Nokia Networks Sign Capacity-Enhancing Deal in Middle East
Nokia Networks has won a deal with Ooredoo Qatar to deploy its small cells in hotspots across the Middle Eastern country.
How Telecoms are Shooting Down Skype with VoLTE Technology
VoLTE kills two birds with one stone by lowering their costs as well as offering higher quality and new services to end consumers.
Telefónica Agrees Sale of O2 to Hutchison Whampoa
Hutchison Whampoa Limited (HWL), parent company Three, has entered into an agreement with Telefónica to buy its UK subsidiary, O2 UK.
EE to Provide 4G Coverage for 90% of the UK by 2017
The UK’s largest mobile operator, EE, has new plans to bring 4G speeds of 60 Mbps to 90 percent of the UK by 2017. In addition, 20 of the UK’s busiest cities will get a boost up to 150 Mbps speeds during the same time frame. EE has set aside £1.5 billion to fund the project. The telecoms giant also has ambitious plans to bring 4G overage to 99 percent of the country by 2017. Boosting 4G up to 60 Mbps will mean that the majority of users will see their speeds double. “Stage one of our network strategy saw us overhaul UK mobile networks, launching 4G and changing the way people and businesses use their smart devices. This revolution of the mobile landscape has made the UK a leader in global communications once again,” EE Chief Executive, Olaf Swantee, said. “Today we’re announcing the next stage with a commitment to once again radically improve mobile coverage, this time with a strong focus on rural UK, all while continuing to increase speeds and capacity with deeper coverage in more cities. Smart devices are playing an ever-increasing part in our customers’ lives in every part of the UK,” he added.
BT Agrees to Talks Over $19.5 Billion EE Mobile Deal
BT, the U.K. telecoms giant, has announced that it has entered into exclusive talks with Deutsche Telekom and Orange to acquire their mobile business EE, a move which is set to spark a wave of consolidation in the U.K. telecoms market. BT announced in a statement that key terms would include a purchase price of £12.5 billion ($19.5 billion). "The proposed acquisition would enable BT to accelerate its existing mobility strategy whereby customers will benefit from innovative, seamless services that combine the power of fibre broadband, Wi-Fi and 4G," the company said in a statement. "BT would own the UK's most advanced 4G network, giving it greater control in terms of future investment and product innovation." The exclusivity period would last several weeks, BT said in the statement, in which time the UK telecoms giant would complete due diligence and conclude negotiations. BT was also in negotiations with Telefonica over its mobile arm O2, which may now become the focus of other takeover deals. Consumers are increasingly interested in so-called "quad play" deals, offering television, internet, landline and mobile phone contracts in one package. In the U.K., Virgin is the only phone company currently offering these deals, but BT, the country's biggest telecoms company, is expected to start following the deal with Deutsche Telekom and Orange. SOURCE: http://www.cnbc.com/id/102267602
EU Approves Facebook Buyout of WhatsApp
European Union regulators on Friday (Oct 3) cleared the buyout of the WhatsApp mobile messaging service by Facebook.
United Internet to Buy Versatel from KKR
United Internet AG (UTDI) agreed to buy full control of network operator Versatel GmbH to challenge rivals such as Deutsche Telekom AG.
Dixons Retail to Divest Electroworld Business in Central Europe
UK’s Dixons Retail has agreed to divest its loss-making Electroworld business in central Europe to local rival NAY, ahead of its £3.7bn merger with telecommunication retailer Carphone Warehouse.
EU Regulators to Decide on Carphone-Dixons Deal by June 25th
European Union antitrust regulators will decide whether to clear the £3.8 billion ($6.40 billion) merger of British mobile phone retailer Carphone Warehouse and Dixons Retail, the European Commission said on Monday.
Dixons and Carphone Warehouse Agree $6.4 Billion Merger
UK company Carphone Warehouse and Dixons Retail have agreed a £3.8 billion proud ($6.38 billion) all-share merger, creating a powerful pan-European mobile phone and electrical group with approximately 2900 stores.
