VimpelCom acquires PolarCom (Russia)
Russian cellco VimpelCom has announced that it has purchased 100% stake in PolarCom, which claims to be one of the largest fixed line voice telephony providers in Murmansk, a seaport situated in the extreme north west of Russia.
The value of the transaction is believed to be US$5.8 million. PolarCom currently provides fixed line services for corporate clients and residential customers using its wholly-owned 250km length of fibre-optic infrastructure.
VimpelCom has indicated that the acquisition of PolarCom is part of its fixed line expansion strategy, which aims to spread the provision of fixed line services to Russia’s regions. Going forward, PolarCom is expected to be re-branded as Beeline, in keeping with VimpelCom’s other operations elsewhere. Russian regional operator North-West Telecom has previously submitted an application for the acquisition of Polarcom on two separate occasions, with both applications rejected by the Federal Anti-monopoly Service (FAS).
Telefonica mulling tie up with Mexican telcos and cablecos
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: With a view to bid on access to the fibre-optic infrastructure being auctioned by the government on behalf of state power utility Comision Federal de Electridad, tie up with a number of smaller Mexican telcos and cablecos is considered by Spanish telecoms giant Telefonica.
Access to two unused portions of its fibre-optic network which covers around 20,000km will also be auctioned by CFE. Under the preliminary rules announced by the Secretario de Comunicaciones y Transportes (SCT), the fibre strands will be divided into three geographic regions.
After the announcement of an expected joint bid with Telefonica by the executives at Megacable last month, Francisco Gil, head of Telefonica in Mexico pointed towards a possible tie up and as a result, formation of a consortium.
Fibre infrastructure access fees proposed by Deutsche Telekom
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: German telecommunications regulator BNA has been approached by Deutsche Telekom to approve the charges for the use of three elements of its fibre-optic infrastructure. Access in multi-function cabinets for a monthly unit price has been offered by the operator. A corresponding portion of the unit price has been paid by other operators depending on how many slots they use.
A charge of EUR 173.32 per month has been proposed by DT for access in the multi-function cabinet having a maximum of four slots. EUR 0.43 per meter will be charged to have an access to DeTe’s cable channels for one quarter pipe per month and dark fibre use will be charged at EUR 353.96 per month offering flatrate for the use of two fibres for a single section from the main distribution frame.
Deutsche Telekom subsidiaries wanting to use the infrastructure will charge the fees.
Axtel completes acquisition of Avantel
Axtel has announced the closing of its acquisition of Avantel, consolidating the combined company’s position as Mexico’s second-largest fixed line telecoms operator. The deal valued Avantel at USD500 million, including the assumption of Avantel’s debt. With the closing of the transaction, Axtel’s annual revenues will exceed USD1 billion.
The purchase of Avantel strengthens Axtel’s position as an integrated telecoms company providing local, long-distance, broadband, data and custom communications solutions to over 750,000 residential, small, medium and large customers, as well as multinational and government entities, throughout Mexico. Axtel’s last-mile access technology will now be combined with Avantel’s IP-based network, 7,700km of fibre-optic infrastructure and 300km of metropolitan fibre-optic ring.
Source- telegeography Wireless Mobile Telecom
