Global operator strategies - 09/03/08

Yahoo would be in talks with Time Warner to counter Microsoft's bid. AOL USA would be at the center of the talks, with Time Warner taking a mall stake in a common JV.

ATT plans to invest $1bn in capex this year to upgrade its international network; this 1/3 higher than in 2007.

Yahoo continues its positioning in mobile: after OneSearch (mobile search engine), Go (search tools), OneConnect (single communication interface), OnePlace is announced (single place for services and favored content).

T-Mobile invests in Ubiquisys (a femtocell expert) and confirms plans for deploying femtocells before the end of the year. The company is rumored to stop selling all Nokia handsets which can access the company's Ovi mobile internet service as it would compete with their own in-house content platform. But the company denied.

Oman: the local regulator (TRA) asks the telecom operators to submit their proposals for a second landline concession as well as the third cellular communications license by April 1.

Telecom Italia announced that it is eying acquisition opportunities in Africa and Asia to expand its business.

KPN has acquired a majority stake in Ortel Mobile, a mobile SP in Germany, NL and Belgium.

Telmex may be required to pay for the revision of its license as it asked to include pay-TV services. In addition, the revision will be conditioned by granting of interconnection, the implementation of number portability, and the interoperability of networks.

Tata Comms (India) plans to invest $500m in wireless WiMAX broadband.

SK Telecom has taken a 42.2% stake in Chinese music firm Taihe & Rye

Kenya Data Networks sells majority stake to an equity fund including Altech (S. Africa).

Algeria plans to privatize Algerie Telecom by end of June.

Telekom Malaysia plans to spin-off its mobile unit in 2Q08.

DT is interested by a Vietnamese mobile license.