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Telecom Italia denies selling TIM to Telefonica

December 2nd, 2008
10:17 am

In a news story reported earlier by Wireless Federation, which says, Telecom Italia is intending to sell Brazil’s Fixed Line or Mobile phone unit, Spain’s Telefonica seems the potential buyer. But the recent updates from Telecom Italia, the parent company of TIM reveals that these reports have no foundation.

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Mobile, Telefonica, Telecom Italia, Italy, Spain, TIM Brazil, Fixed Line
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Agcom approves 10% cut in mobile termination rates by 2011 (Italy)

November 28th, 2008
6:35 am

The Italian regulator Agcom finally approves the 10% cut in mobile termination rates for Italian mobile operators by 2011. The move is aligned with EU Commission’s requests, which calls for higher competition in Italian mobile market and provide increasing benefits in terms of decreasing consumer prices.
Under the new tariffs plan, Italy will lower the 2011 rates to $0.068 for Telecom Italia’s Tim, Vodafone Italia and Wind, from $0.114 for the first two operators and $0.123 for the third; and to $0.0815 for H3G’s 3 Italia from $0.168 currently. Agcom anticipates to achieve a full symmetry in terminations rates by 2012 at $0.058.
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News

Telecom Italia plans to sell the Brazilian fixed-line or mobile phone unit (Italy)

November 27th, 2008
6:32 am

Telecom Italia, the Italian incumbent, plans to sell its fixed-line network or its mobile-phone unit operating in Brazil. Telefonica Spain is looking like a potential buyer of TIM Brazil and in order to buy the unit Telefonica will have to sell off its indirect stakes in Telecom Italia.
Additionally, Telecom Italia may also consider the sale of smaller assets like Sparkle, a provider of international wholesale voice services.

Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News

Mobile, Brazil, Telecom Italia, Italy, TIM Brazil, Mobile Phone, Fixed Line, Sparkle
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Telefonica & Telecom Italia violates antimonopoly law, says Committee

November 25th, 2008
11:14 am

The Congressional telecommunications committee in Argentina reportedly has ruled that Telefonica’s minority stake in Telecom Italia violates the nation’s antimonopoly laws. The Operator’s local units are the market leaders of fixed and mobile telephony as well as internet services market in Argentina. The House Communications Commission’s bill asked President to “implement the measures necessary to avoid monopolistic activity which eventually could result from the economic concentration stemming from Telefonica’s acquisition of shares in Telecom”.

In October 2007,Telefonica Spain has acquired 24.7% stake in Telecom Italia and gained two seats on the Italian operator’s board. However, Telecom Italia sustains the Spanish operator’s indirect 10 percent holding equals a mere 1.8 percent stake in the Argentine unit, and that its directors have no decision-making powers in the two markets where the providers overlap – namely Argentina and Brazil. “Although the percentage is very small, in operating terms, it puts them inside the decision making process and this inevitably means that (the companies’) decisions are practically shared,” states Eduardo Mondino, who filed the complaint to the House Committee. The telecommunication sector was privatized in the 1990s and the fixed-line telephony business was divided between Telecom Argentina and Telefonica de Argentina.

Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News

Antitrust imposes a fine of $410,700 on Telecom Italia for unauthorised call charges (Italy)

November 24th, 2008
7:07 am

The Italian antitrust watchdog fines Telecom Italia and 12 other telcos for a total of $3.03 million after they charged their subscribers for calls they dint make knowingly.
Hundreds of mobile subscribers were charged for international satellite-based calls or calls to special numbers after viruses installed so-called “diallers” on their computers while they surfed the Internet, the agency reported.
Telecom Italia, which supplies network services, wasn’t directly responsible for the unauthorised charges but was aware of the “diallers,” the agency said and has fined the operator for $410,700. According to watchdog the Italian incumbent did not adopt measures to protect consumers or inform them, for which Telecom Italia has denied the agency’s charges and said it would contest them before a regional court.
“Telecom Italia, once again, reiterates its complete non-involvement with this fraudulent phenomenon and strongly rejects blame attributed to it,” the company said in a statement.

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Price and Competition - End of Meger between 3 and Telecom Italia (Italy)

November 22nd, 2008
2:30 pm

Hutchison Whampoa subsidiary 3 Italia failed to reach a merger agreement with Telecom Italia because of disagreements about price, 3 Italia’s chief said.

