Fixed operator strategies - 29/06/07

Australia has assured all Australians that they would be able to access broadband in the near future. The Australian Broadband Guarantee would make sure that either the residents of Australia would get broadband services (99% of the population) or would get a broadband subsidy of around $2750 per household (1% of the population).

Vodafone Romania has launched Vodafone Acasa, a commercial residential fixed-line service, while Vodafone Portugal as launched its Vodafone Casa Duplex ADSL for residential customers.

Vodafone Malta has deployed Airspan's WiMAX equipment to provide broadband data and VoIP services

Sonaecom's Novis Telecom (Portugal) has acquired Oni's residential business for $34m.

Private equity firm BC Partners has taken over the world's largest satellite provider, Intelsat, in a $5bn deal.

DT would be interested in joining the race for high-speed broadband network in the big cities of Australia.

Inquam Broadband (Germany) will acquire a dominant 65% stake in Austria-based mobile broadband operator WiMAX Telecom.

Free (France) is launching an unlimited VOD service (Free Home Video) for €6 or €11 per month.

Telkom (S. Africa) launches WiMAX in South Africa to entend its DSL service.

Optus (Australia), with its partner Elders, announced a $1.7bn WiMax and ADSL2+ regional and rural network (OPEL).

LambdaNet (Germany) is for sale.

Jazztel (Spain) has begun pilot tests of its VDSL2 network.

Telefonica made a deal with Sogecable (MSO in Spain) to market joint triple play services in November.

Neuf Cegetel and SNCF both in France) have signed a contract to run Wi-Fi networks in 48 of the largest train stations in the country.

TDC and Viasat will test mobile-TV on DVB-H in Copenhagen, Denmark.

MTN (S. Africa), a cellular operator, is likely to construct its fixed-line network in South Africa.