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A round-up of the latest industry
developments from across the continent.
Greek Ambitions for Deutsche Telekom National Mobile WiMax for Malta
In a strategic deal costing Euro 3.2 billion, the German giant will Required to provide 99% national coverage by October 2009,
take a stake in Greek incumbent OTE which, through its mobile arm Malta’s Go Mobile is building a mobile WiMax network offering
Cosmote, has interests throughout the Balkans and Eastern Europe. voice and data using the 3.5 GHz frequency. Deployed by
The deal gives Deutsche Telekom (DT), management control plus a Alvarion and Italian manufacturer SIAE Mircolettronica,
25% plus one share of OTE with a possible option to buy a further 15% the network is due to be rolled out this summer.
of the company. DT gains entry into valuable new and rapidly growing
mobile markets plus the ability to create a consistent platform and EC Consultation on Termination Rates
economies of scale over a larger number of countries. With operations
in eleven mature and developing European markets, T-Mobile will The European Commission wants to level the regulatory playing field
gain access to Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Macedonia and Serbia. for voice termination rates which currently vary between fixed and
mobile operators both within and between countries. Believing the
Telecom Italia Sparkle and C&W Collaborate disparities affect competition between operators, create barriers to a
single European telecoms market and result in consumers paying the
In a new partnership agreement, the two telcos will share infrastructure price, EU telecoms commissioner Viviane Reding wants to reduce the
to extend their global reach without having to invest in network costs of mobile calls by 70% over the next three years. The goal is to
development. C&W will gain access to more Mediterranean and create a consistent EU-wide policy on what national regulators should
African markets via the Italian operator’s fibre and cable networks, take into account when setting termination rates. Each country should
whilst Telecom Italia Sparkle will gain rapid entry into Asian and have an efficient costing methodology and systematic regulation where
Indian markets using C&W’s existing networks and services. the same national price caps apply to all fixed and mobile operators.
Iliad Buying Liberty Surf China Finally Announces 3G
With a suggested bid of Euro 800 million, Telecom Italia is China has published its 3G plans and is expected to issue three
negotiating to sell its Liberty Surf Group which includes the French licences in September. First it is restructuring, reducing the number
broadband internet Alice brand to Iliad in a deal due to be signed of operators from six to three through a series of mergers and
in September. Representing the biggest acquisition Iliad has made, acquisitions. China Telecom will acquire the CDMA assets of China
the French broadband internet provider will move into second place Unicom. The merger between China Unicom and China Netcom
behind Orange adding around 954,000 customers to its existing includes Unicom’s GSM assets. China Mobile, the largest mobile
base of 3.04 million. According to Bloomberg, Illiad will increase operator boasting some 392 million subscribers, has merged with
market share to 26% putting it ahead of rival Neuf Cegetel. China Tietong. While Vodafone has a 3.3% shareholding of China
Mobile, Telefonica holds a similar stake in China Unicom.
Belgacom Offers Euro 420 million for Interkabel
The overall cost of building national 3G networks is expected to
Belgacom aims to buy the four cable operations - Integan; Inter- be in the region of $75 billion with China Telecom spending $11
media; PBE and WVEM - which make up Interkabel. Currently owned billion to cover 200 million subscribers. Huawei and ZTE are
by municipal governments, Interkabel has around 800,000 analogue likely to win out on new contracts but there could be significant
and digital TV customers. The acquisition would give Belgacom business for Western companies already operating there.
the opportunity to air the national football league competitions
to which it has exclusive broadcast rights over cable TV.


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