T-Mobile and Hutchison 3G enter network sharing agreement (Austria)
Mobile operators Hutchison 3G Austria and T-Mobile Austria have entered into a network sharing partnership enabling both operators to roam on each other’s network. According to company reports, the pact, starting in mid 2012, will enable T-Mobile to offer its customers in rural areas 3G services on 3′s network while at the same time providing 3 with access to T-Mobile’s 2G network.
Jan Trionow, CEO, 3, said that for their customers, nothing will change and they continue to enjoy all the benefits of super fast 3MegaNetzes, the best mobile network in Austria, and will in future benefit also from the already well-developed 2G network of their partner T-Mobile. Jan added that they will also parallel the expansion of their LTE network continued with determination.
Robert Chv¡tal, CEO, T-Mobile Austria, said that the mutual use of existing mobile networks for both partners is a win-win situation. He added that winners are ultimately all Austrian mobile customers, who benefit from quality improvements and synergies immediately.
Telekom Austria cuts dividend payout by half (Europe)
Leading telecommunications provider, Telekom Austria, has cut its dividend payout for 2011 and 2012 to half of what it originally planned, owing to the declining European economy. The operator had earlier planned a payout of US$ 1 which has been revised to US$ 0.50 for 2011 and 2012, while the payout for 2013 will be maintained at 55 percent of the cash flow.
As per company reports, the operator has said that this move is the result of an adverse economic condition along with the ever changing foreign exchange market. Further, the operator also expects the upcoming spectrum auctions to have a significant impact on the company’s cash flow. Telekom Austria has said that the maintaining a stable investment grade rating of ‘BBB’ remains the key parameter for the company’s cash use policy.
As reported by Wireless Federation earlier, Spanish telecom giant, Telefonica, had cut down its dividend forecast for 2012 by 14 percent based on the extensive changes witnessed in the market conditions. According to reports by the company, the payout has been reduced to US$ 1.95 a share as compared to the earlier forecast of US$ 2.27 a share.
Ronny Pecik increases stake in Telekom Austria to 15.8 percent (Europe)
Ronny Pecik’s RPR Privatstiftung has reportedly increased its stake in Telekom Austria to 15.8 percent with the help of shares and options. According to reports, Telekom Austria announced that RPR Privatstiftung had exercised options to buy a 15 percent stake in the telecom operator via Marathon Zwei Beteiligungs GmbH, and further holds options to increase its stake by a further 0.8 percent via its subsidiary, Everest Investment GmbH subsidiary.
As per industry sources, Pecik’s stake is currently worth $ 761 million, and is reportedly planning to hike its stake to 20 percent in collaboration with three more investors. However, as per sources, industry analysts claim that Pecik’s decision does not seem to be a very viable one. Further, there have been speculations suggesting that Pecik may be reselling his stake to VimpelCom, Telefonica, Telenor as a means of an exit strategy.
Telefonica signs network sharing agreement with China Unicom (Spain, China)
Spanish telecom operator Telefonica has reportedly entered into a strategic partnership with China Unicom, wherein both operators will use each other’s networks to expand their coverage. According to reports, the deal will provide Telefonica access to China Unicom’s network in the regions of Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Australia, France and Sweden.
In return, China Unicom can reportedly increase its presence through Telefonica’s network in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, Peru, Venezuela, Mexico, USA, Puerto Rico, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria Denmark, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Morocco, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Romania, Sweden and Switzerland.
Reports suggest that Telefonica believes this agreement will help both operators expand their capabilities to provide telecom services to various customers in different geographic areas.
Orascom Telecom seeks partners for Orange Switzerland bid (Europe, Egypt)
According to reports, Naguib Sawiris, founder of Orascom Telecom is looking for partners in order to bid for Orange Switzerland valued at around $2.8 billion. Other people who have shown their interest in acquiring the France Telecom SA mobile-phone unit, include Xavier Niel, founder of Iliad, and private equity firms Apax Partners LLP and EQT Partners. As per sources, when questioned about Mobinil, Sawiris said that he has no plans to sell his stake in Mobinil which belongs to Orascom and other shareholders.
As reported by Wireless Federation earlier, France Telecom is hopeful of finalizing a deal for its Switzerland unit by the end of this year and plans to target the emerging markets in the Middle East and Africa. Further, the group may also be looking to sell its units in Austria and Portugal.
