Portugal’s Competition Authority – Autoridade da Concorrência – has approved a merger between quad-play provider Zon Multimedia and Sonaecom’s mobile unit Optimus. The two companies said that they have been informed of the Authority’s non-opposition to the consolidation process, with the confirmation of the previously announced five conditions. The conditions include: Optimus extends the duration […]
BT Retail is to split into two separate businesses, BT Consumer and BT Business. The move will take effect from September. BT says the split will enable the company to better serve its customers and focus even more on delivering its strategic priorities. These include ‘Driving broadband-based consumer services’ and ‘Being the brand for business […]
Open IPTV platform YouView – backed by a consortium of the UK’s broadcasters and telco providers – is looking to develop the service beyond its set-top box-based launch, reports the FT. Sources suggest that some shareholders are keen to extend service across a range of devices, including connected TV sets, smartphones and tablets. Any such […]
Ian Livingston, the outgoing Chief Executive of BT, has revealed that the telco’s forthcoming BT Sport service has already attracted over 500,000 customers prior to its August 1st launch. Commenting on BT’s Q1 results, Livingston said: “It is early days but we are very pleased with the strong start in BT Sport. More than half […]
Turk Telekom confirmed that it had made an offer to acquire 53 per cent of Turkish pay-TV operator Digiturk. However, it is widely reported that other Turkish media conglomerates, including Dogan Holdings as well as Dogus Group, have also expressed interest in Digiturk. News Corp and Liberty Global are also said to be interested. Digiturk […]
A review of the full-year KPIs of 23 of the world’s largest telcos makes for sombre reading as revenues continue to decline, finds Ovum. Telcos will have to make a critical assessment of their assets and operations if they are to remain profitable, warns the global independent analyst firm. New research from Ovum examining the […]
Claro and DISH Puerto Rico, the Island’s largest telco and pay-TV providers respectively, have entered into a partnership to offer customers bundled services including DISH’s pay-TV and Claro’s Internet, wireless and telephone services, conveniently on a single bill. Bundled services will be sold at select Claro and DISH retail locations in the Island beginning in […]
Spanish telcos have lost their fight against the government-imposed 0.9 per cent annual tax on their revenues to finance public broadcaster RTVE following the EC’s decision to withdraw its appeal before the Luxembourg Court, shortly after the latter ruled that the similar tax legislation in France is compatible with European regulations. The European Court is […]
With significant reform of the current patchwork system of regulations governing telecommunications in the European Union there could be up to €750 billion in GDP growth and 5.5 million jobs by 2020, according to a study by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) for the European Telecommunications Network Operators’ Association (ETNO). The study details how a […]
Bharti Airtel is in talks with US telco giant Liberty Media to sell a stake in its unlisted DTH business, as compulsory digitisation and higher foreign ownership limit drive firms to seek capital and market reach. According to reports, Bharti has informed three private equity firms that it was keen on selling a larger stake […]