GSM Europe, the European arm of the GSM Association, met new proposals from the European Commission (EC) covering how telecom operators will be regulated with hostility. The group claimed the proposals will significantly increase the chances of EC intervention in many aspects of the wireless industry. The center of concern is based on how to decide which companies have significant market power (SMP) in a given sector. The association said once a regulator decides an operator enjoys SMP status, it can impose obligations on the company in question, which could mean imposing harsh price cuts.
Germany
British Telecommunications (BT) said it will buy the 45-percent stake in Viag Interkom held by E.On for 7.25 billion euros (US$6.8 billion), completing an option agreement announced last year. The deal gives BT full ownership of Viag. In addition, Telenor said it completed the sale of its 10-percent stake in Viag to BT for 1.61 billion euros (US$1.5 billion).
Ireland
Irish mobile operator Meteor Mobile Communications commercially launched service in February using equipment from Lucent. The network is equipped for an upgrade to high-speed data and third-generation (3G) services, with General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) trials under way.
Gaining about US$1.1 billion, Telenor will sell its stake in Esat Digifone to British Telecommunications (BT). BT acquired Esat last year.
Italy
Andala, the Italian consortium headed by Hutchison Whampoa that won a third-generation (3G) license last year, changed its name to H3G and announced it will invest US$3.7 million in the new network by 2006. H3G said it will commercially launch its network in the first half of 2002.
Romania
Telemobil will migrate to 1X technology, with Qualcomm being a principal shareholder in the company. Lucent will provide the infrastructure equipment for the CDMA 450 network. According to an unnamed official at the company, Telemobil will be the first 450 MHz operator in the world to launch CDMA in the 450 MHz band. The carrier currently operates a service based on an NMT system.
Slovenia
Mobilkom Austria acquired a 49-percent stake in Si.mobile, according to international press reports. Teleimpuls, a Slovenian company in which Mobilkom owns 49 percent, will acquire an additional 26 percent plus one share. The remaining shares will be held by Slovenian shareholders.
