Convergence, Strategy, Global: Looking into the future of telecoms and, in particular, communications convergence, IBM has set up a new business unit aimed at fine-tuning and updating IBM’s strategies.

Contracts, Broadband, NGN, Thailand, Asia-Pacific: Redback Networks Inc, a provider of next-generation broadband networking systems, has announced that its SmartEdge multi-service edge routers have been selected by True Corporation.

NGN, Telephony, Networks, Internet, Russia, CEE: Part of the first stage of its interregional transport backbone network, Russian operator Golden Telecom is planning to extend secure, affordable voice and broadband Internet services across Russia.

Reports, Mobile Gambling, Applications, Asia-Pacific: Mobile gambling revenues from the Asia-Pacific region are set to rise from US$966 million in 2006 to US$8.8 billion in 2011, according to a new report.

Manufacturing, Antennas, Czech Republic, CEE: The new opportunities from a state-of-the-art factory in Brno in the Czech Republic make for exciting times at Andrew Corporation. Michael Schwartz has been speaking to Andrea Cassini, Andrew Corporation’s President of EMEA Sales and Marketing.

Corporate, Acquisitions, Antennas, Global: Two decisions to reject mergers and the new opportunities from a state-of-the-art factory make for exciting times at Andrew Corporation. Michael Schwartz has been speaking to Andrea Cassini, Andrew Corporation’s President of EMEA Sales and Marketing.

Satellite, Asia-Pacific: Just a few days ago four Norwegians, one Swede and one Peruvian reached their destination of Tahiti on Tangaroa, a replica of explorer Thor Heyerdahl's famous Kon-Tiki raft.

Internet, Global:  Amazon.com’s information service alexa.com has listed APC.org, the site of the Association for Progressive Communications, as just outside the world’s 15,000 most visited sites...

Finance, Telephony, Cable, Africa, MENA: Reflecting the more confident atmosphere surrounding negotiations over the future of the East African Submarine Cable System (EASSy), two key sources of finance have indicated that they will support this project.

Disaster Management, Satellite, UAE, Global: The ITU and Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications Company have concluded an agreement to provide portable satellite terminals to assist countries in disaster mitigation and relief.

In what must be the understatement of the year David McBride, CEO of Intelsat, tells Developing Telecoms why he THINKS(!) a US$6 billlion merger between Intelsat and PanAmSat positions the new giant well for its customers...