Census data included in the NAVTEQ Map helps businesses better understand customers through lifestyle and population statistics
– Nokia today announced at the USGIF Technology Days event that its Location & Commerce business is the first to launch 2011 Canada Census data in its Census Boundaries product. This data will provide geographic information systems (GIS) and geo-marketers access to a deeper level of census data for market analysis. The 2011 Canada Census data will be offered as part of the Q1/2012 NAVTEQ Maps database release and available to Nokia customers in June 2012.
When combined with demographic data, Census Boundaries becomes a tool for lifestyle and population analysis in the fresh and reliable context of the NAVTEQ map. This enables organizations to boost efficiencies, control costs, and make informed decisions for a range of applications. For example, geo-marketers can use Census Boundaries to discover population trends and become informed about where a business’s key customer segments are located.
Census Boundaries provides geo-marketers access to more options for analyzing census data through offering multiple geographic layers. This level of market analysis will significantly enhance a wide range of applications, including business intelligence, direct mail, GIS, market research, retail site selection and sales territory generation. In addition, public organizations benefit from using Census Boundaries by better understanding constituencies, preparing and responding to emergencies, and planning administrative district expansions.
“As technology evolves, we are helping to drive more sophisticated GIS and geo-marketing analytics by providing data that gives an enhanced depiction of real life in the real world,” stated Allan Tomlinson, Director North America Map and Content, Location & Commerce, Nokia. “We are providing the latest Canada Census data to enable geo-marketers with the information to derive richer and more preciseinsights on the Canadian market.”
Census Boundaries is also available in the United States, Mexico, Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. Demographic data is included in the Census Boundaries product for the United States and Mexico.
About Nokia `s Location & Commerce Business
Nokia is a global leader in mobile communications whose products have become an integral part of the lives of people around the world. The company’s Location & Commerce business, including NAVTEQ Maps products, the Nokia Location Platform as well as Nokia Maps aims to build and monetize unique location experiences for great mobile products, as well as the navigation industry, the automotive market and government and business solutions. Begin to explore our capabilities at www.maps.nokia.com.
Nokia and NAVTEQ Maps are trademarks in the U.S. and other countries. All rights reserved.
Voda-O2 pact may help UK get 4G faster than expected - Gigaom.com
Updated: Two of Britain’s biggest mobile operators are joining forces, forging a pact that they say could bring higher-speed networking to the country ahead of schedule.
Under the agreement, a new joint venture known as Cornerstone will operate the back end of the two networks — but they will remain entirely separate businesses, in competition with each other. And although they will share their grids, they won’t share their spectrum.
This is actually a more formal approach to something the two companies have been doing for some time, since they first announced a network-sharing agreement back in 2009 as an attempt to reduce costs.
Still, the upside for consumers is that they think it will hasten the arrival of 4G connectivity, which has been beset by delays and isn’t expected to arrive for several years.
In a statement, O2 boss Ronan Dunne said that joining forces meant both companies could potentially deliver 4G speeds by 2015 — slow in comparison with some other countries, but not bad given that the official 4G spectrum auction hasn’t even happened yet.
“This partnership is about working smarter as an industry, so that we can focus on what really matters to our customers – delivering a superfast network up to two years faster than Ofcom envisages and to as many people as possible. One physical grid, running independent networks, will mean greater efficiency, fewer site builds, broader coverage and, crucially, investment in innovation and better competition for the customer.”
Update: A Vodafone spokesman told me that this essentially relies on the two companies being able to prepare the ground for 4G together — meaning that once the spectrum auction finally takes place, maybe late next year, they’ll be able to switch on faster than they could individually. In the meantime, it will also give them broader and deeper penetration of 2G and 3G networks, the company added.
But while the promise of 4G is grabbing headlines, the more obvious reason behind the deal is competitive: rivals T-Mobile and Orange recently merged to create a single operator known as Everything Everywhere, which effectively gives them a single infrastructure across Britain’s market of 62 million people.
In particular, a faster 4G rollout is something that Vodafone and O2 are being spooked into: Everything Everywhere has already received permission to operate an LTE network on its shared 3G infrastructure. That wasn’t just something that upset Vodafone and O2 — it was something they officially complained about.
Here’s O2 from March:
“We are concerned that Ofcom’s other proposal to allow one operator to launch 4G early on its existing spectrum is contradictory to its objective of delivering a competitive market environment with four competing players. This could expose the process to further risk of delay.”
