Italian metro fiber network operator Metroweb has unveiled plans to invest €4.5 billion (US$5.9 billion) in FTTH networks in 30 Italian cities, reports AGI.it. Metroweb's wholesale fiber access service is already being used in Milan by Telecom Italia (TIM) , which was rumored to be mulling an acquisition of Metroweb in 2011. (See Telecom Italia Uses Metroweb and Euronews: Feb. 2.)
The waiting is over for those (in a select number of countries) with a new iPad fixation. London's Evening Standardreported on the queue outside the U.K. capital's Regent Street Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL) store before the doors opened this morning. But while the punters are excited, network operators might be less so if the arrival of the new LTE-enabled tablet gives them a Diameter signaling headache. (See New iPad Brews LTE Signaling Storm , Euronews: Limited Release for New iPad and Apple Intros First 4G LTE iPad.)
Regulators group BEREC has released the results of a survey that reveals the widespread blocking of VoIP and P2P traffic by Europe's network operators.
Telefónica has invested in its mobile wallet, and further cemented its credentials as a forward-thinking telco, by taking a stake in Boku Inc. . (See Telefónica Invests in Payments Partner.)
Frankfurt-based carrier-neutral data center player ancotel has been chosen by Cable & Wireless Worldwide plc (London: CW) (C&WW) to be one of the three Europe-Persia Express Gateway (EPEG) hubs for Western Europe. C&WW recently announced that it is deploying Infinera Corp. (Nasdaq: INFN) equipment in its leg of the multi-carrier EPEG, which is set for completion in May 2012. (See Infinera's New Euro Scalp.)
— Ray Le Maistre, International Managing Editor, Light Reading