Satellite, Antarctica Central to the joys of amateur radio operations is making contact with radio stations all over the world. Antarctica is no longer the exception, for nine temporary radio stations are to be set up on Peter I Island, a remote uninhabited ice-bound island near Antarctica.

Internet Broadband, Central Europe, Czech Republic:  During the first week of January this year, the number of ADSL-based broadband Internet subscribers in the Czech Republic reached 275,000, that is to say an increase of 175% over January 2005 - almost 3 fold growth.

Corporate, Mobile, Africa, Madagascar: Celtel International, one of sub-Saharan Africa’s leading mobile operators, is to acquire a majority stake in Madagascar’s mobile telecom operator Madacom.

Wireless, Russia: GlobeTel will be installing wireless networks in 30 Russian cities. The company will complete this provision of high-speed communications by the start of 2009 and will be acting on behalf of LLC Internafta in order to supply broadband, VoIP and several other services.

Networks, Mobile, North Korea: Although GSM-based mobile phones have been accepted in North Korea for ten years in the Rajin-Sonbong economic area, North Korea has had a totally hostile attitude towards mobile technology.

Networks, North Korea / South Korea: North and South Korea’s first-ever telephone link, connecting the South with the North’s Kaesong Industrial Complex, has led to South Korea lobbying for a massive expansion of the service.

Forecasts, IP Broadcasting, China: Siemens has predicted that in four years time global investment in Internet Protocol television (IPTV) could touch US$1 billion. Prime mover will be China which will account for 25% of world spend.

Networks, Afghanistan: Afghan Telecom has announced that its new District Communications Network (DCN) has recently gone live.

Disaster Management, Wireless, Global: The mobile phone has become the device most people turn to in an emergency. Mobile networks experience huge increases in traffic immediately following a disaster and high-levels of demand continue for many days afterwards.

Mobile, Turkey:  Vodafone Group has come out tops in the Turkish Government’s auction for Telsim, with a US$4.55 billion bid for Turkey's number two wireless carrier.

Community, Latin America, Chile : Nokia (www.nokia.com) and the pro-United Nations Chilean Association (ACHNU) have launched a new three-year programme called Conéctate!