Operators

TeleGeography notes that Swedish regulator PTS has issued a decision approving a joint application from the country's existing GSM mobile operators - TeliaSonera, Tele2, Telenor and Swefour - and currently 3G-only provider 3 Sweden for new allocations of frequencies in the 900MHz band.

The Canadian Press reports that Nadir Mohamed is the likely replacement for Ted Rogers' role as CEO of Rogers Communications.

Cellular News reports that Indian mobile phone manufacturer Micromax says it has secured a distribution deal with state-owned mobile operator BSNL for its 3G USB modems.

Analysts are forecasting that China Mobile will post an 18 percent rise in quarterly profits when it reports fourth-quarter figures later this month, but warn that its two smaller rivals, China Unicom and China Telecom, could see declines.

Telenor will increase its shareholding in its majority-owned Indian subsidiary, Unitech, due to a weakening in value of the asset caused by the global financial downturn.

The putative network sharing deal between Vodafone UK and Telefonica-owned O2 UK could be expanded into other markets where the two mobile heavyweights are active, according to latest reports.

Vodafone Qatar, part of UK-based Vodafone Group, said yesterday that only the country's nationals and Qatari-owned institutions are allowed to buy into its IPO of 338.2 million shares, or 40 percent of the company's capital.