Also in today's regional roundup: O2 UK boasts of 4G uptake and network modernization; Telefónica offers concessions to seal E-Plus deal; Ericsson to continue doing business in Iran; and more.
Telenor Group (Nasdaq: TELN) has advised its customers in Norway that it has dealt with the network vulnerability it discovered after the Heartbleed security threat was unveiled earlier this week, and has now advised customers to change any online passwords they use to access Telenor services. The operator says it has it has upgraded its systems to "close vulnerabilities in OpenSSL" and believes the chance that its network was exploited prior to the vulnerability being discovered is "low." For more on Heartbleed, see this site.
Telefónica UK Ltd. , also known as O2 UK, has signed up more than 1 million 4G customers since it launched its LTE service in August 2013, and notes that those customers have "used more data in the 4G network's first six months than the entire O2 network carried between 2000 and 2008, demonstrating the unprecedented demand for fast and seamless data services." The operator's 4G network now reaches 41% of the UK's population outdoors and about 33% indoors.
O2 UK also noted that it is modernizing its radio access infrastructure, with 25% of its 2G and 3G masts being upgraded by the end of 2014 in order to improve voice and data service quality and reach. The operator says that the upgrade, which involves an individual assessment of the needs of each site, is "particularly crucial to power the ever-growing M2M industry, enabling valuable business data to power services including vehicle recovery and vending machines."
In addition, O2 UK says it will invest £16 million (US$26.75 million) to extend 3G coverage to more than 200 areas that are not currently reached by 3G. (See O2 UK Talks 4G, RAN Modernization.)
Telefónica SA (NYSE: TEF) has offered unspecified concessions to gain regulatory clearance for its acquisition of German mobile operator E-Plus Service GmbH & Co. KG , reports Reuters.
Mobile giant Vodafone Group plc (NYSE: VOD) now has complete ownership of Vodafone India following the recent acquisition of two holdings that comprised a 22% equity stake in the Indian operator. Combined, the two stakes cost Vodafone Group about £1 billion ($1.67 billion). For more details, see this Light Reading India story.
Ericsson AB (Nasdaq: ERIC) has been confirming its commitment to a "responsible business approach strengthened within human rights and sales compliance, responsible sourcing, and anti-corruption" with the publication of its latest Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility report. In a press release announcing the report, the vendor notes that "in light of recent international developments related to Iran, Ericsson has decided not to phase out equipment deliveries. The intention is to engage with customers. At the same time the Sales Compliance Board decided to conduct a new Human Rights Impact Assessment based on this foundation." For more details, see this press release.
Following four months as acting CFO, Christian Luiga has been appointed Senior Vice President and CFO of Telia Company . The Nordic operator fired its previous CFO in late 2013 following an investigation into M&A activities in Eurasia. (See Euronews: TeliaSonera Fires Four After Eurasia Probe.)
Israeli mobile operator Pelephone Communications Ltd. has deployed storage platforms for its big-data analytics strategy, replacing technology from EMC Corp. (NYSE: EMC). (See Pelephone Deploys IBM Storage Gear.)
— Ray Le Maistre, 
, Editor-in-Chief, Light Reading
Good to see that Telenor Norway responded quickly to the HeartBleed threat. But what about the Telenor's operations in 13 other countries in East Asia, South Asia, Nordics & East Europe. Did they confirm fixing the bug in those operations too?