Fixed network strategies - 10/03/07

Neuf Cegetel (France) is fully entering the fiber optic network race against FT and Free, with a new offer consisting of a very high speed triple play access for €30 a month to ba available next month. The target is ambitious with over 1m households passed and 250k subscribers by the end of 2009. Coverage will start in Paris and suburbs, then largest cities and selected areas. Neuf Cegetel is interested in buying Club-Internet (DT in France).

The members of the WiMAX Spectrum Owners Alliance (WiSOA) have signed a WiMAX roaming agreement, aimed at building seamless « GSM-like » roaming amongst WiMAX service providers.

Qtel Global Networks (Peru) is planning to deploy WiMAX.

CyberNet (USA) has successfully deployed its WiMAX internet access service in Los Angeles, Vernon and City of Commerce.

ATT has expanded its WiFi worldwide network to 48,000 hotspots, ahead of T-Mobile with 45,000 units worldwide.

Clearwire has raised about $600m in an IPO in NY with the sale of 25m shares.

Ibercom (Spain) has bought Tiscali Spain for €8m.

Urktelecom (Ukraine) will be privatized. The State will sell almost 5% in five separate 1% stake.

Vonage was ordered to pay $58m in damages to Verizon by a court decision on patent infrengment.