Although the Cornerstone deal isn’t as deep a merger as Everything Everywhere, and it won’t use non-4G spectrum, it seems like a case of learning tactics from your competitors: if you can’t beat them, copy them.
The other hidden question here is who isn’t being brought in on one of these deals. Britain has five major mobile networks and this agreement leaves one of them, 3, out in the cold. I’ve got a call in to the company: it will be interesting to see how it responds.
Update: A spokesman for 3 got in touch to point out that it has been in a network-sharing agreement with T-Mobile for several years, operating under the name MBNL; of which Orange is now part of following the Everything Everywhere deal.
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O2 , Vodafone, and a 4G promise - BBC News
Did you hear the sound of thundering hooves this morning? If so, that was two giants of the telecoms industry getting it together. Telefonica UK - O2 to you and me - and Vodafone have unveiled a plan to share their network infrastructure, with the promise that this will deliver next-generation 4G services to UK consumers in double-quick time.
A radical restructuring of the mobile market has been underway - and what we're seeing is the final piece in the jigsaw. There's already a network sharing agreement in place between Everything Everywhere (the daftly named combo of Orange and T-Mobile) and Three, with around 18,000 shared masts by the time the whole operation is completed. Now Vodafone and O2 will have between them 18,500 sites, each delivering coverage to both company's customers.
The UK mobile phone industry has been struggling to adapt to a new world where data from smartphones - rather than voice calls - is putting an increasing load on their networks. At the press conference unveiling the alliance, Telefonica UK's Ronan Dunne talked of a data tsunami, which was only going to get bigger, as 50% of UK teenagers now had a smartphone.
That's why the much delayed auction of 4G spectrum - which should offer much greater capacity - is so important for a digital Britain where more and more of our internet use is going to take place over mobile rather than fixed networks. But now, promised Guy Laurence of Vodafone, the two companies would be able to deliver 4G coverage to 98% of the UK population by the end of 2015 - two years earlier than would otherwise have been the case.
But when I mentioned this story on Twitter this morning, the reaction from many O2 and Vodafone customers was immediate - never mind 4G, when are we going to get some reliable 3G or even 2G around here? The two firms insist this is good news for notspots, where customers will, according to Guy Laurence, "go from zero to hero" in the next couple of years. In particular, they are stressing that indoor coverage - lamentable even in some urban areas in my experience - will be vastly improved.
Customers who have been hearing similar promises for many years may be excused for being cynical. But this time it looks as though both Cornerstone, the Telefonica/Vodafone joint venture, and MBNL, Everything Everywhere's alliance with Three, are serious about investing enough to deliver proper coverage.
So what we will be left with is two mobile networks at the wholesale level, with consumers then able to choose between four main suppliers, plus virtual network operators like Tesco and Virgin. Much the same, in fact, as the fixed line industry, where BT and Virgin Media have an effective wholesale duopoly, but there is still plenty of choice at the retail level.
Four telecoms giants now have the task of delivering on the promise of Digital Britain outlined by the last two governments. The culture secretary Jeremy Hunt has pledged that Britain will have the best superfast broadband in Europe by 2015, with mobile playing a vital role in that. Now it's up to the private sector to make it happen.
T-Mobile Prepares for 2012 Hurricane Season - TMCnet
T-Mobile Prepares for 2012 Hurricane Season
Jun 07, 2012 (Close-Up Media via COMTEX) -- T-Mobile USA, Inc., said it is preparing for the 2012 hurricane season, which officially started June 1.In a release, the company said that it has implemented frequent engineering drills coupled with network fortification and crisis management coordination focused on the locations where hurricanes have the greatest propensity of making landfall, including the entire Eastern Seaboard and Gulf Coast areas of the United States.
"T-Mobile has a long history of moving swiftly in emergency situations to ensure our customers can stay connected when they need it most," said Bentley Alexander, VP, South Region Engineering, T-Mobile USA. "We have made significant investments in supplemental cell site backup generators, microwave technology equipment and cell-on-wheels (COWs), along with other tools and equipment to enhance the stability and, when necessary, the recovery of our network operations. At the same time, our engineers and our cross-functional crisis management teams - our people - play the most critical role for network and service continuity and recovery. We continue to focus on emergency response procedures and drills that will ensure we are ready for the 2012 Hurricane season." The company noted its National Engineering Response and Crisis Management teams constantly monitor weather patterns and potential storms. In advance of any major hurricane forecasted to make U.S. landfall, T-Mobile establishes an engineering Command Center near the area where the storm's impact is expected, creating a home base for engineers and rapid response teams, and a staging area for equipment and supplies that may be needed during the aftermath of the storm. As soon as it is safe, T-Mobile technicians and engineers are mobilized to support and assist any network restoration.
