Welcome to your personal issue of This Week, Australia's only easy to read FREE weekly summary of the the top news stories on wireless communications in Australia and New Zealand. Don't forget if you can't wait for the latest information you can always visit our web site where This Week is updated daily. You can also visit our archive where you can see stories posted since mid-2003. Our search engine is an easy way to locate a specific topic. For those that want to know more, click through hyperlinks are embedded in each story enabling you to view the source information. Note some of these links may require you to subscribe to the publication that provides the source material.

Australia

Kidnapper forgot to turn his phone off, nabbed!!

21 March, 2007

Sydney police arrested a man who allegedly kidnapped a woman in Melbourne after pinpointing his whereabouts from tracking a signal from his mobile phone.

Broadband Connect creates funding divide for wireless providers

21 March, 2007

Wireless broadband providers have been hit hardest in budget cuts to the federal Government's Broadband Connect regional broadband subsidy scheme with funding cut by more than half under its replacement, the $162.5 million Australian Broadband Guarantee (ABG).

Sleepy Norfolk wakens to mobile call

21 March, 2007

While change is customarily slow on Norfolk Island, the uptake of mobile services launched for the first time this week is expected to be very rapid to the chagrin of some of the locals and tourists who were endeared to the fact they were non-existent.

Hutchison looks for new ways to manage old debt

19 March, 2007

3G network operator Hutchison plans to raise up to $2.85 billion in equity to reduce the company's debt substantially and to improve its capital structure for shareholders.

New Zealand

Competition Catalyst

23 March, 2007

Eight years after hitting Australian shores, the introduction of number portability on April 1 is expected to further boost competition in the New Zealand mobile market, having already made it plausible for Orcon, M2 Telecommunications Group and Compass to start business as MVNO's on Vodafone's network.

Traces of Telecom "arrogance" in Gattung farewell speech

22 March, 2007

The same arrogance that shackles Telecom to its isolationist CDMA network was evident in remarks made by outgoing chief Teressa Gattung when asked about the potential of third player entering the mobile market in New Zealand at a Telecom presentation to Australian analysts in Sydney.

Dual-mode won't come cheap for Telecom

19 March, 2007

Telecom has lambasted claims that it will cost between $NZ700 million to $NZ1.2 billion to build a dual-mode GSM network to provide roaming functionality for its current CDMA network.

Huawei waiting to do battle for Econet

17 March, 2007

Chinese telecoms equipment maker Huawei already delivers mobile TV, location-base services, music downloads and video telephony on the PCCW network in Hong Kong and is bullish about the possibility of helping Econet to succeed as New Zealand's third wireless network operator after building a ten cell site trial network in Auckland.

What's new on our site?

EDX Signal Radio Design Suite: New Release v6.2/9.2

EDX Wireless, together with regional partner TeleResources, today announced the release of the EDX Signal suite of radio design tools, version 6.2/9.2. This release represents a significant advance in quality and features, with numerous fixes, additions and improvements to the EDX family of products- allowing us to continue providing the highest-quality radio planning software available.

In particular, a host of new features strengthen EDX SignalPro's position as the premier WiMax and Wi-Fi Mesh Network Design Tool. These include:

• Added WiMAX Studies
• Superior WiMAX Capacity Analysis
• More MIMO Features
• Advanced Technology Support

And please visit the EDX Section of our website for more information, including downloadable Version Release Notes and the v6.2 New Features Brochure.

Postcard from 3GSM 2007 World Congress, Barcelona

This February we were attending the world's largest GSM conference in Barcelona, Spain. A must see event for industry practitioners. For a link to our report on the show and its associated conference please CLICK HERE.

Upcoming Events

Mobile Content Australia Summit 2007

27-28 March 2007
Sydney, Australia

Mobile content is the hottest new area in media. Producers are targeting higher profits through the distribution of customised content to mobile platforms. The launch of 3G and DVB-H in Australia means that mobile platforms will become the fastest-growing channels for content distribution. Forecast for growth is strong. By 2009, the total market is predicted to top AU$1 billion (Frost & Sullivan).

Mobile Content Australia 2007 is your industry’s premier forum for the developers and distributors of mobile content, as well as carriers, hand-set providers and equipment manufacturers. This summit showcases award-winning case studies to help you and your business deliver anywhere, anytime content to mobile devices.

