Global operator strategies - 17/12/05

France Telecom made a friendly counter bid for Telindus (Belgium) and outbids Belgacom by 17% with a € 570m. In addition, if the move succeeds, FT would increase its stake in Mobistar, 2^nd Belgium mobile operator. But Belgacom has raised its offer to €594m.

DT could be hit by massive strikes after it announces 32,000 jobs cuts over the next three years.

China has announced a broad-ranging nationwide cooperation on mobile payment services involving SmartPay Jieyin and Pudong Development Bank.

DirecTV and Echo star, two satellite TV rivals, would invest about $1bn in Quotients' s Internet connection technology.

Sprint Nextel is once again expanding, snapping up affiliate Enterprise Communications Partnerships for $98m.