Mobile operator strategies (2) - 5 June 2005

Bouygues (France) will launch HSDPA in 2006/ 2007 in complement of its current EDGE deployment (France coverage to be 85% by year-end) .

Orange (France) is rolling out an EDGE network to cover up to 85% of the French population and 90% of businesses. Orange 3G network is currently covering only 40% of France.

SFR (France) will continue its 3G network roll out in 20k-200K communities to cover up to 60% of the French population by year-end and 70% by end-2006.

Telenor and Alfa continue fighting to control Vimpelcom (Russia). Each has filed documents to take full control of the company. As they are the two largest Vimpelcom shareholders with respectively 27% and 33% and have a veto right over strategic decisions made by the board, analysts believe the dispute can only be solved by one of the shareholders exiting VimpelCom.

Digitel (Philippines) will invest $200m in 2005 and 2006 to further expand its wireless network. With currently 1.7m subscribers, Digitel is planning to reach 3m by year-end and its new investment would allow its network to accommodate up to 6m users.

JazzTel (Spain) has been granted a MVNO license in Spain, following Grupalia Internet SA and Meflur Comunicarte and Tele2. But Tele2 failed to clinch a deal with mobile incumbents to launch MVNO services.