Wednesday, 29 April 2015

PS Core Engineer O&M (back Office Ericsson Sgsn/mme, Ggsn/mpg, Idns)

Posted dateWed, 29th Apr
LocationDenmark 
PS Core Engineer O&M (Back Office Ericsson SGSN/MME, GGSN/MPG, iDNS, SAPC)

WaveTel requires a fully experienced PS Core Ericsson engineer for this contract position in Denmark.
Requirements:
More than three years of experiences within Telecommunication, mandatory experience in Core PS Operations
Bachelor or Master degree within Electrical, Telecommunication or Computer Engineering
Very good understanding of 2G,3G,4G PS networks and Traffic cases. For complimentary products, broad knowledge of Unix operating system is essential
Extensive hands on experience with: Packet Switch (Ericsson SGSN/MME, GGSN/MPG), DNS, Ericsson SAPC knowledge is a plus.
Basic knowledge of IP Networks (CCNA certification or similar)
Understanding of KPI (Key Performance Indicators) and operational processes: Fault Management, Change Management, Preventive maintenance, Performance management
Able to communicate fluently in English. Danish would be a plus
Responsibilities:
Second level service problem restoration
Perform Preventive Maintenance of nodes
Handle and analyze Trouble Tickets and respond with timely actions within SLA
Create or handle and execute the Change Request in stipulated time frame
Raise Trouble Tickets towards 3rd line support in consultation
Keeping KPIs within the SLA (service layer agreement)
Ability to manage incidents actions & resolution for critical cases ( identify,analyze, coordinate all problematic points)
Preparing, testing and implementing configuration changes on SGSN, GGSN and IpWorks iDNS
Acceptance test for PS Core nodes.
Involved in upgrade/updates of live nodes
On-call responsibility 1 week per month
Planned works during night time.

Job TitlePS Core Engineer O&M (back Office Ericsson Sgsn/mme, Ggsn/mpg, Idns)
Post Details
Posted ByMr Henriksen
Start Dateasap
Salarygood
Category
Job TypeEither
LocationDenmark
City or Statecopenhagen

Monday, 27 April 2015

HKT and Huawei Demonstrate 450Mbps Download Speeds over LTE-A

Hong Kong Telecom (HKT) and Huawei have demonstrated the world's first IP RAN based LTE A 450Mbps solution (3 FDD Carrier Aggregation) in Hong Kong.
At a press briefing, HKT and Huawei achieved a peak download rate of 435Mbps in a live test of the world's first demonstration of three component carrier (3CC) inter-site LTE-A carrier aggregation (CA) across three 20MHz spectrum blocks using an IP-RAN based solution.
HKT is already rolling out its LTE-A 450Mbps network using this IP-RAN based solution, and expects the network to be commercialized with compatible smartphones by 2016.
Being the most important feature of LTE-A, CA technology allows the combined use of fragmented spectrum resources to increase data throughput where implementations today require that the fragmented spectrum resources be hosted by the same cell site. However, many commercial CA networks today have coverage holes due to coverage differences between LTE cell sites using different spectrums, thus imposing difficulty of combining LTE carriers on different spectrums for CA realization, which in turn disrupts the user experience. To solve this problem, Huawei has invented an inter-site CA solution which is able to combine carriers from more than one cell site to maximize the CA coverage area.
For the Hong Kong test, Huawei provided HKT with this inter-site CA solution based on IP Radio Access Network (IP-RAN) backhaul. This IP-RAN based solution successfully integrated three 20MHz spectrum blocks to realize LTE-A 450Mbps without modifying the current transmission network.
Mr. David Wang, President of Huawei Wireless Network Product Line, said, "Huawei and HKT are committed to build a world-leading LTE-A commercial network for Hong Kong. Having achieved the world's first inter-site 3CC CA realization, we will now work together to plan for the full commercial use of this technology, aiming to further uplift the mobile experience for Hong Kong users."
Click on images to enlarge

Press demo

India's Micromax Close to Selling Stake to Chinese Investor

The Indian mobile phone manufacturer, Micromax is reportedly close to a deal to sell a 25% stake to China's Alipay, in a deal that could see the phone manufacturer valued at around USD5 billion.
The move follows several months of speculation that Micromax was looking for an outside investor to help it diversify and compete against Chinese rivals, especially Xiaomi.
According to Canalys, Micromax overtook Samsung (20%) as India's largest handset vendor with 22% of shipments in Q4 2014 quarter, although Samsung disputes the report.
Citing sources, the Economic Times newspaper reported that Alipay, an online payment portal would be working with 2-3 other companies to form a consortium for its investment.
The company had been reportedly to be looking for an investment of at least USD1 billion for the stake, so it looks as though the Alipay backed consortium is paying a modest premium for its stake.
In 2010, Micromax had filed for a stock market listing but later cancelled its plans citing poor market conditions.

