AT&T to buy Centennial for $944 million

Missed this bit of news from Friday:

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- AT&T Inc. said late Friday it plans to buy regional wireless provider Centennial Communications Corp. for $944 million in cash, in a bid to expand its coverage.

The move comes days after the Federal Communications Commission approved the merger of AT&T rival Verizon Wireless and closely-held Alltel Corp., which promises to propel Verizon past AT&T as the number one U.S. wireless carrier in terms of subscribers.

AT&T said in a prepared statement that acquiring Centennial will improve "coverage for customers in largely rural areas of the Midwest and Southeast United States," as well as in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

7th Annual Caricam Conference

The 7th Annual Caricam Conference is November 17th to 19th in Cancun!

More info here: 7th Annual Caricam Conference

Caribbean Broadband Forum

The Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) will be organising the inaugural Caribbean Broadband Forum in November (19th & 20th) and will bring together ministers, regulators, carriers, donor agencies, technology suppliers, application developers and content providers to discuss policy, strategy, roadmap, technology, business models and content to enable universal broadband services throughout the Caribbean islands and harness opportunity for profit for the ICT industry, local economy and for achieving Millennium Development Goals.

Venue: Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain, Trinidad

Who should attend?

Public sector: Policy Makers, Regulators, Universal Service/Access Fund Agencies.

Carriers: Fibre, submarine and satellite network operators

Telco Operators: Fixed and mobile network operators, ISPs, mobile internet and web SPs

Manufacturers: network infrastructure equipment suppliers,

Content Developers: Application service providers and software and application developers.

Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela the Most Important Adult Mobile Content Markets in Latin America

Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela the Most Important Adult Mobile Content Markets in Latin America; America Movil the Leading Regional Operator Highlighting Adult Content on its "Ideas" Portal

Mobile adult content services revenues should surpass the US$ 1.12 billion mark by 2013, showing a Compound Annual Growth Rate, or CAGR, of 49.52% for the 2006-2013 period. Brazil and Peru are regional leaders in the "gay" adult content offering area.

Buenos Aires, Argentina - October 29, 2008 - Signals Telecom Consulting, the leading Latin American and Caribbean telecommunication markets consulting and research firm, announces the publication of its "Analysis of the Value Added Services Market: Mobile Adult Content" report. This study is part of the "Mobile Value Added Services in Latin America and the Caribbean" research series. This report analyzes the offering made by five content developers, 17 integrators and 21 operators working in the seven largest telecommunications marketplaces in the region: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela.

Latin America's PayTV Services to Reach 47.1 Million Subscribers by 2013

Latin America's PayTV Services to Reach 47.1 Million Subscribers by 2013: Revenues to Surpass US$ 20.9 Billion

Incumbent telecom operators approach to PayTV services will be heterogeneous as it will rely on multiple technological platforms: IPTV, DTH, CATV and MMDS. By 2013, Latin America's seven largest telecommunications markets will exhibit a PayTV household penetration of 34%.

Buenos Aires, Argentina - October 21, 2008 - Signals Telecom Consulting, the leading Latin American and Caribbean Basin telecommunications market consulting firm, is proud to announce the availability of the most comprehensive research and analysis of Latin America's PayTV market. Comprised of three market analysis studies: "IPTV Strategies", "The DTH Market as a Packages Strategy in Latin America", and "CATV Business Models in Latin America"; this series analyze the PayTV offer of more than 35 operators from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Co lombia, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela.

Dominican Republic's Codetel deploys Ceragon FibeAir 3200T

From Developing Telecoms.com:

News, Codetel, Wireless Trunking, Dominican Republic: Caribbean telecoms operators have enjoyed many successes in recent years, with the Dominican Republic boasting five million mobiles within a population of ten million. To support network expansion and coverage, local fixed/wireless operator Codetel has deployed Ceragon's FibeAir 3200T all-indoor wireless trunk solution.

The Dominican Republic is an advanced telecoms market, boasting more than five million mobile subscribers within a population of about ten million. An island-wide microwave radio relay network and fibre-optic lines cover many of the main cities and deliver services such as DSL, fixed and mobile telephony.

Codetel is the largest of five telecommunication service providers operating in the Dominican Republic and a subsidiary of America Movil. In early 2008 it began deploying Ceragon's FibeAir 3200T all-indoor wireless trunk solution to support its telecom network expansion and coverage. Codetel provides local, long-distance and wireless voice services together with advanced data services to approximately one million customers.

Cable & Wireless closing call centers

From Nation News:

"THE HEAD office for Cable & Wireless' new model structure One Caribbean, will be in Barbados.

