letting private enterprise go on its old merry way completely unfettered, free of regulations or responsibilities. That era is over.

Seidenberg says he agrees with the goals of US government’s broadband stimulus package but thinks too…

If, like me, you hate long-term mobile phone subscriptions, you will be pleased to hear that a French mobile operator, SFR (a subsidiary of Vivendi), is allowing customers to purchase data plans on a prepaid basis. If you live in France, you do not have to sign up for one- or two-year contracts.

SFR has begun offering a subscription-free pack with a 3G+ USB key and a SimCard for €69 with no subscription obligation (SFR will reimburse €30 after a certain…

Orange will lose its exclusive deal with Apple to sell the iPhone through Orange beginning this Christmas season pursuant to a decision by the French Competition Council. Orange may wholesale the iPhone, on a non-exclusive way to multi-brand resellers (for example, Darty) but it must ensure that the iPhone works the same way on any existing mobile network in France. Therefore Orange may continue to sell a SIM-locked iPhone tying it to the Orange network in its own distribution channel.…

The Conseil de la Concurrence (the French competition court) has ordered Apple to terminate its exclusive deal with Orange France and to offer the iPhone through other operators. The court seems to have expedited its decision based on the complaint filed by rival operator, Bouygues Telecom, just in time for the holiday season when many people are buying electronic gadgets. This means Bouygues Telecom and SFR can begin offering the iPhone to customers. The court’s decision is a blow to…

ARCEP, the French telecoms regulator, has decided to regulate the price that operators charge one another for call terminations. The move will eventually result in lower prices for end users. Other telecom regulators in Europe have lowered these rates or about to make similar moves.

Setting up a model to evaluate cost of mobile networks In 2006, ARCEP adopted a new model to understand better the cost structure of mobile phone operators. Many elements of the ARCEP model come from Ofcom,…

ARCEP, the French regulator, recently published on its website a set of documents and information about “sharing fiber to the home”. After about 18 months of investigation, trials, technical discussions and assessments, ARCEP concluded that one of the critical conditions for rapid deployment of fiber networks is a set of guidelines for operators, installers, owners and users to share the fiber local loop.

“To deploy a new local loop is an technical, economical and a competitive challenge for France,“ an ARCEP…