Satellite communications, when properly deployed, will always mean an improved global response to disasters. Now the ITU has forged a partnership with satellite-based ICO Global Communications and the Commonwealth Business Council to exploit satellite communications for exactly this purpose...

The Middle Eastern mobile market presents greater revenue opportunities than markets in Europe when taking into account its size and spending power, according to a new report The Middle Eastern mobile market: trends and forecasts 2007-12, published by Analysys. Why? Read on...

Telecentre organisers in Congo Brazzaville recently met to discuss the approach they needed to take if their telecentres were to fulfil their targets of bringing ICT to the Congolese people. Sylvie Niombo of APCNews explains...

Recently, ITU and Cameroon ran joint a workshop on strengthening ICT for disaster management. The conclusions included a plea for more of the cross-border co-operation and the waiving of paper-work aspired to at the Tampere Convention...

The influential Arab Advisors Group has surveyed cellular users in Qatar . The survey, on the eve of Qatari liberalisation, shows that 34.9% of Qatar ?s GSM users have ADSL broadband Internet in their homes while 80.6% are aware of 3G cellular technology...

One of the most important subjects Developing Telecoms reports on regularly is Disaster Management. We were therefore pleasantly surprised to find that the Economist had recently published an article with the above title. Subtitled "You don't have to be big to make a difference" it is reproduced here, to reach a wider audience...

Qtel is leveraging its strong balance sheet resulting from its monopoly of telecommunications in its home market to expand regionally and globally...

United Arab Emirates is the most connected country in the Arab World according to the Arab Advisors Group's annually released Total Country Connectivity Measure (TCCM)...

The UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean recently published a report pointing out that foreign investment in Latin America and the Caribbean increased in 2006. Whether the increase matches expectations or not is another matter. According to one leading critic it does not and many companies, particualry in the ICT sector appear to be voting with their feet...

Following its successful conference this February, the Women of Uganda Network is leading a drive both for greater female involvement in ICT and also for women to set up more businesses. We look at an all-too-rare initiative...

North America and Western Europe's positions as digital leaders are being challenged by the Central European markets according to research carried out by computer giant IBM and the British-based Economist Intelligence Unit. Star performers? Hungary, the Czech Republic, Estonia, and Slovenia.

Ghana 's Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Papa Owusu Ankomah, has announced that his country's government will introduce universal ICT education into Ghana 's core educational system in September.

Saudi Arabia has just awarded its third mobile licence, in this case to MTC. Here, we discuss the implications for MTC's business portfolio in the Middle East and Africa .

The 2007 Guide to Romanian Telecommunications is the most comprehensive survey ever produced of the Romanian telecommunications Industry. It offers a strategic overview of the developments and trends in all areas of the telecommunications market in Romania, following the country’s accession to the European Union...

Telecom equipment made in India and Singapore should have easier entry in each others markets as the two sides agree a deal that will eliminate the need for product testing and certification in both countries...

Developing countries in Asia offer great potential for PC makers, but companies must offer better value for users if they are to be successful in emerging markets...

Chen Haofei, Secretary-General of TD-SCDMA Forum, attended the recent Sixth International Mobile Communication Industry Forum. He was invited to speak during the 3G Venture Capital Investment session of the Forum. His views on the potential influence of TD on Chinese telecoms are summarised here...

Asia-Pacific is witnessing major and rapid growth in demand for IT. One consequent question is whether the region is ready for Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA). According to analyst Frost and Sullivan demand for SOA is in its own turn due for no less than 40% growth in the next two years. Developing Telecoms summarises Frost and Sullivan's Asia-Pacific SOA Readiness Survey.

The GSMA has long lobbied for the removal of taxes which it believes hinders mobile subscriber growth and thereby overall economic growth. The chance to meet Pakistan's President and PM to advocate the removal of the Activation Tax levied on new subscribers was too good a chance to turn down. The GSM was supported by a new report on Pakistan by Deloitte...

Brunei must not fall behind in a globalised and highly competitive world. And ICT is the lever to keep up with the pace. Brunei Communications Mininster Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Abu Bakar

took this as his theme when addressing CSPS-UBD Policy Forum 2007...

 IFC, World Bank's private sector arm, has cast its critical eye over the well-known Grameen Telecom Village phone scheme (you know, the phone ladies in Bangladesh). It has identified what it calculates as a US$5 trillion business plan when translated globally. We explain why...

Qatar's broadband boom is continuing apace. Broadband accounts grew by 90% in 2006 and now make up two thirds of all Qatari accounts. In recent months authorisation has been given for the liberalisation of Qatar's markets. The Arab Advisors Group is weighing up the opportunities...

East Africa and Rwanda came out badly when Deloitte published its report on mobile taxation rates. The GSMA, which commissioned the report, has now released more details of how and why Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania can create low-tax regimes.

Saudi Arabia is on the verge of conducting her third mobile licensing procedure. This represents the last major opportunity for Gulf-oriented operators. Developing Telecoms summarises why analysts have come to this conclusion, and highlights some hotspots for growth.

Idea Cellular is a brand-new company which has been traded for only a few days. Its ambitious aims as India's sixth-largest network are confirmed by its announcement that it will invest US$2 billion to hold out against other newly-arrived competitors such as Vodafone...

Portugal Telecom's African operations are set to expand well beyond her present low-key portfolio of four former colonies and a half-share of a partnership in Morocco. The strategy is based on Africa's currently low tele-density. First step is a mobile virtual operation in Angola.