Hutchison Whampoa may acquire Orange Austria (Europe)
Hutchison Whampoa, Hong Kong based conglomerate may reportedly be in talks to acquire Austrian mobile operator, Orange Austria, owned by France Telecom and private equity firm Mid Europa Partners. As per reports, Hutchison, which operates in Austria through its subsidiary 3, aims to acquire Orange by this year.
Sources claim that a deal between these two operators, would compbine the third and fourth largest telecom players in the country, after Telekom Austria AG and T-Mobile Austria (Deutsche Telekom AG). As per company reports, France Telecom has a stake of 35 percent in Orange Austria with the remaining 65percent being controlled by Mid Europa Partners.
VimpelCom and Turkcell may receive Pecik’s stake in Telekom Austria
According to reports, Austrian investor Ronny Pecik, may sell his 20% stake in Telekom Austria, to telecommunications company VimpelCom and Turkcell. As per sources, Hannes Ametsreiter, CEO, Telekom Austria said that according to Austrian law, investors are only required to disclose stake holdings of 5%. In the event that the investors raise their stake further, they are not obligated to disclose it.
Sources claim that Pecik plans to sell the stake over the next few years to VimpelCom in an attempt to make a 30% profit on his initial investment. Further, reports suggest that Pecik also aims to become a board member of Telekom Austria. As per reports, Telekom Austria said last week that Vienna-based Privatstiftung, which belongs to Pecik had acquired call options on 5.4% of the company’s shares. Further, the deals made by Pecik and his partners are being reviewed by Austria’s financial markets supervisory agency, to check if they are in violation of any shareholding-notification requirements.
BBC unveils iPad app in Europe for its TV shows
BBC, the UK based broadcaster has announced the unveiling of an app for Apple’s iPad. The app makes it possible for reviewing the BBC television shows by way of the iPad’s inbuilt iPlayer app.
It is going to be an on-demand subscription service. Western Europe will witness the app’s launch in 11 markets, ahead of subsequent launches elsewhere. Services will be offered at $10.04 per month or $71.86 annually in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, The Republic of Ireland, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland, in the app’s initial launch.
Subscribers will be able to both stream and download shows for offline viewing – the major highlight of the BBC app.
EU member states served notice to expedite implementation of new telecom regulations
25th May 2011 was the deadline set by the European Parliament and the EU’s Council of Ministers for the member states of the European Commission for full implementation of the new EU telecoms rules as part of their national law. Twenty of the EU member states have been sent information requests as to why they have not yet reverted with regard to the stipulated implementation of the telecoms rules.
Under the EU infringement procedures, the information requests are equivalent to letters of formal notice.
Under the ambit of the new EU telecoms rules, phones, mobile services and internet are taken into account with regard to rights of the consumers and businesses. The highlights of these rights comprise of customers being empowered to switch telecoms operators in just one day without changing their phone number, more transparency regarding the services customers are offered, in addition to securing their personal data online.
So far only seven Member States namely Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Malta, Sweden and the UK have confirmed the Commission of full implementation of the rules; a majority of the EU member states having notified the Commission of implementation to certain extents while the legislative processes are continuing.
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain constitute the twenty other Member States that are yet to respond to the letters of formal notice within two months, failing which or even not being convincing, the Commission stands to issue the concerned Member States, a formal request to implement the legislation. The second request will be the form of a ‘reasoned opinion’ under EU infringement procedures. Eventually, the matter will be referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union.
Vodafone looks to improve customer experience while roaming with latest roaming offers (Malta)
Vodafone announces new call and internet usage rates while roaming. The new offerings lets consumers pay at local rates outside of the local zone.
At the cost of $1.39, customers will now be able to take advantage of a 10 minute call while roaming as well as use 30 MB of data per day for $4.17. Vodafone is looking to bring to customers an enhanced experience at competitive rates.
Vodafone’s latest offerings are applicable in Vodafone networks across Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and United Kingdom, in addition to roaming in Austria on Mobilkom, Belgium on Belgacom, France on SFR and Switzerland on Swisscom.
According to Daniel Grech, Business Marketing Manager at Vodafone Malta, Vodafone’s initiatives with regard to roaming are part of the bigger effort to provide customers the most competitive roaming rates as well as roaming service.
