LG’s 4G smartphone Optimus F5 comes with 4.3-inch IPS, 1.2GHz dual core processor

It is a mid-range handset and will be loved by smart-phone fans. LG’s 4G smartphone Optimus F5 comes with 4.3-inch IPS, 1.2GHz dual core processor

Korean tech company LG is on an upswing these days. After launching its best smart-phone/phablet Optimus G Pro, the company that is playing catch up game with another Korean tech giant Samsung has launched a very good handset in the form of LG Optimus F5. Though it is no competitor to Samsung’s Galaxy S4 smart-phone that is being dubbed as the best smart-phone of them all, it is a midrange handset with decent specifications and features. The handset is going to get good response in the market thanks to its very good and attractive features and very affordable price tag. Though LG has made many mistakes in the past and these mistakes have added to lack of people’s interest in its handset. And the biggest issue with its handsets is the fact that it prices them insanely very high.

The handset was showcased some two months ago in the last week of February and it took two months for the company to finally introduce the handset in the world market. The best thing about the handset is its sleek and small body, very efficient processor and a rather good camera.

So the handset is sure to compete well with handsets like Samsung Galaxy Grand and similar other handsets in the market. The handset comes with a rather small 4.3-inch IPS LCD screen of qHD resolution at 256-ppi. The F5 is powered by a 1.2GHz dual core CPU and 1GB RAM. The device sports a 5MP rear camera and it has 8GB of internal storage. You can expand storage capacity of the device via microSD slot

An LG official while announcing the launch of the handset in the world market said, “LG has consistently set the standard in the mobile industry with technology that complements, not complicates, users’ lives…The Optimus F5 is a natural extension of LG’s lineup of strong LTE devices, offering the lightning-speed of 4G LTE and UX features of a premium phone. With the Optimus F5, we’re confident we can capture an untapped market of new and upgrading smartphone users who crave a feature-rich, LTE device.” So things are looking exciting for another Korean smartphone manufacturer.

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Ericsson to deploy 4G network for Bhutan Telecom

European telecom equipment maker Ericsson said on Wednesday that it will deploy the 4G (LTE) network for Bhutan Telecom (BT) this year and pilot commercial services will be initially launched in the country’s capital Thimphu.

“Ericsson is proud to partner with BT to deploy LTE for the first time in the Kingdom. Bhutan Telecom subscribers will enjoy faster data speeds and an enhanced user experience,” Ericsson said in a statement

As part of the 4G deployment, Ericsson will provide Bhutan Telecom with LTE equipment in the 1800 MHz spectrum band, including its RBS 6000 radio base station technology that supports operations of multiple network, from 2G to 4G, through a single set of equipment.


“4G LTE gives users more of what they want. It will transform the way people in Bhutan communicate, share information, collaborate, consume content and stay connected,” Ericsson Head Region India Fredrik Jejdling told reporters here.

Under the contract, Ericsson will also provide its Home Subscriber Server (HSS) functionality that contains subscription-related information and performs authentication and authorisation of the user.

The contract includes provisioning of LTE software for various nodes, and services including network implementation, commissioning and integration.

“As data usage increases, our major network initiatives, including last year’s 3G network modernisation and rollout of 4G in the capital city this year will be critical in ensuring we deliver the best services to our subscribers,” Bhutan Telecom CEO Nidup Dorji said.

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4G network: Airtel achieves 3,180 TD-LTE subscribers

Telecom Lead India: Bharti Airtel has 3,180 TD-LTE subscribers through its 4G network in Kolkata and Bangalore. The state-run BSNL has provided 50,077 connections through 4G/WiMAX, the Minister of State for Communications & Information Technology Milind Deora informed the Lok Sabha. Airtel launched 4G TD-LTE services in Kolkata in April 2012 and Bangalore in May 2012. Airtel has BWA licenses in four circles - Kolkata, Karnataka, Punjab and Maharashtra - and 3G licenses in 13 circles in India. Its recent deal to buy BWA license from Qualcomm will enable Airtel to secure a ntion-wide broadband leadership through a combination of 4G and 3G, with its own networks in 18 circles.

 In August, Airtel said 3G users of the mobile major Airtel increased to 37,13,000 in Q1 2012-13 from 27,11,000 in Q4 2011-12. The mobile service provider has increased its 3G sites to 18,012 in first quarter of FY 2013 from 10,669 in Q1 FY 2012. The 3,180 TD-LTE subscriber mark is against the expectations of the market. Recently, analysts predicted that TD-LTE subscribers will reach 5 million by 2013 in Indian telecom market. 2012-13 will be the year of mobile broadband. Reliance Industries is planning to launch 4G services in 2013 and their entry will strengthen 4G segment. Indian LTE market will pick up after 2 years as there will be more LTE smartphone launches in 2012-13 from OEMs such as Nokia, Samsung, and Apple, as well as significant surge in data consumption.

 In August, Bharti said its ARPU from mobile services and data services in India reduced by 3 percent and 10 percent, respectively, in the first quarter of fiscal 2012-13. Mobile services ARPU decreased 3 percent to Rs 185 in first quarter ended June 30 2012 from Rs 190 in the same quarter previous fiscal. Mobile data ARPU declined 10 percent to Rs 40 from Rs 44.


 Total number of data customers of Airtel stands at 38,660,000 in Q1 2012-13 against 35,780,000 in Q4 2011-12. 4G is expected to bring in additional non-voice revenues. Percentage of consolidated non-voice revenue to total revenue in Q1 2012-13 was 26.6 percent against 26 percent in Q1 2011-12.


 Percentage of non-voice revenue to total revenue in India grew to 16 percent from 15.6 percent during the period.

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Everything Everywhere gets 4G go-ahead from Ofcom

Telecoms regulator Ofcom has allowed Everything Everywhere, the owner of the Orange and T-Mobile networks, to use its existing bandwidth to launch fourth-generation (4G) mobile services.

The move means 4G, which allows much faster downloads, could launch in the UK earlier than previously planned.


Ofcom said the move would deliver "significant benefits" to consumers that outweigh any competition concerns.


But Vodafone and O2 expressed surprise and disappointment at the decsion.


Ofcom plans to auction 4G bandwidth to other providers next year.


Everything Everywhere will be allowed to offer 4G services from 11 September.


But, as the regulator pointed out, the timing will be a commercial decision for the company itself.

Ofcom said delaying the mobile operator from launching 4G would be "to the detriment of consumers".


'Hugely disappointed'

Everything Everywhere itself said the regulator's decision was "great news for the UK".


"4G will drive investment, employment and innovation and we look forward to making it available later this year, delivering superfast mobile broadband to the UK," the company said.


The firm's two main competitors in the UK mobile market were less than pleased with the decision.

"We are hugely disappointed with today's announcement, which will mean the majority of customers will be excluded from the first wave of digital services," said a spokesperson for O2.


Vodafone was more forthright, saying it was "shocked" at Ofcom's ruling.

"The regulator has shown a careless disregard for the best interests of consumers, businesses and the wider economy through its refusal to properly regard the competitive distortion created by allowing one operator to run services before the ground has been laid for a fully competitive 4G market," a company spokesperson said.


Faster downloads

Mobile phone networks will be allowed to bid for 4G bandwidth early next year.

The auction will offer the equivalent of three-quarters of the mobile spectrum currently in use - some 80% more than released in the 3G auction which took place in 2000.

Ofcom wants to see at least four wholesalers of 4G mobile services, so that consumers will benefit from better services at lower prices.

The auction will sell chunks of radio spectrum to support 4G, which will allow users to download data such as music and videos at much faster speeds.

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