Telefónica International Wholesale Services (TIWS) has formed a partnership (a "strategic one," natch) with network owner/operator Interoute Communications Ltd. , which sees the former choosing the latter as its core fiber-optic provider in Western Europe. At the same time, TIWS will also become Interoute’s provider for trans-Atlantic, U.S. and Latin America routes. (See Telefonica International Uses Interoute .)
Telecom Italia has signed an agreement with the authorities in the Italian province of Trento for the building of a next-generation fiber network there. More than 150,000 properties -- around 60 percent of all properties in the province -- are expected to be connected to the network when it is completed. (See Telecom Italia Signs Trento NGN Deal.)
Chargers are hot (well mine usually is): European Commission Vice President Antonio Tajani has taken delivery of a sample compatible common mobile phone charger from Bridget Cosgrave, director-general of DigitalEurope. This is the result of an ongoing collaboration between 14 manufacturers and the EC to find an answer to the old "every lead but the right one" problem playing out in hotel rooms and airports worldwide. The participating manufacturers have agreed to introduce the new common chargers onto the European market in 2011. (See EC's Common Charger Nears Market.)
Geneva-based ST-Ericsson , meanwhile, is launching a power management product that it says will significantly reduce the charging time for mobile devices from a wall socket. The PM2300 allows a 3-amp charger to be used, instead of the standard 1.5-amp charger, in theory halving charge time. The first tablets equipped with the PM2300 device are set to be launched commercially in the fall. (See ST-Ericsson Beefs Up the Charge.)
— Paul Rainford, Assistant Editor, Europe, Light Reading