Asia Pacific

Telecompaper notes that Telstra has responded to the Australian government's plan to force separation on the company and said it will oppose the bill.

State-run Indian operators MTNL and BSNL are reportedly looking to join a consortium with Indian firm Vavasi and a Malaysian investor as they seek to bid for Kuwait's Zain Group and a stake in Zambian telco Zamtel.

The Wall Steet Journal reports that India's MTNL has sought bids to manage key equipment at its mobile services towers in capital New Delhi and adjoining towns of Noida, Gurgaon and Faridabad.

Bangladesh's largest ever initial public offering by mobile phone provider Grameenphone was oversubscribed by several times, notes AFP, as the window for local subscriptions closed.

Reuters notes that the South Korean telecom regulator said yesterday that the country's three mobile operators agreed to lower mobile tariffs and other charges under a government initiative aimed at supporting households.

SK Telecom has sold back its 3.8 percent stake in China Unicom for US$1.3 billion as part of a significant shift in strategy for the South Korean firm in China.

Chinese search engine Baidu has launched a beta version of its mobile search service in Japan, reports Telecompaper.