Alon Holdings Blue Square announces signing of Mou with Partner Communications for launching MVNO services (Israel)
Alon Holdings Blue Square – Israel Ltd. announces that in connection with the Company’s plans to enter the cellular communication market by becoming a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (“MVNO”), on March 23, 2011 - Alon Cellular Ltd. (“Alon Cellular”), a joint- venture company in which the Company holds indirectly 70.1%, signed an MOU with Partner Communications LTD. (“Partner”) for launching cellular services in an MVNO model, which will enable Alon Cellular to offer cellular services and become a major player in Israel’scommunication market.
At this stage, there is no certainty that Alon Cellular will eventually operate such business, and the Company cannot assess at this stage the conditions and costs of such operation.
Alon Holdings Blue Square- Israel Ltd. (hereinafter: “Alon Holdings”) is the leading retail company in the State of Israel and operates in four reporting segments: In its supermarket segment, Alon Holdings as pioneer of modern food retailing, Alon Holdings, through its 100% subsidiary, Mega Retail Ltd., currently operates 210 supermarkets under different formats, each offering a wide range of food products, “Near Food” products and “Non-Food” products at varying levels of service and pricing. In its “Non-Food” segment, Alon Holdings, through its 100% subsidiary BEE Group Retail Ltd., operates specialist outlets in self-operation and franchises and offers a wide range of “Non-Food” products as retailer and wholesaler. In the Commercial and Fueling Sites segment, through its 78.38% subsidiary, which is listed on the Tel Aviv stock exchange. Dor Alon Energy inIsrael (1988) Ltd is one of the four largest fuel retail companies in Israel based on the number of petrol stations and a leader in the field of convenience stores. Dor Alon operates a chain of 188 petrol stations and 177 convenience stores in different formats in Israel. In its Real Estate segment, Alon Holdings, through its TASE traded 78.26% subsidiary Blue Square Real Estate Ltd., owns, leases and develops yield generating commercial properties and projects.
Telefonica & Megacable to sign MVNO deal (Mexico)
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Mobile voice services has been planned to be launched by Mexico’s Megacable over Telefonica Moviles Mexico’s network by the end of September 2010. Bundling of the mobile voice services will be looked upon by the cableco with its existing product range, which includes cable television, high speed internet and fixed line voice.
100,000 mobile subscribers are expected to be signed by Megacable in the first year of its proposed mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) agreement with Telefonica. According to Megacable CEO Enrique Yamuni, it is an additional option that the company can offer the customer and it is not a business that will dramatically lift our cash flow or operating profit.
Earlier it was reported that Megacable withdrew from the country’s wireless spectrum auction, stating that having re-examined its options a move to launch its own mobile network would make little financial sense.
Orange UK signs C Mobile for eco friendly MVNO
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: C Mobile, online mobile reseller that is ethically accredited with The Ethical Company Organisation has been signed by Orange UK for a new, environmentally-focused Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) on the Orange Partner Platform.
Prepay MVNO of Orange will be launched nationally across the UK later this year with both SIM-only and handset deals. Both ethical and eco market will be targeted by the operator. The subscribers will be allowed to fund ecologically sustainable energy projects via profit-based grants.
According to C Mobile Managing Director, Jon Lobb, the firm is extremely pleased to sign up to the Orange Partner Platform with Transatel for its UK MVNO operations and the opportunity represents the first step in company’s growth strategy, and the company look forward to work with both Orange and Transatel as it moves towards its UK launch.
Ortel Mobile & Bouygues Telecom launches French MVNO
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: A commercial operation is planned to be launched by Ortel Mobile in France in partnership with host network operator Bouygues Telecom. Dutch mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) Ortel Mobile is 100% owned by KPN.
Ortel Mobile was formed in the year 2005 targeting its services to ethnic minorities in the Netherlands. Currently, the company has extended its foot steps to Belgium and Germany serving a total of around three million customers. 65% stake in the company was purchased by KPN in March 2008 and snapped the remaining 35% this year. Pre-paid SIM card for EUR9.95 (USD13.30), including EUR7.50 worth of call credit is offered by the French company.
By paying EUR5, EUR10 and EUR20, top- ups can be purchased. Besides, discounts of up to 70% on international calls have also promised to be delivered by MVNO. Initially, new Ortel Mobile France customers can sign up online. Later, the company will take forward its new comer plans to sell out its SIM cards at call shops, newspaper vendors and mobile phone resellers.
Orange UK signs new MVNO deals with three partners
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) agreements have been signed between British mobile network operator Orange UK and its three new partners- Unicom, Catalyst and Axis Telecom. The three companies have been secured on the Orange Partner Platform via Transatel, Orange’s mobile virtual network aggregator (MVNA).
The initial target of 80,000 existing customers with its new wireless services has been expected from fixed line provider Unicom. Mobile voice offerings are expected from Catalyst through partners targeting specific demographics including students, ethnic minorities and SMEs.
The deal will be used by Axis Telecom to offer mobile voice to its 14,000 residential and business customers. The three MVNOs are expected to launch commercially by the mid-2010.
According to Marc Overton, Vice President of Wholesale, Business Development & Partnerships at Orange UK, Orange has very ambitious plans to become the network partner of choice for new and existing MVNOs and with the deal, it is on its way to achieve this but the ambition is to have twenty new MVNOs on the Orange network by the end of the year which again clearly demonstrates that there are untapped opportunities for telecoms services across business and consumer sectors.
Loxley partners MPG for wireless broadband service on TOT (Thailand)
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: In order to enhance the operation of its mobile virtual network, Loxley announced its partnership with UK-based Mobile Partners Group (MPG). MPG will provide 3G-2.1GHz wireless broadband service on TOT’s network in greater Bangkok.
Established in 2006, MPG’s purpose was to simplify mobile-service set-ups with selected partners. At present, it also enables brand names or companies that want to enter the mobile business as either an SP (service provider) or MVNO (mobile virtual network operator).
Loxley, 365 Communication, Samart I-Mobile (SIM), IEC and M Consultant were selected by TOT to provide 3G-service on an MVNO basis for its Bangkok network.
Loxley is investing Bt40 million on related systems and will run the service under i-KooL 3G brand. The company aims to lure about 30,000 customers as well as break even within 18 months.
According to executive vice president of Loxley, Suroj Lamsam, Loxley’s 3G services would enhance its close-circuit TV system management, existing IT solutions on fleet management, as well as electricity including water-meter management. All these services are offered to state and private enterprises.
MVNO deal signed by Tele2 in Germany
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) agreement has been signed between Tele2 Telecommunications Services GmbH and VIAG Interkom in Germany as per which Tele2 will use Interkom’s wireless network to provide the air interface for Tele2′s fixed line customers.
With over 1 million residential and business fixed telephony customers, Tele2 is one of Germany’s largest Indirect Access Operators.
According to Lars-Johan Jarnheimer, President and CEO of Tele2 AB, Germany is the largest telecoms market in Europe and this MVNO will enable Tele2 to offer an attractively priced offering of both fixed and mobile services on one bill to its customers.
The MVNO is expected to be operational in Q2 2002.