The two firms were in merger talks but disagreed on price and market competition issues. Had merger talks been successful, 3 Italia would have been broken up, said Il Sore. Now, 3 Italia could be sold to a Middle Eastern sovereign fund.It may remain as an independent entity, or a non-European telecoms operator may buy a 50% stake, Mr Novari said.
Merger failure

Mr Novari said the merger with Telecom Italia was now the “least probable” option.

“The value attributed to the Telecom Italia shares was too high for us,” Mr Novari told Italian newspaper Il Sore.

“There were differences on the share swap ratio …the difference has stopped the operation,” he said.
If a merger between Telecom Italia and 3 Italia had been successful, Wind, another Italian telecom operator, would have taken control of 3 Italia’s customer base and technology.

The 3 Italia chief however squashed rumours that the company would be broken up, saying “new initiatives” would be launched in 2009. “We wouldn’t [launch them] if we had in mind a break up of the activities,” he said.

3 Italia’s operations include a third generation mobile network which offers videotelephony.

Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News

Hutchison’s 3 Italia-Telecom Italia deal break down on price

November 21st, 2008
10:02 am

Hutchison Whampoa unit 3 Italia and Telecom Italia reportedly held talks on a merger but the two parties unable to reach a conclusion. 3 Italia’s Chief Executive, Vincenzo Novari, said, the prospective deal broke down on price and market competition issues. “There were differences on the share swap ratio. The value attributed to the Telecom Italia shares was too high for us. The difference has stopped the operation,” Novari added.

Novari Further said, there were four options for the future of 3 Italia, which operates a third generation mobile telephone network, including videotelephony and handheld TV.

One is the merger with Telecom Italia, which would include Italy’s telecom operator Wind taking over 3 Italia customers and technology. According to Novari it was “the least probable” option.

The other options available are a sale to a Middle East sovereign fund, the sale to a non-European operator of a 50 percent stake in H3G, the company which owns the 3 brand, and 3 Italia continuing as an independent company, he added.
He has excluded the possibility of “a break-up” of 3 Italia, along the lines of Italy’s Blu telecom operator in 2002, which saw its assets such as tax losses, radio frequencies and subscribers going to different rivals.

If 3 Italia is thinking in- line of break-up of the activities, they will not launch new initiatives, said Novari.

TIM Brasil totals its subscriber base to 35.2Mn in Q3′08 (Brazil)

November 10th, 2008
5:44 am

TIM Brasil, third largest mobile operator in terms of subscribers, posted its third quarter results ended 30 September. TIM Brasil reports its first net profit after adding more customers and keeping subscriber acquisition costs (SACs) down, media reported. Net income was USD10.6 million for the period under review, reversing a net loss of BRL127 million in the same period of 2007. Revenue mounts by 6.1% year-on-year to BRL3.36 billion. The operator adds net six million new mobile users in this quarter, subscriber base reaches to 35.2 million. The cellco cut its SACs from BRL129 to BRL110 as it cut handset subsidies. Prepaid subscribers increase from 77% (a year earlier) to 81% of the total base in third quarter.

Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News

Telecom Italia posts 13% drop in Q3 profits, reaffirms ‘08 targets (Italy)

November 10th, 2008
5:23 am

Telecom Italia, Italy’s leading mobile operator , posts a 13% drop in its Q3′08, but comfirms to reach its 2008 targets. The operator reported profits of $803 million in comparison to $903.53 million since last year.
Revenues fell by 1.4% to $9.63 million since last year.
CEO Franco Bernabe, Telecom Italia, reaffirms to stick to its 2008 targets with revenues in excess of $29 billion, noting that the telecommunications industry “has not demonstrated particular weakenesses” amid the global financial turmoil.
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News

Telenor eyes a stake in Unitech Wireless (Norway, India)

October 13th, 2008
12:04 pm

Telenor, Norway eyes a stake in the Indian telecom operator, Unitech Wireless. Telenor will pay $1.5 billion for the stake. Earlier a merger was speculated between Telenor, Telecom Italia and Unitech Wireless, but was a mere rumour.
Telenor still states that the report is based on “pure speculation”, though it confirms that it is looking for expansion oppurtunities in growing markets.

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