Portugal needs to raise $273.6 million in 4G auctions
The head of local telecom company has stated that Portugal’s cash-strapped government needs to raise US$273.6 million through the sale of 4G mobile telephony licenses this year, an urgency that may help push a revamp of the country’s communication network.
According to Xavier Rodriguez-Marin, Chief Executive of Oni Telecom, Portugal’s government budget for this year already includes such planned revenue from the sale of 4G licenses.
He added that this is a significant amount at a moment when every euro counts. The auction could let big international (telephony) corporations in the country.
Portugal already has three main mobile operators: Portugal Telecom SA; the local unit of the U.K.’s Vodafone Group PLC, and Sonaecom’s Optimus, providing sophisticated third-generation telephony services including high-speed mobile Internet connections.
There are several smaller mobile virtual network operators in the country.
The biggest draw of 4G for Portugal, as in the case of other European countries, is not only the improvement in network speed, but the revenue from the sale of 4G licenses, at a time when global markets are keeping close track of government pledges to cut large budget deficits.
Optimus, Vodafone accept fibre network sharing (Portugal)
Portuguese cellcos Optimus and Vodafone Portugal have reportedly signed an agreement to launch a shared fibre network in the cities of Lisbon and Porto.
The partnership will enable each company to launch its own independent commercial services as early as next year. According to Optimus, this partnership will allow the two operators to achieve commercial offerings under the new framework, in the first quarter of 2011. Optimus and Vodafone believe that the current agreement – under which the networks remain the property of each company – will generate synergies and offer a simplified solution for the realization of their previously announced partnership.
Additional, both companies have admitted that they are open to the idea of sharing the network with other Portuguese operators.
According to previous reports, in December 2009 Vodafone reached an agreement with Optimus’ parent company Sonaecom, regarding mutual cooperation in the construction, management, maintenance and operation of a fibre-optic next generation network (NGN) in the main urban centres of Portugal. The agreement formed part of the government-backed US$576.2 million broadband development scheme, which was first announced in December 2009.
FTTH jv agreement signed by Soneacom & Vodafone
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Sonaecom and Vodafone Portugal, Portuguese telecommunications operators joined hand to share, construct, manage, maintain and operate the next generation fibre optic network (NGN) in the main urban centers.
A new company owned equally by Sonaecom and Vodafone Portugal will look after the implementation of the agreement. The company also foresees the possibility of the NGN being available to other interested operators.
The agreement improves the economic rationale for investment in NGNs, with clear benefits to customers, besides maintaining the competition between the two companies and their commercial independence of action.
Vodafone Portugal calls on regulator to block PT takeover
Vodafone Portugal has issued a statement outlining its arguments against regulatory approval for a takeover of Portugal Telecom (PT) by Sonaecom. The company feels that measures presented by the competition authority (AdC) are unlikely to minimise the risk of distortion to competition. Notwithstanding the possible application of “remedies” by the AdC, the bid as it stands would reinforce dominance in several markets, giving the combined entity an over 60 percent market share. A move from three mobile operators to one large one and (possibly) two smaller ones would prejudice the smaller ones in a market where there a few new customers. Portugal’s present levels of accessibility, diversity, price and quality of services are at risk, Vodafone says, as the mobile operator resulting from the bid, part of a powerful commercial group, would hold a “hegemonic” position “unique in European markets”.
Source- http://www.telecompaper.com
Technorati : Mobile, Portugal, Sonaecom, Vodafone
Ice Rocket : Mobile, Portugal, Sonaecom, Vodafone
