Global operator strategies - 6/10/5

Videotron (a cable operator in Canada) has become a MVNO, offering a "quadruple play" of television, broadband Internet, cable telephony and own mobile wireless services. Rogers Wireless is providing the mobile access. Videotron plans to launch its mobile wireless offering in 1H06.

NTL and Telewest (both UK cable operators) announced their long-anticipated merger for $6bn. Simon Duffy, currently NTL CEO, will become chief executive of the merged company. The combined company would have about 5m customers, revenues of about €5bn and could offer triple play with telephony, TV and broadband internet services.

Telefonica Argentina announced investments of $910m this year, up 19%.

Philadelphia City has chosen EarthLink to provide citywide wireless high-speed Internet access.

EU launches roaming tariff web site to name and shame high cell phone charges.

FT will bid for Tesim (Turkey) as well as Vodafone, Telenor, Sistema, Orascom, MTC et Wataniya, and six other candidates.

BT and the Kosovo's Post and Telecom, known as PTK, have signed a partnership deal.

India: TRAI has proposed a subsidy worth $1.8 bn for creating wireless infrastructure in rural areas to increase teledensity to 15% from the current 2% by 2007.