Global operator strategies - 10/08/07

BSNL (India) is preparing a new massive GSM tender. This comes just as BSNL slashes the size of the previous contract from 45m lines to 23m and that most of this deal will go to Ericsson. The move is obviously targeted to send price per line down, well below $100. The new tender should be for over 40m lines.

BT will spend €60m in cash buying CS Communication & Systemes, a French IT systems and network services provider . The division employs 1,400 people and has sales of about €138m.

Tele2 may divest operations (fixed lines and broadband) in Belgium, Italy and Spain.

ICE (Costa-Rica) is asking about $80m to ALU for service failures, noncompliance of the contract, and damages from the bribery scandal related to winning the contract.

Etisalat (UAE) is planning to expand its business in Qatar and Algeria in 2007.

Altimo (Russia) is expanding in Asia, buying a 90% stake in Cambodian telecom operator Sotelco.

SMART/ PLDT (Philippines) has bought a stake in Irish GSM operator for the merchant maritime sector Blue Ocean Wireless.