Mobile operator strategies - 10/12/05
Orascom could be interested bidding for TIM Hellas (Greece).
PT Mobile-8 Telecom (Indonesia) is in talks to be bought by PT Wireless Indonesia, a Sinar Mas Group subsidiary.
Telekom Austria' s mobile arm mobilkom bought another 17% stake in Slovenian mobile operator unit Si.mobil (in addition of current 75%) from four local shareholders: Istrabenz, Intereuropa, Probanka and UPC Telemach. It also agreed to buy the remaining 8% held by two shareholders, Iskratel and Medaljon, in May 2006.
Vodafone KK (Japan) is launching an integrated location solution, using Openwave Systems' Location Manager ( (GMLC) ) into NEC' s SUPL positioning server, to provide Assisted GPS (A-GPS) offering. It is in MVNO talks with cable TV operator Jupiter Telecommunications (Japan).
The Dutch government sold 105 million shares of KPN (or 8% stake) for €1.4bn. KPN could become a pray and taken over.
Indonesian operator Telkomsel has forecast capex of $1.2bn in 2006, up 41%, to add 6000 base stations to a total of 15,000, and expand its network coverage to all counties in Bail and Java.
Telecom Italia will launch a new service allowing the remote control of household appliances through mobile phones. Mobile phones are enabled with the dedicated Z-SIM card.
Verizon Wireless is rolling out a navigation aid service throughout the United States.
In Thailand, National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) of Thailand has turned down the offer of AIS of introducing 3G phone services on a trial basis. But it is just a problem of timing as NTC wants first to get the legal framework in place.
Kyivstar' s (Ukraine) capex should be flat in 2006 at $600m.
Sprint Nextel launched a new operating unit (Sprint Enterprise Mobility) for creating voice and data mobility solutions for large businesses and government customers. It is the first time a major mobile carrier has offered mobility-focused professional services.
Telstra' s CSL in HK will merge with HK' s New World Mobile. The deal will create the Hong Kong's largest mobile phone operator, in which Telstra will hold a controlling 76.4% stake.