Call for Telekom bids due today (Slovenia)

On 08.31.07, In Mobile, By Editor

A public call for bids for a government-held 49.13% stake in Slovenia’s incumbent telco Telekom Slovenije will be published today, according to Reporter.gr. Three options for the sale are envisaged: selling the entire stake in one go; a partial sale with the remainder sold after three years; or a cross-ownership arrangement. The valuation of Telekom Slovenije, with a current market capitalisation of EUR3.2 billion (USD4.36 billion), is to be completed by mid-September, whilst qualified bidders are to be announced in early November, head of the Electronic Communications Directorate Matjaz Jansa said. Jansa claims that some ten to 15 bidders have already expressed interest.

   

 

 

 

 

 

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Comstar branches out (Russia)

On 08.31.07, In Mobile, By Editor

Moscow-based fixed line operator Comstar UTS has opened a branch in St Petersburg, Digital Media Asia reports. Comstar acquired smaller telco Astelit in June 2006, and says it has now completed the first stage of a next generation network (NGN) based on Astelit’s network in the city, and will fully integrate the subsidiary’s operations into its own. The company added that it will continue to focus on corporate clients in Moscow and St Petersburg, as well as expanding services available to existing Astelit clients.

   

 

 

 

 

 

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Bouygues beats expectations (France)

On 08.31.07, In Mobile, By Editor

French conglomerate Bouygues’ first-half operating profits beat analyst expectations, thanks partly to a rise in earnings at its telecoms unit, prompting the firm to nudge its full-year sales guidance higher, to EUR29 billion (USD39.6 billion) from EUR28.8 billion previously. Operating profit for the first half was EUR1.05 billion, up 22% from EUR862 million a year earlier, and net profit was EUR655 million, up 16% year-on-year from EUR565 million, on revenues that rose 10% year-on-year to EUR13.3 billion. The 1H EBITDA margin at the Bouygues Telecom division was 33.6%, up four percentage points from a year earlier. Communication services turnover grew by 6.2% year-on-year to EUR2.18 billion. At the end of June 2007 Bouygues claimed 8.81 million mobile subscribers, up from 8.3 million a year earlier.

   

 

 

 

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Kuwait delays bids deadline for new cellco again (Kuwait)

On 08.31.07, In Mobile, By Editor

For the second time in a month, Kuwait has delayed a deadline for companies to bid for a stake in its third mobile phone operator and said it would change the way the sale was conducted. Kuwait initially asked foreign operators and local non-telecom firms to submit bids by 7 August for a 26% stake in the new cellco set up by the government. It then moved the deadline to 7 September. It has now been delayed again, with no new date set. State-owned Kuwait Investment Authority said in a statement that the tender process was under review and new guidelines and dates would be announced on 7 September. The Kuwait Investment Authority heads the committee that set up the new operator, of which the government will sell 50% in an initial public offering (IPO), 26% to an investor and keep the rest.

   

 

 

 

 

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DT and Ericsson sign microwave deal (Germany)

On 08.31.07, In Mobile, By Editor

Swedish vendor Ericsson and German incumbent Deutsche Telekom (DT) have inked a six-year contract covering the operation and maintenance of DT’s microwave network in Germany. Around 200 employees will be transferred from DT’s fixed network subsidiary T-Com to Ericsson, which will then take responsibility for DT’s microwave-based links, including planning, deployment, operation and field services. T-Com will then buy back capacity from Ericsson as part of the ongoing ‘managed services’ contract.

   

 

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CMPak extends licence area (Pakistan)

On 08.31.07, In Mobile, By Editor

CMPak, the wireless operator formerly known as Paktel, has confirmed that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has amended its licence to allow it to provide wireless services in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and the Northern Areas (NA). According to the CEO of SMPak, the new licences will allow the company to extend its coverage to the scenic northern parts of the country.

