Mobile operator strategies- 5 June 2005

T-Mobile USA is number 4 in the US market with 18.3m mobile subscribers, facing heavyweights such as Verizon (43m), Cingular (50m) and Sprint Nextel (40m). So it has little choice but to position itself as a low-priced leader. In spite of its size disadvantage, and a non-national coverage, T-Mobile continues posting around 1 m net customer additions per quarter, and denying to be interested in acquiring a regional U.S. operator to supplement its network.

MTC-Vodafone (Bahrain) will provide BBC World's TV output on their mobile phones.

TIM (Italy) said its 3G network is currently covering 60% of the population and its coverage will rise to 80% end-2007. TIM targets to get about 50% market share for 3G services.

Softbank has been authorized to operate a 3G W-CDMA trial network in Japan.

China Unicom has unveiled a low-cost CDMA mobile phone priced at $71. China Unicom plans to sell 400,000 units nationwide monthly.

SingTel has invested $118m in a 45% equity stake in Pacific Bangladesh Telecom, a CDMA carrier in Bangladesh.

Virgin Mobile (UK) will launch DAB-based mobile TV in association with BT Livetime. Virgin Mobile's customers will receive a live digital television service, broadcast straight to their phones.

Telefonica Moviles Mexico plans to invest some €900m over the next three years in Mexico.

Cablevision (US MSO) will start selling cellular phone service, using Sprint network.

Turkcell (Turkey) plans to invest some $300m in Ukraine in 2005 and increased its stake in its Ukrainian subsidiary DCC/ Astelit.