Chairman of C&W Caribbean Phil Green, told the SUNDAY SUN the commitment to Barbados was "very, very strong" since it had always been a major player for the company.

Barbados has the largest data centre in the Caribbean and is currently the home of 11 of C&W's 13 units.

The company announced on Friday that the local contact centre would be closing, putting 115 workers on the breadline."

Caribbean 3G Services Revenues will Surpass the US$ 3.5 Billion Mark by 2013

Caribbean 3G Services Revenues will Surpass the US$ 3.5 Billion Mark by 2013; Puerto Rico is the Most Advanced Market; Digicel May Struggle with its 3G Strategy.

The deployment of UMTS/HSPA networks by operators like Setar, Viva and Claro, as well as the upcoming roll out by Cable & Wireless, will drive the presence of 3G services offerings in the Caribbean. Wireless broadband will be its primary growth engine. A possible reduction in handset costs, together with the implementation of single price 3G rate plans will invigorate the development of related Value Added Services (VAS) offerings. 3G revenue growth will generate a CAGR of 98.9% during the 2008-2013 period.

Buenos Aires, Argentina - October 14, 2008 - Signals Telecom Consulting, the leading Latin American and Caribbean telecommunication markets consulting and research firm, announces the publication of its "Analysis of 3G Strategies in the Caribbean" report. In this study, Signals takes an in-depth look at the 3G mobile services offering in the region, including the commercial offerings and / or strategies used for next generation wireless networks.

Pay TV Services to Reach 34% of Latin American Households by 2013

Pay TV Services to Reach 34% of Latin American Households by 2013; Brazil, Peru & Venezuela to Reflect Strongest Growth

By 2013, Signals estimates that there will be around 42 million broadband subscribers in Latin America. This represents a CAGR of 9.7% over the next five years. CATV operators will have a 49% Pay TV market share in 2013.

Buenos Aires, Argentina - July 17, 2008 - Signals Telecom Consulting, the leading Latin American and Caribbean Telecommunication markets consulting and research firm is proud to announce the publication of the second edition of its "CATV Business Models in Latin America: Operator Profiles" report. In this study, Signals takes an in-depth look at the CATV type Pay TV services offerings of 11 operators in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela.

PSC OKs Federal Funding for Vitelco, Centennial

New from the U.S. Virgin Islands:

Sept. 25, 2008 -- A unanimous thumbs-up from Public Services Commission members Thursday evening cleared the path for both Centennial Communications and the V.I. Telephone Co. (Vitelco) to keep using federal Universal Service Funds (USF) to augment and build their bases in the territory.

More here from the St. Thomas Source.

Atlantic Tele-Network Board Increases Dividend 12.5%

Atlantic Tele-Network keeps rolling along - the stock has hardly suffered, even in this market. Today they announced another increase in their dividend:

SALEM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATNI - News) today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.18 per share, payable on October 14, 2008, on all common shares outstanding to stockholders of record as of October 2, 2008. This represents an increase of two cents, or 12.5%, in the dividend paid from the previous quarter. If maintained, this equates to an annual increase of eight cents, from $0.64 per share to $0.72 per share.

Michael T. Prior, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, said, "We are very pleased to have reached this milestone of our tenth consecutive annual increase in our dividend. Our entire team is proud of our track record of delivering both current income and capital appreciation to our shareholders."

About Atlantic Tele-Network
Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATNI - News) is a telecommunications company headquartered in Salem, Massachusetts. Its principal subsidiaries include: Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company, Limited, which is the national telephone service provider for all local, long-distance and international service, as well as a wireless service provider, in Guyana; Commnet Wireless, LLC, which provides voice and data wireless roaming services for U.S. and international carriers in rural areas throughout the United States; Bermuda Digital Communications Ltd., which, under the Cellular One name, is the leading provider of wireless voice and data services in Bermuda; Sovernet, Inc., which provides wireline voice and data services to businesses and homes in New England; and Choice Communications, LLC, which provides wireless television and wireless broadband services in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Mobile Value Added Services (VAS) Revenues in Brazil will Surpass the US$ 9.3 Billion Mark by 2013; 3G Connections Will Represent Around 35% of Active Lines

Thanks to The IMT-2000 spectrum auction, operators are making robust investments in 3G infrastructure deployment and focusing their efforts on the development and marketing of SVA's that will allow them to diversify revenue sources. The Brazilian mobile telephony market will exhibit a CAGR of 8.5% over the next five years, meaning a total of 214 million mobile users by the close of 2013.

