LTE connections will reach 90 million by the end of 2012, according to a new study by Strategy Analytics. The report said sales of LTE-based smartphones are expanding beyond early LTE hotbeds, including the United States, South Korea and Japan, and the technology will grow to 1 billion connections by early 2017.

Full-year revenues at pan-European MVNO Lebara are up 15 per cent to €648 million, helped by a 27 per cent increase in customers to 3.8 million.

Importantly, the company also reported operating profit of €20 million for the fiscal year 2011, together with an increase in gross profit margin from 27 per cent to 29 per cent.

Commenting on the results, company founder and CEO Yoganathan Ratheesan told Mobile News that the financial performance of the company was due to the exceptional value and service levels delivered to Lebara customers.

Ireland's High Court has dismissed Hutchison Whampoa's attempt to stop the financial restructuring of the bankrupt Eircom after the judge ruled there were numerous shortcomings in Hutchison's bid for the Irish telecoms operator.

Hutchison, which had bid €2 billion for Eircom, lost its legal challenge that argued its offer had not been given due consideration, according to Dow Jones Newswire.

Much has been promised from the potential of utilising white space spectrum, which is basically unused gaps between TV broadcast channels. The broadcast industry has fiercely resisted any intrusion into these precious frequencies over fear that TV channels would be subject to interference from unlicensed devices. But now lobbying from heavyweight technology players has convinced telecoms regulators that this spectrum is too valuable to be left unused, and TV broadcasters have relented, albeit grudgingly.