Mobile operator round-up: 3G, bans, investments, profits and WiMAX

There is a pile of good news stories from mobile operators around the world this morning. France, Ireland, India, Thailand and, making it’s first appearance on GoMo, Mongolia!

Indian operator chooses Acision to manage its MMS services

Huge Indian operator Bharti Airtel really wants to push MMS usage amongst its subscribers. As a result, it has dumped its current MMS provider in favour of messaging company Acision. Acision was born in 2007 as the result of numerous mergers between UK and Irish companies, and will be managing the entire MMS system of Bharti.

Mongolian operator makes huge investment in fibre-optic network

Mongolian mobile operator Unitel has announced that by the end of the year, it will have finished a fibre-optic cable network connecting the countries major population centres. The project will cost around $100 million, and will replace the current satellite-based system in the country.

I’ve never had the opportunity to report on a Mongolian operator before. You do something new every day!

Bollore in talks with Vivendi and Orange for its 20 WiMAX licenses

French company Bollore Telecom went on a WiMAX spending spree between 2006 and 2008, and is now looking to cash in. It bought 20 separate WiMAX licenses at a cost of almost €80 million. Now French newspaper La Tribune is reporting that is is talks with two different mobile operators that want to make use of these licenses – Vivendi and Orange. The two major possiblities for Bollore are to either sell the licenses on at a profit, or to create joint-ventures with one of the two operators.

Mobile profits far in excess of fixed-line in Ireland

Eircom is Irelands largest telecoms operator. It runs its own fixed-line phone business, and is Ireland main Internet provider. The mobile branch of the company is run by a subsidiary called Meteor – and Eircom is announcing that while its profits are sliding, Meteor has not just remained profitable but increased profits by 11%.

Mobile mast banned in Paris for being too near a house

Orange has been banned from putting up a mobile phone mast in a residential area Paris, because it is too close to 70 year old mans bedroom. Masts have been banned in Paris before, but usually only because they are close to a school. A large number of residents complained to the courts – and Orange has announced it will appeal against the ruling.

Thai mobile operator invests $294 million in preparation for 3G

The Thai telecoms regulator has announced that will be auctioning 3G licenses either late this year or early 2010. In preparation for this, Thai mobile operator True Move has announced nearly $300 million in 3G upgrades to its network. Until the licenses are actually auctioned off, True Move isn’t releasing any more details, so we don’t know who the lucky network equip