New Zealand telecommunications provider Spark said it’s planning to fully acquire small carrier TeamTalk in an effort to expand its provision of internet services across the nation, ZDNet reported. The small provider offers mobile radio services and metro fiber services under its brand CityLink and also rural internet services under its brand Farmside.
Government officials in India have announced that US tech giants Apple will start building iPhones in the country later this year. It is believed the company’s decision to do so is in order to tap into a booming middle class while sales in China slow. The IT minister for Karnataka confirmed that Apple agreed to assemble its hugely popular iPhones in the southern state, whose capital Bangalore is recognized as India’s technology hub.
Yahoo Japan Corp., formed as a joint venture between the American internet company Yahoo! and the Japanese company SoftBank, saw its latest quarterly earnings jump the most since 2013. The company attributed the earnings to growth in advertising and online shopping via smartphones.
Chinese government policy makers are set to test private funding models in an attempt to find new ways of generating finance and liquidity for its tightly-controlled telecom sector. Traditionally, China’s state-owned operators attracted billions through public listings in New York and Hong Kong while preserving the management and rights of the parents. The policy has been labelled as ‘mixed ownership’ as a means of raising capital.
Thaicom Public Company Limited announced the appointment of satellite veteran Dr. Supoj Chiveeraphan as its Chief Strategy Officer (CSO)
Leading Asian satellite operator Thaicom Public Company Limited announced the appointment of satellite veteran Dr. Supoj Chiveeraphan as its Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) on February 6. Among Dr. Chinveeraphan’s responsibilities will be leading the growth of Thaicom as an Asian brand, inclusive of marketplace strategy, market positioning, partnerships, and operations.
Californian iPhone maker Apple has pushed South Korea’s Samsung from its position as the world’s leading smartphone vendor in Q4 2016, according to research firm Strategy Analytics. Apple has a successful fourth quarter, selling an estimated 800,000 units more than Samsung, achieving a total of 78.3 million for Q4, and giving it a 17.8 percent market share compared with Samsung’s 17.7 percent.
British telecoms giant Vodafone reported that its annual earnings would probably be low in India due to high competition and difficulties, but it remains confident about its performance in both Europe and Africa.
President of Japan's mobile carrier Soft Bank Group Masayoshi Son. KAZUHIRO NOGI / AFP
A leading Japanese telecommunications company is believed to be weighing up an investment of more than $1 billion in office-space start-up ‘WeWork’ – according to speculation circulating from the region.
Founder and executive chairman of Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba Group Jack Ma. AFP PHOTO
Alibaba Group is extending its operations Down Under by launching a new base in Australia – as the company continues to expand its footprint overseas. The group opened a new office in Melbourne and that will serve to headquarters for its operations in both Australia and New Zealand.
Vodafone confirmed that it has entered into merger negotiations with Idea Cellular in a move that could result in the creation of the largest telecoms company in India. The announcement has ended months of speculation in relation to the two operators entering a partnership agreement in an effort to fend off Reliance Jio.
