Global operator strategies - 06/08/07

KPN plans bidding for Getronics NV, a Dutch IT services concern, and would pay over €700m for the deal.

Verizon Wireless buys Rural Cellular (USA), one of the nation’s largest rural carriers, for $2.7bn.

Altimo and Ipoc signed peace agreement on MegaFon (Russia). Altimo (Alfa Group) will held 25.1% of MegaFon stake, while Ipoc will control more than 39%.

The Latvian government will sell control in two local telephone operators to TeliaSonera for $830m. The deal includes Lattelecom, the biggest fixed-line service provider in the country, and LMT is the oldest cellular operator in Latvia.

Virgin Mobile USA now targets around $506m in IPO.

Vodafone shareholders support the Board and the management and vote against plan to spin off its majority stake in Verizon Wireless and increase massively debt.

Telecom Italia sold its interest in Brasil Telecom to three Brazilian pension funds for $550m.

Reliance Comms. (India) has bought Ethernet service provider Yipes Enterprise Services (USA) for about $300m in cash.

Several operators dropped their i-mode services: Telstra, O2 UK .

Vodafone sold 5% stake in India's Bharti Airtel for $1.4bn.