Also in today's EMEA regional roundup: EE trials 4G Broadcast service for FA Cup final; Swisscom cozies up to digitec; farewell, then, Belgacom.
Vodafone Group plc (NYSE: VOD) and Wind Telecomunicazioni SpA are planning to build a fiber network in Italy with broadband provider Metroweb, according to a Reuters report. Metroweb SpA , which is partly state-owned, is in the frame for a significant role in the Italian government's €12 billion (US$13 billion) nationwide fiber rollout plan. (See Eurobites: Metroweb Spurns Telecom Italia Advances.)
The number four loomed large in Saturday's FA Cup final: Arsenal thumped Aston Villa 4-0 in UK soccer's showpiece event, and the match was also used as a trial by mobile operator EE of its 4G Broadcast service. EE connected multiple devices to one broadcast stream of live footage over its 4G network, and a custom-built app allowed selected viewers in Wembley stadium to run their own replays from various camera angles on their mobile devices. One suspects the Arsenal fans appreciated the app more than their Villa rivals did…
Why stop at three? They didn't.
Swisscom AG (NYSE: SCM) has formed a sales partnership with electronics retailer digitec, bringing Swisscom customers a wider choice of devices and integrating the companies' respective websites.
As from June 22, Belgium's Belgacom SA (Euronext: BELG) will be officially renamed Proximus, after feedback from an initial rebranding exercise proved positive.
— Paul Rainford, Assistant Editor, Europe, Light Reading
