senninha
Joined: Jan 05, 2003
Posts: > 500
PM |
TOKYO, Jan. 25 (Reuters) — Japan’s largest mobile operator NTT DoCoMo Inc. will buy about 5 percent of Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT), the largest telecoms firm in the Philippines, for about 0 million, sources close to the matter said on Wednesday.
The sources said the deal, which would strengthen DoCoMo’s presence in Asia, could be announced as early as Jan. 31.
The deal would also solidify PLDT’s relationship with DoCoMo, which was one of the world’s first operators to launch high speed advanced mobile services, as its mobile unit prepares to launch a third generation (3G) network.
DoCoMo, a unit of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. (NTT), is likely to buy the stake from NTT’s long-distance unit NTT Communications, which holds a roughly 14 percent stake in PLDT, sources said.
Officials at DoCoMo declined to comment. PLDT spokesman Ramon Isberto said, "We have ongoing discussions on this matter and as of this time, this has not been concluded."
DoCoMo’s move is the latest in a series of purchases as it dips its feet back into international waters after seeing previous investments sour.
The company said last month it would buy a 10 percent stake in South Korea’s KTF Co. Ltd. for about 0 million, gaining a foothold in one of Asia’s most advanced mobile markets.
The alliance with KTF was DoCoMo’s first major investment in an overseas operator since it pulled out of interests in AT&T Wireless Services Inc., Dutch operator KPN Mobile N.V. and Hutchison 3G UK Holdings Ltd. (3UK) after incurring heavy losses.
DoCoMo had spent nearly ¥1.9 trillion ( billion) in the past decade to buy small stakes in operators around the world to promote the use of its imode mobile Internet technology and ensure the adoption of high-speed 3G networks on the same WCDMA standard that it uses.
A PLDT official said in early January that DoCoMo and Nokia Networks, a unit of Finnish mobile phone giant Nokia, had agreed to serve as technical partners for Smart Communications, the mobile subsidiary of PLDT, when it rolls out 3G services, which would allow users to surf the Internet and download applications at high speeds.
http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2006/01/26/BSNS2006012654769.html
[ This Message was edited by: senninha on 2006-01-30 03:23 ] |
Posted: 2006-01-30 04:22