Buenos Aires, Argentina - September 15, 2008 - Signals Telecom Consulting the leading Latin American and Caribbean telecommunication markets consulting and research firm is proud to announce the publication of its "Mobile Market Analysis: Brazil" report. This study is part of the "Mobile Telephony Services in Latin America and the Caribbean" research series. In this report, Signals analyzes the mobile services market in Brazil, with a focus on the VAS offerings of local mobile operators.

Dragonwave Signs Agreement With Brightstar Corp To Distribute Horizon And Airpair Products In Caribbean And Latin American Markets

September 9, 2008 - Ottawa, Canada - DragonWave Inc. ("DragonWave") (TSX/AIM: DWI), a leading global supplier of next-generation wireless networks, today announced they have signed an agreement with Brightstar Corporation, a global leader in customized distribution and integrated supply chain solutions for the wireless industry. Through the agreement, Brightstar will distribute DragonWave's Horizon and AirPair high-capacity wireless Ethernet backhaul solutions of point-to-point microwave radios in the Caribbean and Latin American markets.

Cable & Wireless Caribbean to the Rescue

Establishes fund to assist hurricane/storm victims across the region

Employees also contributing

Cable & Wireless Caribbean announced today that it would be supporting the region to the tune of more than US$500,000 in cash and services to assist victims of the recent hurricanes and tropical storms that affected the region.

The company is immediately establishing a relief fund of US$250,000 in cash to assist with aspects of restoration in the Caribbean territories that have been affected by Tropical Storm Gustav and Hurricanes Ike and Hanna. In addition, the company is providing free calling minutes and other assistance to many of its customers.

In Jamaica, before, during and immediately after the passage of Tropic Storm Gustav, mobile customers were given between 25 to 50 percent additional calling time, each time they topped up.

In Turks and Caicos the cost of all mobile calls are significantly reduced until 12am September 14 and the company is providing special outlets for customers to re-charge and top up their phones.

In addition, where needed, Cable & Wireless has been actively relaying vital information to all customers and the general public via text messages, voicemail blasts and paid radio announcements.

The company will also set up avenues through which its employees across the group, who have been seeking ways to assist, can contribute to the relief effort. The collection drive among employees will include cash, foodstuff, and personal care items.

In announcing the establishment of the fund, Richard Dodd, CEO of Cable & Wireless Caribbean said: "Cable & Wireless has been part of the Caribbean and its people for more than 100 years, with more than 98 percent of our employees being Caribbean nationals. So for us, any disaster in the region becomes personal.

Adult Mobile Content will Surpass the US$ 1.12 Billion Mark in Revenues in Latin America by 2013; Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela Have the Best Images and Video Offering

With the exception of Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela, in-house censorship imposed by the operators themselves is what is holding back growth of this service. Getting past these barriers, something which is expected to happen by 2010, will allow the adult segment to reach an annual growth rate (CAGR) of 49.52% for the 2006 - 2013 period.

Buenos Aires, Argentina - September 4, 2008 - Signals Telecom Consulting, the leading Latin American and Caribbean telecommunications market research and consulting firm, is proud to announce the publication of its "Analysis of the Value Added Services Market: Adult Mobile Content study. This report is part of the "Mobile Values Added Services in Latin America and the Caribbean" research series. This study analyzes the of fering of five content developers, 17 integrators and 21 operators in the seven largest telecommunications markets in the region: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela.

This study highlights the fact that the mobile adult content market in Latin America is focused on "Soft" products, with little use of nudes and explicit sex. This is due to the high censorship barriers imposed by mobile operators themselves in the face of fears that this type of content could cause unwanted legal hassles.

"Brazil is the most advanced market with regard to adult mobile content. Its mobile market has a large offering by both operators and integrators, backed by a robust local adult industry. Although Colombia and Venezuela do not have such a strong local adult industry, they do offer a wide ranging offering of image downloads that include complete nudity," explains Elias Vicente, Signals Telecom Consulting analyst and report author.

Finally, this report points out that due to existing product censorship barriers, the adult mobile content segment will experience moderate growth through 2009. It will begin to show much more significant growth levels as from 2010. "The appearance of amateur explicit sex applications that include footage shot using the web cameras of the novices themselves will be of great importance. This will force the industry to react by developing effective parental control models in order to avoid legal problems as well as "impose" products produced by companies dedicated to the production of adult content," concludes Vicente.

About Signals Telecom Consulting

Signals Telecom Consulting, with offices in Buenos Aires, Argentina and an on-site presence in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is the leading Latin American and Caribbean telecommunications markets consulting and research. Signals offers dedicated consulting and market research services that aide operators, manufacturers, applications developers and investments during the decision making process.

