Egypt wireline subscribers hit 10.3 million; Broadband coalition pushes for FCC spectrum auction

> Fixed line subscriber growth in Egypt was quite healthy during the past five years, Research and Markets reports, with 10.3 million subscribers-a 13.3 percent penetration rate-by the end of 2009. But that growth may stagnate through 2014. Release.

> The Coalition for Free Broadband, led by County Executives of America and M2Z Networks, started an online petition drive "to inform President Obama and their congressmen and senators that inaction by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) may prevent Americans from having access to free nationwide broadband." Release.

> Satellite communications provider CapRock Communications will leverage Apheus Communications' data centers and "deep metro fiber footprint" to handle terrestrial connectivity in the Houston area and globally.  Release.

And finally ... Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has renewed a contract for Business VPN, Orange Business Services' IP-enabled MPLS-based network. MSC will also conduct a two-year pilot of Orange's Maritime Satellite Service. Story.