T-Mobile Network Operation Centers (NOCs) manage network traffic during any event, and the company has redundant support in place for each NOC, the company added.
T-Mobile said it takes the following additional steps to prepare the company's network for major weather-related events: -In the event of widespread power outages, T-Mobile has access to additional fuel to supply generators and company repair and transport vehicles, and for other emergency circumstances.
-Backup generators and fuel tanks for regional network switch operations are put in place and tested, and fuel is topped off for all generators in the potential path of a storm. T-Mobile recently purchased 1,000 additional small mobile generators to assist with backup power when needed. These units are now being delivered to local markets and regional depots.
-To further supplement fixed and portable backup generators, T-Mobile is prepared to place dozens more portable generators, ready to be transported to impacted areas.
-Microwave radio equipment is readied to be trucked into affected areas to facilitate back-haul or data communication from the cell sites to T-Mobile's network switches, as backup, in the event that fixed-line service fails.
-T-Mobile pre-stages COWs in neighboring markets to move in and provide additional wireless communications capacity in the hardest-hit areas.
-T-Mobile monitors evacuation efforts and routes, and takes steps to increase wireless capacity in those areas as customers move inland.
-The company also coordinates closely with the recovery efforts of local, state and federal agencies.
-T-Mobile has crisis plans in place for employees who may also be in the path of a storm, and responds quickly to help safeguard our employees and our facilities.
T-Mobile's Persistent Communications solution combines the company's Wi-Fi Calling for Business or Wi-Fi Calling for Government solutions with access to satellite services for back-haul connectivity.
T-Mobile USA is a U.S. wireless operation of Deutsche Telekom AG.
More information:
www.T-Mobile.com
((Comments on this story may be sent to newsdesk@closeupmedia.com))
4G: O2 And Vodafone To Build Single Network Grid To Hasten Switchover - huffingtonpost.co.uk
Two of the world's largest mobile network operators are to join forces in a bid to speed up the delivery of super-fast 4G services to UK households.
Vodafone and O2-owner Telefonica will continue to compete but will pool their infrastructure to operate and manage a single network grid across the country.
The move will be seen as a challenge to Everything, Everywhere, which operates Orange and T-Mobile.
Everything, Everywhere is helping to run the 4G Britain campaign to hasten the switch to 4G - and is lobbying for Ofcom to allow its existing spectrum to provide the service ahead of an expected auction for 4G spectrum following its latest consultation.
O2 and Vodafone said the move will see 4G mobile services, which will allow users to download music and film to their phones at the same speeds as home or office computers, delivered up to two years ahead of Ofcom's requirement of 98% coverage by 2017.
The two companies won't share spectrum but will share a network of 18,500 mobile sites.
If the agreement is agreed by Ofcom the companies will form a joint century which could see up to 10% of existing mobile sites dismantled.
The idea, the companies say, is to build "one grid, two networks".
Ronan Dunne, CEO of O2 parent company Telefónica UK said: "Exceptional customer demand for the mobile internet has challenged the mobile industry to consider innovative solutions to building a nationwide network that will be fit for our customers in the future."
"This partnership is about working smarter as an industry, so that we can focus on what really matters to our customers."
Guy Laurence, Vodafone UK chief executive, said: "This partnership will close the digital divide for millions of people across the country and power the next phase of the smartphone revolution."
O2, Be Broadband axe Pirate Bay access - The Register
O2, Be Broadband axe Pirate Bay access
Blockade to appear overnight
Posted in Networks, 7th June 2012 10:46 GMT
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Telefonica, which owns the O2 brand and fixed-line provider Be Broadband, is implementing a High Court order to block conventional web access to file-sharing search engine The Pirate Bay.
O2 confirmed to The Register that it will join BSkyB, Virgin Media and Everything Everywhere by cutting off www.thepiratebay.se from its network.
