European telecoms carriers must broaden their revenue base to offset the slide in voice income, analysts said.

According to research firm Ovum, revenues for the European wholesale telecoms market were steady between 2010 and 2011, valued at $48.8 billion in 2011.

But carriers must explore alternate services, Ovum said, and attract and retain customers for their wholesale mobile and non-voice services.

Ovum pointed to mobile wholesale as an area for revenue growth. There was also greater opportunities for innovation and differentiation in the fixed non-voice sector.

"Wholesalers must lessen their dependence on traditional wholesale fixed voice sales by meeting customers' needs for non-voice services," said David James, principal wholesale telecoms analyst at Ovum. "Many carriers have already expanded their non-voice portfolios by offering emerging new services such as carrier Ethernet, content distribution, and hosting. However, they must do more to attract and retain customers for their wholesale mobile and non-voice services." CIARA O'BRIEN

Telecoms Cyber crime Garda to head Europol unit

A Garda detective inspector has been appointed head of operations of the newly established European Cybercrime Centre at Europol.

Det Garda Insp Paul Gillen secured the new position after interviews that included applicants from other European police forces.

He previously served in the Dublin Metropolitan Region, Limerick and has been attached to the Bureau of Fraud Investigation since 2004. Garda Gillen holds a master’s of science in computer science (MSc).

During his time with the Bureau of Fraud Investigation, he was assigned responsibility for the Computer Crime Investigation Unit and special liaison to the National Cyber Security Centre.

He will be on special leave without pay from the Garda for the duration of his assignment with Europol. The new European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) at Europol is to lead the EU’s fight against cyber crime.