Mobile operator strategies - 16/03/06

Vodafone agreed to purchase additional 9% of Kenyan Safaricom, and bring its stake to 49%. Vodafone launches first HSDPA offering in Germany, in Portugal,

Sprint Nextel always planning to deploy a broadband mobile service using the 2.5 GHz spectrum by mid-2009. The network could reach as up of 15m Americans.

Debitel (Germany) will launch DMB-based mobile TV services.

Telekom Malaysia has confirmed it is buying a 49% stake in Indian mobile operator Spice.

3 UK has unveiled a deal with Skype to allow its customers to access Skype internet services. It will launch HSDPA services in 2H06.

Orange France is also planning to deploy HSDPA network with Nortel.

ETB and EPM (both in Colombia) announced that their affiliate Colombia Movil is up for sale.