Operator Corner (2) - 07/07/08

ATT relocates its HQ to Dallas, Texas, from San Antonio. ATT is rumored to be close to buying stake in Indian operator Aircel ( 74% stake owned by Malaysian Maxis), but Maxis denied.

Virgin Mobile USA buys MVNO Helio (a JV between SK Telecom and EarthLink) for $39m. It will outsource IT operations and new applications development to IBM.

Telefonica Colombia will launch its 3G service at the end of 2Q08.

NTT Data is buying a 60% stake in Panasonic Mobile handsets unit of Matsushita.

Telstra buys 55% of two Chinese internet businesses, Norstar Media and Autohome/PCPop, for an undisclosed amount.

SingTel (Singapore) has increased its stake in Philippines' Globe Telecom to over 47%.

Vodafone New Zealand will expand its 3G network to cover 97% of the population.