Zayo Group snaps up AboveNet for USD2.2bn

Colorado-headquartered Zayo Group, a national provider of fibre-based bandwidth infrastructure and network-neutral co-location and interconnection services, has announced that it has agreed to acquire rival operator AboveNet for approximately USD2.2 billion. The latter provides broadband connectivity to large businesses and carriers, including banks, brokerage houses, insurance firms and media companies. Under the terms of the agreement, each shareholder of AboveNet common stock will be entitled to receive USD84.00 (per share) in cash, representing a 13% premium over AboveNet’s closing price on 16 March 2012, and a 21% premium over the average closing stock price for the past 60 days.

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OVETEL Zayo Group snaps up AboveNet for USD2.2bn

Bharat Telecom Mauritius launches FTTH service

Privately owned telecoms operator Bharat Telecom Ltd (BTL) has announced that it is launching a fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) service in Mauritius. The telco, which was incorporated in August 2010, hopes to deliver a range of services to Mauritian households over the new platform, including broadband internet and IPTV

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OVETEL Bharat Telecom Mauritius launches FTTH service

Czech government looking to raise USD494m from mobile frequencies auction

The government of the Czech Republic hopes to raise a minimum CZK9.2 billion (USD494 million) for state coffers through the auctioning off of additional mobile frequencies, the regulator the Czech Telecommunication Office (CTU) said yesterday. The CTU is looking to sell blocks of spectrum in the 800MHz, 1800MHz and 2600MHz bands to allow the incumbent mobile operators to develop 4G networks in the Republic, and possibly allow for a new entrant to launch in the market. The Czech mobile sector is currently divided between three players – Telefonica O2 CR, T-Mobile CR and Vodafone’s local unit.

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OVETEL Czech government looking to raise USD494m from mobile frequencies auction

Antares to start testing LTE in Moscow?

Unknown Russian operator Antares is poised to commence testing of Long Term Evolution (LTE) in Moscow, according to an unverified report by Vedomosti. The company plans to use frequencies in the 1900MHz-1920MHz spectrum band, with download speeds of over 80Mbps targeted. A sum of USD400-USD500 million has been earmarked for the trial.

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OVETEL Antares to start testing LTE in Moscow?

MVNO aims to put the ‘Chat’ amongst the pigeons

AppChat, the mobile voice specialist founded by former ECN Telecommunications CEO John Holdsworth, will launch as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) in South Africa later this year, TechCentral reports. Although Holdsworth has yet to confirm which mobile network operator (MNO) will host the service, an official announcement is expected to be made within the next month.

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OVETEL MVNO aims to put the ‘Chat’ amongst the pigeons

CCK reports sluggish uptake as MNP anniversary approaches; just 54,616 numbers ported in 2011

According to AllAfrica.com citing statistics from the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK), just 54,616 mobile subscribers made use of the country’s long-delayed mobile number portability (MNP) scheme during 2011.

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OVETEL CCK reports sluggish uptake as MNP anniversary approaches; just 54,616 numbers ported in 2011

Panamanian government could sell part of its C stake

The Panamanian government is mulling the sale of part of its 49% stake in former monopoly fixed line provider Cable & Wireless Panama (C&WP), BNAmericas reports, citing local press reports. It is understood that the state is considering the stake sale as part of wider plans to divest stakes in a number of public-private companies with a view to using any funds raised to finance infrastructure projects, including improvements in the country’s drinking water system. The report cites Panama’s economy and finance minister Frank De Lima as saying that the government could sell off 5% of its 49% stake in C&WP, with news site Entorno Inteligente adding that the minister had noted Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC), which owns the other 51% stake in the Panamanian telco, would have the first option to purchase the holding should it be put up for sale

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OVETEL Panamanian government could sell part of its C&WP stake