Wireless Federation

NII Holdings announces pricing of senior notes

On 03.25.11, In Mobile, By Editor

NII Holdings, Inc. today announced the pricing of the offering, through its wholly owned subsidiary NII Capital Corp., of $750 million principal amount of 7.625% Senior Notes due 2021. The issue price to the public is 100% of the principal amount of the notes.

The size of the offering was increased from the previously announced $500 million to $750 million. The sale of the notes is expected to close on or about March 29, 2011. The notes will be issued by NII Capital Corp. and guaranteed by NII Holdings and certain of NII Holdings’ other United States subsidiaries.

Goldman, Sachs & Co., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated are acting as joint book-running managers for the notes offering.

Huawei bags 3G Network Contracts in Mexico and Brazil

On 02.17.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Huawei has won network contracts for new WCDMA networks for NII Holdings subsidiaries in Mexico and Brazil.

Both networks trade under the Nextel brand name Nextel has purchased 3G spectrum in Mexico and has placed bids for spectrum in Brazil.

It is considered that Huawei will develop and deliver the core network, radio access network (RAN) and backhaul, all of which will be customized for NII’s Push-to-Talk service.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: 3G • Brazil • Core Network • Huawei • Mexico • Mobile • NEXTEL • NII Holdings • Push-to-Talk service • radio access network (RAN) • WCDMA

Nextel Brazil gives $714 million for nationwide 3G license

On 12.15.10, In Mobile, By Editor

NII Holdings has announced that its subsidiary, Nextel Brazil was the winning bidder for 20 MHz licenses in the 1.9-2.1GHz frequency band (H band) auctioned by Brazil’s telecoms regulator, Anatel.

Nextel Brazil was the successful bidder for 11 of the 13 lots included in the H Band auction. The regional licenses won by Nextel Brazil cover approximately 182.4 million people in the country, or 97% of the Brazilian population, and 97% of the areas that generate the GDP in Brazil. These licenses cover all major metropolitan areas in Brazil including Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia.

According to Nextel Brazil, it plans to utilize this spectrum to invest, build and deploy a 3G network across Brazil.

This 3G network will complement the company’s existing iDEN network, and it expects to launch commercial services on this network in certain markets in the next 12 to 18 months.

Nextel Brazil’s winning bids for the spectrum totaled US$714.4 million for the 20MHz in eleven of the thirteen lots included in the H band auction.

According to Steven Dussek, Chief Executive Officer of NII Holdings, this is an exciting time for NII and Nextel Brazil. Winning 3G spectrum in Brazil is an important milestone for the company, and it will allow them to invest, build and deploy a 3G network across the country, expanding their coverage and enabling them to provide a wider range of high-value wireless services to their current and future customers in the country.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: 3G license • Anatel • Brasilia • Brazil • Chief Executive Officer of NII Holdings • GDP • H Band • iDen network • Mobile • Nextel Brazil • NII Holdings • Rio de Janeiro • Sao Paulo • Steven Dussek • Telecoms Regulator

Nextel Mexico Continues to organize 3G Network across Mexico

On 10.19.10, In Mobile, By Editor

Nextel Mexico will continue to execute the strategy that calls for the employment of a 3G network across Mexico with the first phase of the commercial launch of that network expected to occur in the next 12 to 18 months.

It has also mutually agreed with Grupo Televisa to conclude the pact that was agreed earlier this year to jointly build a 3G network. NII Holdings and Televisa have agreed to continue to discuss entering into commercial agreements. No reason was specified as to why the two companies decided to end their agreement.

The new 3G network will be supported by the 30 MHz in the AWS spectrum granted to Nextel Mexico on October 1, 2010.

According to Gokul Hemmady, NII Holdings’ Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, the company is excited to be moving forward with plans for the deployment of 3G network in Mexico utilizing the spectrum granted by the Mexican government to Nextel Mexico. The company is in a strong financial position with the funding necessary to carry out deployment plans in the country and look forward to offering more choice in wireless services to the people of Mexico.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: 3G network • AWS spectrum • Grupo Televisa • Mexico • Mobile • NEXTEL • NII Holdings

Nextel Mexico’s 30% stake bought by Televisa

On 02.16.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Stakes in local unit of NII Holdings’, the mobile operator Nextel Mexico, will be bought by pay-TV provider and media group Televisa at a price of USD 1.44 billion cash for an initial 30 percent equity stake in Nextel Mexico. 70 percent stake in Nextel Mexico will be maintained by NII along with the management.

An additional 7.5 percent stake in Nextel Mexico can also be acquired by Televisa from the third or fourth anniversary of the completion of the initial transaction.

The services will be cross sold to each other customers base. The companies have also planned to use the Televisa media and distribution channels to market Nextel services and work on bundling services and developing a quadruple-play offering.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Mexico • NEXTEL • Nextel Mexico • NII Holdings • North America • operator • Televisa

NII contracts Nokia to manage network in five countries

On 02.11.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news:? Nokia Siemens Networks has been contracted by Latin American mobile operator NII Holdings to manage its network operations across its regional footprint. 1,000 NII Holdings employees will transfer to Nokia Siemens Networks under the terms of the deal.

Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Peru are covered in the contract where NII operating under the Nextel brand, will hold its operations.

According to Alan Strauss, chief technology officer at NII Holdings, the focus of the company to deliver differentiated wireless service is strengthened by this partnership with Nokia Siemens Networks, as it allows NII to increase the operational flexibility, improve the cost efficiencies, and improve the service quality.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Argentina • Brazil • Chile • Latin America • Mexico • NEXTEL • NII Holdings • Nokia • Nokia Siemens • operator • Peru

Nextel’s stake to be acquired by Televisa (Mexico)

On 02.09.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: CFC’s approval has been seeked by Mexican media group Televisa to acquire a stake in the local unit of mobile operator NII Holdings. Both the companies have notified the Federal Competition Commission regarding their intention to undertake this acquisition.

The CFC has 30 days to approve or deny the acquisition.

There are 2.9 million customers and 3.6 percent mobile market share of NII Holdings operating in Latin America under the Nextel brand name, in Mexico at the end of September 2009.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Acquisition • federal competition commission • Latin America • Mexico • NEXTEL • NII Holdings • operator • Televisa

Claro Peru, Nextel del Peru win mobile concessions in Peru

On 07.31.07, In Mobile, By Editor

Claro Peru and digital trunking operator Nextel del Peru have been awarded mobile concession licences from ProInversion, Peru’s state agency for promoting private investment. Claro Peru is a unit of America Movil. Nextel del Peru is owned by US mobile holding firm NII Holdings. Claro was awarded the Band B licence, equating to the 835-845MHz, 880-890MHz, 846.5-849MHz and 891.5-894MHz spectrum blocks, for USD 22.22 million, which was USD 20,000 above the base price. Nextel del Peru won the Bands D and E, for USD 27 million, or USD 1.5 million above the base price. Band D covers the 1,865-1,870MHz and 1,945-1,950MHz blocks, and Band E band covers 1,882.5-1,895MHz and 1,962.5-1,975Mhz. Nextel was pre-qualified for Band B, but made no offer. With Band B, the winning bidder will need to have 500,000 lines in service outside Lima and Callao, and must cover 200 districts which have no service by the operator. The operator of Bands D and E must have 500,000 lines in service in total.

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Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Claro Peru • NII Holdings • Peru • ProInversion