Mobile operator strategies - 03/05/06

Sprint Nextel should decide over the next several months the technology to be used for its 2.5 GHz spectrum: WiMAX, UMTS TD-CDMA or Flash-OFDM.

SK Telecom (Sth Korea) targets a 20% growth in data revenues in 2006. It will launch HSDPA services in May 2006.

Softbank (Japan), which bought a mobile license in Japan in November 2005, should return the license, as it bought Vodafone KK (Japan) and got the mobile licenses and prefer now reuse the infrastructure set up by Vodafone in Japan.

MTN (Sth Africa) has agreed to pay $5.5bn to buy Investcom, which has mobile phone operations in Africa and the Middle East.

Bharti Tele-Ventures (India) could invest between $1.8bn and $2bn in expanding its network this fiscal year (ended March).

Helio, the JV between SK Telecom and Earthlink, has opened commercial MVNO operations in the US. Sprint Nextel is the hosting partner of Helio. The operator targets young people.

Millicom International, Entel Chile and Digicel (Caribbean operator) are shortlisted to bid for Colombia Movil.

Verizon said it remains interested in buying Vodafone Group's 45% stake in Verizon Wireless,

Telenor will provide Microsoft's Windows Mobile E-mail service to its subscribers in Sweden.

Telecom Egypt and Telecom Italia are said to join forces to bid for Egypt's third mobile telecom license.