Mobile operator strategies - 2/7/05

CanalSat (a pay-TV network in France) is providing mobile TV programs to SFR’s 3G phones. The service includes 17 channels.

8 i-mode carriers announced joint procurement for i-mode handsets (Germany's E-Plus, KPN Mobile in the Netherlands, Taiwan's Far EasTone, Base in Belgium, Bouygues Telecom in France, Italy's Wind, Greece's Cosmote Mobile and Telstra in Australia).

T-Mobile launches mobile Internet over 3G in Germany. The service will cost € 10 a month for up to 30 Mo.

Tele2 has lost its 3G license in Finland because it has failed to establish a network by the required date. It will launch its GSM/UMTS mobile network in Croatia.

SK Telecom would spend $152m to upgrade its mobile phone network infrastructure by the end of this year.

Egyptian Telephone (Egypt) has bought CDMA licenses from Qualcomm to develop, manufacture and distribute cdmaOne and CDMA2000 1X/1xEV-DO subscriber units.

Vodafone could be interested in buying a stake in Safaricom, Kenya's state-owned mobile operator.

Mobile Telecommunications  (MTC), the sole Namibian mobile operator, is for sale. 49% are offered until 15 July 2005.

T-Mobile has launched free mobile internet services, called web’n’walk, in Germany and Austria. Other countries will follow.

Maxis (Malaysia) will invest $105m this year to build its 3G network.