News In Brief: Broadband Forum, MTNL, Alca-Lu, Baidu, Zain

Two technical standards groups, the Broadband Forum (formerly the DSL Forum) and the IP-MPLS Forum, have merged. The new 220-member group will retain the Broadband Forum name.

Indian operator MTNL has launched  its IP-based mobile next generation network. The 3G and IMS-ready network was provide by Alcatel-Lucent.

China Telecom has contracted  Chinese search engine Baidu to provide search services for the operator's 3G mobile subscribers.

NSN has appointed former Latin American sales boss Krittika Mahattanakul to head up the company's operations in the Asia North Sub region.

Kuwaiti operator Zain has arranged to trade its Jordanian subsidiary in exchange for a 56% stake in Palestinian Telecommunications Company (Paltel).