News In Brief: ABI Research, UQ Communications, Synchronica, Cisco, Verizon Wireless, Effortel, FarEasTone, Tele2

TD-SCDMA base station deployments in China have boosted RF power amplifier shipments by millions and mean Asia Pacific now accounts for 50% of global demand, according to ABI Research.
 
Japanese Wimax operator UQ Communications aims to boost coverage by deploying Pico base stations from ZTE.
 
Messaging services provider Synchronica will supply extra mobile gateway licenses to an unnamed pan-African cellco, in a deal worth $975,000 (€745,858). The agreement extends a deal announced in October, and brings the total contract value to $1.7 million.
 
Cisco has further strengthened its Cloud portfolio by acquiring US-based network management software firm LineSider Technologies. The purchase is due to close by end-January.
 
US operator Verizon Wireless will launch its LTE network on Sunday, with prices lower than its 3G services.
 
MVNO operator Effortel claims to have launched the first ad-funded mobile service in Poland. FreeM offers half a megabyte of free data access for every ad viewed to domestic MVNO InMobile’s subscribers.
 
Taiwan’s largest mobile operator FarEasTone has deployed Transmode’s optical networking platform to boost capacity on its fixed line network in Taipei.
 
Tele2 has standardized its mobile networks in Sweden on packet core equipment from Nokia Siemens. The infrastructure covers voice and data services via 2G, 3G and LTE technologies.