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PricewaterhouseCoopers Presents
The CommunicationsDirect Daily Update
For March 14, 2007
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Deutsche Telekom Begins Negotiations with Trade Union on T-Service Unit
http://communicationsdirectnews.com/do.php/130/23240?11228
     The German incumbent telco, Deutsche Telekom, has begun talks
     with the German trade union, Verdi, regarding the planned service
     division, T-Service. The negotiations are aimed at discussing
     Deutsche Telekom's plans to extend working hours to 38 hours per
     week, from the current 34 hours -- without increasing
     remuneration --and working out ...
FCC Looks to Affirm 30% Cap on Cable Market Share
http://communicationsdirectnews.com/do.php/130/23238?11228
     It has been widely reported that FCC Chairman Kevin Martin is
     looking to formalise the 30% cap on cable companies' market share
     of the pay-TV market. The FCC saw this rule struck down by a
     federal appeals court in March 2001, but appears to have
     maintained it informally when examining merger cases.
     Significance: Comcast is the ...
Whisher Wishes for Social WiFi Networks
http://communicationsdirectnews.com/do.php/150/23236?11228
     Can the social networking concept be used to expand the number of
     free WiFi connections? Whisher sure hopes so. Believing that WiFi
     should be both pervasive and grass roots, the Barcelona-based
     startup is taking a community approach to the technology by
     offering the world's first wireless social network.  Whisher
     is designed to ...
Iliad Updates on FTTH, 3G
http://communicationsdirectnews.com/do.php/140/23231?11228
     French triple-play specialist Iliad provided greater insight into
     its fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) and 3G plans as it announced its
     2006 financial results. The company, which had nearly 2.3 million
     broadband subscribers (19 percent market share) at the end of
     2006, reported record profits of 124 million (US$163 ...
Hasta La Vista, Cingular
http://communicationsdirectnews.com/do.php/120/23228?11228
     AT&T is taking the wraps off its conversion and remodeling of the
     first of 2,000 company-owned Cingular stores to the new AT&T
     brand. As the prototype of the company's new AT&T Experience, the
     San Antonio, Texas-based company renovated a 5,000-square-foot
     store in Houston. It is the first of many planned conversions of
     ...
Vonage Attempts Penny Power Play
http://communicationsdirectnews.com/do.php/120/23226?11228
     Vonage, in what looks to be another shot at proving to consumers
     that the company is alive and kicking, has slashed its
     long-distance rates to all or parts of eight countries to just
     one penny per minute.  The rate undercuts arch rival Skype's
     charge to landline phones in most of those locations by more than
     50 percent.  ...
Spectrum up for Grabs in Europe
http://communicationsdirectnews.com/do.php/140/23223?11228
     Europe's wireless spectrum scene is set for a significant shakeup
     as new mobile licenses become available and regulators become
     more relaxed about which technologies license-holders can use.
     In France, regulator ARCEP has launched the tender process for
     the fourth and last remaining 3G license in France. The fourth
     ...
Cable Set Top Box Market Hits New Highs in 2006
http://communicationsdirectnews.com/do.php/120/23220?11228
     SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Cable TV set top box manufacturers enjoyed a
     record year in 2006 as cable operators around the world signed up
     millions of new digital cable subscribers, reports
     In-Stat. Fueled by a sharp rise in demand for cable set top boxes
     in China, worldwide digital cable set top box unit shipments
     increased to 27.5 ...
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