Parks Associates finds mobile broadband operators face challenges in managing traffic and user control

Refined business models will control network use and yield more revenue --

The tremendous growth of mobile broadband usage, with annual growth rates of 200% in parts of North America and upwards of 800% in parts of Europe, will create future challenges for service providers if not properly managed.

A new custom study from Parks Associates, Mobile Broadband in North America and Europe: Change is Key to Continuing Profitability, found that many carriers rely on outdated business models, excessive pricing or flat-rate billing, to manage traffic. Excessive pricing slows growth and invites cutthroat competition. Flat-rate carriers charge a single rate for unlimited service, which does not effectively monetize traffic. Both models are unsustainable given current growth trends.

The custom study, conducted by Parks Associates on behalf of Camiant, a global provider of policy control for the wireless, fixed, and cable industries, included interviews with executives at major mobile broadband providers in Canada, Europe, and the U.S. The study determined adoption and usage of mobile broadband and carriers’ capabilities with respect to network and user control.

Denissov and Camiant’s VP of Business Development Randy Fuller will present the study findings during a free webcast on Wednesday, November 12, at 12 p.m. ET.

CONNECTIONS Sponsor, Control4 Selected by Home Theater Specialists of America to Offer Sophisticated Home Control Solutions

Control4 is the platform for today’s digital life. The company makes everyday life easier by providing one-touch control of electronic systems for both new and existing homes and hotels. By allowing leading consumer electronics products and home systems to easily work together, Control4 provides effortless entertainment, comfort, convenience and peace of mind to owners everywhere.

Control4's affordable and easy-to-use software and hardware products enable home theater and television control, multi-room music, temperature control, security integration and smart lighting, through a range of on-site and over-the-web remote control technology. The company delivers both wired and wireless solutions that can be installed in existing properties as well as new construction.

Control4, the leader in IP-based home control and entertainment systems, announced a strategic relationship with Home Theater Specialists of America (HTSA), a national association of home theater experts with 62 members and aggregate annual sales volumes exceeding $500 million. Control4’s complete line of home automation products is now available to all HTSA’s members.

HTSA offers its members not only a combined buying power but also a whole directory of professionals available to provide advice on sales, product selection, installation techniques and marketing programs including demand and lead generation. HTSA’s Suite of Services gives members options to choose from when it comes to television commercials, store signs, truck graphics and expert advertising consultation. This unique access provides members with helpful resources that are tailored for individual stores.

Control4’s platform replaces on average four remotes in the home. In addition to the popular home theater control, the company offers convenient and sophisticated home control integration solutions including: multi-room music, lighting, temperature control, security integration and more.

Visit www.control4.com for more information.

KPN sees strong growth

Dutch telco KPN has reported a growth of 69% as subscribers for its IPTV service reached 700,000 in Q3.

KPN estimates it now has a 21% share of the Dutch digital television market. The telco's total revenues for the Q3 hit E3.652 billion, up 20% from the same period of last year, while net profits fell 0.6% by the same comparison to reach E353 million.

For more information about KPN, click here.

TeliaSonera reaches 450,000 IPTV subs in Q3

Scandinavian telco TeliaSonera added 23,000 IPTV customers in the third quarter of this year across all regions to bring its total to 450,000, with over half of its IPTV customer base in Sweden paying to receive the service.

In Sweden, the push for IPTV resulted in a rise of more than 100,000 new subscriptions year-on-year to reach 320,000, however the company reported no growth on a quarter-on-quarter comparison in the country. TeliaSonera had a total of 839,000 digital TV subscribers across all regions, including its cable TV operations in Denmark.

Net sales by the Broadband Services division fell 1% year-on-year to reach SEK 11,063mn (US$ 1,376mn) in the third quarter of 2008, however growth in voice and IP traffic, and higher sales of IP-based services, "did not fully offset the decline in traditional fixed voice", according to the company. The total number of broadband subscribers across all regions reached 2,405,000 by the end of the third quarter of this year, up 26,000 from three months previously. Broadband average revenue per user (ARPU) for the three months to September was SEK 275, up slightly from SEK 273 in the same period of 2007.

“Third quarter performance was good with growing sales and strong EBITDA, driven by Mobility Services and Eurasia," said Lars Nyberg, President and CEO of TeliaSonera . Sales in Broadband Services were essentially flat in absolute terms, but there is a considerable change in the underlying product mix, which puts pressure on margins. Improving operational efficiency remains one of our top priorities.

"We are in a period of global financial turmoil and it is very difficult to project how long it will last. However, TeliaSonera has a strong balance sheet and operates in a relatively non-cyclical industry. Therefore, we see no immediate effects of changing customer behavior in our operations. Regulatory intervention, intense competition and customer migration remain the primary challenges.

"Total net sales across all operations for the third quarter of this year rose 4% relative to the same period of 2007 to reach SEK 25,817mn, while net income fell 13% by the same comparison to reach SEK 5,411mn.

Stockholm-headquartered TeliaSonera is active in North and Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Spain, and has IPTV operations in a number of countries including Sweden, Norway, Lithuania and Estonia.

CONNECTIONS Sponsor, Macrovision Continues Expansion of European Patent Licensing with COMAG

Global sponsor, Macrovision announced that COMAG Handels AG has entered into a patent license agreement for interactive program guides (IPGs) in its consumer electronics products. The multi-year agreement includes a patent license allowing COMAG to incorporate IPGs in certain retail set-top boxes and other consumer electronics devices distributed throughout Europe.

Macrovision is focused on providing a uniquely simple digital home entertainment experience by delivering solutions to businesses to protect, enhance and distribute digital goods to consumers across multiple channels. Macrovision's technologies are deployed by companies in the entertainment, consumer electronics, cable and satellite, and online distribution markets to solve industry-specific challenges and bring greater value and a more robust user experience to their customers. The result of deploying Macrovision's solutions is a simple end user experience for discovering, acquiring, managing and enjoying digital content. Today, Macrovision provides connected middleware, media recognition, interactive programming guides, copy protection and rich media, data and metadata on music, games, movies and television programming.

Macrovision is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, with numerous offices across the United States and around the world including Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, Luxembourg, and the United Kingdom. More information about Macrovision can be found at http://www.macrovision.com/.