The program is tailored for 3G network carriers, as well as developers, owners of content, operators, aggregators, third-party information providers, content providers for TV networks, internet, and broadcasting.

A hand-picked panel of speakers and panellists are planned for this event. These experts are assessing the global demand for mobile content services. They will also assess business models for growth and profitability and track sectors driving demand for mobile content.

For more details and to register for the event, please visit www.acevents.com.au/mobilecontent2007

WiMAX Strategies Asia

24-25 April 2007
Bangkok, Thailand

The premier WiMAX Strategies Asia Conference is devoted to exploring the major business, service and technology provider opportunities ahead with the rapid evolution of the global WiMAX ecosystem.

A comprehensive range of Conference keynotes and in-depth special interest sessions will explore innovative business models, technology strategies, network infrastructure, systems and wireless devices, as well as the latest developments towards a new generation of WiMAX-enabled services and applications.

Researched specifically to meet the needs of fixed, broadband, mobile and green-field operators, as well as key end-users from business and government, the program will examine specific business cases, evaluate technology benefits and identify key deployment considerations and timelines.

For more details and to register for the event, please visit www.wimaxstrategy.com

Mobile Vietnam

9-10 May 2007
Hanoi, Vietnam

From the producers of The GSM > 3G World Series, Mobile Vietnam 2007, in it’s 4th year running, is positioned as the leading telecommunications event for the Vietnamese market and offers an excellent platform for local and international participants to meet and network in the exchange of dialogue on expertise and experiences pertaining to the latest business trends and technological developments applicable to the region.

The mobile market in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam continues to grow strongly, evidence that the government’s limited competition model which was put in is in fact working. The government has also started to open the market up to new players whilst promoting the continued growth of mobile networks and encouraging the extension of coverage to rural provinces.

Endorsed by Ministry of Posts & Telematics and co-hosted with VNPT, Mobile Vietnam 2007 is the definitive meeting place for high-level networking with key decision makers from the Vietnamese mobile market.

For more details and to register for the event, please visit www.informatm.com/mobile-vietnam

WiMax Asia 2007

15-17 May 2007
Singapore

WiMAX Asia 06 was a SELL OUT event attracting over 200 high level attendees from leading operators and industry players from across the region. It was clear to see from the buzz at this event that WiMAX is a need to know topic for the Asia Pacific region and the industry is poised to see what the future holds!

WiMAX Asia 07, organised by Informa Telecoms & Media, is officially endorsed by WiMAX Forum. The conference is with an expanded 3-day programme agenda, 3 interactive workshops and 2-day exhibition. It will once again be the annual gathering for all WiMAX industry players across the eco-system from telecom operators – fixed, mobile, cable, ISPs, WiMAX vendors and suppliers, venture capitalists, system integrators, handsets, device manufacturers and many others to network, share, hear and learn on how to shape the future growth in the broadband world with fixed WiMAX, mobile WiMAX and WiBRO.

For more details and to register for the event, please visit www.wimax-vision.com

Fleet Mobile Integrated Comms

28-30 May 2007
Sydney, Australia

In it's 16th year, Fleet Mobile Integrated Comms covers the integration of different mobile communications technologies used for public safety, security and critical infrastructure.

2 Day Programme & 2 Workshops - Featuring 12 Case Studies, Keynotes and Panel Sessions

Fleet Mobile Integrated Comms features 12 tailored case studies plus other presentations focusing on mobile communication strategies from the perspectives of the industry’s leading experts, including:

• Incident Management & Preparedness
• Technologies: Mobile Mesh; Digital Radio; GIS; Underground Comms; Mobile Data
• Integrated & Converged Comms Strategies
• Operational Effectiveness, CIP, Public Safety & Security
• Digital Network Implementation
• Spectrum Review, Management & Planning

China Mobility International Summit 2007

11-12 July 2007
Beijing, China

The China Mobility International Summit is a direct descendant of the China 3G Mobile International Summit, the largest international mobile and wireless business gathering in China. Co-organised with the China Institute of Communications, this annual Summit has top level government and industry support, being endorsed by the Ministry of Information Industry and supported by all of China’s mobile and fixed operators.

The Summit agenda and speakers reflect in-depth research and face-to-face discussions with China’s operators and industry experts, assuring strongly focused coverage on wireless broadband technologies, systems and services of greatest interest for industry development in China.

For more details and to register for the event, please visit www.china-mobility.com