2008/04/17

UK Enum Consortium

UK Enum Consortium

ENUM is a way for people to route calls to telephone numbers. The telephone number owner specifies how they want the calls delivered.

This is a relatively complex system and stores the information in DNS using NAPTR records.

UKEC owns the +44 zone (which it was allocated by the DTI as was).

There will be two main uses for ENUM (as per UKEC) for routing telephone calls and for carriers routing calls.

Nominet are what's called the Tier 1 registry for the +44 zone and will maintain the DNS for it. In future there will be Registrars who actually register numbers into the registry. There will also be Number Authorities who verify that numbers are owned by who they say they are. Much of how this all works still needs to be decided.

Recently elections for the board of directors took place and the following people were elected: -

James Blessing
Peter Gradwell
Steve Kennedy (me)
Denesh Bhabuta

ENUM will play a significant part in the future of telephony, especially as BT role-out their 21CN.

DNS will also be significantly impacted as in future every telephone call will require an ENUM look-up (though companies/telcos will be able to purchase local caches).

UKEC is looking for members and shortly a PAB (policy advisory board).

fring auto-roaming delivers mobile internet convergence

fring auto-roaming delivers mobile internet convergence

Fring is an application that supports VoIP (SIP) and various instant messaging protocols (Skype®, MSN® Messenger, Google Talk™, ICQ, SIP, Twitter, Yahoo!™ and AIM®).

It can then put all your voice traffic over a data connection (or WiFi if available).

They've now made an iPhone application that works on the iPhone - the only trouble is it needs to be a "hacked" version i.e. one that has the 'Install' application on it which can download other applications (so going out and buying a vanilla iPhone wont work).

When Apple officially launch firmware v2 (June), it's expected Fring will launch an official application as Apple say they will support VoIP as long as it's over WiFi.

ZYB | Bring mobile data to life

ZYB | Bring mobile data to life

Well they had to call it something ...

Zyb is a service that allows you to remotely save your contacts/diary/notes/other data from your mobile phone. Of course it's more than that and is also a social networking site as it will look for contacts from your phone and compare them to other users on the site and make guess on who you should connect to.

There are other services with some of functionality (O2 have recently launched Bluebook), but Zyb is operator independent and though allows centralised back-up features, the social networking side is probably what's going to attract users.

They are licensing the technology to operators (who can bundle it with their service, probably white-labeled), but you can expect targeted advertising to appear soon.

You can post "shouts" either through the website or by texting shout plus the message to a Zyb number and it goes to all your connections.

There's so many social networking sites around, Zyb will have to fight hard to get in the game, but even just using the back-up features are useful enough.

Availability of Telephone Numbers | Ofcom

Availability of Telephone Numbers | Ofcom:

Ofcom are seeing increased demand for geographic numbers and in accordance with the numbering plan need to conserve numbers in certain areas.

Therefore Ofcom are proposing to add 96 geographic area codes, in addition to the 169 areas that already have conservation status.

In these areas numbers are allocated in blocks of 1,000 rather than the traditional 10,000 number blocks.

The consultations closes at 5pm on 19 May 2008.

Ofcom Website | Notices

Ofcom Website | Notices

The following will be allowed to bid for licenses in 1452-1492 MHz (L Band).

Adolphus Limited

Arqiva Limited

ePortal Holding K.S.C.

MLL Telecom Ltd

O2 (UK) Limited

Qualcomm UK Spectrum Ltd

The Joint Radio Company Limited

Vectone Network Limited

WorldSpace UK Limited


Some usual suspects and some notably unusual ones. Bidding starts at £50,000.00

Tap into experiences with the Nokia 6212 classic - FierceWireless - Wireless Industry, Wireless Technology News, Wireless Security News

Tap into experiences with the Nokia 6212 classic - FierceWireless - Wireless Industry, Wireless Technology News, Wireless Security News

Nokia yesterday introduced the Nokia 6212 3G phone which incorporates Near Field Communications (NFC).

This is expected to be available in EU and Asian markets later in the summer for around Euros 200.

NFC allows payments and other transactions to be carried out (something like a mobile Oyster card) by tapping the phone on to an NFC reader. It can also link to credit card information on the phone for NFC credit card payment systems.

Photos, weblinks, etc can also be transferred between devices and Nokia have a NFC headset.

In the UK Oyster is becoming widespread and Barclaycard have a combined Oyster/CreditCard, integration with phones is the next step.

General Information | Ofcom

General Information | Ofcom

Ofcom have released an information update on Band III. PDF file.

Ofcom unilaterally allocated some of the band for private mobile radio use and made agreements with neigbouring countries where interference may occur (the band was the old 405 black and white TV band).

Now there has been an RCC conference - which has kept the band for TV use, some users will have to move to other bands or cease operations.

This document clarifies those moves etc.

