Top stories N49

SBC – ATT: the hot topic of this weekend is the possible merger between SBC and ATT. Ailing ATT could be bought by its former spin-off in a $15bn deal. It could mark the end of a downward spiral for ATT, the most powerful operator in the 70s. Banned from the access network in 84, ATT tried any opportunity to diversify (in cable TV, in wireless) but failed and divested ATT Broadband to Comcast and AWE to Cingular. More recently, it announced its withdrawing from the consumer market. Now, ATT is mainly a long-distance business and a data/voice network for businesses. And those assets should be interesting for a RBOC to control a good backbone network and gain instantly additional business customers. So the deal (which needs to be announced, finalized and approved by FCC) makes sense and could constitute the only valid hope for ATT. The lion does not roar any more!!

Errata: in last week issue (N48), an error was made on mobile contracts given by ETC to Nokia and Ericsson. It was stated that the contracts were issued in Nigeria: wrong, you had to read Ethiopia, as was mentioned the contract given by ETC to Nera. Thanks to readers that noticed the error.