Internet Provider Finally Refunds Consumer

Melbourne based internet provider Planet ISP has refunded over AU$5000 to a customer whose mobile phone was stolen in South Africa in August 2012 but was subsequently used to make 92 unauthorised international calls.
The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) issued a Determination in May 2014 requiring the company to refund $5,115.26 for international call charges incurred and arising from these unauthorised calls. The TIO noted the customer reported the theft to Planet ISP on the day the phone was stolen, that Planet ISP did not act on the customer's request and subsequently debited the charges from the customer's bank account. Finally, Planet ISP did not make the payment to the customer as mandated by the Determination.
Only when the Australian Communications and Media Authority issued a remedial direction to Planet ISP in December 2014 for its failure to comply with the TIO Scheme -- and then indicated its intention to start legal proceedings -- has Planet ISP now refunded the money.
"The ACMA notes that the provider has now finally refunded payments made by the consumer for charges that should not have been incurred in the first place. However, it is disappointing that this outcome has been so unnecessarily drawn out"' said ACMA Chairman, Chris Chapman.
"It is unacceptable for an internet or phone provider to disregard the decisions of the TIO and regard themselves as outside of the system," he added.

Sunday, 26 April 2015

BP and Shell to report 60% collapse in first-quarter profits

Clouds over BP's North Sea HQ in Aberdeen. The the oil firm is expected to reveal a 60% fall in profits.

 Clouds over BP’s North Sea HQ in Aberdeen. The the oil firm is expected to reveal a 60% fall in profits. Photograph: Murdo MacLeod
BP and Shell will this week report a collapse in first-quarter profits of around 60% on the same period of 2014 underlining the financial damage being inflicted by low oil and gas prices.
Analysts predict BP will be hit the hardest putting further pressure on chief executive, Bob Dudley, as he tries to steer the company back to full health amid continuing fallout from the Deepwater Horizon accident.
A consensus of 22 analysts expect BP’s underlying replacement “costs profits” – an oil industry accounting measure that incorporates fluctuations in the price of oil - to be down to $1.3bn (£850m) from $3.2bn in the first three months of 2014.
“There will be a huge drop in earnings for all the large integrated oil companies but especially BP. It will be the worst set of results for everyone since 2009,” said Fadel Gheit, veteran analyst with the Oppenheimer brokerage in New York.
Iain Armstrong, analyst with investment manager Brewin Dolphin in London, said BP would be most exposed to the particularly large fall in US natural gas prices slightly tempered by stronger refining margins.
“Upstream (exploration and production) earnings will be most affected, although there could be the initial positive impact of the planned cuts in capital expenditure and the ongoing layoff programme,” said Armstrong.
Gheit believes BP income could fall by as much as 7o% while Shell will be down by 68% and Exxon Mobil by 67%. But he also predicts losses for the second tier of oil companies such as Anadarko Petroleum, Apache Corporation and ConocoPhillips.
Gheit believes the “devastating” losses of the oil sector will increase the likelihood of more merger and acquisition activity following the $70bn takeover plan unveiled earlier this month by Shell on BG.
“It is a dog-eat-dog world out there now. Basically all companies are potential takeover targets. Tony Hayward [the ex-BP boss now running Genel Energy] said he is looking for acquisitions but I have news for him that his own company is being looked at.”
Gheit believes US domestic oil and gas producers will be the hardest hit with financial losses continuing throughout the year. “If there is not a bounce back (in oil prices) they could be even worse next year because they will not be so protected by a hedging strategy.”
The oil price over the first quarter of the financial year is roughly half the level that it was during the same period of 2014. It has since recovered a bit with Brent blend was last Friday trading at $65, 40% lower than the same time last year.
BG will not report its financial results until 8 May but the annual general meeting three days earlier will see lively debate over management’s decision to accept the takeover offer from Shell.
All the oil companies have been slashing their capital expenditure and many have been laying off staff causing enormous concern in offshore centres such as Aberdeen. Last Thursday BP announced its latest sell-off, a major North Sea pipeline system for £320m.

Nepal earthquake: rescue continues as death toll exceeds 2,500 - live updates

A Buddha statue is surrounded by debris from a collapsed temple in the UNESCO world heritage site of Bhaktapur on April 26, 2015 in Bhaktapur, Nepal.

