Global operator strategies - 23/02/08
SK Telecom (S. Korea) got the green light (under some conditions) from the Fair Trade Commission and from the Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC) for its planned acquisition of Hanarotelecom (S. Korea), country's second-largest fixed-line operator.
China is expected to issue a mobile 4G research plan in March this year. An MII office will supervise the plan and would be fund $1.4bn. It is also said that it is close to issue a restructuring plan of its domestic telecoms market. Three integrated telcos would emerge. The plan is likely to be scheduled for formal approval from March 5. Under the most widely-rumored scenario, China Telecom would acquire the CDMA business from China Unicom, which in turn would merge with China Netcom. China Mobile would merge with Railcom.
Telmex (Mexico) restructures, streamlining its number of operating divisions to five and halving its capex to $550m.
Shareholders of Golden Telecom (Russia) have accepted to be sold to Vimpelcom (Russia) for about $4bn.
Megafon (Russia) is targeting expansion in Middle East. An office in Iran has been opened.
China Mobile eyes EMEA for expansion. EMEA HQ have been opened in London, and it is mulling setting up a pan-European MVNO.
Reliance Comms (India) creates a new unit, called Reliance Globalcom, merging its global services operations, Flag Telecom and Yipes Enterprise.
Reliance (India) has bought Anupam Global Soft (Uganda) and will spend $500m over the next five years in Uganda, building an integrated telecom network.
Freenet (Germany) puts its DSL operations for sale and wants to focus on mobile internet and content services. Is it an early bird giving the trend for future?
Telkom (S. Africa) has applied for a mobile license, even if it owns 50% of market leader Vodacom along with Vodafone.