CenturyTel investor news says CenturyTel and EMBARQ Agree to Merge. Bloomberg and AP report that CenturyTel Agrees to Acquire Embarq for $5.8 Billion.

TelcoBridges and VSC Enhance Philippine Global Communications’ Telecom Platform to Address Rapid Customer Growth. New Solution Helps PhilCom Optimize Flexibility, Scalability and Profitability

After launching a communications revolution, cell phones are talking up a potentially life-saving new role in telemedicine — the use of telecommunications technology to provide medical diagnosis and patient care when doctors and patients are hundreds or thousands of miles apart.

On Monday Skype, announced new subscription plans that allow flat-rate unlimited calling to 34 countries. It should be noted that for Skype defines unlimited as 10,000 minutes / month; after that standard fees apply.

FSM-60S offers upgrade replacement to world’s best selling fusion splicer.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration reports that they have received requests from over one million American households for $40 government coupons since Tuesday. The coupons are to help the owners of analog sets pay for converter boxes.

JDSU introduced the Short-Range LAN (SRL) OTDR for the T-BERD/MTS-6000 and T-BERD/MTS-8000 that provides a unique testing combination of up to five wavelengths in both multi-mode and single-mode. The SRL OTDR complements the existing range of OTDR modules within the T-BERD/MTS family and offers a combination of industry-leading dynamic range and dead-zone specifications, which are critical to characterizing fiber networks and providing best-in-class optical performance.

JDSU introduced the Short-Range LAN (SRL) OTDR for the T-BERD/MTS-6000 and T-BERD/MTS-8000 that provides a unique testing combination of up to five wavelengths in both multi-mode and single-mode. The SRL OTDR complements the existing range of OTDR modules within the T-BERD/MTS family and offers a combination of industry-leading dynamic range and dead-zone specifications, which are critical to characterizing fiber networks and providing best-in-class optical performance.

Apple® announced that hit television programming from Canada’s top networks, US broadcasters and the National Hockey League (NHL) is now available for CAN$1.99 per episode from the iTunes® Store in Canada (www.itunes.ca). iTunes customers can choose from Canadian-produced favorites such as the top-rated, award-winning “Corner Gas” from CTV, smash hit comedy “Little Mosque on the Prairie” from CBC, Emmy and Peabody Award-winning “South Park” from Comedy Central and the NHL Games of the Year.

The newly-elected Rudd Government is facing early pressure to deliver on campaign promises for a high speed broadband network and to overhaul regulation of the telecommunications industry.

Smaller, faster, more efficient: BASF research scientists are helping to revolutionize the future world of telecommunications – with the aid of three-dimensional photonic crystals.

Huawei and ITU signed MOU at Connect Africa Summit