In the papers 13 February
13-02-2007
by Sylvia Leatham

Cubic Telecom launches Roam4Free service | Vodafone may consider more acquisitions in emerging markets

The Irish Times reports that e-Net, the company hired to operate the State's metropolitan area networks (MANs), is set to generate about EUR6 million in revenues by the end of its current financial year, a story noted by the Sunday Tribune.

The paper also notes that the Director of Corporate Enforcement has outlined new regulations applying to limited liability companies that operate websites or issue e-mails. Such companies must now display details like their name, legal form, place of registration and registration number on their website and in all electronic communications such as e-mails.

The Irish Examiner reports that Irish business technologies provider Datapac celebrates its 25th birthday this year with a EUR100,000 investment in its work placement scholarships. The scholarships are offered to students across all disciplines. Experience can be gained in technical work, sales, marketing, accounts and purchasing. To qualify for a scholarship, applicants must have achieved a minimum standard in their academic studies to date.

The paper also says that Cork-based Cubic Telecom, the operator of allfreecalls.ie, has launched a product that offers free mobile roaming calls for life. Roam4Free users are issued with a unique SIM card with a new number for their mobile phone; the card then roams for free in 65 countries. Read more on the launch of allfreecalls.ie as reported by ENN in January.

According to the Financial Times, Vodafone is willing to consider more acquisitions in emerging markets after tying up a deal to secure control of Hutchison Essar, India's fourth biggest mobile operator. Vodafone chief Arun Sarin hailed the Indian deal as "transformational" for the mobile group and signaled it would look at further selective acquisitions in the target markets of Africa, eastern Europe and Asia. "If something comes up that is consistent with our strategy and with our financial criteria, we owe it to our shareholders to look at that," said Sarin.

The paper also says that the battle between two rival standards for delivering mobile television heated up on Monday with announcements by chipmaker Qualcomm and handset maker Nokia. Qualcomm said it had signed an agreement to deliver mobile entertainment and information services to AT&T in the US, using its MediaFLO television technology. Meanwhile, Nokia, which supports the open DVB-H standard for mobile TV, announced a handset based on this at the 3GSM mobile conference in Barcelona. The Nokia N77 will be available in the second quarter in Europe.

The Wall Street Journal notes that France Telecom is considering selling the Dutch unit of its Orange mobile operations, according to sources. The French company has hired New York-based investment bank Lazard to scout interest in the Dutch operations. Lazard will likely hold a limited auction and allow a few parties to make bids. Representatives for France Telecom and Lazard declined to comment.

The paper also reports that Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez has struck a deal with Verizon Communications valued at more than USD572 million to acquire the company's shares in Venezuela's largest telecom carrier, CA Nacional Telefonos de Venezuela, or CANTV. The purchase of Verizon's 28.5 percent stake is Chavez's first step to put CANTV back under state control about 15 years after it was privatised. It also allows Verizon to unload an investment it had long sought to sell.