2008/04/04

Notice of Ofcom’s proposal to make regulations in connection with the award of 2500-2690 MHz and 2010-2025 MHz | Ofcom

Notice of Ofcom’s proposal to make regulations in connection with the award of 2500-2690 MHz and 2010-2025 MHz | Ofcom

Ofcom has published its proposals for the licensing of the 2.5/2.6GHz and 2GHz bands. It is now holding a consultation for interested parties to respond by 06/05/08.

These bands represent a huge chunk of spectrum (over 190MHz) which is more than all the 3G operators attained in the 3G auctions. Though big players are expected to get involved (existing 3G operators, new entrants, BT etc) and pricing may well reach high millions, they're not expected to reach the highs of the 3G auction (£21bn).

2008/04/02

Are you an 'Alpha Socialiser'' or an 'Attention Seeker'? ... Ofcom research identifies social networking profiles | Ofcom

Are you an 'Alpha Socialiser'' or an 'Attention Seeker'? ... Ofcom research identifies social networking profiles | Ofcom

Ofcom has published a report into social networking in the UK.

49% of 8-17 year olds have a social networking site presence but 22% of adults also have a presence.

Ofcom have put users into 5 groups

* Alpha Socialisers – mostly male, under 25s, who use sites in intense short bursts to flirt, meet new people and be entertained.

* Attention Seekers – mostly female, who crave attention and comments from others, often by posting photos and customising their profiles.

* Followers – males and females of all ages who join sites to keep up with what their peers are doing.

* Faithfuls – older males and females generally aged over 20, who typically use social networking sites to rekindle old friendships, often from school or university.

* Functionals – mostly older males who tend to be single-minded in using sites for a particular purpose.

There are also 3 groups of people who don't use social networking

* Concerned about safety – often older people and parents concerned about safety online, in particular making personal details available online.

* Technically inexperienced – often people over 30 years old who lack confidence in using the internet and computers.

* Intellectual rejecters – often older teens and young adults who have no interest in social networking sites and see them as a waste of time.

Also

* 41 per cent of children and 44 per cent of adults leave their privacy settings as default 'open' which means that their profiles are visible to anyone;

* 34 per cent of 16-24 year olds are willing to give out sensitive personal information such as their phone number or email address (Get Safe Online Research); and

* 17 per cent of adult users said that they talked to people on social networking sites that they didn't know and 35 per cent spoke to people who were 'friends of friends'.

Facebook is th emost popular site followed by MySpace then Bebo, but Bebo was most popular for users between 8-17.

There seems to have been a lot of media hype following the report.

Ofcom's Tariff Table 2008/9 | Ofcom

Ofcom's Tariff Table 2008/9 | Ofcom

Ofcom has published its funding plans for FY 2008. Ofcom’s budget will be £133.7m, which on a like for like basis for FY 2007/2008 is a decrease of 1.5%.

There will be an average decrease of (6.3%) for the radio sector, an average decrease of (2.4%) for the television sector and an average increase of 4.1% for network and services operators.

Ofcom paid off their original government set-up loan last year.

2008/03/26

LONAP

LONAP: Fees

LONAP celebrated their 10th birthday in the Old Bank of England pub last night.

LONAP or the London Access Point are an Internet Exchange where members pay £500 per quarter for up to 2Gb Ethernet connections. As a neutral exchange each member can peer with other members at the exchange (arranged individually).

Members can purchase further (dual) Ethernet connections for £500 per quarter.


Current members are: -

AboveNet
aeXiomus
Akamai International B.V.
APM Internet Ltd.
Associated Networks / ANLX
Avensys Networks Ltd
BBC (Siemens Business Services)
BBC R+D Multicast
Belgacom ICS
Bogons
Bytemark Hosting
Catalyst2 Services Ltd.
clanserver4u GmbH
ClearIP
Community Internet / CI-Net
Comtec Enterprises Ltd.
CSI Ltd
Eaton Kaye Ltd.
Ebuyer UK Ltd.
Entanet
Europacom.net Ltd.
FastNet International
Fidonet
Gamma Telecom Ltd.
Global-MIX Ltd
Goscomb Technologies
Gradwell dot com Ltd
Griffin Internet
Hotchilli Internet Solutions
Hurricane Electric
IDnet
Internet Technology Products Ltd.
ISC - f.root-servers.net
Jump Networks Ltd
Ke-Connect Systems Ltd.
Kewlio.net Ltd.
Kingston Communications
KPN International
Limelight Networks
Localphone Limited
Loud-n-clear
Mailbox Internet
Merula Ltd
Mistral Internet
murphx Innovative Solutions Limited
Namesco Limited
Neotelecoms
Netcetera
NetConnex
Nominet
Onyx Internet
Opal Business Solutions Ltd. (Centrica/ Rednet)
Open Hosting
OpenPeers Ltd.
OrbitalNet
Pipex
PlusNet
Powernet
PRT Systems
Public Internet Ltd.
RapidSwitch Ltd
Reactive Networks
Redstone Communications
Simwood eSMS Limited
Stripe 21 Ltd.
Switch IP Ltd.
System Online Ltd
TelecityGroup UK Ltd
Thus / Business Serve Plc
UK Grid
Viatel
Virgin Radio
Wave Rider / OpenSense Ltd
Web Tapestry
Zen Internet

Starting off small, LONAP have grown to almost 80 members, some of whom are big players - most of the other smaller Internet exchanges are no longer in existence. They're not quite LINX (London INternet eXchnage), but are still growing and there's around 4.5Gb/s of traffic transferred.

