Fast Net News, DSL Prime, DOCSIS Report

Sikkim, a semi-independent country until 1975 and now a state within India, is now getting 3G wireless service. All exchanges are set for DSL by yearend. BSNL 3G is available all four districts: Gangtok (East Sikkim), Namchi (South Sikkim), Mangan (North Sikkim) and Geyzing (West Sikkim.) Half-a-million people live in the mountains between Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan and Indian Bengal.

Econet in Zimbabwe has signed $170M contracts with ZTE and Ericsson for two million lines, enough to bring mobile phones to half the people in one of the most desperate countries in the world. Because the gear costs less than $100/line, the service can be sold for a few dollars/month. Government/vendor financing allows the carrier time to recover initial costs. Econet expects 3M subscribers by yearend and to reach 50% penetration soon. Zimbabwe will now have 3G coverage in all major cities and tourist areas. 3G is now cheaper than 2G, all included, so new deployments are usually 3G. Deals like this prove the international sanctions on Zimbabwe are weak, just as they are on Iran. Alcatel remained a key supplier to Iran in broadband, and France's Renault, for example, has been massively investing there.