 A Buddha statue is surrounded by debris from a collapsed temple in the UNESCO world heritage site of Bhaktapur on April 26, 2015 in Bhaktapur, Nepal. Photograph: Omar Havana/Getty Images
  • The death toll from the 7.9 magnitude earthquake that struck Nepal on Saturday has risen to more than 2,500. More than 5,000 people have been injured. Powerful aftershocks today between Kathmandu and Everest unleashed more avalanches in the Himalayas and caused panic in the capital, where hospital workers stretchered patients out into the street as it was too dangerous treat them indoors.
  • At least 17 people believed to have been killed on Everest, and 61 injured, by an avalanche which left mountaineers calling for helicopter assistance to evacuate the most badly wounded.
  • The UK government has announced that it will donate £5m to help the rescue effort in Nepal.
  • state of emergency has been declared Many historic landmarks, including the Dharahara tower, have been reduced to rubble following the quake.
  • Governments are scrambling to locate thousands of their nationalsand relatives took to social media to find their loved ones.
  • The international community has also pledged support and aid packages to Nepal. The US secretary of state, John Kerry, has said the US will pledge $1m to the aid effort and will also assist with a disaster response team. Australia has also pledged a Aus$5m aid package, while IndiaSri Lanka, the UK, China and others are all sending disaster response teams to assist in search and rescue.
  • Pope Francis led prayers in St Peter’s Square for the dead, displaced and injured in Nepal and surrounding areas.
  • Weather reports suggested that survivors of the quake - who are sleeping outside because of fear of unsafe building - will face heavy downpours in the next week.
  • The quakes caused widespread damage to Nepal’s infrastructure which has further hampered search and rescue operations. Injured climbers at Mount Everest, where an avalanche struck following the quake, have been flown by helicopter to receive medical treatment.
The official number of dead from Saturday’s Himalayan earthquake has topped 2,500 and may continue to rise as remote areas near the epicenter are searched, according to the Associated Press.
Nepal authorities said Sunday that at least 2,430 people in that country had died in Nepal alone, not including the 18 people that the Nepal Mountaineering Association says died in an earthquake-triggered avalanche on Mount Everest. Another 61 people died from the quake in India and a few in other neighboring countries.
With search and rescue efforts far from over, it was unclear how much the death toll would rise.
This from reader Shashank Suman BTL about the Indian government’s efforts to help the rescue operation:
As part of the nation’s overall relief effort for Nepal, the Indian Army has launched Operation Maitri.
A Multi National Coordination Centre has been set up. In addition, in PPO Pokhra, Head quarters are being established for relief operations.
The following resources have been allocated so far as part of Operation Maitri, in support of the Nepalese Army’s relief effort:-
(a) 18 Medical Teams earmarked. Six Medical Teams have reached and have been deployed while the rest are on standby.
(b) 10 Engineer Task Forces(ETFs) consisting of manpower, skid steers and JCBs (One partial ETF has landed with stores. Balance are on standby in India).
(c) 10,000 blankets and 1,000 tents are on standby.
(d) 10 INMARSATs for satellite communications have reached Nepal.
Aviation assets of five ALH helicopters and two Cheetah helicopters have been staged forward to Gorakhpur.
“Further, taking cognizance of the request of the Nepalese Government for Oxygen on account of problems in the Kathmandu Oxygen plant, additional cylinders are being dispatched (300 located at Bengdubi for dispatch to Nepal),” read a statement.
Indian Army Everest Expedition was training at Base Camp when the Earth Quake struck. Their equipment was buried in the avalanche, however the team is safe and helped in recovery of dead bodies of other foreign climbers.
“19 dead bodies and 61 injured persons were rescued by the Indian Army Expedition Team,” read the statement
The Medical Officer has treated a number of injured international mountaineers.

New footage from Kathmandu shows the aftermath of Saturday’s magnitude 7.9 earthquake with houses toppled and multi-storey apartments reduced to rubble.
 New footage from the day after a 7.9 earthquake hit Nepal shows the extent of the damage caused, and the situation facing survivors.

