War triggers between GSM and CDMA operators in India over 11-digit No.
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: DOT’s decision to implement 11-digit numbers by January next year has triggered a war between the GSM and CDMA mobile operators putting consumer interests at stake. As per the plan, all the mobile operators will add extra 9 to all mobile numbers in the country by January 1, 2010.
AUSPI representing the interests of CDMA operators like Tatas, Reliance and Sistema, is in favour of moving to an 11-digit numbering plan while GSM operators are vehemently opposing the move. COAI which is representing GSM operators made a detailed presentation to the government claiming this move to be harmful for the industry and consumers.
According to COAI, there is hardly any growth in the number of fixed line subscribers which currently rest at 40 million. Hence, there is no need to reserve levels 2, 3, 4,5,6,7, and 8 for fixed line. It is estimated that with the three series, 7, 8 and 9, a billion plus subscribers can be served without any need for fresh allocation of levels.
On the other hand, AUSPI feels that new opportunities can come up with the implementation of an 11-digit numbering plan and will help the subscribers to migrate from the incumbent operators networks. Besides, it has also claimed that 11-digit numbers are mobile number portability compatible.
With so many contradictory views, uncertainty has been raised on the implementation of the plan by Department of Telecommunication.
Russian Government to buy stake in Indian Mobile Operator
Russian Government is said to have budgeted $680-$780 million to acquire a 20% stake in Indian Mobile operator – Sistema Shyam TeleServices. Russia’s Sistema owns 73.71 percent in the company and India’s Shyam Group holds 23.79 percent.
Russian Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin said that they were in the process of completing the appraisal to acquire the stake. It would be paid through Indian Rupee deposits that the russian government now holds.
According to sources, Avers, a St. Petersburg-based consultancy commissioned by Russia’ Federal Property Agency is said to have valued the company at around $3.4 Bn.
Sistema Shyam TeleServices operates in 6 of India’s 22 telecom circles (zones) and has licences for the remaining 16.
Svyazinvest gets approval for stake sale (Russia)
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: According to a media report, Russia’s economy ministry has approved the government purchase of Sistema’s holdings in fixed line group Svyazinvest and mobile operator SkyLink. The state will take on Sistema’s RUB26 billion (USD827.7 million) debt to Siberbank in order to acquire the conglomerate’s 25% plus one share stake in Svyazinvest and its 50% stake in SkyLink. The deal will also see Sistema’s fixed line subsidiary, Comstar UTS, take on a 23% stake in Moscow City Telephone Network (MGTS), owner of the capital’s fixed line network, bringing its total stake in the operator to 94.9%.
Russia MTS mobile giant buys 100% in Dutch Mobile TeleSystems
MOSCOW, September 1 (RIA Novosti) – Mobile TeleSystems (RTS: MTSS) has acquired 100% in the Dutch-based Mobile TeleSystems, Russia’s No.1 mobile operator said Friday.
The details of the deal, which was concluded Thursday, were not made available.
MTS, which posted a net profit of $529 million in the first half of 2006, also bought shares in Bermuda-based Mobile TeleSystems Bermuda Limited Wednesday, but no details were disclosed in that deal either.
MTS, whose shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange and on off-exchange markets in Europe, holds operating licenses in 87 regions in Russia, as well as in Belarus, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Ukraine.
AFK Sistema (RTS: AFKS), one of Russia’s largest diversified corporations, owns a 52.8% share of the company.
Source- http://en.rian.ru
Technorati : MTS, Mobile, Russia
Ice Rocket : MTS, Mobile, Russia
