Operator Corner - 04/05/08

Telenor is considering challenging FT' s bid on Teliasonera. Telenor already tried in1999 to takeover Teliasonera, but failed.

Telecom Italia postponed the deadline for bids for Alice, its business in France, by 10 days.

Freenet (Germany) has completed the acquisition of Debitel (Germany) for $2.6bn and becomes the largest MVNO in Germany.

Orange UK claims a sharp increase in mobile internet access as well as in fixed line broadband. It also claims it now complies with its 3G license obligations and covers 80% of the UK' s population.

Vodafone UK revamps its mobile internet tariffs and contract customers will have internet access included in their plan.

Orange Slovakia has won a tender for new mobile frequencies in Slovakia in the 870MHz band.

T-Mobile USA would roll out 3G services early in May.

ATT Mobility launches mobile TV on MediaFlo' s network, with packages ranging from $13 to $30 a month. It also plans to subsidize the price for the 3G version of Apple Inc.’s iPhone by as much as $200, according to a report from Fortune.

Rogers Comms (Canada) will launch iPhone to its customers later this year.

Omantel (Oman) will spend $26m for expanding its broadband network.

Embratel (Brazil) has been allowed by Anatel to launch DTH satellite pay-TV services.

Oi (Tele Norte Leste in Brazil) has completed the acquisition of Brasil Telecom for about $3.5bn. It will have operations in Brazil, but also in Colombia, Peru and Venezuela.

Bangladesh: Warid Telecom and Citycell have signed a sharing infrastructure deal, including BTS, poles, towers, and transmitters.

Indonesia: Axis is a new GSM network operator that ambitions to cover mainly Java and Sumatra by the end of the year.

Smart (Philippines) has won a 3G license in Philippines, through the purchase of Cure, one of the four 3G licenses in the country.

Reliance Comms (India) said it would launch nationwide GSM-based mobile services by early 2009. In addition, Reliance plans an international MVNO network spanning across 57 countries.

TelstraClear (NZ) will use Northpower' s fiber network to launch voice/high speed broadband services.

Mobitel (Sudan), a subsidiary of Zain, has launched a GSM network in southern Sudan.

BTC (Botswana) has launched mobile GSM services in the country.