Global operator strategies - 09/12/.06

NTL (UK) has abandoned talks with ITV (UK) on a possible takeover bid.

In Portugal, the competition authority, the Autoridade da Concorrencia (AdC), has published its second draft "conditional" approval of Sonae' s hostile takeover bid for Portugal Telecom (PT). The document includes almost all changes (27 out of 28) demanded by Portuguese telecom regulator Anacom. The conditions have already more or less approved by Sonae. That could meant an earlier than expected deal, after the mandatory 10-day public comment period.

ATT would have $117bn sales in 2007 if the merger with Bellsouth is completed, of which 34% in mobile.

CDC (France) has bought 25% stake in Eutelsat for €863m.

Cable & Wireless has agreed to sell its 20% stake in Bahraini Batelco for $506m.

FT launches the Orange brand in Africa with GETESA (Equatorial Guinea), Sonatel (Senegal) and Ikatel (Mali) now working unde the Orange banner.

Telefonica confirms it has bought an additional 5% stake in China Netcom to raise it to 10%.

TIM Hellas (Greece) is no more for sale after the auction did not provide the expected price.

Several Asian operators have formed the Pan Asian Mobile TV consortium, which targets developing a regional mobile TV service.