Mobile operator strategies - 24/07/06
Bulgaria's Mobiltel has extended its 3G services coverage to Varna and the resorts along the Northern Black Sea.
SFR targets to cover 70% of of the French population by the end of 2007, while Orange targets the end of 2008.
Tele2 has launched a GSM 1800 network in Lipetsk (Russia). It has bought four GSM operators in northwest Russia for a total of $35m (Arkhangelsk Mobile Networks, Novgorod Telecommunications, Murmansk Mobile Network and Parma Mobile ).
South Africa's MTN Group has launched MTN Congo, following the Group's acquisition of Libertis Telecom in 12/05. MTN Congo plans to invest $230m in infrastructure development in the FY2006. It has also increased its stake in in subsidiaries in Uganda and Cote D'Ivoire.
Bouygues Telecom (France) could host one or two new MVNOs in France.
Supermarket Carrefour (France) will launch MVNO service based on the Orange network soon in France.
KTF (S. Korea) has launched an HSDPA service in S. Korea.
Moldova's operator Moldtelecom has received a CDMA2000 3G mobile license for the 450MHz frequency range,
Bitel (Kyrgyzstan) will sell its assets to Sky Mobile (recently bought by Altimo (Russia)
Reliance (India), one of the largest CDMA operator in India) is mulling to switch to GSM.
Through a roaming deal with T-Mobil US, Orange can now offer Wi-Fi coverage to some 35,000 locations in 60 countries.
Etisalat won the 3rd Egyptian mobile license.
Norway auctions a new 3G license.
LG Telecom (LGT), the country's smallest wireless carrier, has lost its 3G license and its CEO.
Cingular and television channel, HBO have launched made-for-mobile TV shows.
Ukrtelecom (Ukraine) has delayed the launch of its 3G mobile network by 6 months to the first half of 2007.
Vodafone Ireland is launching a flat-rate 3G data service offering unlimited data usage for a fixed fee of €49 a month.
Bellsouth has launched a triple-play bundled service package for $99 a month, including landline voice services, DSL and a choice of either Cingular's wireless service or DirecTV.