Global operator strategies - 04/11/07

Covad Comms (US) has been bought out by private equity investor Platinum Equity.

Orascom Telecom has sold 3% of Hutchison Telecom (HTIL), bringing its stake back to just over 16%.

Batelco (Bahrain) plans spending $4bn in foreign acquisitions.

China Mobile is likely to take over MTN (S. Africa), a sub-Saharan Africa's largest mobile phone operator.

The European Telecom Market Authority (ETMA), which would be the new European regulatory authority, if approved, would be replacing the European Regulators Group (ERG) in 2010.

MetroPCS (US) withdrew its offer to buy rival Leap Wireless (US), two months after the unsolicited bid.

Telefonica will increase its stake in China Netcom to almost 10%.