Huawei E398 modem to be first launched by Tele2, Telenor Sweden
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Triple-mode Huawei E398 modem, the first LTE wireless modem compatible with LTE, W-CDMA/HSPA and GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks will be launched over Net4Mobility, a joint infrastructure venture between Tele2 and Telenor Sweden.
The modem is based on Qualcomm’s MDM9200 chipset and it will support multiple LTE frequency bands.
Chinese technology provider has been selected by the Swedish network operator to develop its nationwide LTE network, including the supply of infrastructure and terminal solutions.
Tele2 CEO to leave the company
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Due to irreconcilable differences over leadership, CEO Harri Koponen will leave Tele2. CFO Lars Nilsson has been appointed by the board of directors as the interim CEO.
A maximum notice period of 18 months will be received by him during which he will be paid. The board will immediately begin the search for a successor CEO.
In August 2008, Koponen joined Tele2 as president and CEO and oversaw a period of increased focus on profitability.
Tele2 Q4 sale down by 1%, dividends boosted
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Due to sale of fixed-line operations in Norway earlier last year, 1 percent loss in the fourth-quarter sales to SEK 9.889 billion has been reported by telco Tele2.
However, the improvements at the fixed broadband activities offset by higher spending for the expansion in Russia improved the EBITDA slightly to SEK 2.188 billion from SEK 2.162 billion a year earlier.
Net profit rose to SEK 865 million from SEK 690 million, Capex declined to SEK 1.017 billion from SEK 1.328 billion, and free cash flow jumped to SEK 1.653 billion from 704 million a year earlier.
1.149 million New customers were also added by the operator last year.
2.6m active SIMs sold by VIPnet in 2009
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: VIPnet, a Croatian subsidiary of Telekom Austria ended 2009 with a total of 2.6 million customers. However, despite a growth of 4.7% from the end of December 2008, the subscriber base remained almost flat throughout the second half of the year.
The number of VIPnet’s customers on post-paid plans was up 13.2% year-on-year at end-2009 while with 77% increase, its mobile broadband internet subscriber base reached 137,000 at end-December.
It has also been claimed by the company that it has an overall share of 42.6% of all active SIM cards in Croatia, behind market leader T-Mobile but ahead of Tele2.
Tele2 to acquire remaining stake in Tele2 Russia
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: A contract has been signed by Tele2 to acquire the remaining 12.5 percent stake in its Russian mobile operator Rostov Cellular Communication (Tele2 Russia). The company is based in the Russian region of Rostov.
After the acquisition, Tele2 will own 100 percent of its Russian operation as this is the last minority stake in Tele2 Russia.
An amount of SEK 350 million will be paid by Tele2, a part of which will be paid 36 months after completion of the deal.
Tele2 network rollout to complete by mid-2010
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Tele2 has targeted to complete its network rollout in the remaining areas of the countries where it hold licenses by mid-2010. The company is already on track to meet its target in Russia which is 18 million to 19 million customers.
According to Tele2 Group CEO, Harry Koponen, the target of 18 million to 19 million customers in Russia is their prediction and seems to be an achievable target.
Currently, Tele2 commands over 6.5% share of the cellular market with 13.3 million subscribers at the end of September 2009, up from 12.38 million three months earlier.
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.
