Singaporean mobile operator MobileOne (M1) has selected China’s Huawei for the ongoing expansion and upgrade of its W-CDMA/HSPA network. No financial details of the contract were disclosed, although it is understood that the vendor will be responsible for developing an all-IP network to meet the operator’s future communications needs. Commenting on the deal, M1 CEO Neil Montefiore said: ‘We have in Huawei a partner that is in the forefront of current and new technologies and with a robust commitment to research and development. Their capabilities will greatly support and complement our efforts to plan ahead to deliver mobile and other services that will meet the future needs of our customers.’
M1 said its first-quarter net profit fell 24% year-on-year to SGD38 million (USD28 million) but said it expects its business to be ‘stable’ in 2008.
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British broadsheet The Sunday Times is reporting that Vodafone is the frontrunner to buy a strategic 25% stake in the soon to spun-off wireless arm of Telekom Malaysia. Six weeks ago TM’s board announced it would radically reorganise its business in 2008, spinning off its domestic wireless arm Celcom and its international businesses to create a stand-alone unit (dubbed RegionCo) worth in the region of MYR28 billion (USD8.2 billion). The new company will comprise Celcom, as well as the group’s stakes in Excelcomindo (Indonesia), Dialog (Sri Lanka), TM International (Bangladesh), MobileOne (Singapore), Spice Communications (India), Telekom Malaysia International (Cambodia) and Mobile Telecommunications of Esfahan (Iran). Under the new set-up RegionCo will focus on overseas expansion in high growth markets, as a pure-play wireless operator. ‘In anticipation of a sale, TM has been courted by a range of foreign operators and private-equity firms,’ the Sunday Times said. Vodafone already has a branding deal with Celcom.
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Singaporean mobile operator MobileOne (M1) plans to launch a location-based advertising SMS service. The service will be launched with Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) in November. The partnership allows M1 to reach SPH’s network of advertisers. Advertisers can tailor specific marketing messages and promotional offers based on customer profiles and send these via SMS to customers in designated zones. M1 has held a short trial with Citibank as advertiser in October. From November 2007 the service will be available at seven zones covering more than seventy shopping malls. The ads are available to all M1 prepaid and postpaid customers and SMS at no charge.
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Telekom Malaysia may raise its stake in Singapore’s MobileOne, but it is certain that it will have less than 30% share.
It now has 80% of Sunshare Investment with Khazanah Nasional holding the rest. Sunshare holds 29.76% of MobileOne.
One option is for Telekom Malaysia to raise its stake in Sunshare.
“This is subject to further discussion with Khazanah,” said group CEO Datuk Abdul Wahid Omar in Singapore.
MobileOne, the smallest mobile operator in Singapore, has 1.34 million customers in 2006.
Its net profit for the year increased by 2.2 % to S$164.6 million ($107.1 million).
Telekom Malaysia also said it does not plan to buy more phone companies in Indonesia.
It will remain focused on its subsidiary PT Excelcomindo Pratama, Abdul Wahid said.
He added that the carrier remains very keen and confident in Excelcomindo.
Recently, the firm raised Indonesia Rupiah bonds worth some $170 million, which will be mainly used for working capital and network expansion.
“We hope that’s enough to support capital expenditures. However, should there be a need for XL to invest further, we will be prepared,” he said.
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M1 picks Huawei for 3G contract
