Global operator strategies - 29/06/05

MTS (Russia) bought a 51-percent stake in Barash Communications Technologies, a mobile operator in Turkmenistan, for $28m. But in the meantime, the regulator has withdraw the GSM license to BCTI.

KPN (NL) acquired its domestic mobile rival, Telfort, for up to €1.1bn.

Maxis (Malaysia) want to focus on mobile data and overseas expansion, especially in Indonesia.

Telstra (Australia) has agreed to buy Keycorp's Transaction Network Services (TNS) division for $43m.