“The main UK internet providers were ordered by the High Court to block access to specific IP address and URLs used by The Pirate Bay website. We have no option but to comply with this order and will be doing so overnight,” an O2 spokeswoman said today.
Meanwhile, Be Broadband put out a statement on its blog late on Wednesday that immediately angered some of its customers. It said:
Overnight we'll be implementing a network-wide block of known Pirate Bay websites to comply with the court ruling in late April.
Legally we need to comply with court orders but wherever possible we leave it up to you.
Be Broadband also provided a screenshot of what its subscribers can expect to see when they attempt to access The Pirate Bay, whose administrators and users were ruled in February to be liable for infringement of music companies' copyright.
Some Be Broadband customers hit back by claiming they would take their "business elsewhere".
Two telcos are yet to comply with the order: TalkTalk has until 13 June to do so, while national telecoms giant BT has been granted more time.
A spokesman for music lobbying group the BPI, which represented the nine record labels in the UK listed as claimants on the High Court judgment, told El Reg that BT was expected to come to an agreement with BPI "in due course".
We asked TalkTalk to comment on this story, but it hadn't got back to us at time of writing. ®
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O2 and Vodafone team up to provide wider network coverage - Techradar.com
A new agreement has been struck between Vodafone and O2 to share base stations throughout the UK.
The move will see the two large networks sharing 18,500 sites throughout Britain, and will enable a 40% increase in site locations for each operator.
The upshot of this is wider coverage for their customers – but don't think this is the same as the tie-in with Orange and T-Mobile, which merged to form a new company in the shape of Everything Everywhere.
They're still our rivals
O2 and Vodafone have explicitly stated they will continue to operate as full competitors despite sharing the site locations – this move is a continuation of the project that started over two years ago.
The two networks are also claiming the move will help deploy 4G networks sooner and more efficiently, as achieving the Ofcom target of 98% of indoor 4G coverage by 2017 up to two years earlier than that deadline.
However, it's unlikely such a move will mean an acceleration of the 4G auction happening as that's still in the hands of Ofcom - O2 has told TechRadar this move is to improve coverage, reach, efficiency and allowing a further investment in innovation.
I'll trade you Wales for Scotland
The two networks have also drawn a massive line down the middle of the UK and divvied up the base station management, with O2 nabbing the east and Vodafone the west – although somehow O2 has managed to consider Northern Ireland part of the east side.
So what's the upshot? A more efficient network for both Vodafone and O2 customers and 10% fewer sites around the UK as the redundant masts are decommissioned. Whether this will result in cost savings for the consumer remains to be seen – we can but hope.
Vodafone and O2 combine networks for faster 4G - PC Pro
By Nicole Kobie
Posted on 7 Jun 2012 at 08:47
Vodafone and O2 have announced plans to merge their networks into a single grid, to improve coverage and accelerate the move to 4G.
The plans are an extension of an existing partnership, with the two firms already having an agreement in place to share new network sites.
The mobile operators will create a 50/50 joint venture to consolidate their networks, with towers and masts either transferred to the new company or decommissioned. That will create a single grid of 18,500 masts, boosting each operator's coverage by 40%, despite the number of masts declining by 10% overall, the companies said.
This partnership is about working smarter as an industry, so that we can focus on what really matters to our customers
The partnership will also help the two firms roll out 4G services more quickly - and up to two years ahead of Ofcom's 2017 cut-off date.
“This partnership is about working smarter as an industry, so that we can focus on what really matters to our customers – delivering a superfast network up to two years faster than Ofcom envisages and to as many people as possible," said Ronan Dunne, CEO of O2. "One physical grid, running independent networks, will mean greater efficiency, fewer site builds, broader coverage and, crucially, investment in innovation and better competition for the customer.”
The move comes as mobile operators battle each other and Ofcom over an upcoming spectrum auction, which would allow the companies to start offering 4G services.
Everything Everywhere - a joint venture between T-Mobile and Orange - has been pushing to use its existing spectrum to offer 4G services ahead of the auction, giving it a head start on its rivals - a plan O2 and Vodafone have both criticised.
O2 has also complained about Ofcom's spectrum plans, saying the way the auction is arranged would favour other operators over itself and Vodafone.
O2 and Vodafone claim they will continue to compete for customers and for spectrum in the auction. However, the partnership means the UK market has gone from five independent mobile firms three years ago to Everything Everywhere, O2 and Vodafone, and Three. The plans are subject to Ofcom's approval.
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