In February 2007 Millicom International Cellular (MIC) sold its 88.86% stake in Paktel to China Mobile Communications Corp for USD284 million in cash. In May 2007 China Mobile acquired the outstanding shares from the Arfeen Group (10%) and others. CMPak has embarked on an aggressive network expansion plan since the acquisition, with China Mobile expected to spend USD400 million in 2007 in expanding the network.

   
 

 

 

 

 

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Elisa launches HSUPA (Finland)

On 08.31.07, In Mobile, By Editor

Finnish telco Elisa, in cooperation with Swedish equipment vendor Ericsson, has announced the launch of HSPA on the uplink (also known as Enhanced Uplink or HSUPA) on its 3G network. HSUPA allows data transfer speeds of 1.4 Mbps, more than three times the speed of traditional 3G networks. Janne Laitala, President, Ericsson Finland, said: ‘HSPA on the uplink is an important milestone in the evolution of HSPA and we are happy to take this step with Elisa. With the take-off of online communities and video-sharing services, greater uplink speed will add a new, mobile dimension to such activities.’

   

 

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PCCW’s profit, revenues up slightly

On 08.31.07, In Mobile, By Editor

Hong Kong operator PCCW saw its revenues and EBITDA rise slightly in the six months ended 30 June 2007. Core revenues (excluding Pacific Century Premium Developments (PCPD)) went up 7 percent to HKD 9.51 billion, from HKD 8.85 billion in the year-ago period, but including PCPD the revenues declined 18 percent year-on-year to HKD 11.61 billion. Core EBITDA increased by 4 percent to HKD 3.07 billion, versus HKD 2.94 billion, as the results of TV & Content and Mobile improved significantly. Profit went up 3 percent to HKD 822 million, from HKD 796 million, and basic earnings per share increased by 3 percent to HKD 0.1216. The board of directors has declared an interim dividend of HKD 0.065 per share for the six month-period.

Revenues for Telecom Services went up 4 percent to HKD 7.71 billion as international telecommunications and local data services revenues grew at a healthy pace while local telephony and other services revenues remained stable. The TV and Content business grew its revenues 42 percent to HKD 71 million. At the end of June, the now TV installed base hit 818,000, up by 35 percent from a year earlier, while the paying base reached 560,000. ARPU climbed a further 19 percent from December 2006 to HKD 166 per month. Mobile revenues rose 14 percent to HKD 668 million, reflecting contribution from a growing 3G subscriber base with a higher ARPU.

PCCW ended June with 2.59 million exchange lines in service and 1.17 million broadband customers. The number of residential subscribers went up 6 percent to 1 million while the number of business subscribers rose 5 percent to 104,000. PCCW also had 117,000 narrowband customers. The number of mobile subscribers rose 4 percent to 957,000 of which 119,000 are 3G customers.

   

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Ericsson wins managed services deal from Deutsche Telekom (Germany)

On 08.31.07, In Mobile, By Editor

Ericsson has formed a six-year managed services partnership with Deutsche Telekom. The contract covers the operation and maintenance of Deutsche Telekom’s microwave network in Germany. As part of the transaction, around 200 employees will be transferred from T-Com to Ericsson. T-Com will transfer its microwave assets and related operation activities to Ericsson. Ericsson will thereby take over full responsibility for the realisation and operation of Deutsche Telekom’s microwave based links in Germany, including planning, deployment, operation and field services. T-Com will buy capacity from Ericsson as part of an ongoing managed services contract.

   

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Tata Consultancy signs USD 140 mln deal with BSNL (India)

On 08.31.07, In Mobile, By Editor

IT company Tata Consultancy Services has signed a USD 140 million transformational deal with India’s state-owned operator BSNL. The company will provide BSNL with a comprehensive range of telecom services to enable complete transformation of existing systems and processes to an IP-based convergent billing system. The multi-year engagement involves setting up complex data networks across the vast BSNL footprint in the north and west of India and includes deployment of operational support systems and business support systems components. The company will also manage the overall engagement along with a team of hardware, software and application partners.

   

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