Operator Corner/ Europe - 20/08/08

BT announces a plan to invest £1.5bn in fiber-based broadband deployment to reach 10m households by 2012. It has bought online business directory Ufindus for £20m, and internet-phone software developer Ribbit for $55m.

Vodafone is said to be interested in Poland in buying additional stakes in Polkomtel.

T-Mobile Germany has rolled out HSPA to more than 250 towns.

Orange UK will upgrade its 3G network in Northern Ireland, Scotland and North-east part of England.

Bouygues Telecom (France) will enter the fixed-line voice and broadband market in September.

SMARTS (Russia) is for sale and the three leading Russian mobile operators are interested in.

Kabel Deutschland has successfully trialed 200 Mbit/s high-speed internet service.

Urktelecom (Ukraine) plans to launch triple-play services by 2009.

C&W said it got acceptances from shareholders owning 42.2% of Thus, giving it a 72% stake in Thus.

KPN (NL) has launched a Mobile TV service