Unicom to Rollout 3G to 284 Cities

China Unicom said its capital spending in 2009 will soar to 110 billion Chinese yuan (16.1 billion US dollars) from 70.5 billion in 2008. Aiming to offer 3G services in 284 cities across China, the company plans to spend 38.7 billion yuan on its WCDMA network in 2009.

In 2008, China Unicom's revenue declined 1.2% to 148.91 billion yuan as the company's fixed-line operations struggled. Mobile revenue was boosted by growth in usage of value-added services, such as SMS, GPRS and ringtones, which accounted for 24.9% of total revenue from the mobile business, representing an increase of 3.3 percentage points over 2007. source: China Unicom presentation

Revenue Rises in China

China's telecoms industry generated revenue of 128.86 billion Chinese yuan (18.86 billion US dollars) in the first two months of 2009, 2% higher than the same period in 2008, according to government statistics.

In January and February, total mobile phone traffic was 505 billion minutes, up 18% on the same period in 2008, while 131.47 billion text messages were exchanged, an increase of 13% on the same period last year.

In the first two months of 2009, the number of mobile data service subscribers in China rose 35 million to 289 million., while the number of fixed broadband subscribers rose 3 million to 86 million. source: Interfax

Chunghwa Tweaks Capex Upwards

As it deploys next generation fixed and mobile networks, Chunghwa Telecom of Taiwan send it plans annual capital spending of between 30 billion Taiwanese dollars (880 million US dollars) and 32 billion Taiwanese dollars over the next two to three years compared with 30.1 billion for 2008.

In 2008, Chunghwa's total revenue increased by 2% to 202 billion Taiwanese dollars, boosted by growing usage of mobile data services, but curbed by regulation. Revenue for 2008 from mobile "value added services" was 7 billion Taiwanese dollars, representing a 25% increase over 2007, including a rise in SMS revenue of 21% and a rise in mobile Internet revenue of 39%. source: Chunghwa Telecom statement

Stalling in Greece

Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE) said it expects its 2009 revenues and operating profits to be roughly in line with 2008 as lower fixed-line sales in Greece are offset by gains in Romania. In 2008, the Athens-based company's revenue climbed 1.4% to 6.41 billion euros.

OTE said challenges for 2009 include irrational pricing moves by fixed and mobile competitors, declining currencies in certain countries and unpredictable regulatory decisions. source: OTE statement

iPhone Leads U.S., Nokia Ahead in India

The Apple iPhone accounted for 16% of mobile Internet traffic in the U.S. in February 2009, according to data from AdMob, which serves ads for more than 6,000 mobile web sites and 1,000 applications around the world. The Apple iPod Touch was placed second with 11%, and the Motorola RAZR V3 third with 6%.

In India, the Nokia 3110c accounted for the most mobile Internet traffic (7%), followed by the Nokia N70 (6%) and the Nokia 6233 (4%). AdMob's data also suggests that mobile Internet traffic in Asia in February 2009 was four times the traffic in February 2008. source: AdMob report

For commentary on this report, please see my post at the Mobile Innovation Exchange.

ZTE Predicts Double Digit Growth

Lin Cheng, president of ZTE’s western Europe operations, told the Financial Times, that the economic slowdown will reduce ZTE's group revenue growth in 2009, compared with 2008, but it will still be in double digits. source: Financial Times

3 Group Targets Breakeven in 2009

Barring any significant adverse market or regulatory developments, Hutchison Whampoa expects its 3 Group to breakeven at EBIT level in 2009. Last year, 3 Group, hit by regulation, saw its revenue increase 1% to 60.37 billion Hong Kong dollars (7.79 billion US dollars), while its LBIT fell 39% to 10.86 billion Hong Kong dollars, with all operations achieving higher revenues and lower losses, except 3 Italia.

The group’s registered 3G customer base increased 17% during 2008 and currently stands at more than 20.7 million customers, but Hutchison Whampoa defines only 79% of these customers as "active". The customer base includes more than 2.5 million mobile broadband (dongle or laptop) users - a 305% increase from a year ago. source: Hutchison Whampoa statement

Sprint to Extend WiMAX Coverage

Sprint said it plans to deploy its mobile WiMAX service in at least 10 further U.S. cities, including Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas and Las Vegas, in 2009. The Kansas-based company expects to launch the service in Boston, Houston, New York, San Francisco, Washington, D.C. and other markets in 2010.

Sprint said its WiMAX service offers peak downlink speeds of up to 12 Mbps in Baltimore today and average downlink speeds of 2-4 Mbps. source: Sprint statement