NEWS IN BRIEF
Daily Digest 31 August
31-08-2009
by Emmet Cole
Smart goes into examinership | Silver Surfer Awards launched
Telecoms provider Smart Telecom has filed for examinership with the High Court. The court has appointed John McStay of McStay Luby examiners to the company. Smart Telecom said in a statement that it is "currently in advanced discussions with a small number of third parties who have expressed interest in acquiring the entire customer base and assets of the company". Bondholders have put millions into the company over recent months in an attempt to keep it trading. The company provides voice, broadband and television services and has 14,000 residential customers and 600 business customers, and owes its lenders around EUR52.2 million. The examinership is not expected to have any impact on day-to-day operations and customers should not be impacted in any way. Meanwhile, CEO of rival telecom and TV services provider Magnet Networks, Mark Kellett, said that ComReg had to take some responsibility for Smart Telecom's situation. "The slow pace of reform of regulation has ensured that only the best funded companies can survive and compete against the incumbent… Operators without this investment may be at risk from a poorly regulated market," said Kellett.
Rex Comb, the director of Eircom Holdings (formerly Babcock & Brown Capital), has been accused by Irish telecoms provider Eircom of misleading and deceptive conduct in claiming a one-off EUR4.7 million payment, according to a report on BusinessWorld and in The Australian newspaper. The Australian reported that Comb -- who was chief executive of Eircom from August 2006 until February this year -- wrote to Eircom in May demanding AUD8 million for a long-term incentive payment. Comb claims that he had a verbal agreement with former Babcock executive Rob Topfer regarding the payment. According to reports, the claim could affect negotiations with a consortium made up mostly of Singapore Technologies Telemedia (STT) and the Eircom Esot for a sale. Esot is the employee share ownership body made up of current or former Eircom workers. Eircom Holdings received a takeover approach from STT last month and a final bid is expected this week.
Telecoms company O2 has announced discounted mobile broadband pricing for students, in conjunction with the National Education and Research Network (HEAnet). From 1 September, students will be able to get mobile broadband for EUR9.99 per month, with a 10GB monthly data allowance on a 12-month contract. A monthly rolling contract option is also available for the duration of the college year for EUR12.99 per month, with a 5GB allowance. HEAnet provides networking services to all Irish universities, institutes of technology, and other higher education and research organisations.
Meanwhile, mobile operator Three Ireland has launched a cash trade-in, old-for-new offer. Customers can now avail of cash reductions on their new mobile when they trade-in their old one -- with Three promising to recycle more than 80 percent of the old phone. Three is guaranteeing a minimum of EUR10 off for any undamaged phone but customers could avail of up to EUR100, depending on the model and condition of the unwanted mobile.
In more telecoms news, Caribbean mobile operator Digicel has launched a GSM network in the tiny (pop. 10,000) Republic of Nauru -- the first mobile telecommunications company and internet provider to set up operations there. The President of Nauru, Marcus Stephen, made the first call on the new Digicel network at a press conference on Monday morning. The president declared 1 September a national holiday in honour of the launch. Digicel is estimated to have more than 6 million customers in markets across the Caribbean, South America and South Pacific.
The Irish co-founder of IT infrastructure company EMC, Dick Egan, died on Friday 28 August after a long battle with cancer. Thirty years ago this week, Egan co-founded the IT giant. On his retirement, Egan served as US Ambassador to Ireland. EMC opened in Ireland in 1988 with its first manufacturing facility outside of North America and now employs over 1,600 people in Ireland.
Finally, age awareness campaign group Age Action is seeking nominations for Ireland's first Silver Surfer Awards. Nominations are being sought in categories including Silver Surfer of the Year, Most dedicated IT Learner, Group Communicator, Passionate Hobbyist, and IT Volunteer. The prize for Silver Surfer of the Year is a laptop and a year's mobile internet sponsored by O2. Nominees must to be aged 55 or over (with the exception of the IT volunteer category). The closing date for nominations is 18 September. The awards will be presented at an Age Action-sponsored IT conference for older people at Croke Park on 28 September. For more information visit www.ageaction.ie.
Caped Koala Studios has built a virtual world for kids, combining education and social networking 