Sunday, October 13, 2013
Webwire: Vivendi buys out SFR; CAT pulls DTAC's 3G nod
Webwire: Vivendi buys out SFR; CAT pulls DTAC's 3G nod
telecomasia.net
Vivendi will buy the 44% stake in French mobile operator SFR it does not own from Vodafone for €7.95 billion ($11.31 billion). Vodafone plans to use €4.5 billion of the proceeds for a share buyback.
CAT Telecom has pulled its approval for DTAC to provide 3G wireless broadband services, after DTAC refused to agree not to seek compensation if its concession is pulled due to the dispute over revenue sharing. Most of CAT's board has quit in recent weeks for fear of legal reprisals over the issue.
Australia's NBN Co has indefinitely delayed the construction tender process after receiving higher than expected bids from every infrastructure contractor participating. Communications minister Stephen Conroy said he understands the state-owned company will try to go a different route.
Ericsson is suing ZTE alleging infringement of GSM and W-CDMA patents. ZTE has revealed it will file complaints with China's State Intellectual Property Organization in response, claiming violation of its own patents.
Only two players remain in Syria's auction for a third mobile license, after Etisalat, Turkcell and France Telecom withdrew from the bidding process in protest of the license terms.
The USA's CenturyLink has completed its acquisition of Qwest, after paying $12 billion in stock and assuming nearly $12 billion in debt, and is now the nation's third largest fixed line operator.
Philippine regulator NTC will review the planned purchase of Digitel by PLDT amid concerns that the deal could create a duopoly in the market, driving prices up for consumers.
India's 2G spectrum scandal is creating uncertainty for both foreign and domestic companies and investors, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has warned.
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