www.WirelessFederation.com/news: NTT DoCoMo, the Japanese mobile operator, has reportedly shown interest in acquiring stake in Millicom International Cellular’s (MIC) Combodian subsidiary, Mobiltel, Toshinari Kunieda, senior vice president and managing director of DoCoMo’s global business, reportedly unveiled. The acquisition, according to DoCOmO will boost its presence in the South-East Asia. Kunieda added that DoCoMo is also considering investing in Sri Lanka, and could look at Luxembourg-based MIC’s Sri Lanka asset Celltel among other possibilities.
On 08.09.09, In Mobile, By Editor
On 07.16.09, In Mobile, By Editor
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Tata Teleservices is in final talks with Matrix Cellular, a international mobile roamins service provider. Talks with TTSL started when Matrix’s talks with Essar Group failed. According to a source, TTSL will take up 15 % stake in the JV and gradually raise it to 75%. Matrix is reportedly values at Rs.350 crore, but this valuation is likely to drop looking at the dip in sale of international travelling cards as the downturn called for lowered number of international travellers.
On 07.08.09, In Mobile, By Editor
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Maroc Telecom has reportedly completed the acquisition of 51% stake in state-owned telco Societe des Telecommunications du Mali (SOTELMA). Maroc Telecom paid XOF180 billion (USD392.5 million) for its 51% stake.
Abdeslam Ahizoune, CEO of Maroc Telecom, said: ‘We are aware the responsibility is now ours to meet the multiple objectives of this operation. We were attracted by the business environment in Mali: an environment characterized by stability of the institutions, democracy and transparency, good governance, all things that prompted us to commit ourselves with confidence and serenity on a long-term investment. The investments we will engage in future years will improve the performance of SOTELMA to cope with competition.’
On 07.07.09, In Mobile, By Editor
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Wataniya, the Kuwaiti mobile operator, is eagerly looking for foriegn acquisitions and intends to expand its operation in North Africa.
“We already have two operations in North Africa, in Algeria and Tunisia, so North Africa is definitely a place that we want to be,” Scott Gegenheimer, Chief Executive Wataniya, reportedly said.
“If there are other opportunities available we will be definitely looking at that.”
According to a local media report Wataniya aims to acquire the Moroccan mobile operator.
On 07.02.09, In Mobile, By Editor
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Such a deal would leave Vodafone with 35 million customers and a 40% share of the highly competitive UK market where industry consolidation is thought to be long over due. It would leave the UK with four operators, similar to other big European markets.
Vodafone’s new chief executive Vittorio Colao has previously spoken about the company needing to identify acquisition opportunities. Although Vodafone has grown worldwide with some huge deals, it has been struggling to grow in the saturated home market, where its 25% market share trails O2’s 27%.
Deutsche Telekom, T-Mobile UK’s parent company, remains under pressure from its stakeholders to boost its operations, especially the UK division, where it reported an asset writedown of GBP1.8 billion earlier this year. It also hired investment bankers JP Morgan to advice on the best solution. T-Mobile UK has a 15% market share.
The proposed deal also poses many challenges. It will have to tackle a complex network-sharing deal as T-Mobile has tied up with 3 while Vodafone has signed an infrastructure deal with O2. France Telecom with Orange UK, Spain’s Telefonica and BT may increase competition through counter offers.
For more information, please visit www.vodafone.com
On 07.02.09, In Mobile, By Editor
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: After various reports of Vodafone and Orange eyeing stake in T-Mobile UK, it is now seen that Telefonica has also joined the bandwagon of considering bid for the stake. Telefonica is considering the bid as it fears competition for its unit in UK if Vodafone or Orange mobile form a joint venture with T-Mobile.
On 07.02.09, In Mobile, By Editor
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Millicom, the mobile operator, has reportedly revealed that several parties have shown interest in acquisition of its Asian operation. The company appointed Goldman Sachs to look at strategic options for the activities, including a possible sale. The Asian operations, which include operators in Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Laos, generated revenues of $68 million and net profit of $4 million in Q1′09.
On 06.18.09, In Mobile, By Editor
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Axiata, the mobile operator group, is planning and looking for acquisitions in Bangladesh, Cambodia and Sri Lanka, to boost profitability. The global economic recession called for review of its operations in the above mentioned three nations and now the company plans to consolidate its position in these markets, CFO Yusof Annuar Yaacob reportedly said. Axiata also intends to move out from Pakistan, where the Group operates has a fibre optic network which is too small.
On 05.28.09, In Mobile, By Editor
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Banglalink, the Bangladeshi mobile operator has posted a subscriber base of 10.836 million at March’09-end, up from 10.337 million in December 2008 and 8.311 million in March 2008. As a result, Banglalink’s market share was 23.9% in Q1, increasing from 23.2% in Q4. Revenues rose to BDT 5.8 billion from BDT 4.8 billion in the year-earlier period, while EBITDA grew to USD 21 million from USD 422,000, driven by solid revenue growth and decrease in subscriber acquisition costs.
The EBITDA margin for Q1 was 25%. In Q1, ARPU fell to BDT 172.5 from BDT 175 in Q4, while MOU increased to 278 from 256.
On 05.25.09, In Mobile, By Editor
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Bharti Airtel, India’s leading mobile operator has renewed its effort to acquire 49% stake in MTN, the South African giant and the two telcos have again agreed to discuss the potential transaction by 31 July 2009.
If the transaction materialises, the combined entity will have revenues over $20 billion and a subscriber base of over 200 million.
“Bharti Airtel Ltd is pleased to announce that it has renewed its effort for a significant partnership with MTN Group. Bharti would acquire a 49% shareholding in MTN and, in turn, MTN and its shareholders would acquire an approximate 36% economic interest in Bharti, of which 25% would be held by MTN with the remainder held directly by MTN shareholders,” Bharti said in a statement.
Bharti CMD Sunil Bharti Mittal said: “We are delighted at the prospect of developing a partnership with MTN to create an emerging market telecom powerhouse. Both companies would stand to gain significant benefits from sharing each other’s best practices in addition to savings emanating from enhanced scale.”