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According to a media report, Union Minister of State for Telecom and IT, Jyotiaraditya Scindia said that the Government has no plans to privatize Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. or BSNL and the public sector telecom major is only coming out with an IPO by divesting 10% of its equity only. Proceeds generated from IPO would be utilized to strengthen the BSNL network in far remote areas, minister further said.  He said BSNL should focus on providing high quality service, so that it can attract people and also complete with the private players. With regard to GSM network, he indicated that presently 1,392 towers of the service are established in the state and the number of towers would go up to 4,500 by 2009. He further added that mobile and broadband services would be provided by 2009, where 100 customers are guaranteed and added that the target of the ministry is to provide telecom services up to panchayat level. Presently, there is an increase of 67,000 more landline phones in the state. However BSNL has set the target to install three lakh more connections by the year-end, Scindia added.

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According to the officials,  For the emirate’s third mobile phone company which is expected to start operating later this year, Kuwait has launched an initial public offering (IPO). Initial Public Offering (IPO) is  referred to simply as a “public offering”, is when a company issues common stock or shares to the public for the first time. They are often issued by smaller, younger companies seeking capital to expand, but can also be done by large privately-owned companies looking to become publicly traded.
IPO, open until September 18, half of Kuwait Telecom Company’s capital of 500 million shares will be available to Kuwaiti citizens only for a nominal price of 100 fils (37 cents) plus a five fils premium per share.

Salman al-Badran, head of the new mobile phone project, said that the IPO will raise $98.3 million.

Last Year, Saudi Telecom (largest Arab telecommunications firm) was in a move to become the main operator, won a 26% stake in Kuwait Telecom Company after bidding $931.4 million. Presently, STC is serving 20 million mobile subscribers of the ninth richest country in the world per capita, Landlines has even cross the mark of five million.

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Bharat Sanchar Nigam limited had a productive discussion with labour unions, finally going ahead with its 3G network. It will be allocated with necessary spectrum soon. A spokesperson for Swedish equipment vendor Ericsson confirmed local press reports that it will supply BSNL with 5 million 3G lines.

BSNL chairman and managing director Kuldeep Goyal said that the company has placed an order with Ericsson and that rollout of the 5 million 3G lines will take place over the next six months. Goyal referred to a deal announced with Ericsson in September last year. The $1.3 billion deal covered both GSM and WCDMA/HSPA network equipment, but the 3G portion of the deal has been on hold. Goyal also quoted in various reports as saying that he is hopeful of reaching agreement with the unions over the sale of a 10% stake in BSNL, scheduled to take place in the current fiscal year to 31 March 2009. “There are positive responses,” said Goyal. The unions are discussing with the employees, they have said they will have an open mind on it,” quotes a media report.  Goyal also refused to comment on the valuation of the offer, saying he would leave that job to the bankers. The telco will appoint merchant bankers to manage the sale once discussions with all stakeholders have been completed, according to a media report.

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According to a report, India revived its plans to float state-owned telecoms BSNL in the country’s largest-ever IPO. Government officials also said they were in talks to get trade unions to support the $10 billion deal, the report added. The report further quoted that Telecoms Minister Andimuthu Raja as saying that the board of BSNL had approved the IPO proposal and he had asked the firm to negotiate with the unions, who fear a public flotation would mean job losses.

Raja said, BSNL’s 304,000 employees have been offered 500 shares each. In contrast to this, Chief of the BSNL employees’ union rejected the government’s offer and said the opposition would continue. Union opposition and weak market sentiment, Indian shares have lost a quarter of their value this year, and IPO plans of about $4.1 billion have been deferred, could limit investor appetite for large offers, says analyst.

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All set to go for a mega IPO, most probably in this financial year. This time its Bharat Sanchar Nigam limited (BSNL). Rs 40,000 crores is expected to be raise in the country’s largest-ever IPO through a share sale in BSNL. According to a Government officials, it would take a decision only after talks with trade unions. 5 to 10% of the stake would be up for the public to grab. In view of this, BSNL’s 304,000 employees will get to buy 500 shares each at Rupees ten a piece and the IPO would be in a between Rupees 300-400 per share. Another round of discussion is going to be held with trade unions, which have been resisting the stake sale.
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Iran Government’s plans to propose 5% stake in national fixed line operator Telecommunication Company of Iran . According to a report, Initial public Offer (IPO) which is due to take place soon is of worth $425 million. TCI has the Monopoly among the wireline operators of Iran, also it dominates the cellular sector via its wholly owned subsidiary MCI.

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For the Initial Public offering (IPO) Bangladeshi mobile operator Grameenphone has submitted a draft prospectus to the market regulator. Director of Public Relations yed Yamin Bakht said that the company is hoping to raise around $150 million.

No details related to prospectus has been disclosed. But the sources indicates that Grameenphone plans to sell the shares at BDT 18, including a premium of BDT 17. The proceeds of the IPO will be used for the company’s network development programme.To seek approval to raise an additional $150 million, Grameenphone also submitted a plan to the SEC. Grameenphone hopes to list by the end of September this year, report says.

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Government has initiated steps to merge state-run firms BSNL and MTNL. The proposed merger may happen after BSNL’s initial public offer (IPO), according to government sources.

“The proposal was discussed during the NDA regime and shelved. With BSNL’s IPO looking a clear possibility now, the proposal is being reviewed,” an official in the department of telecommunication (DoT) said. “Once BSNL is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange, we can explore various possibilities, which may include an open offer or a share swap deal,” he added.

Grameenphone, Bangladesh’s biggest mobile operator, has approved plans for the country’s largest initial public offering. Grameenphone,62 percent owned by Telenor and 38 percent owned by local Grameen Telecom, is expected to apply to list on the country’s two main stock exchanges by the end of the month.

It plans to raise 300 million dollars through the IPO, half by floating shares on the Dhaka and Chittagong bourses and the other half by selling pre-IPO shares.

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Chinese mobile equipment maker Centron Telecom has raised a net HKD 576 million in an initial public offering of shares on the Hong Kong stock exchange. The company sold shares at HKD 3.55 each, at the top end of the earlier indicated range. The Hong Kong share of the offering was 189 times oversubscribed. An over-allotment option is still available for another 37.5 million shares. With the proceeds of the IPO, Centron plans to expand facilities, buy equipment, invest in R&D, and expand local and overseas sales channels.

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