With the exception of Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela, in-house censorship imposed by the operators themselves is what is holding back growth of this service. Getting past these barriers, something which is expected to happen by 2010, will allow the adult segment to reach an annual growth rate (CAGR) of 49.52% for the 2006 - 2013 period.

Latin America's Pay TV Will Surpass US$ 20.9 Billion in Revenues by 2013; CATV Services Market Share Will Fall From 81% in 2005 to 49% in 2013

The Latin American Pay TV market will have around 47.1 million subscribers by 2013. This figure represents a CAGR of approximately 10.9% for the 2008-2013 period. Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico will have 82% of Pay TV subscribers via CATV.

Buenos Aires, Argentina - July 17, 2008 - Signals Telecom Consulting, the leading Latin American and Caribbean telecommunication markets consulting and research firm is proud to announce the publications of its "CATV Business Models in Latin America: Operator Profiles" report. In this study, Signals takes a look at the CATV type Pay TV service offerings of 11 operators in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela.

This report highlights the fact that robust competition in the telecommunications market via multi-service packages will trigger an upswing in growth rates for pay TV services. This will be made possible by a reduction in entry barriers for segments that either do not currently making use of this type of service, or do so via clandestine connections.

"As a whole, the seven largest Latin American markets will have a household pay TV penetration rate of around 34.4% by 2013. This is almost double the 2007 figure. The drivers of this growth are the favorable economic environment being felt throughout the region and an increased competitive dynamic that has allowed for bringing lower income segments into this market," points out Carlos Blanco, report author.

"Local incumbent telecommunications operators enjoy sizeable scales and can position themselves as important players in the pay TV market," adds Blanco.

Caribbean Markets Reflect Low Level of Segmentation in Service Offerings

From Cellular News :

"The new challenge faced by Caribbean operators is how to continue increasing revenues in markets having a small number of inhabitants in which voice services (fixed and mobile) have already surpassed the 100% teledensity mark. Companies will have to focus expansion efforts on value added services and service packaging. This will force operators to invest in new technologies that allow them to offer new services. Signals believes that this scenario will open the door for operators like America Movil to expand into new Caribbean markets as well as increase consolidation in the region."

More here.

Cable & Wireless Jamaica Selects Ericsson As Business Partner

From EFYtimes.com:

"Friday, July 04, 2008: Cable & Wireless Jamaica has selected Ericsson as its long-term strategic business partner to upgrade and expand its network. Under the three-year agreement, Ericsson will be the systems integrator (SI) to transform Cable & Wireless' core network to a next-generation IP network, deploying Ericsson Mobile Softswitch and Mobile Packet Backbone Network solutions, as well as Ericsson Multi Mediation platform."

More here.

Digicel selects Ericsson's solar kit

From Telegeography.com

Caribbean wireless network operator Digicel Suriname has selected Ericsson's solar-powered site solution to provide network coverage in remote areas of the country. The solution is based on Ericsson's main remote GSM base station RBS 2111 and has a smaller environmental footprint than a standard base station, consuming up to 50% less energy. As part of the agreement, Ericsson will also supply MINI-LINK TN all-outdoor transmission, solar panels and battery back-up solutions. Ericsson will also be responsible for network deployment and systems integration.

Caribbean wireless network operator Digicel Suriname has selected Ericsson's solar-powered site solution to provide network coverage in remote areas of the country. The solution is based on Ericsson's main remote GSM base station RBS 2111 and has a smaller environmental footprint than a standard base station, consuming up to 50% less energy. As part of the agreement, Ericsson will also supply MINI-LINK TN all-outdoor transmission, solar panels and battery back-up solutions. Ericsson will also be responsible for network deployment and systems integration.

Unicast Mobile TV Services Revenues Will Surpass US$ 1.8

The roll out of 3G+ networks in the region will drive an increase in the
offering of Mobile TV services in Latin America. Unicast Mobile TV will
represent 2.7% of total mobile invoicing in the region.

Buenos Aires, Argentina - June 24, 2008.- Signals Telecom
Consulting, the leading Latin American and Caribbean
Telecommunications Market consulting firm is proud to present its
"Analysis of the Value Added Services Market: Mobile TV in Latin
America" Report. This study analyzes the Mobile TV services positioning
strategies of 21 operators in the most important telecommunications
markets in Latin America: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico,
Peru and Venezuela.

