Europe

Vodafone UK has struck a deal with BT to use the UK fixed-line incumbent's new "21CN" IP-based network for mobile backhaul. The deal is aimed at ramping up Vodafone's backhaul capacity in order to support high-bandwidth mobile services without requiring it to invest in its own infrastructure.

European telecoms giant France Telecom - owner of Orange - is close to finalising a €30 billion (US$47.5 billion) bid for Nordic operator TeliaSonera, according to French newspaper reports, which say a deal could be made within a matter of weeks.

France's three mobile operators Orange France, SFR and Bouygues Telecom have reportedly rejected a radical proposal by local ISP Free to launch mobile services over their networks at "near-cost" wholesale rates.

BT, the UK's fixed-line incumbent operator, today unveiled a plan to give away smartphones to its broadband customers in a bid to capture a portion of the UK's mobile market.

Russian mobile operator MegaFon has hinted it will invest around €3 billion in building a GSM network in Iran if it wins the country’s third mobile licence.

Stockholm-based operator Tele2 has named Harri Koponen its new CEO.  Meanwhile Mikhail Shamolin has been appointed the new chief executive of Russia's OAO Mobile TeleSystems, replacing Leonid Melamed, who stepped up to head parent company AFK Sistema.

Dutch operator KPN is introducing a DVB-H mobile TV service. Available from June 5, the service will offer ten channels, with unlimited viewing available for €9.95 per month. The TV service is initially available from Samsung and LG devices.