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Communication / ICT in Western Europe

  • UK seeks to 'align' with EU on data protection rules

    EUROPEAN UNION, 2017/08/24 The United Kingdom will propose in a position paper on Thursday (24 August) to maintain a “strong next data relationship” with the European Union next exiting the bloc. “In the modern world, data flows increasingly underpin trade, business and all relationships,” digital minister Matt Hancock said in a statement released to UK media.

  • Orange eyes stake in Iranian telecom titan

    IRAN, 2016/09/12 French telecom giant Orange SA is in early talks about buying into Iran's biggest cellular network operator, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday. Such a transaction could make history as the initial time a Western firm has acquired a significant holding in a major Iranian company since Tehran agreed to curb its nuclear program last year in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions. Orange, which is part owned by the French government, is one of several European companies that have explored the potential of getting a stake in Mobile Telecommunication Co. of Iran, or MCI, the Journal said, citing people close to the matter. Orange would need to coax financing for a transaction out of Western Banks likely to be wary of tripping over US sanctions.

  • Nigeria: Arrested Ringleader Of Global Network Behind Thousands Of Online Scams

    EUROPEAN UNION, 2016/09/01 The chief of an international criminal network behind thousands of online frauds has been arrested in a joint operation by INTERPOL and the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), according to INTERPOL.. The 40-year-old Nigerian national, known as ‘Mike’, is believed to be behind scams totalling additional than USD 60 million involving hundreds of victims worldwide. In one case a target was conned into paying out USD 15.4 million.

  • Rocket Internet’s Africa Internet Group raises $326M from Goldman Sachs and others

    GERMANY, 2016/07/24 Fresh from pulling in $83 million from European insurance giant AXA last month, Africa Internet Group (AIG) — the Rocket Internet-backed company behind e-commerce site Jumia — has announced that it has raised a much larger €300 million ($326 million) in fresh funding. That sum includes that before disclosed chunk of money from AXA — which valued AIG at over $1 billion, by the way, making it Africa’s initial tech unicorn — and participation from existing stakeholders MTN, an Africa mobile operator, and Rocket Internet inclunding new backer Goldman Sachs. (Rocket Internet watchers will recall Goldman invested in Food Panda last year, and Rocket Internet tends to attract repeat investors once they buy into its philosophy.)

  • French telecom firms Orange and Bouygues in merger talks

    FRANCE, 2016/01/06 French telecoms operators Orange and Bouygues have confirmed that they are in talks over a possible merger. In separate statements, Orange said that the talks were "preliminary" while Bouygues said that "no decisions have been taken". If the transaction did go ahead it would reduce the number of French telecoms operators to three from four. The combined group would have a near-50% share of the French mobile and fixed telecoms market.

  • EU, China sign key partnership on 5G

    CHINA, 2015/09/28 The European Union (EU) on Monday announced that it has signed a key agreement with China on the "fifth generation" of telecommunications systems, or 5G, a move aimed to seek an edge in the world digital competitiveness. "Both parties are committed to reciprocity and openness in terms of access to 5G networks research funding, market access inclunding in membership of Chinese and EU 5G associations," the EU said in a press release. Signed at Monday's EU-China high level economic and trade dialogue in Beijing, the agreement was described by the EU as a "milestone" in the world race to develop 5G networks.

  • Lufthansa movies on smartphones

    GERMANY, 2014/03/06 Germany's Lufthansa on Wednesday announced plans to offer wirelessly streamed movies to passengers on trans-European flights, sparking a clash over the next of traditional seatback systems at the world's major travel equitable. Europe's major traditional network carrier said passengers on some medium-haul flights would be able to stream movies, TV programs, music or games from an onboard server to their own portable devices or smartphones starting from the summer.

  • Microsoft and Lufthansa Systems take mobile services airborne

    GERMANY, 2014/02/11 Tuesday at the Singapore Airshow 2014, Microsoft Corp and Lufthansa Systems are showcasing the new BoardConnect app for Windows 8. The app allows airlines to create a incomparable experience for their in-flight passenger entertainment systems. The interactive solution will allow users to watch the new movies, order food, shop, find data about their destinations and much additional. The entertainment platform can be quickly customized for new airline customers and allows them to configure devices to offer a uniquely branded product to their passengers. "We are making BoardConnect available on Windows 8 to give passengers even additional choices to use the platform," said Norbert Muller, senior vice president of BoardConnect at Lufthansa Systems. "This makes it easy for airlines to give their passengers a superior in-flight entertainment experience that allows them to watch a wide range of movies, look at flight data and shop, all from their seat."

  • Vivendi sells Maroc Tel stake to UAE operator

    FRANCE, 2013/11/08 French group Vivendi sold its stake in Maroc Telecom to the UAE's Etisalat, Vivendi said in a statement on Thursday. Vivendi will sell its 53% stake in the company. The agreement has reportedly been defined though a number of conditions are still open, inclunding its approval by watchdogs in nations where Maroc Telecom operates. Under the agreement, the UAE operator will need a Moroccan minority partner, possibly the Moroccan Deposit and Management Fund to finalize the acquisition.

  • German telecommunications giant Deutsche Telekom

    GERMANY, 2013/08/11 German telecommunications giant Deutsche Telekom on Thursday dialled down its estimate for the year due to outlays tied to an aggressive US marketing offensive.
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