Proposals to apply the Electronic Communications Code | Ofcom

Proposals to apply the Electronic Communications Code | Ofcom

Mapesbury Communications have been awarded powers under the Electronics Communications Code from Ofcom today.

This allows them to lay infrastructure without the permission of landowners etc.

As one of the winners of a low power GSM Guard band license this should enable them to build infrastructure which would otherwise have proven difficult or impossible.

MCOM (UK01) could prove to be a disruptive player in the mobile space.

Mobile Communications on board Aircraft (MCA) | Ofcom

Mobile Communications on board Aircraft (MCA) | Ofcom

Ofcom are allowing airline operators to offer mobile communications on aeroplanes (known as Mobile Communications on Aircraft or MCA).

MCA will fall under a licensed regime (under the Wireless Telegraphy Act), though licenses will be issued on request under existing license variations - with no fees payable.

This will fall under a common European regime for European registered aircraft, it is hoped that this can be extended worldwide.

2008/03/03

'Sitefinder' Mobile Phone Base Station Database

'Sitefinder' Mobile Phone Base Station Database

Ofcom has confirmed today that the Sitefinder database has updated information in the database.

Sitefinder is provided by Ofcom and holds information on cell sites, who operates them, what power they transmit at (and the max allowable) and what frequencies.

The operators refresh the data on a quarterly basis.

Currently updates are occuring from O2, Orange, Vodafone, 3, but not T-Mobile. There is also data from Tetra (Police radio).

Sitefinder is a useful resource but the operators have complained that making too much information available is giving away competitive info.

'Sitefinder' Mobile Phone Base Station Database

'Sitefinder' Mobile Phone Base Station Database

Ofcom has confirmed today that the Sitefinder database has updated information in the database.

Sitefinder is provided by Ofcom and holds information on cell sites, who operates them, what power they transmit at (and the max allowable) and what frequencies.

The operators refresh the data on a quarterly basis.

Currently updates are occuring from O2, Orange, Vodafone, 3, but not T-Mobile. There is also data from Tetra (Police radio).

Sitefinder is a useful resource but the operators have complained that making too much information available is giving away competitive info.

2008/02/25

Prosecution Statistics 2006/07 | Ofcom

Prosecution Statistics 2006/07 | Ofcom

Ofcom published details on the number of prosecutions and warning letters issued in the Financial Year 2006/7


There were 61 illegal broadcaster (i.e. pirate radio) prosecutions (and convictions), also 31 warning letters sent.

Citizen Band (CB) 1 prosecution (and conviction).

EMC (electromagnetic interference 1 prosecution/conviction and 1 warning.

RTTE (CE equipment - non compliance) 5 prosecutions/convictions and 22 warnings.

Others (Costal Radio) - 1 conviction/prosecution for a hoax call and 7 warnings.

So really a small part of Ofcom's work.

2008/02/07

Mobile Sector Assessment | Ofcom

Mobile Sector Assessment | Ofcom

Ofcom are holding an assessment on the mobile sector, this covers both mobile telephony and general wireless services.

Ofcom's have stated what they plan to assess, but welcome comments on their approach, preferrably by 31st March 2008.

Television Transmitter Location Maps | Ofcom

Television Transmitter Location Maps | Ofcom

Ofcom have published maps of the transmitters and coverage areas sand when they are going to be switched over to digitial. The maps are for guidance so that industry and viewers will know when switch-over will occur in their area.


The maps are available for: -

Anglia
Border
Central
Channel Islands
Granada
London
Meridian
South Wales
STV Central
STV North
Tyne Tees
Northern Ireland
Wales
West
Westcountry
Yorkshire

2008/01/31

Notification under Section 107(6) of the Communications Act 2003 - Mapesbury Communications Limited | Ofcom

Notification under Section 107(6) of the Communications Act 2003 - Mapesbury Communications Limited | Ofcom

Mapesbury Communications or MCOM have applied for "Code Powers". If granted this will give them the rights to digs roads, erect masts etc.

MCOM were awarded a low power GSM license ("Guard Band") and are launching services under the UK01 brand.

Code powers should allow them to construct a GSM network and offer competing services with the current big 5 MNOs.