Debt-relief campaigners Jubilee USA Network have sent an interesting press release, pointing out that Nepal could qualify for assistance from the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) newCatastrophe Containment and Relief Trust (CCR).
“Nepal could qualify for immediate relief,” said Eric LeCompte, executive director of Jubilee USA Network. “Nepal’s earthquake is why the International Monetary Fund created a new rapid response relief fund.”
The IMF created the CCR in February to provide debt relief to poor countries impacted by natural disasters or health crises. The new fund canceled nearly $100 million in debt for Ebola-impacted countries. In order to qualify for relief from the new fund after a natural disaster, a country must meet certain criteria. The disaster must destroy more than 25% of the country’s “productive capacity,” impact one third of its people or cause damage greater than the size of the country’s economy. It is not yet known if Nepal will qualify. Nepal owes the IMF $54 million, with $10 million due in 2015 and nearly $13 million due in 2016.

A Nepalese cycle rickshaw puller pedals past buildings at the Basantapur Durbar Square that were damaged in Saturday s earthquake in Kathmandu, Nepal.
 A Nepalese cycle rickshaw puller pedals past buildings at the Basantapur Durbar Square that were damaged in Saturday s earthquake in Kathmandu, Nepal. Photograph: Bernat Armangue/AP
We have an updated story from our correspondents on the ground in Nepal.
A strong aftershock has caused panic and frustrated frantic efforts to reach possible survivors of Saturday’s earthquake in Nepal, as the death toll rose to 2,152 and the government declared a state of emergency.
Officials in the Himalayan country said they expected the number of dead and injured to rise again, while emergency supplies began to trickle in to affected areas after several countries pledged millions of dollars in desperately needed aid and sent in search and rescue teams.
More than 5,000 people were injured after the magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck late on Saturday morning. Local authorities said all but a few dozen of the deaths occurred in Nepal, and that at least 721 people had died in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu alone.
Dozens of aftershocks, including a powerful temblor on Sunday afternoon, have jolted Nepal over the weekend, forcing thousands of people to shelter where they can.
Nepalese authorities continually revised the number of dead upwards a day after the earthquake wrecked houses, flattened centuries-old temples and triggered avalanches on Mount Everest.
On Sunday afternoon, climbers left stranded by initial avalanches on Everest were again in fear for their lives after a magnitude 6.7 aftershock triggered more avalanches. It also sent terrified residents running into the streets in Kathmandu.
“Another one, we have an aftershock right now. Oh shit!” said Indian climber Arjun Vajpai over the phone from Makalu base camp near Everest. “Avalanche!” he shouted. Screams and the sound of snow cascading down the mountainside could be heard over the line as he spoke.
The aftershock was the most powerful since the initial earthquake – itself the strongest since Nepal’s worst earthquake, in 1934, in which 8,500 people died. 

Suzuki dismisses reports of Hayabusa assembly in India

A source in Suzuki Motorcycle India has disclosed to ZigWheels that there are no plans to assemble the Hayabusa in India anytime soon as reported. However, Suzuki Motorcycle India is open to introducing motorcycles in the Indian market via the CKD route if there’s significant demand
2015 Suzuki Hayabusa
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Suzuki Motorcycle India has dismissed reports that the Hayabusa will be locally assembled in India, and once that happens, it would cost as much as Rs 5 lakh less.
Suzuki official has told ZigWheels that as of now there are no such plans of assembling the Hayabusa in India, and it would continue to be brought in as a CBU.
The official dismissed reports that the Hayabusa would become cheaper by as much as Rs 5 lakh if it is assembled in India. He said that even if a decision to bring the bike via the CKD route is taken, it would be near impossible to slash the price by Rs 5 lakh.
Suzuki however is open to introducing high-end bikes via the CKD route in India, once economic considerations and market demands make it practical to do so. The official also didn’t rule out bringing in medium capacity motorcycles via the CKD route to India. 
So far, there is no word when Suzuki starts to assemble superbikes in India. But the writing on the wall is clear – the Indian superbike market is booming and it only makes sense to assemble bikes here to cut down on the high sticker prices CBUs carry.
2015 Suzuki GSX-R600
Market leaders like Harley-Davidson and Triumph are already assembling several of their models in India, as is Kawasaki with several CKD options for the Indian market. Currently, Honda also offers as many as five different superbikes in India, brought in as CBUs. But all that is going to change when Honda launches the much-awaited CBR650F, made in India and to be exported to other markets from India.
Suzuki also offers as many as six superbikes in the Indian market, and all of them have also been brought in via the CBU route. If Suzuki does begin CKD assembly in India, we may very well get to see medium capacity superbikes like the GSX-R600, GSX-R750 and even the V-Strom 650 in India.
Looks like it’s game-on for superbike manufacturers in India. And for enthusiasts, there’s no better time to look forward to several mid-size superbikes making their debut in the Indian market.