Microsoft to buy Nokia's phone unit

Microsoft is buying Nokia's devices and services business - and getting access to the company's patents - for a total of $7.2bn in an effort to expand its share of the smartphone market. Reports Al Jazeera.

The corporations announced the deal late on Monday, saying that Microsoft will pay $5bn for the Nokia unit that makes mobile phones, including its line of Lumia smartphones that run Windows Phone software.

Microsoft is also paying $2.2bn for a 10-year licence to use Nokia's patents, with the option to extend it indefinitely.

"We are very excited about the proposal to bring the best mobile device efforts of Microsoft and Nokia together," Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO, said in a memo to employees. "We are receiving incredible talent, technology and IP [intellectual property]."

Microsoft said it is acquiring Nokia's Asha brand of low to mid-level smartphones and will license the Nokia brand for current Nokia mobile products.

Overseas cash resources

Microsoft, which is based in Redmond, Washington, said it will draw from its overseas cash resources to fund the transaction. When the deal closes in early 2014, about 32,000 Nokia employees will transfer to Microsoft, the companies said.

Nokia, based in Espoo, Finland, said Stephen Elop will step aside as president and CEO to become executive vice president of Nokia devices and services.

Risto Siilasmaa, Nokia chairman, will stay in his current role and assume the duties of interim CEO. Elop is expected to join Microsoft at the close of the transaction, along with several Nokia vice presidents.

Nokia plans to hold a news conference on Tuesday morning in Finland to discuss the deal.

Banglalink awarded 3G licence

Banglalink, the second leading mobile operator in the country in terms of subscribers, was finally awarded a 3G license on Thursday evening after paying the remaining amount of their spectrum fee, Dhaka Tribune reports.

Earlier, the mobile operator failed to get the 3G license as they could not pay the full amount of the Tk5.25bn spectrum fee.

They managed to pay Tk3.22bn and were given the No Objection Certificate (NOC) to allow importation of the 3G equipment.

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) acting chairman Md Giashuddin Ahmed handed over the license soon after the Banglalink authorities paid the remaining Tk2.03bn of the spectrum fee.

Banglalink Senior Director (regulatory & legal affairs) Zakiul Islam received the license.

Earlier, on September 12, the BTRC issued 3G mobile service licenses and NOCs for the importing of equipment to three other mobile phone operators.

Grameenphone, the leader in Bangladesh's mobile market, and Robi both made full payments on Monday and Tuesday according to the guidelines, while Airtel paid Tk5.25bn immediately after the licensing award ceremony.

Grameenphone begins trial 3G operation

Online Newspaper Natunbarta reported that Grameenphone, the leading mobile phone operator in the country, began 3G operations on a trial basis in different places of Dhaka from Wednesday.

They have send a small SMS to different media stating : “Yes! Its 3G day. We are testing 3G at expo at GP house.

  Grameen Phone is the first private operator, testing 3G successfully since last few days.

After the test run, GP will arrange a soft launch in GP house to test the quality of 3G services,” another high official of the operator told the Dhaka Tribune.

Robi offers more than 3G

Mobile phone operator Robi Axiata Limited has announced its preparedness to launch 3.5G services by next month.

Michael Kuehner, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director of Robi Axiata, made the announcement at a media briefing, held at a city hotel on Tuesday.

Kuehner said the company will draw on the international roll-out expertise of parent group Axiata, which is providing 3 G and LTE services across Asia, to ensure best 3.5G content and experience for its customers.

He said Robi will have a limited 3.5G service launch in October, 3013. “This is a new technology for all of us and our priority is a quality customer experience rather than just a speedy execution,” the CEO said.

He stated that the Robi expects to provide it to incrementally selected areas of Dhaka, Chittagong, Comilla and Sylhet districts by the end of the year.

During his presentation at the press briefing, the Robi CEO explained that 35% of the population will be covered by the first quarter of 2014.

“3.5G technology is vital for the economic growth and development of Bangladesh in a host of different sectors – from education to health to commerce,” said Kuehner.

“In receiving this license for Robi, we are embracing the mobile data revolution, expanding the country’s data services and enhancing capacity, aimed at improving the lives of the people as they connect with each other and the rest of the world. Not only does the license further bolster Robi’s robust and high-performing data services, but it also complements our existing state-of-the-art network that currently offers the widest, most reliable and highest quality coverage across the country,” he said.

Replying to a question Chief Financial Officer, Mahtab Uddin Ahmed said Robi subscribers will get the 3.5G service free of cost in their existing SIM.

In reply to another question, he said the company have paid of around  Tk 525 crore to the BTRC on Tuesday, which is almost 60 percent of fees for 5MHZ of 3G spectrum.

Robi Axiata Ltd on Sunday acquired 5 MHz of 3G-spectrum in an auction arranged by BTRC. The spectrum, which is part of the 2100 MHz-band, will enable Robi to further expand and develop its position in the market with innovative data packages via 3.5G-platform.