Webwire: Outage in Finland, China Mob trials tiny BTSs

Finn operators smart after severe outage

Finnish mobile operators Elisa, Saunalahti and Kolumbus are in damage control after a severe electricity failure on Saturday cut mobile services for a combined one million subscribers.

Helsingin Sanomat

China Mobile to trial golf-ball sized BTSs

China Mobile, Verizon Wireless, Orange and two other operators plan to this year trial new technology developed by Alcatel-Lucent that aims to allow base stations to be shrunk to the size of golf balls.

Reuters

HTC buys Saffron Digital for $48m

Taiwanese handset maker HTC has bought UK digital multimedia company Saffron Digital for £30m ($48 million). Both claim the acquisition will not stop Saffron Digital from offering its wares to HTC's rivals.

Paid Content

Harbinger sells remaining stake in Inmarsat

US investment fund Harbinger Capital plans to today sell its entire stake in UK satellite operator Inmarsat. Harbinger has a 14% of Inmarsat, after selling half its then-28% stake for $660m last October.

Financial Times

Aircel raises $35m as it preps for IPO

Aircel, the largest supplier of inflight Wi-Fi, has raised $35 million in operational funding as it gears up for an expected IPO.

Bloomberg

IPTV to be requirement for Australia Network

Australian broadcaster ABC's contract to transmit the Australia Network in 44 Asian countries is soon to expire. Ministry DFAT plans to make IPTV a core requirement in a new tender for the broadcast rights.

Computerworld AU

Web activists protest Vodafone Europe

Internet activism group Access has set up a petition to protest Vodafone Egypt's co-operation with the Mubarak regime, including complying with the communications freeze and sending pro-regime messages.

Access Now

Anonymous on the warpath for HBGary

Hacker group Anonymous has attacked US security company HBGary, threatening to publicly distribute the majority of its business data, in retaliation for Barr's attempts to track down key members of the group.

The Guardian