News
Regulators hit the headlines in Latin America, its all-go in India, U.S. operators focus on content, and the rumour mill turns in Europe.
The newswires have been relatively quiet in Total Telecom’s part of the world this week, doubtless due in part to the post-Mobile World Congress recovery period. But further afield there was action aplenty in the telecoms space, so join us for a whistlestop tour of this week’s global news highlights.
Latin America
We begin in Latin America, where Telecom Italia finally appears to have gained approval for the sale of its controlling stake in Telecom Argentina; new regulator ENACOM also gave the go-ahead to Grupo Clarin’s acquisition of Nextel Argentina from NII Holdings. Other highlights saw Mexico’s IFT ratify its recently-announced AWS spectrum auction results and explain the difference in price paid by participants America Movil and AT&T.
Regulator OKs Telecom Italia’s Argentina sale
Mexico confirms AWS spectrum auction results
Telefonica gets World Bank loan to pay for spectrum in Ecuador
Asia-Pacific
The Asia-Pacific region was busy as always, with India dominating the headlines due to the ongoing battle between mobile operators and the regulator over the controversial dropped calls compensation scheme. Meanwhile, the Indian press reported changes to the planned merger between Rcom and Aircel; Pakistan’s PTCL and Ufone welcomed new CEOs; Tele2 and Altel completed their merger deal in Kazakhstan, having won over regulators; and Thailand’s True Corp secured a €2 billion credit line to pay for its 4G licence.
Further afield, Australia’s NBN responded to media accusations that it is falling behind its targets with regard to network build-out.
India supreme court to make call drop decision next week
RCom, Aircel to create 50:50 JV
Telco leadership changes in Pakistan
Mobile operators merge in Kazakhstan
True gets €2bn bank backing for 4G licence
NBN denies claims it is falling behind targets
Middle East and Africa
The big news in the MEA region was the failure of Vodacom’s bid to acquire South African fixed-line operator Neotel, despite having recently reworked the deal. Vodacon blamed "regulatory complexities". There were also results announcements from major players Ooredoo and MTN.
Vodacom, Neotel deal collapses
Currency issues hit Ooredoo’s full-year financials
North America
It has mostly been about content in North America, with AT&T’s announcement that it will make DirecTV available over the Internet later this year and Verizon’s partnership with publishing giant Hearst to create a video content production and distribution JV. Rival T-Mobile US also made the news, with media reports claiming that parent Deutsche Telekom will likely hold off on trying to sell the business for a few months at least. North of the border, Shaw Communications gained a presence in the Canadian mobile market when it closed its C$1.6 billion acquisition of Wind Mobile.
Deutsche Telekom to hang on to T-Mobile US…for now
Europe
Rumour and speculation abound in Europe. This week, "sources" have informed us that Vivendi is looking to change Telecom Italia’s strategic direction and possibly install a chief executive of its own choosing; the Italian incumbent is set to get an offer for towers business INWIT that values it at around €3 billion; and CK Hutchison, along with other interested parties, will next week attend a closed-door meeting organised by the European Commission to discuss its planned takeover of O2 in the U.K.
Meanwhile, the European Commission published a summary of responses to two recently-concluded telco consultations, one outcome being that many end-users do not feel their connectivity needs are being met.
Telecom Italia CEO’s job under threat…from Vivendi
Frontrunners seen upping offer for Italy’s INWIT
UK telcos meet with EU to discuss O2/3UK merger
EU consumers’ broadband needs ‘not fulfilled’
Whew! That’s from us for this week. Have a great weekend and we’ll be back on Monday with all the top news from the telecoms sector.
