Jordanian cellcos have warned that a planned increase in electricity prices would have a negative impact on the telecoms sector, the Jordan Times reports. Spokesmen from all three of the Kingdom’s cellcos – Jordan Telecom Group (Orange Jordan), Zain Jordan and Umniah – have protested against the planned pricing change, which would see costs for power increasing by between 8% and 40%. Due to the intensely competitive nature of Jordan’s wireless sector, operators are reluctant to raise tariffs to recoup the additional expenses, and the costs could instead eat into funds earmarked for future developments, to the detriment of the sector as a whole
OTMT posts Q1 net profit of EGP995m
Without providing comparative figures for the year-ago period, Orascom Telecom Media and Technology (OTMT) reported net profit of EGP994.7 million (USD164.3 million) and revenues of EGP235 million for the first three months of 2012, reports Gulf Times.
Lenders promise EUR1.4bn five-year investment plan for Eircom, paper says
The Irish Independent writes that the senior lenders that look set to take control of Ireland’s ailing former monopoly Eircom have agreed a EUR1.4 billion (USD1.8 billion) five-year investment plan for the telco, and have committed to holding on to the operator for at least two years. The paper claims that details of the lenders’ plans emerged at the end of last week after Michael McAteer, the court-appointed examiner looking into Eircom’s rehabilitation, confirmed he had inked an ‘implementation agreement’ with the group – effectively ending Hutchison Whampoa-owned 3 Ireland’s bid for control of the carrier. It is understood that a complex schedule of arrangements is attached to the senior lenders’ deal, which will see EUR1.8 billion of debt removed from Eircom (and its group companies)
Telefonica Brasil books 15% drop in first-quarter net income
Telefonica of Spain’s Brazilian asset Telefonica Brasil, which offers fixed and mobile services under the recently unified Vivo banner, booked a 15.2% year-on-year decline in net profit to BRL956.5 million (USD488 million) for the three months to 31 March 2012, attributed to higher costs related to depreciation and amortisation. The Brazilian group reported that depreciation and amortisations reached BRL1.3 billion in the period under review, compared to BRL1.08 billion in the corresponding period of 2011
OTE’s group EBITDA up 6.2%, Greek figure down 5.5%
Greek and southeast European telecoms group OTE has reported a 6.2% year-on-year improvement in consolidated earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) to EUR417.5 million (USD541.4 million) in the first quarter of 2012, as group turnover dropped by 3.6% to EUR1.18 billion, the slowest rate of decline in two years.
Cellcom to deploy HSPA+ network in Liberia
Liberian mobile operator Cellcom, part of the Cellcom Telecommunications group, is planning to deploy a high speed HSPA+ mobile network, claiming a first for the African country. The cellco’s chief executive officer Avishai Marziano is quoted as saying that the 3.5G network upgrade will give its customers an improved experience where it comes to browsing the web via their mobiles/PCs. ‘We are stepping up our technology a notch to give our consumers the best for their money
Turkcell 1Q12 net profit increases 56% thanks to overseas growth
Istanbul-based telecoms group Turkcell has reported group revenue of TRY2.38 billion (USD1.35 billion) for the three months ended 31 March 2012, representing a 12.4% rise year-on-year.
Vivacom sale falters, reports suggest
According to local press reports in Bulgaria, the planned sale of a majority stake in incumbent telco Vivacom has collapsed, with creditors rejecting the offers made by all three bidders.
Vodacom accused of using political, diplomatic pressure to combat fixer
According to a report by MyBroadband.co.za, South Africa’s Vodacom Group stands accused of using political and diplomatic pressure in its ongoing legal battle with former consultant Moto Mabanga. In March Vodacom was ordered by a Kinshasa court to pay Mabanga USD21 million after losing a court appeal over a so-called ‘success fee’ dating back to 2008.
‘Hostile takeover’ duo Pecik and Sawiris seek seats on Telekom board
Vienna-based businessman Ronny Pecik and his associate Naguib Sawiris, the Egyptian tycoon who holds an 18.8% stake in international telecoms giant Vimpelcom Group, have declared that they are both keen to secure seats on an expanded supervisory board at Telekom Austria Group, Reuters reports. Since 4Q11 the duo have staged what has been described by the press as a ‘hostile takeover’ of Telekom Austria, quickly building an indirect 20.118% stake in the group, via Pecik’s RPR Privatstiftung and Marathon investment vehicles
- TNL (Oi) sets aside USD3.25bn for 2012 CAPEX April 19, 2012
- Tata drops out of running for CWW April 19, 2012
- TeliaSonera’s EBITDA falls 0.7% on 3.5% revenue increase April 19, 2012
- Telia Denmark raises LTE upload speeds April 19, 2012
- STC reports 60% rise in Q1 net profit April 19, 2012
- CAT puts 3G plans on hold; TOT told to do same May 18, 2012
- Look before you Leap; cellco to expand LTE coverage to 65m people by 2014 May 18, 2012
- Videotron delivers on 200Mbps promise May 18, 2012
- T-Mobile has no plans to introduce LTE handsets May 18, 2012
- Antares to merge with mobile TV operator Dominanta? May 18, 2012
Blogroll
Search
Recent Tweets
Follow @ovetel on Twitter
