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Highlights from the LTE World Summit 2012

The LTE World Summit 2012 proved to be a great success

The curtain has come down on another successful LTE World Summit event, which took place this week, in Barcelona, Spain. More than 3,000 delegates attended the event, representing more than 130 countries from around the world, indicating LTE’s impact the world over. There were over 70 exhibitors and also a series of masterclasses for the more technically minded to enjoy.

Pakistan’s ­Mobilink has bank accounts frozen by authorities

Pakistan's Mobilink has had its bank accounts frozen by the FBR

­Pakistani operator Mobilink has had all of its bank accounts frozen by the country’s Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), as the operator allegedly owes Rs8.6bn ($93m) in taxes to the authority.

Bharti acquires 49 per cent share of Qualcomm’s India unit at cut-price

Bharti acquires 49 per cent stake in Qualcomm's India unit for a mere $165m

India’s Bharti Airtel has signed an agreement with chipmaker Qualcomm to acquire 49 per cent of its Indian BWA entities. Qualcomm acquired the wireless broadband service permits in India for four states in the country in 2010 for $1bn. The purchase was made in a deliberate bid to block the progress of WiMAX as an alternative 4G technology in the country, Qualcomm CEO Paul Jacobs said at the time. Now, it has sold the 49 per cent stake to Bharti for a mere $165m.

Everything Everywhere trials mobile ticketing service

EE is trialling a mobile ticketing service in the UK

Network operator Everything Everywhere is deploying a mobile contactless transport ticketing service in the UK, which could lead to a nationwide roll out across select bus and rail services in 2013.

Will London 2012 be the first data roaming mega event?

The games are seen as a major driver for mobile roaming

At the recent Roaming World Congress hosted by IIR an animated panel session highlighted a number of challenges and opportunities imminent in the forthcoming London Olympics. These Olympics have been heralded as a major opportunity for medals to be won and sport to be celebrated but there are also a number of reasons to celebrate the games as a major driver for mobile roaming.

Wifi to remain dominant home networking tech

The free wifi offering will target short term users

By 2014, global shipments of core home networking equipment and network-enabled media devices will exceed one billion units, according to ABI Research. But wifi is expected to remain the most common technology used to connect these media devices.

Operators and the cars of the future

Connected cars have been getting a lot of attention in 2012 so far

Connected cars are fast becoming the topic that has the telecoms industry’s tongues wagging excitedly. This year, Ford’s chairman gave a keynote presentation at Mobile World Congress, RIM showcased a connected Porsche at its BlackBerry World 2012 event, and Google secured the first ever self-driving car licence in the US. And as the connected car market continues to evolve, mobile operators are finding that they have a key part to play in the ecosystem, and are having to invest time and resources to ensure they are not overlooked as the connected car market matures.

Yahoo launches web browser

Yahoo has launched Axis, a web browser for iPhones, iPads and desktop PCs.

Yahoo has launched a web browser for iPhones, iPads and desktop PCs. Axis aims to improve how people search and browse the web, and according to Yahoo, offers the only search experience that allows users to enter their search and see and interact with visual results, without leaving the page they are on.

China Telecom launches UK MVNO

CTExcelbiz was launched through the operator’s subsidiary China Telecom Europe, and its MVNA partner, Transatel.

China Telecom has introduced its own MVNO into the UK market, becoming the first Chinese operator to launch a service outside China. CTExcelbiz is running on Everything Everywhere’s network and offer a customised service to the UK’s Chinese population.

Jha replaced as Google overhauls Motorola management

Sanjay Jha, former CEO of Motorola Mobility

Sanjay Jha, who revived Motorola’s devices business and led the company through its acquisition, has been replaced as CEO, after Google finalised its takeover of the firm.