Global operator strategies - 16/12/07

FT acquired the remaining 25% stake in Al-pi (Spain) for $43m.

KT (S. Korea) is mulling a re-organization: either an holding unit or merger with its mobile arm KTF.

Ofcom (UK regulator) is upset by BT' s Openreach infrastructure division failing to meet requirements. It is planning to force BT to make greater compensation payouts to its wholesale customers.

Greece may introduce a cap of 20% for shareholding in strategically sensitive companies, like OTE.

Convergence in Poland: Netia and P4 will jointly provide fixed and mobile services. It is also the case for Cicero Networks and Telefonica Internetowa (MTI) with VOIP/GSM services.

Vodafone Essar will outsource all of its information technology operations to IBM.

Etisalat (UAE) said it will buy 16% of Indonesia' s Exelcomindo for $438m.

Microsoft buys Multimap, a UK-based virtual maps provider and a Google partner.