See the PDF for more: Press Mobile TV PDF

Cornelius B. Prior, Jr., Chairman of Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. Elected Chairman of Caribbean-Central American Action

Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATNI) announced today that Cornelius B. Prior, Jr., the Chairman of the Board of Directors, has been elected Chairman of Caribbean-Central American Action (CCAA) at its spring Board Meeting and Washington Briefing. CCAA is a non-governmental organization that promotes private sector-led economic development in the Caribbean Basin. Mr. Prior, a resident of the US Virgin Islands, is the founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Atlantic Tele-Network, a telecommunications holding company with subsidiaries in the Caribbean, Bermuda and the United States.

"I am delighted to assume the leadership of CCAA. This organization has done so much to promote trade and investment throughout the Caribbean and Central America. I look forward to furthering CCAA's goal of improving the economic well being of the people of the Caribbean Basin through the CCAA's "Transformation Agenda," Mr. Prior said. The CCAA's Transformation Agenda includes raising business, legal, labor and environmental standards across the region. Mr. Prior added, "CCAA's efforts to facilitate public policy change are critical to the development of region-wide uniform, and uniformly applied, commercial, legal, regulatory and supervisory structures that facilitate best business practices, quality education and the transparent application of the law."

Mr. Prior was a managing director and stockholder of Kidder, Peabody & Co. Inc., where he directed the Telecommunications Finance Group. A former Naval Officer and Fulbright Scholar, he started his career as an attorney with Sullivan & Cromwell in New York. He has served as Chairman of CANTO, the Caribbean Association of National Telecommunication Organizations and earned his legal degree from The Harvard Law School. Mr. Prior had served on the CCAA Executive Committee since 2004 as Treasurer.

Atlantic Tele-Network principal subsidiaries include Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company, Ltd., the national telephone service provider for Guyana; Commnet Wireless, LLC which provides voice and data wireless roaming services for U.S. and international carriers; Bermuda Digital Communications Ltd., which, under the Cellular One name, is the largest provider of cellular voice and data services in Bermuda; Sovernet Communications, Inc., a wireline voice and data company servicing homes across Vermont; and, Choice Communications, LLC, which provides wireless television and wireless broadband services, as well as dial-up internet services in the United States Virgin Islands.

Caribbean Central American Action is a non-governmental organization that promotes private sector-led economic development in the Caribbean Basin. More information on the organization and the Annual Miami Conference can be found by visiting CCAA's website at www.c-caa.org.

Cable and Wireless introduces prepaid BlackBerry plan

From the Jamaica Gleaner:

"Cable and Wireless (C&W) Jamaica will on Monday introduce prepaid BlackBerry voice and date service on two plans - unlimited email for $999 per month and unlimited email and Internet for $1,899 per month."

Digicel Gears Up for 2008 Hurricane Season

KINGSTON, JAMAICA -- 06/09/08 -- Digicel, the fastest-growing telecommunications company in the Caribbean and new entrant to the Central American market, today announced that it has enhanced its 2008 hurricane preparedness program to ensure customers and employees are equipped to weather this year's hurricane season, which officially began in June and typically lasts through November 30 with August and September being peak months across the Caribbean.

WINDWARD TELECOM LAUNCHES COMPETITIVE LONG DISTANCE

PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD: Windward Telecom Ltd. has successfully launched its international telecommunications network in Trinidad and Tobago. The Company has been moving switched traffic through its Miami and Port of Spain switches on a commercial basis for the past week. "Expatriates and foreigners calling into Trinidad will be the initial beneficiaries of Windward's wholesale services," said Douglas Cunningham, Chief Executive Officer of Windward Telecom. "Our international carrier partners will be able to provide material price reductions, improved call quality and enhanced call completion rates to their customers in over 230 countries."

Broadband Offer from CATV Operators Threatens Incumbent's DSL Stronghold in the Caribbean; High Tariffs Deter Mass Market Adoption of Wireless Broadband Technologies

Competitive pressure from companies like Flow Jamaica will force Cable & Wireless and other incumbents to be more aggressive in their broadband strategy by lowering tariffs while increasing the speed of their DSL offer. The continuous launch of UMTS/HSPA services throughout the region represents an imminent threat to wireless broadband providers such as WOW in Trinidad & Tobago or Wireless Curacao.

Buenos Aires - May 19, 2008 - Signals Telecom Consulting, the leading Latin American & Caribbean telecommunications markets consulting firm proudly unveils the 3rd Edition of its "Analysis of Broadband Rates in the Caribbean" market study. This report is part of a series of investigations on the South American, Central American & Caribbean region. The Caribbean study analyzes the price strategies of 52 broadband operators in 19 Caribbean markets and Bermuda.