Greece raises US$ 521.5 million through mobile spectrum auction (Greece)
National Telecommunications & Post Commission (EETT) in Greece has reportedly completed the auction of mobile operating frequencies in the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands for US$ 521.5 million, higher than the government’s expectation of US$ 488.8 million.
According to reports, the 900 MHz spectrum had been pre-allocated to each operator for a combined value of US$ 246.7 million, after which the next set of blocks were auctioned for US$ 269.9 million.
As per sources, mobile operator Cosmote, obtained four 900MHz blocks and two 1800MHz blocks for US$ 163.3 million, Vodafone Greece received six 900MHz blocks and two 1800MHz blocks for US$ 228.7 million while Wind Hellas received four blocks of the 900 MHz spectrum for US$ 126.5 million.
Vodafone eyes Wind Hellas for business opportunity (Greece, Saudi Arabia)
In a bid to expand its market share in Greece, Vodafone Group PLC is in talks with Greece’s third largest telecom company – Wind Hellas, for a possible business opportunity in combination with its Greek unit. The move comes in an effort for Vodafone to increase its presence in Greece which is currently dominated by rival company Cosmote Mobile Telecommunications SA controlled by Deutsche Telekom AG currently owning almost 48% of the market share.
Reportedly, Vodafone claims that the talks are still at an early stage and an agreement may not be reached. However, if successful, the new move would provide Vodafone with an enlarged customer base comprising of more than 50% of the Greek mobile market. As of June 30, Vodafone had about 4 million customers in Greece compared to Cosmote’s 7.73 million wireless customer base.
Cosmote Romania launches three new data roaming add-ons
Cosmote Romania has launched three new postpaid data roaming add-ons.
The offer is available for Cosmote Romania subscribers who travel to EU countries, Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland (countries included in the operator’s ‘Group 1′ corresponding to its ‘Roaming Avantaj’ tariff scheme).
Dubbed ‘Roaming Internet,’ the add-ons can be acquired on top of existing data subscriptions. Three ‘Roaming Internet’ add-ons are available, namely 25 MB, 50 MB, and 100 MB for US$14.09 (VAT excluded), US$21.13 or US$35.22 per week. Over-the-limit traffic is charged with US$2.81 per MB.
OTE aims for $415.4 mn in cost cuts (Greece)
Greece’s incumbent telephone operator, Hellenic Telecommunications Organization SA, or OTE, aims to cut operating costs by US$415.74 million as the group struggles with flagging revenues in its fixed-line division.
According to reports, OTE’s management is eyeing cost cutting measures in all areas of the company, including possible layoffs in Greece and abroad.
The report comes just days after OTE announced US$44.34 million in cost-cutting measures and sacked 120 employees at its Cosmote mobile operations.
Michael Tsamaz to become the new Chairman, CEO of OTE
Greece’s biggest telecom OTE has named Michael Tsamaz as its chairman and chief executive. It will be effective from Nov. 3.
Greece and Deutsche Telekom, which together own 50% of OTE, agreed on Tsamaz as CEO and chairman of the company.
According to OTE, this selection expresses the common will of the two main shareholders.
Tsamaz, 51, replaces retiring chairman and CEO Panagis Vourloumis, who was widely credited with turning around the state-linked telecommunications operator during his six years as head of the company. Vourloumis, 73, is expected to retire at the end of his term.
Tsamaz has served as head of OTE’s mobile subsidiary Cosmote since September 2007. In the past 10 years, Cosmote has grown to become the leading mobile operator in both Greece and southeast Europe, and has been a leading profit center for OTE, which has seen its dominance in fixed-line telephony gradually eroded by competition.
According to Guido Kerkhoff, DT’s representative on the OTE board, Tsamaz’s considerable international experience and proven business skills have made him one of the leading executives in Greece, as his track record with Cosmote proves beyond doubt. These are exactly the qualifications the company was looking for in finding the right person to head OTE.
Tsamaz joined the OTE group in 2001 serving in various management positions before being appointed as head of Cosmote. He has also worked for Vodafone Group PLC’s Greek subsidiary, and for tobacco conglomerate Philip Morris in Greece and eastern Europe.
Romanian regulator to allow 3G across 2G bands
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The technical and administrative measures of the provision for deployment of 3G services using the 900MHz and 1800MHz frequency bands by the cellular operators has been completed by Romanian regulator the National Communications Authority (ANCOM).
The 3G coverage of Orange Romania, Vodafone Romania and Cosmote will now be improved across the entirety of their current footprint.
According to Catalin Marinescu, president of ANCOM, this measure is part of the authority’s stated intention to promote broadband development in Romania and along with the CDMA license awards in 2008 and the forthcoming review of local loop unbundling, the liberalization of spectrum in the 900MHz and 1800MHz bands will contribute to the increased penetration of mobile internet access.
Cosmote‘s HSPA+ network to be build by ZTE (Romania)
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Cosmote Romania has contracted Chinese equipment manufacturer ZTE to deploy an HSPA+ evolved UMTS network. Infrastructure across all the major cities in Romania will be deployed by Cosmote by the end of March 2010.
The network will be installed with ZTE’s software-defined radio (SDR) technology and will be capable of theoretical peak download speeds of 21Mbps while SDR will allow seamless transition from GSM/UMTS to HSPA+ and, in future, LTE.
Cosmote which did to not receive a 3G concession in the 2004 and 2006 license tenders, acquired local 3G specialist Zapp, thus gaining access to a 3G concession and allowing it to prepare to roll out mobile broadband services of its own.
