 COVER STORY
Financing the telecoms industry
Why has vendor financing - which has worked well in other industries - gone so wrong in the telecoms sector? And have investment banks and venture capitalists been too willing to pump money into the industry? Richard Waters investigates.
LOCAL LOOP UNBUNDLING*
Overview
Six months after European Union legislation to increase competition in the local access market came into force, results to date provide ample cause for pessimism.
Country by country
Details of progress towards local loop unbundling - or lack of it - across the EU.
Interview
A golden rule is not to be deterred by short-term setbacks, says Charles Cotton of US-based Virata, which makes semiconductors and software for DSL products.
OPTICAL WIRELESS
Overview
Free-space laser technology, which sends signals through the air to connect users to local networks, is the modern equivalent of the beacon bonfire or a signal lamp.
Supplier profile
Canadian-based fSONA is one of a number of telecoms equipment suppliers hoping to meet the growing demand for wireless systems to connect buildings with a beam of laser light. On the web
Applications
Organisations as diverse as universities and Formula 1 racing teams have learnt the benefits of this fibre-free technology. On the web
MOBILE SERVICES
Overview
To justify huge investments in licences and networks, mobile telecom operators must offer new and compelling “must have” services to consumers and corporate customers alike.
Location-based services for businesses
The business sector is potentially lucrative, but delivering the kinds of services and, in particular, the quality required to run business-critical applications will be no small feat.
Location-based services for consumers
The mobile telecoms industry is desperately seeking new sources of revenue from consumers in readiness for the day when voice revenues start to fall. But analysts warn that data services that exploit a user's locationto show the nearest restaurant, for exampleare unlikely to be big money-spinners. On the web
Mobile advertising
Initial response rates have been high, but firm guidelines are needed to eradicate intrusive and unsolicited messages.
Mobile messaging
A wide range of content suppliers, software developers, advertisers and equipment suppliers are queueing up to devise mobile location-based messaging services.
Viewpoint
There are compelling opportunities to streamline business operations and cut costs through mobile solutions, says Martin Dunsby of Deloitte Consulting.
Mobile gaming
Success in Japan has left the rest of the world hoping that mobile gaming will become the killer application for the next generation of phones. But will it?
Interview
Services are adding a third dimension to mobile communications after voice and data, says Mike Short of the Mobile Data Association.
On the web
Profile
“The remote control to life,” is how Peter Henricsson, chief executive and director of UK-based CellPoint, describes the mobile phone. On the web
Profile
724 Solutions is a leading developer of internet infrastructure software which enables companies to offer secure mobile transactional services over a range of internet-enabled devices. On the web
OTHER FEATURES
Viewpoint
Alan Cane on why global telecoms alliances fail to ring true.
Business.eu
The second instalment of our new monthly research service.
View from the top
Don Peterson of Avaya says an economic slowdown does not presage a similar reduction in the pace of technical innovation.
GPRS and 3G update
France finally gets its first GPRS service, while 3G licensing activity picks up.
Article plus tables on the web
News update
Joia Shillingford’s regular review. Plus a look at the three US Utility giants interested in buying Viatel On the web
ADSL diary
Marcus Gibson takes his broadband modem Betty for another virtual mystery tour. On the web.
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